[kwlug-disc] What's needed for OTA on a TV cart?

[unsolicited]

Ended up purchasing the Zinwell, $70, at 
http://www.researchelectronic.com/fta.php?sub=5&a=23

- apparently they have even cheaper ones, and Canada Computer still has 
the Homeworx for $40. If I did it again, I'd go as cheap as possible 
(now knowing what's what). I went with this one as it has a better 
(separate signal strength and quality) meter, and this all being new to 
me / the TV not being stationary, separate meters seemed useful.

[We already had 'rabbit ears', much like 
http://www.thesource.ca/estore/Product.aspx?language=en-CA&catalog=Online&category=Indoor+Antennas&product=1501857]

The TV being on wheels / a cart, means no internal/external/fixed 
antenna is possible - it has to fit and sit on the cart.

Only CKCO comes in - it does see that TVO and CITS are out there, but 
can't bring them in.

Apparently with a better / directional internal antenna, Global, TVO and 
City should also be possible, and perhaps even CBC and CFTO (Channel 9, 
CTV2).

Even if we replaced the TV with a widescreen LCD and built in tuner, an 
antenna would still be needed. Even just putting your finger on the 
connector is sufficient, but I have yet to find anyone willing to stand 
still long enough, without bathroom breaks, to be useful.

(If closed captioning is required - forget it, it's all garbled.)

On 13-03-24 03:12 AM, unsolicited wrote:
> Thanks.
>
>> Minimal non-high def tuner boxes are around the 40 dollar range
>
> I'm guessing you're talking about an ATSC tuner?
>
> Got a link to the sort of beastie you're talking about? Canada
> computer, factory direct, Orion, K-W Surplus?
>
>> A decent VHF rabbit ear can often do it.
>
> There's a set of rabbit ears there, but it's never been able to pick
> up anything, AFAIK. Even CKCO was full of snow. Now that they're
> digital ... I'm not sure anyone's tried. We just assumed the analogue
> rabbit ears / TV wasn't going to get anything.
>
> Not knowing what 'decent' is, any links?
>
>> failing that an antenna costing sub 40 dollars could be stuck in a
>> window to pick up it and possibly Global as well.
>
> No window anywhere near where it's normally used. This would have to
> be entirely mobile / plug and play - and the plug would be of a
> single extension cord into a power outlet. (-:
>
> Come check us out any Friday night, we serve the best Sloppy Joe's in
>  town! Free! For you, I'll throw in a cup of coffee!
>
> On 13-03-24 02:24 AM, R. Brent Clements wrote:
>> Minimal non-high def tuner boxes are around the 40 dollar range
>> (maybe less now).  CKCO doesn't really require much in terms of an
>> antenna. A decent VHF rabbit ear can often do it.  failing that an
>> antenna costing sub 40 dollars could be stuck in a window to pick
>> up it and possibly Global as well.
>>
>> On Sun, Mar 24, 2013 at 1:25 AM, unsolicited <unsolicited at swiz.ca>
>> wrote:
>>> For the TV gurus out there ...
>>>
>>> At kwootcfri, K-W Out Of The Cold (kwootc.ca), Friday, we have a
>>> (analogue tube) TV on a cart. No cable. We play DVD's for the
>>> guests each Friday night. Corner of King & William, in Waterloo.
>>>
>>> What might we need to be able to watch CKCO / news / whatever?
>>>
>>> I'm guessing some sort of internal antenna (being on a wheeled
>>> cart, nothing could be mounted anywhere), and an ATSC tuner.
>>>
>>> Being donation and volunteer based, any recommendations for the
>>> cheapest / cost reasonable / value for reception ability /
>>> <stuff> needed?
>>>
>>> Although we have wi-fi, I don't believe it would be practical to
>>> strap a PC to the cart and get content via the internet, but the
>>> idea is intriguing. Is there <stuff> to be had, out there? (It
>>> would have to be fire and forget, there's nobody around minding
>>> the channel / remote / whatever.)
>>>
>>> (If you guess I know little about this topic, you'd be right.)
>>>
>>> TIA
>
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