Tv DXing, are they reducing power on analog?

[zenithfan1]

I've noticed in the last few months, that analog station signal quality has been slowly degrading. Has anyone else noticed this or is it just my area? I'm trying to Dx on the '63 Zenith, a '74 P'Color and a '75 MGA 13", the MGA was always GREAT at rabbit ear reception. This is the set I used in my first apartment because I didn't have cable. Now, the reception is sucking on it too! The sky is "clear" tonight too. Man, I'd like to enjoy the last few months on analog. I guess if this is the case, it wont die, it will just fade away.....

[zenith2134]

Haven't noticed this, Mark. I use a few different sets for DX. The best is actually my SF chassis GE. Dont know what it is, but the thing pulls in DX when I'm using it regularly and not even trying!

But my mainstay is a 78 Magnavox b&w portable. Very sensitive Sarkes Tarzian click tuner.

For VHF, I use indoor antenna a lot, but have a UHF dish atop the roof which pulls in a heck of a lot on digital.

Anyone DXing digital?

[zenithfan1]

I sometimes can get IN ch 16 WNDU on digicrap. but ONLY once in a while, I also have to do a voodoo animal sacrifice and then dance wildly in front of the set to get it to work. But seriously, The reception of everything here has been degrading it seems. The other day at work I was listening to 95 Will Rock WIIL in Kenosha, it always comes in perfect with no noise in Lake Forest. It was bad enough that I changed the station. I wonder what's up? Anyone else in the Chicago Milwaukee area having problems?

[electroking]

Originally Posted by zenithfan1

I've noticed in the last few months, that analog station signal quality has been slowly degrading. Has anyone else noticed this or is it just my area? I'm trying to Dx on the '63 Zenith, a '74 P'Color and a '75 MGA 13", the MGA was always GREAT at rabbit ear reception. This is the set I used in my first apartment because I didn't have cable. Now, the reception is sucking on it too! The sky is "clear" tonight too. Man, I'd like to enjoy the last few months on analog. I guess if this is the case, it wont die, it will just fade away.....

Maybe they are lax on transmitter maintenance, in those last few months,
although their licenses technically mandate them not to deviate too far
down from their allocated power. Do you ever pick Canadian stations?
Definitely not with rabbit ears in your area I guess, but those are to be
around 'til August, 2011, something to consider before you retire your
old sets to VCR/DVD/videogame service. Good night.

P.S. : I was checking the wikipedia lists of Canadian TV stations, and
many of those don't even have a digital TV channel allocation yet.

[classictv80s]

I've noticed the same thing also. One of my local stations used to have the best reception, now it has the worst.

[zenithfan1]

Wish I were closer to the border, I haven't picked up anything Canadian with the rooftop ant. I did just hook it directly to the UHF on the GE, it's working pretty well, I'm getting Fox 17 WXMI out of Grand Rapids, MI very weakly, I used to pick it up with the loop ant. back in the 90's. That was on the '74 "Yellow Zenith" B/W portable, it's down in the basement...Hmmmm...I think it's time to wake it up.

[zenithfan1]

Originally Posted by classictv80s

I've noticed the same thing also. One of my local stations used to have the best reception, now it has the worst.

Ha! I'm NOT the only one, that is the case here with channels 2,4,5,6,7,9,...ah hell, all of 'em! { zenithfan leaves the room to get the Zenith}

[zenithfan1]

This beats all, the "Yellow Zenith" is beating all the others! With the loop ant.! While not as good as years ago, much better than the room-full of tvs running now. I picked this set up back in '96.
Update: The "Yellow Zenith" wins, I'm getting channel 8! I haven't seen that one come in for years, others are sucking but I got 8?? I forgot what network they are, I think NBC I'll watch and see..... I love DXing, sure will miss it.....

[MRX37]

I've been having the opposite effect:

I've been getting channels fron southern Ohio and northern Michigan by just using a pair of rabbit ears. Sometimes they'll stay for hours before fading away.

[zenithfan1]

Very interesting, there must be some sort of interference around here, could be almost anything as I live right in the middle of the city. I get all kinds of what look like communications interference. Some sets are more sensitive than others and where I'm at really brings that out. I should take a set out into the county and hook it to my portable power supply and see what I get.