Sure is expensive to get free tv
 

Dumped Mediacom cable last month to save $100/month and hooked up to
the outside antenna. OK, the signal is not as good as it once was 18
years ago when we first moved in and the antenna was already here!
So last week I figured I would get some new coax and a new splitter
and clean up all the connections. Then I read that I should use
standoffs to keep the coax away from the metal tower to reduce
"interference". Went to Radio Shack this evening and bought the
standoffs. Made the mistake of taking the wife with me. She is counting
costs. So what do I have in costs now? 50' coax, a splitter, and some
standoffs: $20 tops. And she makes the remark, "It sure is expensive to
get free tv!"
I just had to smile.

Sure is expensive to get free tv
 

"user" wrote in message
...

Dumped Mediacom cable last month to save $100/month and hooked up to
the outside antenna. OK, the signal is not as good as it once was 18
years ago when we first moved in and the antenna was already here!
So last week I figured I would get some new coax and a new splitter
and clean up all the connections. Then I read that I should use
standoffs to keep the coax away from the metal tower to reduce
"interference". Went to Radio Shack this evening and bought the
standoffs. Made the mistake of taking the wife with me. She is counting
costs. So what do I have in costs now? 50' coax, a splitter, and some
standoffs: $20 tops. And she makes the remark, "It sure is expensive to
get free tv!"
I just had to smile.

Not as expensive as getting free sex when you're married.

Sure is expensive to get free tv
 

user wrote:
Dumped Mediacom cable last month to save $100/month and hooked up
to
the outside antenna. OK, the signal is not as good as it once was
18
years ago when we first moved in and the antenna was already here!
So last week I figured I would get some new coax and a new
splitter
and clean up all the connections. Then I read that I should use
standoffs to keep the coax away from the metal tower to reduce
"interference". Went to Radio Shack this evening and bought the
standoffs. Made the mistake of taking the wife with me. She is
counting
costs. So what do I have in costs now? 50' coax, a splitter, and
some
standoffs: $20 tops. And she makes the remark, "It sure is
expensive to
get free tv!"
I just had to smile.

Remind her that it's a one time expense, not every month. You don't
need standoffs for coax as that's a twinlead issue. And anyone who
_has_ twinlead (all both of you), get a new antenna and some RG-6
sized coax and toss the old stuff into the recycling bin. Your antenna
being 20 years old has quite possibly corroded and would be a
candidate for the bin also.

GG

Sure is expensive to get free tv
 

Captain Midnight wrote:
"user" wrote in message
...
Dumped Mediacom cable last month to save $100/month and hooked up to
the outside antenna. OK, the signal is not as good as it once was 18
years ago when we first moved in and the antenna was already here!
So last week I figured I would get some new coax and a new splitter
and clean up all the connections. Then I read that I should use
standoffs to keep the coax away from the metal tower to reduce
"interference". Went to Radio Shack this evening and bought the
standoffs. Made the mistake of taking the wife with me. She is counting
costs. So what do I have in costs now? 50' coax, a splitter, and some
standoffs: $20 tops. And she makes the remark, "It sure is expensive to
get free tv!"
I just had to smile.

Not as expensive as getting free sex when you're married.



Sex, *after* you get married? What a novel idea! Wait till the wife
hears about this...

Sure is expensive to get free tv
 

On 10 May 2007 18:51:27 -0700, G-squared wrote:

Your antenna
being 20 years old has quite possibly corroded and would be a
candidate for the bin also.

By that standard, he should also dump his wife.

Pete

Sure is expensive to get free tv
 

On May 10, 8:08 pm, Pete wrote:
On 10 May 2007 18:51:27 -0700, G-squared wrote:

Your antenna
being 20 years old has quite possibly corroded and would be a
candidate for the bin also.

By that standard, he should also dump his wife.

Pete

Yeah, but I bet she uses lotion.

GG

Sure is expensive to get free tv
 

"user" wrote in message
...

Dumped Mediacom cable last month to save $100/month and hooked up to
the outside antenna. OK, the signal is not as good as it once was 18 years
ago when we first moved in and the antenna was already here!

Possibly you used to watch VHF stations. In most places the digital stations
are on UHF.

So last week I figured I would get some new coax and a new splitter and
clean up all the connections. Then I read that I should use standoffs to
keep the coax away from the metal tower to reduce "interference". Went to
Radio Shack this evening and bought the standoffs.

Somebody gave you a bum steer. You don't need, or want, standoffs with coax.
You use the plastic clips that nail to the wall. Standoffs are for 300 Ohm
twin lead, and you really do need them if you are using that kind of wire.

Made the mistake of taking the wife with me. She is counting
costs. So what do I have in costs now? 50' coax, a splitter,

Careful about using splitters. Every time you go through one, the signal
gets cut in half. If you are not in a strong signal area, use a distribution
amplifier instead; just be sure it is an antenna distribution amplifier and
not CATV.


and some standoffs: $20 tops. And she makes the remark, "It sure is
expensive to get free tv!"
I just had to smile.

Sure is expensive to get free tv
 

Pete wrote:
On 10 May 2007 18:51:27 -0700, G-squared wrote:

Your antenna
being 20 years old has quite possibly corroded and would be a
candidate for the bin also.

By that standard, he should also dump his wife.

Pete

Just celebrated my wifes 30th wedding anniversary this last monday,
May 7th.
I don't know what I would do without my wife, but I'd sure like to
give it a 6 month try. :)

Sure is expensive to get free tv
 

On Thu, 10 May 2007 20:15:15 -0500, user wrote:



Couple of points:

Dumped Mediacom cable last month to save $100/month and hooked up to
the outside antenna. OK, the signal is not as good as it once was 18
years ago when we first moved in and the antenna was already here!
So last week I figured I would get some new coax and a new splitter
and clean up all the connections. Then I read that I should use
standoffs to keep the coax away from the metal tower to reduce

Old wives tale: You can tape the coax right to the mast.
I have two RG-6 to the UHF antennas at near 90 feet and one RG-6 to
the multi feed dish (Dish Network) at 20 feet, running right with the
cables to the ham antennas. I run up to 1500 watts to the ham
antennas.
No interference can be detected even with a spectrum analyzer.

"interference". Went to Radio Shack this evening and bought the
standoffs. Made the mistake of taking the wife with me. She is counting
costs. So what do I have in costs now? 50' coax, a splitter, and some
standoffs: $20 tops. And she makes the remark, "It sure is expensive to
get free tv!"

Make sure all connections on the antenna are clean and rust free and
that the balun is in good shape. Baluns are only about $3 give or
take.

I just had to smile.

An here I am with a 1000 foot roll of high quality RG-6 flooded at 12
cents a foot, 1000 feet of LMR-600, 2000 feet of LMR 400 at 59 cents a
foot (half of which is being replace by that LMR 600), 10 lightning
arrestors and 10 feed throughs mounted at the top and bottom of the
tower to ground the shield of the coax for lightning protection. I do
the same for the dish and TV antennas but the F-connectors are a whole
lot cheaper than N Type connectors for LMR-600. Yes, I skipped the
price of LMR-600. OH! and about 100 N type connectors for the LMR 400
and 600.

Actually for the TV antenna connections it only cost me about $50
total for the coax and connectors (200 foot run to each), but I didn't
count the remote antenna mounted preamps.

Sure is expensive to get free tv
 

user wrote in news:f20g24$7ek$1
@registered.motzarella.org:


Dumped Mediacom cable last month to save $100/month and hooked up
to
the outside antenna. OK, the signal is not as good as it once was 18
years ago when we first moved in and the antenna was already here!
So last week I figured I would get some new coax and a new splitter
and clean up all the connections. Then I read that I should use
standoffs to keep the coax away from the metal tower to reduce
"interference". Went to Radio Shack this evening and bought the
standoffs. Made the mistake of taking the wife with me. She is counting
costs. So what do I have in costs now? 50' coax, a splitter, and some
standoffs: $20 tops. And she makes the remark, "It sure is expensive to
get free tv!"
I just had to smile.

If you're using decent RG6 coax, you shoudn't need standoffs.

Those become important if you're feeding with twinlead.

If the antenna has 300-ohm impedance, though, you'll probably need a
balun to match it to 75-ohm coax.

--
Dave Oldridge+
ICQ 1800667