antenna suggestions for gulfport, ms

[jcc]

Here's my tv fool report

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d990095890d0916

I'm trying to pick up Me TV from WKRG or WDSU, Antenna TV from WGNO, This TV from WNOL or WKFK, and The Cool TV from WFGX.

Currently, I have this DB8 antenna

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000EHWCDW

I can only pick up Me TV at night although one time I picked up The Cool TV

2 options I'm looking at this HDTV stacker antenna

http://dennysantennaservice.com/hd_stacker_tv_antenna.html

or the green dish

http://www.dtvgreendish.com/

Feel free to suggest a better antenna because I don't know.

I don't want to put it on the roof but it will be outdoors which is where the DB8 antenna is currently after being inside for a long time.

The window outside my room has bushes and a tree but it is still a clear view. The window on the other side of my room has trees

[signals unlimited]

Dont ditch the DB8. Dont buy the Stacker.

Your problem is direction, distance/signal strength and WKFX is high VHF.

Add an Antenncraft Y5-7-13 high VHF antenna for reception of WKFK. The signals from WDSU, WGNO, and WNOL are weak and require an amplifier. To fix the direction problem install a Channel Master rotor.

You can install the VHF antenna below the DB8 on the same mast with a safe distance of 24" of seperation. Use a Winegard AP 2870 pre-amplifier. This amp has seperate inputs to combind the UHF and VHF antennas into one coax.

If running wire for the rotor is problematic, use a Eagel Aspen Roto 100 rotor.
This rotor will run off of the signal coax if you use the 2870 amplifier and follow the manufacture instructions to a "T". The coax must be RG6 and less than 75 feet if copper clad. If you have solid copper (center conductor) you can have 150 feet of coax between the rotor and the controler.

[jcc]

Is the right amplifier I need.

http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-AP-2870-Preamplifier-Input-Antennas/dp/B001TIXWR0

High performance, low noise TV antenna preamplifier
Dual inputs for separate VHF and UHF antennas
17 dB gain average VHF, 19 dB gain average UHF
Built in FM Trap to prevent overload from strong local FM stations
Power supply and power injector included

Also, I didn't know which channel master to order so I ordered the Eagle Aspen 100 rotor and of course the Antennacraft Y5-7-13 high VHF antenna this past Friday. Haven't gotten them yet

[teleview]

Install the DB8 above the roof aimed at about 30 degree magnetic compass direction.

And install a Antennas Direct C5 antenna above the roof aimed at about 30 degree magnetic compass.

The C5 comes with a combiner that combiner that combines the DB8 and C5 to gather on to one coax.

Install a Antennas Direct CPA-19 preamp , connected to the output of the antenna combiner.

With the antennas both aimed at about 30 degrees magnetic compass direction the group of Tv stations to the north and the group of Tv stations to the east will most likely received with out a rotor.

[teleview]

If the north group and east group of Tv stations are not received well with the DB8 and C5 antennas aimed in between.

Then here is Channel Surfing Friendly way to receive both groups of Tv stations.

Aim the DB8/C5 at the north group of Tv stations.

And aim a Winegard HD7696P antenna with a CPA-19 preamp at the east group of Tv stations.

___________________________

The 2 antenna systems are Separate antenna systems all the way to the Tv and are connected to the Tv with a remote control A/B antenna switch , http://www.radioshack.com , #15-1968 , or , http://www.mcmelectronics.com , #32-4425.

The A/B antenna switch is Channel Surfing Friendly , push the button on the hand held remote control change antennas and keep on channel surfing.

Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.amazon.com.

[teleview]

The CPA-19 preamplifier have a little better noise figure then the Winegard.

And the CPA-19 preamp is a high input preamp that can better handle strong signals like , WLOX , WMAH , WXXV.

[signals unlimited]

When you install the AP 2870 amplifier and Roto 100 you can use the same single coax to both run the rotor and carry the signal provided you have no splitters between the rotor and the control box. If you need to install a splitter, use one that has a DC pass on one port and use that one for the line to the control box, or install the splitter on the coax line that exits the control box.

[ADTech]

You only have one desired VHF station operating on VHF 13 at heading 71° magnetic. Install the 5-element VHF antenna on a fixed aim at that heading. There is no need for it to be on the rotor. If you want to shoot for WALA out of Mobile also, tweak it a few degrees to the right. The several stations immediately to your north are all UHF. There is no point in aiming a VHF antenna at them.

Frankly, the DB8, if properly installed and with a capable pre-amp, should be able to easily receive all the Mobile UHF stations you specified. Even though the DB8 is myopic on VHF, it should readily have even received that local channel 13 signal. That suggests that there are likely details about your installation that we don't know and we're somewhat guessing in the dark, especially this bit about "The window outside my room has bushes and a tree but it is still a clear view. The window on the other side of my room has trees" makes it almost sound as if the DB8 is still indoors.

If you did not order the suggested pre-amplifier, you will still need a UVSJ to combiner the two antennas into a single coax. In a pinch, you can pick one up at most Radio Shack stores for a retail price. Cat # 15-2586.

Exercise caution with the DB8 aimed to the north with a typical pre-amp. The odds of either amplifier or tuner overload is high unless you pick one of the pre-amps designed to handle such signal levels. The signals with damage anything, but the will cause excessive distortion that will, for all intents and purposes, manifest itself on most TV sets the same as a weak signal.

[signals unlimited]

There is no downside to installing the rotor and VHF antenna that you ordered. You will have UHF and VHF signals and the ability to fine tune the positions for the best possible reception.

[ADTech]

There's no upside to putting the VHF antenna on the rotor and doing so would require a mast that significantly exceeds the rotor manufacturer's conservative recommendation as to the maximum length of the stub mast.

[teleview]

Do not use a antenna rotator.

________________________________

Some how I thought that there was a receivable VHF Tv station to the north , there is not.

The DB8 only can be installed aimed north , or , the C5 can also be installed and aimed at about 242 degree magnetic compass direction (south west) to receive a second PBS station , WYES-Tv , VHF channel 11.

_______________________

There are 2 receivable VHF Tv stations to the east , WKFK-LD 13 This Tv , RTV , ION , and WALA-DT 9 FOX.
So install the HD7696P with the CPA-19 aimed east.

__________________________

As a informational , information , here are the current Tv channels that are being broadcast in the USA.

VHF low band channels 2 thru 6.

VHF high band channels 7 thru 13.

UHF band channels 14 thru 51.

[ADTech]

The odds of picking up WALA reliably from 77 miles away with a small U/V combo aren't particularly good with it only pushing 29 kW on VHF-9. Since it wasn't on the list of desired stations given, it's up to the OP if he wants to pursue it.

Equally unlikely is reliable reception of the several Mobile UHF stations with such a small combo. For reception of the Mobile stations, the catch phrase is "Go big or stay home". The DB8, with a pre-amp, should certainly meet the need of the Mobile UHF stations desired.

[GroundUrMast]

In your first post your said you don't want to put the antenna on the roof. That is a significant handicap that may make successful reception much more difficult. You'll find less signal relative to interference down low.

Can you consider using a push-up telescoping mast to get above the peak of the nearby roof lines?

http://www.3starinc.com/telescoping_masts.html

[jcc]

I got the Antenncaraft Y5-7-13 and the Eagel Aspen Roto 100 rotor yesterday. Still waiting on the Winegard AP 2870 pre-amplifier. I also have to get a transformer and mast for the Antennacraft Y5-7-13 since it wasn't included