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UHF or VHF antenna for Channel 13?
As of February 16th of 2009, WEAU became digital on VHF channel 13. The same VHF antenna you used for 13 analog should work for 13 digital. The same tower is used to transmit. The digital signal can be interfered with by such sources as computers, appliances and even fluorescent lighting. Many of the new indoor HDTV antennas were optimized for UHF reception and therefore will give difficulty on channel 13.
You might experiment by putting the indoor antenna near a window or raising it about the TV. An outdoor antenna is highly recommended. An outdoor High Band VHF antenna pointing at WEAU’s Tower located at Fairchild, WI is the best solution for channel 13. Pictures from Winegard shown below: http://www.winegarddirect.com |
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Your antenna must point at the station you are trying to receive. The signal will not be dependable if the antenna is pointing in another direction. It may be necessary to make small adjustments in antenna direction to peak reception.
Most digital tuners and converters do not have FM Traps built in. The old analog TVs did. Some reception problems are due to FM Radio interference. If you have an antenna amplifier make sure the FM trap is switched in, or install an FM Trap at your antenna input to your tuner or converter box.
A possible source is: www.microwavefilter.com/pdffiles/5kmt.pdf Cost is about $22.
Many of the new indoor & outdoor HDTV amplified or power boosted antennas do not work well for VHF. In some cases turning off the amplifier (pull the AC plug) will allow the antenna to work for VHF channel 13. The Smart Antennas, the rectangular antennas that hang on the wall or sit under your TV don’t seem to work for VHF 13 reception. The old style antennas seem better. If you have rabbit ears, extend the ears no more than 18 inches and form them into a 90 degree open V. Position the flat side of the V towards our tower at Fairchild WI. Place the antenna as close to a window or the station side of the house as possible.
The digital coverage area is about the same as analog, possible slightly better. The FCC shows it as 101% coverage. With digital there is no tolerance with a less than good signal. When with analog you could accept snowy pictures, but that is no more. It is either good or nothing. In reality, there were some shortcomings in the beginning resulting in power increase requests for maximizing. The current power permission was issued in June 2009.
| Installer/City | Phone |
| Advanced Multimedia Solutions(LaCrescent) | 800-757-0895 |
| Apple River TV(Amery) | 715-268-7882 |
| AudioVideo Environment(Eau Claire) | |
| Bushland Radio(Altoona) Antenna Sales Only | 715-832-0425 |
| Bills Satellite & Ant.(Augusta) | 715-286-2716 |
| CommWorld (RiceLake) | 715-234-1344 |
| D&M Antenna(Menomonie) | 715-235-9604 |
| DennysTV(Thorp) | 715-669-5313 |
| Gary's Antenna Service(Chetek) | 715-354-3515 |
| Greenwood TV(Greenwood) | 715-267-6307 |
| JacoSystems(Stoddard) | 608-788-2688 |
| Jacques Antenna(Winona) | 507-454-7444 |
| Joe's Satellite(Osseo) | 715-597-6277 |
| Mike's TV(Sparta) | 608-269-5802 |
| MohrsTV(Bloomer) | 800-691-6647 |
| Mondovi TV(Mondovi)Antenna Sales Only | 715-926-3185 |
| Rowan TV(Tomah) | 608-372-6594 |
| John Smatlak (Ladysmith) | |
| Tatzel Radio/TV(Necedah) | 608-565-7597 |
| Sound Installations(EauClaire) | 715-831-6029 |
| Wood TV(EauClaire) | 715-834-3822 |
