Hello!
Valtam or Teddy have the ability to move things around here; maybe one of them will do that. I created the post because what I found online to help set these cards up is sketchy, at best, and leaves a lot to have to 'tweak'.
An amplified antenna is an optional (but usually necessary) accessory. Like a TV card, the dongle has an 'F' coaxial connector that can connect to either cable TV, satellite service, or an external antenna. Both PCI card and USB dongle cost the same ($60-$80), but the USB model can be used on ANY computer - even a laptop or netbook. On the other hand, PCI cards with multiple inputs (UIAM, up to four) can record more than one channel at a time.
To initially scan for channels, I used a set of VHF/UHF 'rabbit ears' that have a built-in 18 dB amplifier. As for the dongle, it came with a little non-amplified telescoping antenna attached to a cable, like a portable radio or TV would have, but in order to get the best reception and the most number of channels, no matter what kind of TV it is, an amplified antenna is necessary.
Of course, now that I have a channels.conf text file for my area, I can just copy it to any computer that needs it to set the card up...
73 DE N4RPS
Rob
Valtam or Teddy have the ability to move things around here; maybe one of them will do that. I created the post because what I found online to help set these cards up is sketchy, at best, and leaves a lot to have to 'tweak'.
An amplified antenna is an optional (but usually necessary) accessory. Like a TV card, the dongle has an 'F' coaxial connector that can connect to either cable TV, satellite service, or an external antenna. Both PCI card and USB dongle cost the same ($60-$80), but the USB model can be used on ANY computer - even a laptop or netbook. On the other hand, PCI cards with multiple inputs (UIAM, up to four) can record more than one channel at a time.
To initially scan for channels, I used a set of VHF/UHF 'rabbit ears' that have a built-in 18 dB amplifier. As for the dongle, it came with a little non-amplified telescoping antenna attached to a cable, like a portable radio or TV would have, but in order to get the best reception and the most number of channels, no matter what kind of TV it is, an amplified antenna is necessary.
Of course, now that I have a channels.conf text file for my area, I can just copy it to any computer that needs it to set the card up...
73 DE N4RPS
Rob
![[Image: EtYqOrS.png%5D]](http://imgur.com/EtYqOrS.png%5D)
A gun in your hand is worth more than a whole police force on the phone.