Winegard HD Antenna

[reevesfamily]

New 2020 Flagstaff 832IKBS. Is the TV antenna powered? Instructions say turn it on but can't find anywhere to turn any power on or any lights. What does pushing up on the knob on the ceiling do? Seems to turn without having to push up on the middle knob that will,push up and down. Thanks.

[RBDTx]

Look at cover plate where antenna cable comes out of wall to TV. There may be a small push switch.

[Cabinfever97]

Also, be sure to turn the booster off whenever you are on cable.

[reevesfamily]

Will check tomorrow and thanks so much!

[Bama Rambler]

Some King Jack antennas have a switch on the side of the ceiling fixture. I don't know if you have that model, but wanted to put it out there in case.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Reeves

New 2020 Flagstaff 832IKBS. Is the TV antenna powered? Instructions say turn it on but can't find anywhere to turn any power on or any lights. What does pushing up on the knob on the ceiling do? Seems to turn without having to push up on the middle knob that will,push up and down. Thanks.

Do you have pics of the antenna and ceiling knob? As was said, the antenna is powered and the black power button is usually on the wall plate where the coax goes in.
By the way, there is no such thing as a HD tv antenna. It's a marketing scam.
You could plug a rabbit ears antenna with tinfoil wrapped around it and get a HD tv signal.
It's the tv that has to be HD, NOT the antenna.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by bikendan

By the way, there is no such thing as a HD tv antenna. It's a marketing scam.
You could plug a rabbit ears antenna with tinfoil wrapped around it and get a HD tv signal.
It's the tv that has to be HD, NOT the antenna.

True to a point. If you are close to the transmitter a coat hanger might work too.

Issue with antenna's shows up both when you switch the UHF stations. Original TV was on VHF (54-216 mhz)and less than 10% of the stations today are on VHF. UHF can range from 470-890 mhz.

The issue with antennas is that they need to be designed to receive channels in several different frequency wave lengths. Long elements for VHF, short elements for UHF. Furthermore, in each band there are different element lengths that match the different wavelengths for he different frequencies within the band. Look at a rooftop antenna and notice the number horizontal elements that range from a couple feet across to down to a few inches. Each length "resonates" with the different frequencies and does a better job of receiving a specific channel.

Analog signals were easier to pick up and you usually got some type of a signal although maybe a little fuzzy. Digital is either there or it's not. Antenna's need to be more precise in design in order to receive the entire spectrum with enough signal strength to keep the picture from looking like a bad LSD trip from the 60's. Since HD is broadcast in digital format it requires a good signal to keep the picture going. When in the fringe areas antenna's become more important, especially ones that are tuned to receive ALL channels well.

Since most people don't understand HOW the signal is transmitted or what effect different frequencies have on antenna design the industry has just simplified things. They call antennas that receive the large number of UHF channels as well as the original VHF channels "HD Antennas".

If you live more than about 20 miles from a TV tower chances are Rabbit Ears are not going to cut it unless you are on a mountain top and can see the tower on a clear day with binoculars..

PS: one of my several lifetime achievements was the acquisition of a FCC 2nd Class Radiotelephone Operator's license as well as having an Uncle that was lead engineer for one of Seattle's main TV Stations. Obtaining the license was a college class requirement while doing some Electronic's course work.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

If you live more than about 20 miles from a TV tower chances are Rabbit Ears are not going to cut it unless you are on a mountain top and can see the tower on a clear day with binoculars.

Mike, I lived in Napa Valley California. I had a rabbit ears antenna on the guest room tv and got great HD picture from a number of tv stations from San Francisco and Oakland, which were 40-45 miles away, as the crow flies.
There were a number of hills and ridges in between.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Mike, I lived in Napa Valley California. I had a rabbit ears antenna on the guest room tv and got great HD picture from a number of tv stations from San Francisco and Oakland, which were 40-45 miles away, as the crow flies.
There were a number of hills and ridges in between.

The stations may be in San Francisco and Oakland but a quick check of their tower locations show their transmitters are located on various peaks and towers around those locations.

You may well have mostly "line of sight" between your rabbit ears and the transmitter. A good number of SF stations broadcast from the Sutro Tower, the top of which is 1811 feet above Sea Level. If I read the topographic map of Napa County right the "Valley" is pretty much a straight shot to the hills near San Francisco where the Sutro Tower is located.

Other towers are located on San Bruno Mtn which is even higher and among others broadcasts the NBC affiliate channel.

Antenna's that high reach out quite a way. A far cry from the Seattle area where the main TV stations have their towers, the highest being 610 feet on top of a 456 foot hill. Almost half as high as the SF area towers.

[reevesfamily]

Originally Posted by RBDTx

Look at cover plate where antenna cable comes out of wall to TV. There may be a small push switch.

Thanks RBDtx. That did it.