Hey Bob. Does this sound familiar?"

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Hi, "Hey Bob. Does this sound familiar?"

I got my "MyHD" HDTV PCI card today. I cleaned off my desk, pulled the
computer out of the closet, and took the sides off.

The Firewire card had to give way to the "MyHD", I have only 3 PCI slots and
the SCSI and the Graphics card are needed. Anyone need ISA slots? Never
used, I hate "Idiot Designed Equipment" stuff.

The "MyHD" card went in easy and I pulled the very old 2x CD reader which
was never used after a HP CD-RW drive was installed to free up the
connection to the sound card. Drivers were added and the "MyHD" software
installed with no problems. And the Quick Start Guide was missing from the
package!

When the program started it showed "NO Signal".

So I connected a pair of Rabbit Ears that I had handy.

The auto scan located almost all of the analog channels, some very week with
the endless shopping channels of course perfect.

NO HDTV Channels were discovered by the auto scan. None, Zip, Nil, Zero,
Zilch, Naught, Not A Single One.

Very disappointing.

After playing around for a bit I looked up the Channel number for KCSM, the
station that is a Must Have for me as they have turned off their analog
transmitter and I miss it a lot. There should be no reason for them not to
be at full power.

I was able to get it on channel 43. Solid, looks beautiful and I kept it on
for a few minutes trying to select a sub channel to see what was there. I
even stopped and started the "MyHD" program several times and it appeared to
be really solid. Never found the sub-channels. Note to myself: RTFM

Then it went away. I must have hit the Rabbit Ears or moved some cables that
the Rabbit Ears were near.

I could not get it back. I started moving the Rabbit Ears around to no avail
and finally gave up and tried another auto scan.

This time KNTV-DT (12) and KGO-DT (??) were discovered by the auto scan.
When I clicked on one to look at it after the auto scan was done, it was
immediately removed from the detected list. Same for the other.

Then I chose channel 43 and tried moving the Rabbit Ears around again trying
to get KCSM-DT back with no success.

Thanks for preparing me for this outcome. The "MyHD" PCI card looks and
feels just like I expected, a well made product and except for the Tuner, a
real winner.

I do expect to get much better results when I connect the VHF Yagii and the
four bay stacked UHF antenna with a pre amp on a rotator in my attic.

That may be many days away as I have to either pull some unused cables from
the attic or buy new ones. I do not know where to shop as Quement has been
gone for many years and I am not on top of the TV stuff here in Silicon
Valley anymore.

And I must be doing my Taxes.

--
Stephen H. Fischer

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Stephen H. Fischer wrote:
> Hi, "Hey Bob. Does this sound familiar?"
>
> I got my "MyHD" HDTV PCI card today. I cleaned off my desk, pulled the
> computer out of the closet, and took the sides off.
>
> The Firewire card had to give way to the "MyHD", I have only 3 PCI slots
> and
> the SCSI and the Graphics card are needed. Anyone need ISA slots? Never
> used, I hate "Idiot Designed Equipment" stuff.
>
> The "MyHD" card went in easy and I pulled the very old 2x CD reader which
> was never used after a HP CD-RW drive was installed to free up the
> connection to the sound card. Drivers were added and the "MyHD" software
> installed with no problems. And the Quick Start Guide was missing from the
> package!
>
> When the program started it showed "NO Signal".
>
> So I connected a pair of Rabbit Ears that I had handy.
>
> The auto scan located almost all of the analog channels, some very week
> with
> the endless shopping channels of course perfect.
>
> NO HDTV Channels were discovered by the auto scan. None, Zip, Nil, Zero,
> Zilch, Naught, Not A Single One.
>
> Very disappointing.
>
> After playing around for a bit I looked up the Channel number for KCSM, the
> station that is a Must Have for me as they have turned off their analog
> transmitter and I miss it a lot. There should be no reason for them not to
> be at full power.
>
> I was able to get it on channel 43. Solid, looks beautiful and I kept it on
> for a few minutes trying to select a sub channel to see what was there. I
> even stopped and started the "MyHD" program several times and it
> appeared to
> be really solid. Never found the sub-channels. Note to myself: RTFM
>
> Then it went away. I must have hit the Rabbit Ears or moved some cables
> that
> the Rabbit Ears were near.
>
> I could not get it back. I started moving the Rabbit Ears around to no
> avail
> and finally gave up and tried another auto scan.
>
> This time KNTV-DT (12) and KGO-DT (??) were discovered by the auto scan.
> When I clicked on one to look at it after the auto scan was done, it was
> immediately removed from the detected list. Same for the other.
>
> Then I chose channel 43 and tried moving the Rabbit Ears around again
> trying
> to get KCSM-DT back with no success.
>
> Thanks for preparing me for this outcome. The "MyHD" PCI card looks and
> feels just like I expected, a well made product and except for the Tuner, a
> real winner.
>
> I do expect to get much better results when I connect the VHF Yagii and the
> four bay stacked UHF antenna with a pre amp on a rotator in my attic.
>
> That may be many days away as I have to either pull some unused cables from
> the attic or buy new ones. I do not know where to shop as Quement has been
> gone for many years and I am not on top of the TV stuff here in Silicon
> Valley anymore.
>
> And I must be doing my Taxes.
>

I wonder what results you would have gotten if you had used the proper
indoor antenna, say a silver sensor UHF antenna, instead of VHF rabbit ears.

--
Matthew

I'm a contractor. If you want an opinion, I'll sell you one.
Which one do you want?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Does the software come with a signal strength meter? It can be really
helpful to nail down antenna placement. I use the Dvico Fusion card, it
works great.

--Dan

"Stephen H. Fischer" <sfischer1@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:lVO0e.3440$gI5.1593@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> Hi, "Hey Bob. Does this sound familiar?"
>
> I got my "MyHD" HDTV PCI card today. I cleaned off my desk, pulled the
> computer out of the closet, and took the sides off.
>
> The Firewire card had to give way to the "MyHD", I have only 3 PCI slots
> and
> the SCSI and the Graphics card are needed. Anyone need ISA slots? Never
> used, I hate "Idiot Designed Equipment" stuff.
>
> The "MyHD" card went in easy and I pulled the very old 2x CD reader which
> was never used after a HP CD-RW drive was installed to free up the
> connection to the sound card. Drivers were added and the "MyHD" software
> installed with no problems. And the Quick Start Guide was missing from the
> package!
>
> When the program started it showed "NO Signal".
>
> So I connected a pair of Rabbit Ears that I had handy.
>
> The auto scan located almost all of the analog channels, some very week
> with
> the endless shopping channels of course perfect.
>
> NO HDTV Channels were discovered by the auto scan. None, Zip, Nil, Zero,
> Zilch, Naught, Not A Single One.
>
> Very disappointing.
>
> After playing around for a bit I looked up the Channel number for KCSM,
> the
> station that is a Must Have for me as they have turned off their analog
> transmitter and I miss it a lot. There should be no reason for them not to
> be at full power.
>
> I was able to get it on channel 43. Solid, looks beautiful and I kept it
> on
> for a few minutes trying to select a sub channel to see what was there. I
> even stopped and started the "MyHD" program several times and it appeared
> to
> be really solid. Never found the sub-channels. Note to myself: RTFM
>
> Then it went away. I must have hit the Rabbit Ears or moved some cables
> that
> the Rabbit Ears were near.
>
> I could not get it back. I started moving the Rabbit Ears around to no
> avail
> and finally gave up and tried another auto scan.
>
> This time KNTV-DT (12) and KGO-DT (??) were discovered by the auto scan.
> When I clicked on one to look at it after the auto scan was done, it was
> immediately removed from the detected list. Same for the other.
>
> Then I chose channel 43 and tried moving the Rabbit Ears around again
> trying
> to get KCSM-DT back with no success.
>
> Thanks for preparing me for this outcome. The "MyHD" PCI card looks and
> feels just like I expected, a well made product and except for the Tuner,
> a
> real winner.
>
> I do expect to get much better results when I connect the VHF Yagii and
> the
> four bay stacked UHF antenna with a pre amp on a rotator in my attic.
>
> That may be many days away as I have to either pull some unused cables
> from
> the attic or buy new ones. I do not know where to shop as Quement has been
> gone for many years and I am not on top of the TV stuff here in Silicon
> Valley anymore.
>
> And I must be doing my Taxes.
>
> --
> Stephen H. Fischer
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

I took the original poster's dissertation as some kind of facetious
satire......

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

For "TV Stuff" since Quement went belly-up....

Schad Electronics http/www.schadelectronics.com/
980 S. First St.
San Jose
408-275-6484



"Stephen H. Fischer" <sfischer1@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:lVO0e.3440$gI5.1593@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> Hi, "Hey Bob. Does this sound familiar?"
>
> I got my "MyHD" HDTV PCI card today. I cleaned off my desk, pulled the
> computer out of the closet, and took the sides off.
>
> The Firewire card had to give way to the "MyHD", I have only 3 PCI slots
> and
> the SCSI and the Graphics card are needed. Anyone need ISA slots? Never
> used, I hate "Idiot Designed Equipment" stuff.
>
> The "MyHD" card went in easy and I pulled the very old 2x CD reader which
> was never used after a HP CD-RW drive was installed to free up the
> connection to the sound card. Drivers were added and the "MyHD" software
> installed with no problems. And the Quick Start Guide was missing from the
> package!
>
> When the program started it showed "NO Signal".
>
> So I connected a pair of Rabbit Ears that I had handy.
>
> The auto scan located almost all of the analog channels, some very week
> with
> the endless shopping channels of course perfect.
>
> NO HDTV Channels were discovered by the auto scan. None, Zip, Nil, Zero,
> Zilch, Naught, Not A Single One.
>
> Very disappointing.
>
> After playing around for a bit I looked up the Channel number for KCSM,
> the
> station that is a Must Have for me as they have turned off their analog
> transmitter and I miss it a lot. There should be no reason for them not to
> be at full power.
>
> I was able to get it on channel 43. Solid, looks beautiful and I kept it
> on
> for a few minutes trying to select a sub channel to see what was there. I
> even stopped and started the "MyHD" program several times and it appeared
> to
> be really solid. Never found the sub-channels. Note to myself: RTFM
>
> Then it went away. I must have hit the Rabbit Ears or moved some cables
> that
> the Rabbit Ears were near.
>
> I could not get it back. I started moving the Rabbit Ears around to no
> avail
> and finally gave up and tried another auto scan.
>
> This time KNTV-DT (12) and KGO-DT (??) were discovered by the auto scan.
> When I clicked on one to look at it after the auto scan was done, it was
> immediately removed from the detected list. Same for the other.
>
> Then I chose channel 43 and tried moving the Rabbit Ears around again
> trying
> to get KCSM-DT back with no success.
>
> Thanks for preparing me for this outcome. The "MyHD" PCI card looks and
> feels just like I expected, a well made product and except for the Tuner,
> a
> real winner.
>
> I do expect to get much better results when I connect the VHF Yagii and
> the
> four bay stacked UHF antenna with a pre amp on a rotator in my attic.
>
> That may be many days away as I have to either pull some unused cables
> from
> the attic or buy new ones. I do not know where to shop as Quement has been
> gone for many years and I am not on top of the TV stuff here in Silicon
> Valley anymore.
>
> And I must be doing my Taxes.
>
> --
> Stephen H. Fischer
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Hi,

Matthew L. Martin wrote:
> Stephen H. Fischer wrote:

>> So I connected a pair of Rabbit Ears that I had handy.

> I wonder what results you would have gotten if you had used the proper
> indoor antenna, say a silver sensor UHF antenna, instead of VHF rabbit
> ears.

Not much better as I continue to be unhappy even with my attic antennas.

I have never had a "proper indoor antenna". For sets not connected to the
attic antennas I expect them to be usable as they come from the factory.

The test was one that compared the reception of a B&W 5" TV I purchased 35
years ago with a single telescoping antenna.
The analog reception of the "MyHD" PCI card was similar on VHF
but as the B&W 5" has the UHF tuner grease gummed up I am going from memory
as to how well it did on UHF. About what I expected on UHF for the "MyHD"
PCI card.

The 5" set is one that will need to be replaced and I see no hints that a
replacement is coming. The replacement for my 1" (1.2" with supplied
magnifier) travel TV also has no upcoming replacement.

The analog OTA system we now have is to be replaced with a Digital System
that clearly is only suited for use in Home Theater Systems with huge price
tags and expensive custom antenna systems. Read that as Cable or Satellite.
Perhaps in some locations OTA antennas can be used.

I do not know the charter for the "alt.tv.tech.hdtv" news group or the
"alt.video.digital-tv" but the HDTV system is the only system that is
known to the general public as the replacement for the current OTA TV
broadcasts. That may be the origin of the many messages about digital TV
that some consider to be off topic in a HDTV news group. If the replacement
system were talked about as "Digital-TV" in the real world then perhaps a
few people here could have their news group solely for discussions of their
high priced systems and the rest of us would be happy in the
"alt.video.digital-tv" news group.

That is not to change as I see it so the off-topic discussions in some
persons view will continue and there will be few messages in the
"alt.video.digital-tv" news group.

The dismal (None at all) Digital TV reception with the Rabbit Ears antenna
shows that we have a huge set of replacement TV's that currently have no
replacement possible.

While many people are quite happy with their expensive wide screen TV's
connected to Cable or Satellite antenna systems, we are not building a new
system for their use only.

I have said the heck with taxes and moved my PC with the "MyHD" closer to
the antenna connections so I could try it with my attic antennas. It did
much better, but far from what I would consider acceptable. So even for the
TV sets and VCR's connected to my attic antenna system there is only a
marginal replacement system being built.

The "MyHD" PCI PC package is a great Digital TV System. That is as it is for
all the Tuners I have heard about save one, all needing a better Tuner.
I expect that it will not stay in my system long and be hopefully replaced
with one with a better tuner.

--
Stephen H. Fischer

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Hi,

SAC 441 wrote:
> I took the original poster's dissertation as some kind of facetious
> satire......

Expected.

I did not make it up.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

I don't know what is so hard to believe, if you just hook up any old antenna
to a tuner and hope for the best you may have problems. It really helps to
know where the transmitters are, aim the antenna properly (and check the
strength like I suggested), and use the optimal antenna for the job.

When I got my first DTV tuner I had less than perfect results when I tried
to use it. After tweaking a few things and using the proper antenna I
couldn't be happier with the results. I expect you will get things worked
out.

--Dan

"Stephen H. Fischer" <sfischer1@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:ggm1e.5590$H06.1855@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> Hi,
>
> SAC 441 wrote:
> > I took the original poster's dissertation as some kind of facetious
> > satire......
>
> Expected.
>
> I did not make it up.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Hi,

Back on March 25, 2005 I posted a "Very disappointing" account of my attempt
to receive my very first HDTV broadcast using a "MyHD" PCI card in my
Desktop computer.

Using a "Rabbit Ears" VHF antenna produced no channels with an auto scan and
intermittent reception of the one HDTV station that I wanted to receive the
most. Finally I could not get it back. KCSM on CH 43.

I went on to describe almost as bad results when I connected the "MyHD" PCI
card to my Attic antenna system. VHF Yagi and 4-Bay UHF on a rotor.

A few days later as I needed a longer length cable I replaced the DVBRCWPOC
with a length of RG-59 installing the F- Connectors from my parts box.

Immediately my HDTV reception became "Great" and I now can receive close to
all the HDTV stations on the air near me.

I do not have the "BEST" service that I want with all the HDTV stations
being received with the UHF antenna staying pointed in only one direction,
but I have close to it. Very similar to analog.

As to the station I wanted the most, KCSM on CH 43, it has proved to be a
big problem.

Of course it is not one of the stations that I receive with the UHF antenna
pointing in the direction where most all of the others can be received.

Several times I have rotated the UHF antenna 360 Degrees and have not been
able to pick it up at all. Sometimes I can get listings but no picture.

This is problematic as I have found a listing that shows KCSM HDTV CH 43 is
broadcasting from Sutro Tower (San Francisco) where most of the other
stations transmit from.

With so many stations transmitting from Sutro Tower, both analog and HDTV, I
wonder if KCSM is transmitting from a temporary location and will not be
able to use their space on Sutro until the analog transmitters are turned
off thus freeing up space. Theirs is off already.

So I was using a rotten antenna connected by a defective cable to receive a
capricious station.

I only knew about the antenna beforehand. The post was made in a fa·ce·tious
manner, but I was crying as I typed it. I do try to be funny but most of my
jokes are missed.

I also replaced a DVBRCWPOC that was feeding my analog TV and CH 2 KTVU
became watch able where before it was in the painful to watch class.
49'ers of course, but then some impostors had taken over so it didn't
matter.

I am sure that the problems with DVBRCWPOC have been stated before, I just
have never read about them.

So now I am a very Happy Camper, but not completely as my Camping funds
(USFS) are going into my HTPC and I do not expect to do any Camping this
year.

--
Stephen H. Fischer

P.S. Sorry for the delay, but Taxes you know are due tomorrow.

SAC 441 wrote:
> I took the original poster's dissertation as some kind of facetious
> satire......

fa·ce·tious
adj
1. supposed to be funny: intended to be humorous but often silly or
inappropriate
2. not in earnest: not to be taken seriously
a facetious suggestion

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

> Using a "Rabbit Ears" VHF antenna produced no channels with an auto
scan and
> intermittent reception of the one HDTV station that I wanted to
receive the
> most. Finally I could not get it back. KCSM on CH 43.

Why the hell would you expect to pull in a *UHF* channel with a *VHF*
antenna???

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"Stephen H. Fischer" <sfischer1@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:fzJ7e.6505$lP1.6169@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>
> Hi,
>
> Back on March 25, 2005 I posted a "Very disappointing" account of my
attempt
> to receive my very first HDTV broadcast using a "MyHD" PCI card in my
> Desktop computer.
>
> Using a "Rabbit Ears" VHF antenna produced no channels with an auto scan
and
> intermittent reception of the one HDTV station that I wanted to receive
the
> most. Finally I could not get it back. KCSM on CH 43.
>
> I went on to describe almost as bad results when I connected the "MyHD"
PCI
> card to my Attic antenna system. VHF Yagi and 4-Bay UHF on a rotor.
>
> A few days later as I needed a longer length cable I replaced the
DVBRCWPOC
> with a length of RG-59 installing the F- Connectors from my parts box.
>
> Immediately my HDTV reception became "Great" and I now can receive close
to
> all the HDTV stations on the air near me.
>
> I do not have the "BEST" service that I want with all the HDTV stations
> being received with the UHF antenna staying pointed in only one direction,
> but I have close to it. Very similar to analog.
>
> As to the station I wanted the most, KCSM on CH 43, it has proved to be a
> big problem.
>
> Of course it is not one of the stations that I receive with the UHF
antenna
> pointing in the direction where most all of the others can be received.
>
> Several times I have rotated the UHF antenna 360 Degrees and have not been
> able to pick it up at all. Sometimes I can get listings but no picture.
>
> This is problematic as I have found a listing that shows KCSM HDTV CH 43
is
> broadcasting from Sutro Tower (San Francisco) where most of the other
> stations transmit from.
>
> With so many stations transmitting from Sutro Tower, both analog and HDTV,
I
> wonder if KCSM is transmitting from a temporary location and will not be
> able to use their space on Sutro until the analog transmitters are turned
> off thus freeing up space. Theirs is off already.
>
> So I was using a rotten antenna connected by a defective cable to receive
a
> capricious station.
>
> I only knew about the antenna beforehand. The post was made in a
fa·ce·tious
> manner, but I was crying as I typed it. I do try to be funny but most of
my
> jokes are missed.
>
> I also replaced a DVBRCWPOC that was feeding my analog TV and CH 2 KTVU
> became watch able where before it was in the painful to watch class.
> 49'ers of course, but then some impostors had taken over so it didn't
> matter.
>
> I am sure that the problems with DVBRCWPOC have been stated before, I just
> have never read about them.
>
> So now I am a very Happy Camper, but not completely as my Camping funds
> (USFS) are going into my HTPC and I do not expect to do any Camping this
> year.
>
> --
> Stephen H. Fischer
>
> P.S. Sorry for the delay, but Taxes you know are due tomorrow.
>
> SAC 441 wrote:
> > I took the original poster's dissertation as some kind of facetious
> > satire......
>
> fa·ce·tious
> adj
> 1. supposed to be funny: intended to be humorous but often silly or
> inappropriate
> 2. not in earnest: not to be taken seriously
> a facetious suggestion
>
>
>
>
Antennas have been out of use for so long people forget how little current
they produce. Even if it had worked it might have developed a problem some
time in the future after the connectors stretched or became corroded.
The coax that came with my HDTV Wonder had the push on connectors and worked
satisfactorily but I replaced it with a cable with screw on connectors to
eliminate future problems. Then I put a preamp at the antennae and a BNC
connector at the card. It's difficult to get at the connector on my card
without the extension.
Newsgroup humor is tough. If your doing stand up comedy how do we know your
not sitting?
(he says trying to sound like Seinfeld) :^)

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"Stephen H. Fischer" <sfischer1@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:fzJ7e.6505$lP1.6169@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>
> Hi,
>
> Back on March 25, 2005 I posted a "Very disappointing" account of my
attempt
> to receive my very first HDTV broadcast using a "MyHD" PCI card in my
> Desktop computer.
>
> Using a "Rabbit Ears" VHF antenna produced no channels with an auto scan
and
> intermittent reception of the one HDTV station that I wanted to receive
the
> most. Finally I could not get it back. KCSM on CH 43.
>
> I went on to describe almost as bad results when I connected the "MyHD"
PCI
> card to my Attic antenna system. VHF Yagi and 4-Bay UHF on a rotor.
>
> A few days later as I needed a longer length cable I replaced the
DVBRCWPOC
> with a length of RG-59 installing the F- Connectors from my parts box.
>
> Immediately my HDTV reception became "Great" and I now can receive close
to
> all the HDTV stations on the air near me.

Indeed, the typical "F" connector has a problem where the shield face you
see surrounding the center conductor is coated with manufacturing lubricant
or a particle of non-conductive dust gets caught in there and keeps the
shield from making contact. You would think the threads in the mating
connectors would surely bridge the gap and make contact, but oddly enough,
that doesn't seem to happen in many instances. In desparation, I fabricated
a small wire brush (out of some brass tubing and wires I pulled out of a
standard wooden wire brush) a few months ago that I now use to clean the
surface of any "F" connector shield face, and this has eliminated much of my
trouble with cables. Any time you see the low VHF channels snowy while the
higher VHF channels are relatively clean, this shield face contamination is
most likely the problem. I just get my brush and twirl it deep in the
cable-end connector and when that ring around the center wire is nice and
bright, I find the cable works much better. The world would be much happier
if someone would make a nice brush out of wires and a plastic handle with a
hole in the center for the center conductor, and sell it for a buck or two.
Any inventors out there?

Chuck