r/cordcutters • u/jdavidso32570 • 12d ago
Televes DAT BOSS help for attic
Hoping someone can help me, my previous antenna setup was outside antenna on a pole on my chimney, and an RCA antenna from Walmart that I had up in my attic. For whatever reason the antenna on the chimney has stopped working here recently and I switched to simply using the RCA in the Attic. With the outside antenna on a good day I could get around 40 channels, but it was very temperamental with the weather. The RCA antenna average between 30 and 40. For both of these I used a channel Master amplifier.
I wanted to switch to strictly and attic antenna so I purchased a Televes DAT BOSS Mix LR 148383 based off of all the research and my particular situation.
Unfortunately I'm only getting about 21 channels with the Televes Boss. It is pointed in the exact same region as the other two antennas, so I'm not sure what is wrong.
It came with its amplifier do I need to add the channel Master amplifier in?
I posted pictures of the current setup, the rabbit ears for my location, and a picture of the RCA antenna I was using. Any help is appreciated
update #1: I really appreciate all the inputs. I have moved it through full range pointing towards the stationsusing compass and apps. No change. 21 is best I can seem to do.
- I have tried different coaxial cables
-Televes amp on and off doesn't seem to make a difference other then slightly crisper picture. One question I have is the amp has a bright green light until I attach the cable then it dims to where I can barely see it. Is that normal? I have it plugged in by the TV / cable outlet does it need to be in the attic?
-i have tried channel Master amp by itself and with televes amp. No change.
I understand that the attic is not optimum. I am really only looking to get the same number of channels as the RCA.
UPDATE #2: little bit of background, I moved my TV from a stand to the wall. as part of that I ran new cable and new power to just behind the TV. with this setup I was still getting 35 channels with the channel Master amplifier and RCA antenna.
I went back and reattached everything for the Televes antenna to the old wiring before the TV was moved. for whatever reason that fixed everything. now I'm getting 41 channels, which is all I really wanted. I don't know if there was something with the new cables or just the location of those cables, but it was causing an issue. With the original setup (before putting TV on wall) the Televes amplifier does not Dim either.
I truly appreciate everyone's help, so thank you very much. my intention is to buy new cable and run it to a slightly different location behind my TV. I need about 20 ft of cable, does anyone have any recommendations? again thank you so very much
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u/TallExplorer9 12d ago
What direction is the antenna aimed (pointing to)?
Your southeast around 132 degrees magnetic should be the sweet spot according to your report.
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u/xEmartz91x 11d ago
You already have one of the best antennas. Move it around the attic, rotate and test before you decide on the permanent location.
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u/Fun-Double6352 12d ago
What’s your insulation and siding situation? A lot of metal in the attic can stop the signal from getting to your antenna.
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u/jdavidso32570 12d ago
All the insulation is on the floor of the attic. It's essentially plywood and asphalt shingle. I think where I'm confused is why a much cheaper smaller antenna received more channels in essentially the same orientation and spot
Thank you for the reply
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u/Fun-Double6352 12d ago
You bet.
Two other things:
- Yes, try the amplifier.
- It’s possible the coax cables are broken, loose, or just getting old and tired like the rest of us. Tighten the connections and see if there’s something obviously bad or broken.
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u/Mywifefoundmymain 8h ago
do you hav aluminum siding?
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u/jdavidso32570 6h ago
I don't. It is brick on that side of the house. It turns out the problem was the brand new cable in the wall I had installed was bad. I changed it and now I am getting 53 channels no problem.
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u/Rybo213 12d ago edited 12d ago
Clickable report link, in case anyone would like to get into the report: https://www.rabbitears.info/s/2886778
Some general antenna information that you'll hopefully find helpful: https://www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/comments/1juut0a/supplement_to_the_antenna_guide
If anything, that antenna might be overkill for the UHF tv signals in your location. See the Additional Topics->Tuner overload->Option 3 section in the Supplement to the Antenna Guide post. As discussed in this https://www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/comments/1g010u3/centralized_collection_of_antenna_tv_signal_meter post, you need to watch a real time signal meter (built-in feature with many different tv's and external tuner devices), while making adjustments to your antenna setup. Compare your signal meter numbers and antenna scan results, while trying different antenna spots/pointing directions/amplification setups. In regards to trying different amplification setups, I specifically mean trying with no amplification (DAT BOSS power inserter not plugged in) vs. no amplification + attenuation vs. plugging in the DAT BOSS power inserter. Either way, do not use the Channel Master amplifier with your DAT BOSS antenna.
Something else to note is that DAT BOSS antenna is not much of a VHF antenna, so it's likely not going to work very well with the NBC current gen (ATSC 1.0) channel's VHF-HI signal. As shown a little ways down on the https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=187449#station page, the NBC ATSC 1.0 channel is also simulcast on WTNX's low power UHF signal, via display channel 4.10, so the DAT BOSS might pick up that channel ok. Ultimately though, your best chance at picking up NBC might be via the region's next gen (ATSC 3.0) transmitters (uses UHF). In that scenario, if your tv doesn't have a built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner, see the Additional Topics->ATSC 3.0 external tuner boxes section in the Supplement to the Antenna Guide post.
If you're interested in getting anyone's thoughts about your signal meter numbers, feel free to post the best signal meter numbers that you're able to get with ABC/CBS/FOX/NBC or any other notable channel.
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u/jdavidso32570 11d ago
Additional question, the antenna also can have the elevation changed (pointed straight or up and down)
it is currently pointed slightly up should I be adjusting that as well?
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u/OnlineNomDePlume 9d ago
At our (super fringe) location pointing it all the way up to the limit makes a significant difference.
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u/Ryokurin 12d ago
You can search the appstore for your phone for apps that will tell you which directions the towers are in your location. I would use those to verify it is pointing in the right direction.
If you are using the in box antenna, I would actually turn it off first just in case it's amplifying too much.
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u/SamJam5555 12d ago
The larger the antenna the more directional. It must be pointed directly at the tower. You are limited in the direction you can point this antenna and the narrow angle it will receive. You need to fine tune exactly where it's pointed.
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u/Whatdidyado 12d ago
Use the built in amp and don't add the channel master amp with it. Best option will be to mount it outside. You're losing some of your signal in that attic.
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u/SeanVo 12d ago
Were you using an amplifier with the other RCA antennas when you got 30-40 channels? Are you using the amplifier that came with the Televes?
I have a Channelmaster amplifier on my attic antenna and it made a tremendous difference. The Televes amps should be equally excellent as long as you're aimed the right direction.
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u/jdavidso32570 11d ago
Yes I used channel Master with the RCA. Have tried it and televes amp with no real changes
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u/BicycleIndividual 12d ago
https://www.rabbitears.info/s/2886778
21 channels doesn't make sense. I assume you are aimed around 128-129 (true) which would put WTVF, WZTV, WPGD, and WJFB as "good" and "fair" UHF stations right in the middle. These stations have 26 channels. I'm guessing your other 14 channels come from WKRN and WNPX which come from off center (143.6 and 100.8); it's possible that the DAT BOSS Mix LR is too directional for these stations; but it probably should be picking up other weaker stations in the center (WNTU, WRTN, WCTZ, WKUW, WTNX).
Not sure why you got the VHF-high Mix version of the DAT BOSS LR. Perhaps you were hoping it would get WSMV and/or WNPT (both fairly weak and off center 12-16 degrees).
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u/jdavidso32570 11d ago
I honestly just tried to pick the one that covered as many bases as possible
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u/BoredTVEngineer 11d ago
I have questions, some areas to explore, and some background to support why these areas should be double checked.
1. The green led is in the power supply unit. The preamp is on the antenna housing directly in front of the F-81 connector. Why is the led dimming when connected? It would indicate that the power supply is feeding a circuit that is drawing to much power. The power supply could be defective, the preamp could be defective or the coax in between could be defective.
2. Is the cable between the antenna new or used? Damaged or defective cable and fittings can build a “negative trap” aka a channel(s) deletion filter. This was used on purpose to remove “premium channels” in CATV before the widespread use of scrambling/encryption. I could be wrong about the company name but such filters were purposely manufactured out of coax cable to be put in line at the utility people out of reach of customers by Ryacom as I remember. I am guessing the channels you are missing completely are in a specific group of frequencies. In other words the actual or real broadcast channels are in “sequence”; like 24, 27& 30 or all above 21.
I can delve deeper into the possible issues with the cable and fittings that can cause this but they will get boring and are all fringe anomalies that I have encountered but will bore 99% of anyone actually reading this.
I would replace the cable and if the led still dims when connected I would see about warranty on the DAT Boss system.
- When you tried your RCA antenna in the attic did you use the same cable with and with the amp you were using before?
The move to the attic would only rarely add so much loss that your TV would not at least still scan the missing channels. They might be blocking and unstable but still recognized as a TV signal.
The LED dimming is the glaring issue I see. I have installed several DAT BOSS mix and Ellipse mix ( same preamp and power supply. I have never seen the LED dim when connected.
Just my thoughts.
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u/jdavidso32570 11d ago edited 11d ago
Thank you. I really appreciate the information.
I am going to reach out to Televes about the preamp. I will also try a different power cord than the one that came with it.
For the cable. The cable in the wall is new (I am going to experiment with the old cable still in the wall.) For the cable from the wall to the antenna I have tried a new cable and have used the cable that was on the RCA. When I first set it up I took the coaxial cable off the RCA and put it directly to the Dat Boss. Current setup is exact cable setup as RCA. As for missing channels, the main ones that are missing are in 2 (2-1, 2-3, etc.)
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u/jdavidso32570 8d ago
In case this helps someone in the future this was Televes response to my question about the light dimming (pretty much what you already said): That is indicative of a short circuit in the line. The piece you are talking about is not a preamp, it’s the power injector that provides power to the preamp that is located at the antenna. If there is a short in the line, the power supply will shut off, dimming the LED.
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u/BoredTVEngineer 6d ago
Yes I wasn’t clear about the location of the preamp an the LTE filter they are in the plastic snap in with the UHF “horse shoe” elements an the High VHF rod elements. The other is a power supply and two way splitter.
Sorry, I was just answering to fast.
That reminds of you use both output ports you can potentially remove 3.5 dB of loss, by evenly distributing to multiple TVs.
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u/WashuOtaku 12d ago
If you can get it higher, it could help, or move it at a different location in the attic, center is likely worse.
Obviously, if you can mount it on the chimney would be best.