So I was trying to figure out how to get an external antenna hooked into my DVB-T usb dongle (my home PC is in my basement, and the cheap 10 inch antenna that comes with is not working well).
I was all set to just run some coax out the wall up to my roof and mount a home-built collinear antenna. Then someone pointed out in a post here that signal loss would be something fierce (would need to be at least 20 feet, more if I try to make the cable nice and tidy on the outside of my nice suburban home) and suggested using an active USB cable.
Found a seller on Ebay flogging a 32 foot cable for $12.95 with free shipping. PVC jacket, so it should be able to handle our Montana winter weather.
My plan was to mount my antenna on the fascia, run 2 feet of coax to a junction box under the eave (we have finished soffits) and place the dongle in that box with the USB cable running down the wall to our basement.
Considering the dongle cost a whole $13.95 I don't feel like I am risking much if it gets wet, but my question has to be- will the cable supply enough power to the dongle? Also it has vents on it so what kind of heat can it build up if I place it in an air-tight small enclosure? I would plan on sealing any openings with silicone or elastomeric caulk.
Any ideas appreciated- have not yet visited my local home supply store to look at outdoor electrical enclosures, but figure any wet location single gang box would work.
Thanks!
Mark
I was all set to just run some coax out the wall up to my roof and mount a home-built collinear antenna. Then someone pointed out in a post here that signal loss would be something fierce (would need to be at least 20 feet, more if I try to make the cable nice and tidy on the outside of my nice suburban home) and suggested using an active USB cable.
Found a seller on Ebay flogging a 32 foot cable for $12.95 with free shipping. PVC jacket, so it should be able to handle our Montana winter weather.
My plan was to mount my antenna on the fascia, run 2 feet of coax to a junction box under the eave (we have finished soffits) and place the dongle in that box with the USB cable running down the wall to our basement.
Considering the dongle cost a whole $13.95 I don't feel like I am risking much if it gets wet, but my question has to be- will the cable supply enough power to the dongle? Also it has vents on it so what kind of heat can it build up if I place it in an air-tight small enclosure? I would plan on sealing any openings with silicone or elastomeric caulk.
Any ideas appreciated- have not yet visited my local home supply store to look at outdoor electrical enclosures, but figure any wet location single gang box would work.
Thanks!
Mark
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