I occasionally have need of a TV signal strength meter, when I re-arrange
or debug my TV antenna farm. (We don’t believe in cable.)
Do any of you either know of a source for an inexpensive signal strength
meter (tunable to individual VHF channels, at a minimum), or can you
suggest a simple way to build one. I imagine that a tv tuner connected,
to a simple detector to turn the output to DC, connected to a meter,
is the basic idea.
Bill Dudley
wdud…@monmouth.com
William F. Dudley (wdud…@shell.monmouth.com) wrote:
: I occasionally have need of a TV signal strength meter, when I re-arrange
: or debug my TV antenna farm. (We don’t believe in cable.)
: Do any of you either know of a source for an inexpensive signal strength
: meter (tunable to individual VHF channels, at a minimum), or can you
: suggest a simple way to build one. I imagine that a tv tuner connected,
: to a simple detector to turn the output to DC, connected to a meter,
: is the basic idea.
How about simply connecting a voltmeter to the AGC voltage of a TV set?
That would have the advantage that you’d be able to see the signal
you’re measuring.
AGC is one of the connection points to the tuner, if I’m not mistaken.
–
Michael A. Covington http://www.ai.uga.edu/faculty/covington/
Artificial Intelligence Center <><
The University of Georgia Unless specifically indicated, I am
Athens, GA 30602-7415 U.S.A. not speaking for the University.
wdud…@shell.monmouth.com (William F. Dudley) wrote:
>I occasionally have need of a TV signal strength meter, when I re-arrange
>or debug my TV antenna farm. (We don’t believe in cable.)
>Do any of you either know of a source for an inexpensive signal strength
>meter (tunable to individual VHF channels, at a minimum), or can you
>suggest a simple way to build one. I imagine that a tv tuner connected,
>to a simple detector to turn the output to DC, connected to a meter,
>is the basic idea.
>Bill Dudley
>wdud…@monmouth.com
1. Get a schematic of a TV set you own, but don’t mind breaking.
Find the AGC line, and run it to a voltmeter. A VTVM, or DMM is ok.
That is cheap. It is easy. It will work.
2. Get an expensive radio that tunes up to 690 MHz and has a
signal strength meter.
3. Get a used, less expensive signal strength meter from a cable
company. It won’t cover the upper UHF channels, but it will be
calibrated, sort of. Read out will be in dB above or below one
millivolt.
4. Get a new expensive one of the above in No. 3.
In general, keep your antennas at least one wave length from any other
antenna. Keep the antenna at least 1/2 wavelength from other metal,
except the mounting mast. Most people don’t keep ‘em far enough
apart.
Jeremy Lansman
KYES-TV
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
mcovi…@ai.uga.edu (Michael Covington) wrote:
>William F. Dudley (wdud…@shell.monmouth.com) wrote:
>: I occasionally have need of a TV signal strength meter, when I re-arrange
>: or debug my TV antenna farm. (We don’t believe in cable.)
>: Do any of you either know of a source for an inexpensive signal strength
>: meter (tunable to individual VHF channels, at a minimum), or can you
>: suggest a simple way to build one. I imagine that a tv tuner connected,
>: to a simple detector to turn the output to DC, connected to a meter,
>: is the basic idea.
>How about simply connecting a voltmeter to the AGC voltage of a TV set?
>That would have the advantage that you’d be able to see the signal
>you’re measuring.
>AGC is one of the connection points to the tuner, if I’m not mistaken.
>–
>Michael A. Covington http://www.ai.uga.edu/faculty/covington/
>Artificial Intelligence Center <><
>The University of Georgia Unless specifically indicated, I am
>Athens, GA 30602-7415 U.S.A. not speaking for the University.
I have connected a 50 microamps meter with a variable resistor in
series to de AGC of anTV set and it works. But may not give any
indication for low signals if the TV set has a so called delayed AGC.
This is the most commum situation.
Have fun
Mel at: lo…@odyssee.net