Land o'Lakes Plantation Palms OTA

[chupacabra]

Hello,
I am now moving to LOL, Plantation Palms subdivision off of Collier and SR54. I can't install the massive Boeing 747 antenna (with limted food and beverage service) on top of my new house.

As I drive around the neighborhood, I see someone has one of those omnidirectional flying saucer gimmicks.

From what I understand they have made improvements on the omnidirectional, Metro Star 2000 perhaps...

Anyway, let me know if anyone has any luck with OTA in that area. And recommendations.

Thanks!

[jaymer]

goat boy,
JDIEHL, a user here, lives there. i was just as his house the other night. he has a 2 story floorplan and uses a big YAGI in his attic pointed at Riverview and gets CBS off the side of it (doesn't have a 2nd antenna).
So link up with him.

Jaymer...

a link to his msg (http://www.tampahdtv.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=5857#5857)

[chupacabra]

Thanks Jaymer!

[jdiehl]

Yep. It's a mid-range ChannelMaster (3016 or 3018 maybe?) that I picked up at Lowe's. I have a ranch with a bonus room, so it's not like putting it in the attic of a true 2 story (which would get you higher up and probably a stronger signal). Even so, I get a lock on all of the major digital locals.

I attached a mast to one of the support beams in the attic, and then attached the yagi antenna to it. I have it pointed almost due South (maybe just a hair to the East) and I'm still able to pick up CBS off to the side (~75-80 signal strength, the rest are in the high 80's and 90's).

Feel free to stop by and we can get out a ladder and poke your head up for a peak in the attic access (from the MST Bedroom closet).

[chupacabra]

Thanks for the information Jon,
I hope to move in this month, PP are really dragging their feet with the final stages of my house and it's driving me crazy (that's a whole different issue).

I have one of those Tampabay specials that has a huge Yagi and a smaller one (looks like an alligator mouth).

I don't know if this will fit in my attic, I had coax cable run in there so it should be easy to try it.

I'll take you up on the offer to see your antenna once I am moved in, I really appreciate that - it will help me out alot.

One last thing, I assume you have D*, were they not able to provide a good setup for OTA? I won't be subscibing to D*.

Thanks!
Victor

[jdiehl]

One last thing, I assume you have D*, were they not able to provide a good setup for OTA? I won't be subscibing to D*.

Thanks!
Victor

I had BHN digital cable and was unimpressed with the service and pricing (I kept RoadRunner for $32.95/month though 8) ). I switched to D* in August, I moved into the house in June and had already installed the antenna on my own when D* installed their dish so I didn't need them to setup OTA for me.

As for your house, and closing.. make sure you get Ryland Homes to fix everything before closing. Once you close, they get even slower at fixing any issues (although they did eventually get everything done on mine within 45 days of closing).

[chupacabra]

Thanks,
I had to email the director of operations last week and light a fire. I received a response from him telling me that they are going to address everything... who really knows. You are the correct about having them fix everything prior to closing, hopefully they will fix it all this month.

Take care,
Victor.

[haneyrm]

Jdiehl,

Could you let me know how many digital channels you are getting. Specifically the 3-*'s (PBS). I recently moved my antenna from my attic to my roof and lost all of the 3-*'s for some reason. Most other channels come in loud and clear now but PBS is missing. I live just a few miles south of you off of Livingston in Lutz.

Thanks in Advance,
Mike

[chupacabra]

Hey this is a good opportunity to update everyone on my progress. I moved in during Christmas week and shortly after hooked up my home theater equipment and STB.
I had on hand a radio shack rabbit ear gimmick (two antennas, and a circle antenna in between) I hooked it up and I get every channel except WB.

So now I am considering not installing anything in the attick and just sticking with the radio shack cheapy for now at least. I did try that radio shack omnidirection and it was really crappy.

Jon,
I am in the back of Plantation Palms. Send me a PM if you want to check it out.

Thanks!!!
Chupacabra.

[jdiehl]

Jdiehl,

Could you let me know how many digital channels you are getting. Specifically the 3-*'s (PBS). I recently moved my antenna from my attic to my roof and lost all of the 3-*'s for some reason. Most other channels come in loud and clear now but PBS is missing. I live just a few miles south of you off of Livingston in Lutz.

Thanks in Advance,
Mike

I get them all (3, 8, 10, 13, 28, 38, 44, 66) and a couple others that I rarely if ever watch. All three PBS and NBC digitals come in just fine.

chupacabra - yeah, we'll have to get together sometime and check out each other's setup. I'm on Abercorn Lane (in front of the #4 tee box).

[conan18]

I live in that same general area off Hwy 54. I just installed a (Zenith Silver Sensor) indoor antenna. It works great and I can now pick up HD signals very clearly from virtually all stations. I was really surprised at how much better it performed over my Terk amplified VHF/UHF rabbit ear antenna. I could not pick up any HD with that antenna.

[trekkerxp]

Greetings to All: many thanks to the creators of this forum. The information has been very useful as I prepare to move to the Tampa Bay area due to job.

I am moving to the apartment complex at Collier Parkway and 54 and was wondering what the results for OTA were.

I am coming with my Media Center with an ATI HDTV wonder and the included basic antenna that is essentially the Zenith Silver Sensor.

Since it's an apartment, i can't get too carried away with antenna's that can be mistaken for Cessna's. From what I have read so far, it looks promising that my setup will work for the most part.

Any others in that area have suggestions or comments on what the reception is like?

Thanks again for all contributions to help us all enjoy TV the way it should be - HDTV!!

TrekkerXP

[trekkerxp]

Greetings to All: many thanks to the creators of this forum. The information has been very useful as I prepare to move to the Tampa Bay area due to job.

I am moving to the apartment complex at Collier Parkway and 54 and was wondering what the results for OTA were.

I am coming with my Media Center with an ATI HDTV wonder and the included basic antenna that is essentially the Zenith Silver Sensor.

Since it's an apartment, i can't get too carried away with antenna's that can be mistaken for Cessna's. From what I have read so far, it looks promising that my setup will work for the most part.

Any others in that area have suggestions or comments on what the reception is like?

Thanks again for all contributions to help us all enjoy TV the way it should be - HDTV!!

TrekkerXP

[chupacabra]

Trekkerxp,
My experience with rabbit ears has been good, they are sitting on top of my entertainment center and everything is on the 2nd floor above the garage.

Until you set yours up, it's almost impossible to predict the results.

Good luck.