I recently made a TV antenna, and strangely it seems to pick
up some cable channels like VH1 and TNT. They're a bit
snowy, but they're definitely there. Does anyone know why
this might be? I live in an apartment, so could I be
getting signals from someone else's wires?

Thanks

anonymous,
You're probably right. You're picking up the signal
from someone else's connection, or, there's an unterminated
line near enough for you to pick up. At any rate, enjoy
it while you can.
'Doc

On 22 Nov 2003 12:14:31 -0500, wrote:

I recently made a TV antenna, and strangely it seems to pick
up some cable channels like VH1 and TNT. They're a bit
snowy, but they're definitely there. Does anyone know why
this might be? I live in an apartment, so could I be
getting signals from someone else's wires?

Some one has probably taken the chap way and just wired their outside
antenna to their set in parallel with the outside antenna. That turns
the antenna into a radiator as far as the cable signals are concerned.

It could also be a leak in the line. When the line leaks bad enough
to receive channels even over a short distance it's a pretty bad leak.

If you have 2-meter capability, tune to 145.25 which is the audio sub
carrier for channel 18 on cable. If you hear a strong signal there
operating on two probably wipes out that channel and maybe others.
I've completely saturated an amp like that and shut down the maid
distribution amps for a cable company. They fixed the leaks right
away.

You'll have to fix the return add due to viruses not spam
Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair?)
www.rogerhalstead.com


Thanks

On Mon, 24 Nov 2003 08:40:21 GMT, Roger Halstead
wrote:
It could also be a leak in the line. When the line leaks bad enough
to receive channels even over a short distance it's a pretty bad leak.

Hi All,

It could also be an equipment shielding leak. Modern VCR's, DVD
players and so on have minimal shielding (or none) that could easily
become a source. Myself, I suffer this in some degree for local,
over-the-air signals that come in nearly as strong as cable feed. It
is odd to see ghost overlays arriving (a couple of seconds) before the
cable feed image.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

What usually causes this in an apatment is that someone has their "rabbit
ears" connected in paralell with the input to their TV. I discovered this
when I was in the USAF and they installed cabel in the barracks. By
connecting the cable to a set of rabbit ears we were able to broadcast the
signal from the second floor to rooms about 3 or 4 doors each way on the
first second and third floors. No fuzzy pictures either. Later someone
connected an antenna directly to the main cable instead of off a splitter so
the whole barracks could get free TV.

wrote in message
...
I recently made a TV antenna, and strangely it seems to pick
up some cable channels like VH1 and TNT. They're a bit
snowy, but they're definitely there. Does anyone know why
this might be? I live in an apartment, so could I be
getting signals from someone else's wires?

Thanks

In article ,
says...
What usually causes this in an apatment is that someone has their "rabbit
ears" connected in paralell with the input to their TV. I discovered this
when I was in the USAF and they installed cabel in the barracks. By
connecting the cable to a set of rabbit ears we were able to broadcast the
signal from the second floor to rooms about 3 or 4 doors each way on the
first second and third floors. No fuzzy pictures either. Later someone
connected an antenna directly to the main cable instead of off a splitter so
the whole barracks could get free TV.

I'm willing to bet that only lasted until the base frequency management
office started getting complaints of interference on some of the
tactical FM gear, at which point they'd DF it to your barracks building.
Someone probably received a large boot in the backside as a result....

--

-- //Steve//

Steve Silverwood, KB6OJS
Fountain Valley, CA
Email:
Web: http://home.earthlink.net/~kb6ojs_steve

"Steve Silverwood" wrote in message
k.net...
In article ,
says...
What usually causes this in an apatment is that someone has their
"rabbit
ears" connected in paralell with the input to their TV. I discovered
this
when I was in the USAF and they installed cabel in the barracks. By
connecting the cable to a set of rabbit ears we were able to broadcast
the
signal from the second floor to rooms about 3 or 4 doors each way on
the
first second and third floors. No fuzzy pictures either. Later someone
connected an antenna directly to the main cable instead of off a
splitter so
the whole barracks could get free TV.

I'm willing to bet that only lasted until the base frequency management
office started getting complaints of interference on some of the
tactical FM gear, at which point they'd DF it to your barracks building.
Someone probably received a large boot in the backside as a result....

Nope, Thses were all in the normal 12 VHF channels so no one complained.
Least not for the 3 years I was there.

In article ,
says...
I'm willing to bet that only lasted until the base frequency management
office started getting complaints of interference on some of the
tactical FM gear, at which point they'd DF it to your barracks building.
Someone probably received a large boot in the backside as a result....

Nope, Thses were all in the normal 12 VHF channels so no one complained.
Least not for the 3 years I was there.

Cool! Remind me to take you with me next time I go to Vegas -- you're
obviously a good luck charm! :-)

--

-- //Steve//

Steve Silverwood, KB6OJS
Fountain Valley, CA
Email: