Zenith Antenna

I have the new Zenith DTT901 digital converter box. I get all Chicago stations (about 32 of them) plus sometimes Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. I think if I had a better antenna (I use wires, coat hangers, a metal shelf, other metalic items) I could consistantly pull in more far away tv stations. I can't have an outdoor antenna. Any suggestions to get farther stations without cable, and without sattelite?

If you have attic space, install the external antenna there. Works the same as if being outside. But after 2010, any external antenna will be useless, since all broadcast stations will be digital.

2008-07-26 08:42:04 by W K

Working in the antenna compound we could hear music - no radios on, but we tracked it down to this - a stabiliser leg of the trailer mast that#39 ...

I have a 50" Zenith tv and it won't program the channels automatically it only is programming the antenna channels so i think i need to switch it to cable how do i do that please be specific

Every TV is different but if you go thru your menu options it should list an option for *AIR* or one or more *CATV*, such as CATV1 or CATV2, etc...

Find that option and choose the first CATV. Then go back and try to autoprogram again. It may also be that you don't have your TV set to channel 3 if you are using a cable box.

It may be a good idea to read the manual. If you don't have one, just go to the Zenith site and you may be able to download it.

2007-10-05 12:32:32 by Whitney D

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I'm not asking for a wiring diagram but if you could describe the sequence of the connections I would be grateful. BTW, I'm dealing w/75ohm coax on both the antennae (Zenith) and the cable connections. I don't know exactly what inputs are available on the back of the set and/or whether I should connect the antennae to one of those inputs or go through the cable box. If I go directly into the set how will I access channels? Aren't they somethig like 41.6. Needless to say I'm a newbie & need all the help I can get. Thanks in advance.

The antenna would attach directly to the 75ohm coax input on the TV set. You'd use the TV's tuner solely for terrestrial HD then. Does your local cable company not carry all your local HD stations or something? Otherwise, I'd hook the cable line directly into the TV provided your cable company supports the internal digital cable tuner, as in they can address it for your subscription channels. If not, then use the antenna direct to the TV, hook up your HD digital cable box using HDMI/DVI or component video cables and you can use both at the same time.

Terrestrial HD stations if the station is set up correctly and your TV maps it correctly will come up as the normal over the air station followed by a period and then the number of the subchannel. 1 would be the main program and any other number are other programs the station is carrying simultaneously. If the station is airing a program in 1080i at the time, it's not likely there will be any subchannels since the HD takes up the whole bandwidth. Sometimes the channels map as the channel numbers of the HD station. For example, our channel 3 here is actually transmitted on channel 15, and some TV's map it as 15.1 instead of 3.1. If you just set up your TV to auto find the channels you'll see them just by pressing the channel up/down buttons. Our TV with the internal tuner puts the analog stations first and then once you flip past all of them the digital channels show up, then it goes 3.1 3.2 3.3 then to the next station like 5.1 5.2 etc. You can press right on the remote 3 dot 1 and it will go right to it. Also on cable, our local stations map up around channel 91 or something like 91.1, 91.2, 92.1 etc. but again you just channel surf and you'll find them and eventually remember what they are.

2007-01-02 18:20:12 by all1putts

Price: $13.13

The Amplified Antenna Has A High Gain Low Noise Wide-Band Amplifier
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I have been pulling in Indiana, sw lower Michigan, and all free Chicago stations or up to 47 channels with a broken coax/ antenna. I've used thick copper wiring in various configurations stapled to my walls and ceiling to get many channels in the Chicago area. Now, I've heard a great indoor antenna for the converter boxes are flat units, with no areals, no metal to adjust. I can't seem to find the names, the stores that sell them, nor any info on these on web sights. If I can pull in easily 35 stations in the Chicago area on the first floor of a an apartment, imagine if I had a half-way descent indoior antenna. By the way, do not respond to this question by suggesting that outdoor antennas are best. I can't put an outdoor antenna oin my landlord's building! I find the best long distance reception seems to be really old antennas with a coax plug-in to go into the converter box.
Also, with stores running out of converter boxes, why aren't manufacturers making or advertizing good quality long distance reception "indoor" tv antennas? A lot of trash are in stores, that can't pull in a Chicago station right across the street from the broadcast transmitter. Yet, with a few wires, coat hangers, and the DTT901, I am easily getting all Chicago stations, some Indiana, Lower Michigan, and Millwaukee Wisconsin late at night too. Certainly there must be a source of research done by perhaps, an electronics magazine, or even our USA government on good long distance indoor tv antennas. There is virtually nothing in the media, nor of any consumer value on the www.

A TV antenna is looking for a specific frequency or range of frequencies to capture. If they are detected it will send them to the converter box for decoding.

A TV antenna has a certain amount of gain built-in by design. Older TV antenna made before cable generally had higher gain as they had to get UHF stations from great distances.
Some type of antennas work better in specific areas than others. An indoor antenna generally is NOT as good as an outdoor antenna. The best for you will not be the best for everyone.

For an excellent description of each type SEE: http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/types .html


Your specific location is very important, as is the signal strength and the frequency (channel) of the TV station you are trying to watch.

SEE: http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?option=c om_wrapper&Itemid=29
or http://www.solidsignal.com/antenna_selec tor.asp

for what stations you can expect to get.

By Federal Law Landlords are somewhat restricted in preventing antenna installations for TV reception. The FCC has issued specific rules for what is and is not permitted on various rental units.
SEE: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

2008-07-25 01:50:19 by W K

There is an adapter on it to provide some updating,Specificly for cable installation.This type of television doe's not have the channel 3-4 switch, the cable transmission's come's thu on 3 and 4 with no A/V channel available either.This is leading up to my dilemma.How do I connect a new DVD/VCR combo to this TV w/cable box? If you know how to do this I'll need a simple walk thru;further I have already purchased a RF Modulator and got no result's( I probably need to look at the connect's again.I feel close.)Some suggested a "Switcher Device"was all I needed,but I have the 3-4 sitch on the RF Mod.Help.Any good Tech's Out there in Cyber Space?
oop!I mean't (rabbit ear's).

cable box thru dvd/vcr into coax to two screw adapter make sure adapter is on vhf side inputs but if you have cable signal working they all ready are

2006-09-29 12:39:18 by First L