Talk of The Villages Florida
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Talk of The Villages Florida (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/)
-   The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)
-   -   Getting no TV channels when scanning (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/getting-no-tv-channels-when-scanning-338267/)

Battlebasset 01-18-2023 05:56 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by William MacEntee (Post 2176922)
I have an iPhone also, and I can open my Compass app, but how do you know that Orlando is 113°.
For me it is, it might vary slightly for you.

Go to a signal-finding website like "Antennaweb.org". There are others as well. You can put in her address and it will tell you the direction to point the antenna. If you don't want to put in her full address, or it returns no results, using the zip code will pretty much get you the same thing. Run it with the "antenna will be mounted 30 feet or higher" even if it won't be. That will give you the most results so you can pick the best direction to try.

If you want to go the "all in one" route for an antenna that can be mounted outside or in your attic, this is the first one I tried and got pretty good results. You can find it on Amazon: McDuory Digital HDTV Outdoor Amplified Antenna - 150 Miles Range - Mounting Pole & 40 feet RG6 Coaxial Cable Included.

However, the pre-amp is in the antenna, so if it is in the attic, it might fry it come summer.

Dusty_Star 01-18-2023 06:18 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by lennythenet (Post 2176744)
I am helping a friend install a new TV and she does not have Wi-Fi, (she can’t afford it so that is not an option). She purchased a digital antenna which I hooked up via the antenna/cable input and plugged into USB port for power. Set it in front of a window and scanned for channels but get back zero channels. I have moved it to other places in the house but still no luck. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
I'm not sure some of the dollar figures mentioned for antennas still apply, I took a quick look on Amazon & saw a multidirectional 200 mile range attic antenna for $70. There are also the indoor digital box type that say 480 mile range for $60. I don't know if any of these work & if cash is tight they may be too expensive as a trial. Unless Amazon was used with the idea to return right away if they don't perform. Best of luck!

Cheapbas 01-18-2023 06:50 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by lennythenet (Post 2176744)
I am helping a friend install a new TV and she does not have Wi-Fi, (she can’t afford it so that is not an option). She purchased a digital antenna which I hooked up via the antenna/cable input and plugged into USB port for power. Set it in front of a window and scanned for channels but get back zero channels. I have moved it to other places in the house but still no luck. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
I was looking into the same thing and happened to bump into some guy in the antenna section of a store that seemed to know his stuff. You need a really strong antenna, more $$$, and you’ll be drilling holes to the outside of your home. It’s not going to be a piece of cake.

hoot2602 01-18-2023 07:22 AM
Digital channel reception
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Battlebasset (Post 2176920)
Not sure that an inside antenna would get you anything this far from Orlando, where the towers are located. To have a chance at all you would need to face the antenna towards Orlando, put it as high as you possibly can, and preferably have an unobstructed view towards Orlando (a window would be best). I live in Fenny, and Orlando for me is 113 degrees on a compass (Southeast). If you have an iPhone they have a compass app included.

To have the best chance of receiving over the air signals, you need to have the antenna outside, mounted as high as possible, and pointing towards the direction of the towers. For me that is Orlando, but if you are further north and have a better view to Ocala, you can try that. I don't, so I've never tried it. That's about 330 degrees Northwest.

I have a large directional UHF antenna in my attic connected to a pre amp booster, and when I scan, I come back with 70 to 80 channels. One time I got 90! I've posted the specifics in other threads, just search on the word "antenna" in the forum search. Others have posted their thoughts as well in those forums, so good info.

Good luck, and bless you for trying to help your friend!
I have exactly the same...mounted in attic and use amplifier because I have nearly 90 foot run from antenna to TV. Receiving 60 channels, give or take a few.

Bilyclub 01-18-2023 08:25 AM
1 Attachment(s)
Orlando TV Antenna Map - TV Transmitters for Orlando, FL 32835 – Channel Master

Snowbirdtobe 01-18-2023 08:49 AM
In Spanish Springs, with a window facing Orlando, I can pick-up some stations with a flat antenna. Get one with an amplifier.
You should be able to pick one up on Amazon for under $30. It's likely that you will not get ABC but I get NBC and CBS with mine.
Mount the antenna in the window as high as possible. If the window is facing a building you may not get any signal.
The attic is a possibility if it is not lined with foil as a radiant barrier. If the attic is lined with foil your only option is an outside antenna.

OhioBuckeye 01-18-2023 09:15 AM
You know when we lived in TV for the first year I used a antenna but I put it in our attic & got 43 channels but the bad thing was about half the channels were Spanish speaking, but I always found something to watch. I pointed the antenna toward Orlando. Some people think antennas have to put antenna where there is no walls & have to be put in a window or on top off the house. Wrong!

nn0wheremann 01-18-2023 09:39 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by lennythenet (Post 2176744)
I am helping a friend install a new TV and she does not have Wi-Fi, (she can’t afford it so that is not an option). She purchased a digital antenna which I hooked up via the antenna/cable input and plugged into USB port for power. Set it in front of a window and scanned for channels but get back zero channels. I have moved it to other places in the house but still no luck. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
You should place the antenna as high as you can, maybe in the attic? In The Villages, you should have an amplified directional antenna, mounted 20 to 30 feet above ground level. In Village of Springdale my home is 65 miles from the Orlando antenna farm at Bithlo Florida. A suitable antenna and mount can be found on Amazon for less than $50. Do your scan at night for best results. I get 70 or more channels, with few pixelization issues except for channel 24, PBS Orlando.

MandoMan 01-18-2023 09:47 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by lennythenet (Post 2176744)
I am helping a friend install a new TV and she does not have Wi-Fi, (she can’t afford it so that is not an option). She purchased a digital antenna which I hooked up via the antenna/cable input and plugged into USB port for power. Set it in front of a window and scanned for channels but get back zero channels. I have moved it to other places in the house but still no luck. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
I had a similar experience with digital antennas. Against a window facing East I got several Spanish channels. Against a west facing window I got no channels. From the center of the house, none. From the attic, none. I gave up and eventually threw away the antenna. I was living in Tierra del Sol South, near 466 and Morse. Verizon is advertising 5G packages with unlimited bandwidth for about $35 a month, as I recall. Not yet available in the village where I now live, but 5G can work really well, and it can be connected somehow to a tv. Of course, it might be necessary to purchase a streaming package from some provider, like Apple or YouTube.

On a limited budget, libraries have lots of books that can be borrowed for free. They even have DVDs and unabridged books on CD people can borrow.

airstreamingypsy 01-18-2023 09:55 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2176774)
You need to spend at least $200 to $350 for a large attic antenna to get channels. I bought a cheap one for $15 at Best Buy, and could not receive any channels.
I bought an antenna for $30 something dollars at Amazon. I get 40 to 50 Orlando channels...... It sits about 12 feet off the ground, point towards Orlando. Coax from it to TV. TV input on TV, not cable, not HDMI. Run the channel search, dump the religious and Spanish stations.... lots left.

Amazon.com

ron32162 01-18-2023 10:35 AM
The Villages is too far away from Orlando for signal you will have to go with a radio

Tyson 01-18-2023 10:35 AM
You cannot get TV channels with an antenna unless its maybe 50 ft. high, and then it still might not work. Stations are to far away.

Snowbug 01-18-2023 11:47 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2176774)
You need to spend at least $200 to $350 for a large attic antenna to get channels. I bought a cheap one for $15 at Best Buy, and could not receive any channels.
I have a $25 (now $50) antenna in my attic and get about 50 channels or so. It is pointed towards Orlando. Hooked the coax to a splitter to the coax going to all of the rooms in the house. Works great!

Everett Rhyner 01-18-2023 11:51 AM
You have to set your TV to the right settings. Most of the comments are not incorrect but you will get some stations even with a cheap indoor Indiana so check your TV for the right settings to receive antenna

Keefelane66 01-18-2023 12:33 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyson (Post 2177095)
You cannot get TV channels with an antenna unless its maybe 50 ft. high, and then it still might not work. Stations are to far away.
No at 20 ft not visible over peak of home I receive Orlando, Pennycamp area


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