| Author | Message | ||
| Roy Mealer (Road_dawg)
Registered Member Username: Road_dawg Post Number: 1 Registered: 4-2011 Posted From: 72.178.195.31 Rating: N/A |
do you know of a roof mount am/fm radio antenna that also has a tv antenna built in it ? Or what is the best way to install separate antennas? I am building an entertainment center over the driving area and it would make things much easier to be able to install antenna directly over where the radio and tv are located. thank you | ||
| David Evans (Dmd)
Registered Member Username: Dmd Post Number: 591 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 24.46.196.121  Rating: N/A |
Try the RV or boating catalogs. I used to have one called a UFO cause it looked like one. Not to big and areodynamic. I am sure they have newer and better versions by now. Try camping world.com, West Marine or google search | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1531 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 75.58.180.30  Rating: N/A |
With the new digital setups , its ALL or Nothing. The old days of a ghost or weak signal are gone . Also few new TV are expected to see weak over the air signals , so most suck at distant viewing. Therefore the RV or boat antenna should have a signal amplifier that can be switched off to save DC. FF | ||
| George M. Todd (George_todd)
Registered Member Username: George_todd Post Number: 1237 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 99.37.28.23 Rating: N/A |
Roy, AM-FM, and the new digital TV signal are on different frequencies, and can't be received on the same antenna. Satellite reception requires a third, totaly different antenna. I would suggest an in-motion satellite system which will give you everything you want in one clear digital package. G | ||
| Sean Welsh (Sean)
Registered Member Username: Sean Post Number: 1262 Registered: 1-2003 Posted From: 162.6.97.3  Rating: N/A |
Actually, FM is right in the middle of the VHF TV band, so, technically, you can receive FM just fine with a VHF/UHF TV antenna setup. That said, you'd have to have some way to split the signal to feed both the TV and the FM receiver, and the splitter itself will actually attenuate the signal somewhat, making marginal stations that much harder to get. Since FM is a much narrower band, I recommend a separate antenna for this purpose anyway. Usually an indoor antenna works just fine for FM. You are correct that AM radio is well outside of this band. However, this is mostly a moot point since few if any AM radios have a provision for an external antenna any longer. Most aftermarket car radios as well as home receiver/amplifiers use the antenna input only for FM signals, and use an internally mounted coil-type antenna for AM reception. BTW, FWIW, the "new" digital TV signals are in exactly the same bands as the "old" analog signals; the antennas are identical, notwithstanding marketing hype about "digital-ready" antennas. I remember similar nonsense when MP3 players first came out, with people selling "digital" headphones, as if the actual audio output was somehow different. -Sean http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1518 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 97.212.103.41  Rating: N/A |
Thanx for the clarification, Sean! George..but pricey, eh what? (satellite) RCB (Message edited by chuckllb on May 30, 2011) | ||
| George M. Todd (George_todd)
Registered Member Username: George_todd Post Number: 1238 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 99.37.28.23 Rating: N/A |
Chuck, I tried to present a simple, workable, solution to the question posed, along with some reinforcement for it. I'm not picking at Sean's reply, as it is absoutely correct. BUT, in my post, I said "...AM-FM, and the new digital TV signal are on different frequencies and can't be received on the same antenna..." Then Sean says "Actually FM is in the middle of the VHF TV band...technically...you would need a splitter which would attenuate (weaken) the signal, making marginal stations that much harder to get." Then "You are correct that AM is well outside of this band..." Isn't that the same thing? What I did not post, because I was not recommending trying to receive off-air FM or TV, was that a standard roof-mounted automotive type FM whip antenna will make his bus well over 13 feet high. If he is using an analog TV, he will also need a digital converter box, which is just one more problem, and a requirement for 120 Volts AC while its being used. Bottom line of this, is suggesting something that WORKS! Most of us want to travel in our buses, so how much AM-FM and TV signal is available out in the country, or halfway between large towns on the interstate? In the Northern California area, two of the major network stations lost at least a fourth of their outlying viewers in hilly country when they went digital, due to the reduction in signal strength, and had to raise their antennas another 300 feet. From a cost standpoint, it may well be nothing, as the poster is probably going to have satellite for when he's parked aready. At worst he'll have to buy a music, or local station package. G | ||
| Dan Clishe (Cody)
Registered Member Username: Cody Post Number: 91 Registered: 1-2008 Posted From: 206.51.120.170 Rating: N/A |
Thank you george |