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Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
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#1
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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OT Digital TV, free TV
Not directly metalworking but if I save money on TV then I can buy some
metal! Got rid of my Dish Network after much hassle after the receiver quit working. I do not recommend Dish Network ever for any reason, you are better off to get a chalk board and draw pictures. They are fine until you need something like a receiver or service, they don't work with you, cheat you, and want you to send the receiver, LNB, and remote back to them at your expense when you discontinue their service. I have heard that Digital TV looks as good as (or better than) cable or satellite TV, so I'm thinking about setting up some type of mast and outdoor antenna. I guess I need a mast or tower and antenna, amplifier worth it? There are a couple station in the 20-30 mile radius but more in the ~70 mile radius. I guess I need a DTV converter box? Anyone getting good results with DTV from an antenna? Currently I have no channels, just videotapes and DVD's. RogerN |
#2
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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OT Digital TV, free TV
I put up a real good antenna in '91. It works great for local TV
digital signals. We're about 60 miles from most of the stations. The new TV works directly. The old TV has a converter box we got from wally world. We also have direct TV satellite dish. Its a waste most of the year. How can there be 500 channels and nothing worth watching? We watch every Twins game and its the only way to get them. Karl |
#3
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OT Digital TV, free TV
On Nov 28, 12:01*pm, "RogerN" wrote:
... I have heard that Digital TV looks as good as (or better than) cable or satellite TV, so I'm thinking about setting up some type of mast and outdoor antenna. *I guess I need a mast or tower and antenna, amplifier worth it? There are a couple station in the 20-30 mile radius but more in the ~70 mile radius. I guess I need a DTV converter box? Anyone getting good results with DTV from an antenna? RogerN Yep, I'm 30+ miles from the transmitters and broadcast (OTA) DTV works fine for me. http://www.tvfool.com/ The 1980's antenna is on a 1950's rotator to aim at the weaker stations, the strong ones come in regardless. The old analog TV has a Digitalstream converter box because I like the program guide, but the Zenith box may have a better receiver for multipath. The antenna is on a simple tower, a long steel mast tube braced at the lower end by a post up the side of the house, and at the top by guy lines. The rotator is at the bottom end of the mast tube, on a sled that slides on the wooden post, up for use and down for maintenance. The antenna is at the same height it needed to be to receive analog broadcasts and at 30+ miles I don't really need an amplifier. I bought a 22" Vizio HDTV/monitor for the other computer which can record programs like a VCR, but in full Hi Definition. Windows7 Media Center has the software included, all it needs is a tuner. I got a Hauppauge USB tuner for $50 at Radio Shack. jsw |
#4
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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OT Digital TV, free TV
RogerN wrote:
Not directly metalworking but if I save money on TV then I can buy some metal! Good on you! I canceled cable and put up an antenna about a year ago. The digital picture quality is 'way better than cable, the 'commercial count' didn't increase and the installation paid for itself a couple months ago. For local news, it is the cat's pajamas. I did no engineering. I just selected the cheapest, highest gain antenna I could and popped it on a chimney mount. For about a minute, every 2-3 months, a 'copter will get between the TV transmitter and my antenna, causing the sort of visual effects that people paid cash for back in the '60's. Only a few percent of my TV time is spent watching broadcast, now though. I now watch a lot of content from the internet via Roku box. There is some truly awful stuff among the few gems. Just like regular TV. Don't tell Larry that I watch so much TV. (It'll be our little secret.) --Winston |
#5
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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OT Digital TV, free TV
I got a converter box about a year before the changeover since all the local
stations were already broadcasting both analog and digital (Washington, DC area), and just used the same antenna I already had up for the analog signals. Here is a very useful website for you: http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Welcome.aspx ----- Regards, Carl Ijames "RogerN" wrote in message m... Not directly metalworking but if I save money on TV then I can buy some metal! Got rid of my Dish Network after much hassle after the receiver quit working. I do not recommend Dish Network ever for any reason, you are better off to get a chalk board and draw pictures. They are fine until you need something like a receiver or service, they don't work with you, cheat you, and want you to send the receiver, LNB, and remote back to them at your expense when you discontinue their service. I have heard that Digital TV looks as good as (or better than) cable or satellite TV, so I'm thinking about setting up some type of mast and outdoor antenna. I guess I need a mast or tower and antenna, amplifier worth it? There are a couple station in the 20-30 mile radius but more in the ~70 mile radius. I guess I need a DTV converter box? Anyone getting good results with DTV from an antenna? Currently I have no channels, just videotapes and DVD's. RogerN |
#6
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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OT Digital TV, free TV
"RogerN" wrote in message m... Not directly metalworking but if I save money on TV then I can buy some metal! Got rid of my Dish Network after much hassle after the receiver quit working. I do not recommend Dish Network ever for any reason, you are better off to get a chalk board and draw pictures. They are fine until you need something like a receiver or service, they don't work with you, cheat you, and want you to send the receiver, LNB, and remote back to them at your expense when you discontinue their service. I have heard that Digital TV looks as good as (or better than) cable or satellite TV, so I'm thinking about setting up some type of mast and outdoor antenna. I guess I need a mast or tower and antenna, amplifier worth it? There are a couple station in the 20-30 mile radius but more in the ~70 mile radius. I guess I need a DTV converter box? Anyone getting good results with DTV from an antenna? Currently I have no channels, just videotapes and DVD's. RogerN I recently converted from cable. This site has a lot of good info: http://www.hdtvantennalabs.com/index.php Two things I learned: If you want to get channels 2 through 7, you need a big (as in wide) antenna. Also, even though I live in a yellow zone, an omnidirectional antenna picks up too much noise from reflections and other sources. All recent HDTV sets have digital tuners in them so you do not need any extra box. If you have an old standard def TV, then you need a converter box, but then the resolution will not be hi-def. If you have one of the older HDTVs without a digital tuner, then you need an external tuner. |
#7
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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OT Digital TV, free TV
On Nov 28, 7:01*am, "RogerN" wrote:
Not directly metalworking but if I save money on TV then I can buy some metal! Got rid of my Dish Network after much hassle after the receiver quit working. *I do not recommend Dish Network ever for any reason, you are better off to get a chalk board and draw pictures. *They are fine until you need something like a receiver or service, they don't work with you, cheat you, and want you to send the receiver, LNB, and remote back to them at your expense when you discontinue their service. I have heard that Digital TV looks as good as (or better than) cable or satellite TV, so I'm thinking about setting up some type of mast and outdoor antenna. *I guess I need a mast or tower and antenna, amplifier worth it? There are a couple station in the 20-30 mile radius but more in the ~70 mile radius. I guess I need a DTV converter box? Anyone getting good results with DTV from an antenna? Currently I have no channels, just videotapes and DVD's. RogerN Make*sure*you're*in*line*of*site*with*the*transmit ters*towers. |
#8
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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OT Digital TV, free TV
RogerN wrote:
Not directly metalworking but if I save money on TV then I can buy some metal! Got rid of my Dish Network after much hassle after the receiver quit working. I do not recommend Dish Network ever for any reason, you are better off to get a chalk board and draw pictures. They are fine until you need something like a receiver or service, they don't work with you, cheat you, and want you to send the receiver, LNB, and remote back to them at your expense when you discontinue their service. I have heard that Digital TV looks as good as (or better than) cable or satellite TV, so I'm thinking about setting up some type of mast and outdoor antenna. I guess I need a mast or tower and antenna, amplifier worth it? There are a couple station in the 20-30 mile radius but more in the ~70 mile radius. I guess I need a DTV converter box? Anyone getting good results with DTV from an antenna? Currently I have no channels, just videotapes and DVD's. A couple of years or so ago, all broadcast was ordered to go digital by imperial edict, so I was forced to buy a digital box; fortunately, they had a "coupon" which covered most of the $50 price. I'm practically within line-of-sight of Mount Baldy (or wherever the local antenna farm is); at the time, I made one of those four-bay bowtie antennas; I've since moved, lost the bowtie, and am now using a "random wire," which I think I can get away with either because the signals are so strong or the box is so sensitive. But if you're not like 20 miles line-of-sight, you will probably want at least one of those four-bay bowties. There used to be instructions all over the web; I made mine in about a half-hour, with about six bucks' worth of materials. Google HDTV bowtie or words to that effect. Good Luck! Rich |
#9
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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OT Digital TV, free TV
Update,
Thanks for the replies everyone! I was able to try out my digital TV reception, my mother in law had a converter box and now has cable, so we are getting to use her converter box and rabbit ears DTV antenna. The picture is great on the stations we get (5 or so channels), there is another station my wife would like to get and it comes in if he holds the antenna just right, but I hate to have to keep getting up to feed her popcorn while I'm trying to watch TV! :-) I searched "make HDTV bowtie antenna" and found one that looks real simple to make, it's not weatherproof, the writer was using it in his attic. Anyway I'll probably make an experimental version of this and see what kind of reception I can get. From there I can decide to buy or build one like it using aluminum wire and some wire mesh backing. Anyway we should be able to pick up local channels good anyway. I don't miss the hundreds of channels with nothing to watch all that bad, been without TV for about 3 or 4 months now, would like to see local news though. Maybe I can get a HDTV for the family if there is an after Christmas special! RogerN |
#10
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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OT Digital TV, free TV
On Nov 29, 4:34*am, " wrote:
... Make*sure*you're*in*line*of*site*with*the*transmit ters*towers. I'm not, a hill blocks the local station so I aim at the strongest reflection. On analog I could see the direct path as a ghost signal leading the main one, as well as 3 or 4 after it. The first HDTV I tried could not receive that channel. jsw |
#11
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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OT Digital TV, free TV
On Mon, 29 Nov 2010 01:34:43 -0800 (PST), "
wrote: On Nov 28, 7:01*am, "RogerN" wrote: Not directly metalworking but if I save money on TV then I can buy some metal! Got rid of my Dish Network after much hassle after the receiver quit working. *I do not recommend Dish Network ever for any reason, you are better off to get a chalk board and draw pictures. *They are fine until you need something like a receiver or service, they don't work with you, cheat you, and want you to send the receiver, LNB, and remote back to them at your expense when you discontinue their service. I have heard that Digital TV looks as good as (or better than) cable or satellite TV, so I'm thinking about setting up some type of mast and outdoor antenna. *I guess I need a mast or tower and antenna, amplifier worth it? There are a couple station in the 20-30 mile radius but more in the ~70 mile radius. I guess I need a DTV converter box? Anyone getting good results with DTV from an antenna? Currently I have no channels, just videotapes and DVD's. RogerN Make*sure*you're*in*line*of*site*with*the*transmi tters*towers. Karl, your posts are recently coming in with characters between the words. = A 0 (with no spaces) Whassup wi dat? -- Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed. -- Storm Jameson |
#12
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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OT Digital TV, free TV
In article ,
"RogerN" wrote: Update, Thanks for the replies everyone! I was able to try out my digital TV reception, my mother in law had a converter box and now has cable, so we are getting to use her converter box and rabbit ears DTV antenna. The picture is great on the stations we get (5 or so channels), there is another station my wife would like to get and it comes in if he holds the antenna just right, but I hate to have to keep getting up to feed her popcorn while I'm trying to watch TV! :-) I searched "make HDTV bowtie antenna" and found one that looks real simple to make, it's not weatherproof, the writer was using it in his attic. Anyway I'll probably make an experimental version of this and see what kind of reception I can get. From there I can decide to buy or build one like it using aluminum wire and some wire mesh backing. Anyway we should be able to pick up local channels good anyway. I don't miss the hundreds of channels with nothing to watch all that bad, been without TV for about 3 or 4 months now, would like to see local news though. There are many suitable antenna designs available. The best source is the ARRL Antenna Book http://www.arrl.org/shop/The-ARRL-Antenna-Book/, which has construction details. This is what the radio amateurs use. The book comes out in a new edition every few years, and older versions are widely available used. Joe Gwinn |
#13
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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OT Digital TV, free TV
RogerN wrote:
Update, Thanks for the replies everyone! I was able to try out my digital TV reception, my mother in law had a converter box and now has cable, so we are getting to use her converter box and rabbit ears DTV antenna. The picture is great on the stations we get (5 or so channels), there is another station my wife would like to get and it comes in if he holds the antenna just right, but I hate to have to keep getting up to feed her popcorn while I'm trying to watch TV! :-) I searched "make HDTV bowtie antenna" and found one that looks real simple to make, it's not weatherproof, the writer was using it in his attic. Anyway I'll probably make an experimental version of this and see what kind of reception I can get. From there I can decide to buy or build one like it using aluminum wire and some wire mesh backing. Anyway we should be able to pick up local channels good anyway. I don't miss the hundreds of channels with nothing to watch all that bad, been without TV for about 3 or 4 months now, would like to see local news though. Maybe I can get a HDTV for the family if there is an after Christmas special! I'd recommend against aluminum, because that oxide layer will interfere with the electrical continuity. I got really lucky - My office opens onto a fab shop and there's some weld filler that's awesome - iron coated with pure copper. You could even use coat hangers. For that matter, you could use ordinary #14 household wiring wire - stretch it a little bit to straighten it out. But please don't use aluminum! Good Luck! Rich |
#14
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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OT Digital TV, free TV
Rich Grise wrote:
(...) I'd recommend against aluminum, because that oxide layer will interfere with the electrical continuity. I got really lucky - My office opens onto a fab shop and there's some weld filler that's awesome - iron coated with pure copper. You could even use coat hangers. For that matter, you could use ordinary #14 household wiring wire - stretch it a little bit to straighten it out. I suppose the best practical elements would be stainless filler wire, yes? --Winston |
#15
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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OT Digital TV, free TV
Winston wrote:
Rich Grise wrote: (...) I'd recommend against aluminum, because that oxide layer will interfere with the electrical continuity. I got really lucky - My office opens onto a fab shop and there's some weld filler that's awesome - iron coated with pure copper. You could even use coat hangers. For that matter, you could use ordinary #14 household wiring wire - stretch it a little bit to straighten it out. I suppose the best practical elements would be stainless filler wire, yes? There's some kind of mild steel filler wire that's copper-clad; I don't remember the designation, maybe E75 or so. It solders like a dream. :-) Stainless is corrosion-resistant, yes, so you could probably rely on the mechanical contact under screw pressure. Cheers! Rich |
#16
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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OT Digital TV, free TV
Rich Grise wrote:
I'd recommend against aluminum, because that oxide layer will interfere with the electrical continuity. ... I think that every antenna I've ever seen was aluminum. There can't be too much interference. Bob |
#17
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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OT Digital TV, free TV
Rich Grise wrote:
Winston wrote: Rich Grise wrote: (...) I'd recommend against aluminum, because that oxide layer will interfere with the electrical continuity. I got really lucky - My office opens onto a fab shop and there's some weld filler that's awesome - iron coated with pure copper. You could even use coat hangers. For that matter, you could use ordinary #14 household wiring wire - stretch it a little bit to straighten it out. I suppose the best practical elements would be stainless filler wire, yes? There's some kind of mild steel filler wire that's copper-clad; I don't remember the designation, maybe E75 or so. It solders like a dream. :-) Stainless is corrosion-resistant, yes, so you could probably rely on the mechanical contact under screw pressure. ER70S-X where X=2 or 3 or 6 for example? http://www.amfiller.com/files/low_al...alloywires.pdf I use that stuff in the finer diameters for TIG. It works great for welding but corrodes rapidly in the out-of-doors. AMHIKT. --Winston |
#18
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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OT Digital TV, free TV
On Nov 29, 6:30*pm, Bob Engelhardt wrote:
Rich Grise wrote: I'd recommend against aluminum, because that oxide layer will interfere with the electrical continuity. ... I think that every antenna I've ever seen was aluminum. *There can't be too much interference. Bob I used to have to clean the antenna connections to restore lost signal strength every few years until the steel rivets rusted and I replaced them with stainless screws coated with Ox-Gard. My UHF dipole is two 6" aluminum standoffs stuck in the ends of plastic tubing, and retained by the stainless terminal screws. IIRC it went up a year before the transition and hasn't been touched or lost 3dB since. jsw |
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