Which antenna?

[spinnaker]

I have a Hauppauge 2250 with a Clearstream 1 from Antennas Direct. I am using Windows Media Center. The antenna is mounted in a rather horrible location. Outdoors but near ground level. The antenna is on my old Direct TV mast which is 4-5 feet high. It is basically in a valley between the hillside and my townhouse building. For reference to the questions below, it is a two story townhouse, the hill is about the same height as the townhouse but with foliage, the hill is higher than the house.

This setup was a proof of concept. I wanted to see if I could live without paid TV without investing a lot of money and trouble. Augmented with a couple of online television purchases, I decieded I could and gave DirectTV the heave hoe.

My reception was pretty decent with that setup. I am getting all of the local stations. I was getting a least 2-3 distant stations until recently. The strongest local station started to drop out and I do not know if it was messing with the antenna position or the change of season but another distant station (WFMJ) dropped out.

I still get WTOV pretty decently.

I think I am ready to add an antenna to the roof. I live in a town house so it should be something fairly small and reasonably aesthetically pleasing but also give decent reception.

Here is my analysis
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d990065f44375fe

Until very recently (maybe a week ago) I was getting WFMJ, not sure when I lost it but I was also getting WWCP and once a while back was even getting WTRF.

What is really strange is I seemed to get the best reception pointing the antenna down the "valley" away from some of the distant stations!

My home faces due south. Local stations are to my East and the distant Stubenville / Wheeling is to my South West. I also be nice to get WWCP to my west but that is pretty distant.

So which antenna?
Considering my aesthetic requirements
Under $200 with mount.

Would I need more than one? If so could I use my Clearstream 1?

Sorry for the long winded message but wanted to provide as much information as possible.

[GroundUrMast]

If you have no obstructions blocking the view eastward, an Antennas Direct CS2 Complete looks as if it fit's your criteria very well.

http://www.antennasdirect.com/store/ClearStream-C2-VHF-Combo.html

Hoist the existing antenna up there before spending more money though. If you're happy with the results, you've won.

[spinnaker]

Thanks for the quick reply. What are the chances I will get those Steubenville / Wheeling stations back?

Those are to my west.

The locals are to my east

Here is a link with the map.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=90

Would I need two antenna? Can I have two?

South and south west are pretty much unobstructed with south being the better LOS. East toward Pittsburgh, I sort of have that hill I mentioned but currently get all loocals well. It would be nice to pick up Johnstown.

[spinnaker]

Also that J mounting kit that comes with the combo kit you recommended (the one I picked out too because it looks so nice :), can that be mounted to the roof top or do I need additional mounting hardware?

Hard to tell from the pic but it does not look like it would hold up in a storm. :)

[GroundUrMast]

The CJ mounting kit is very similar to the typical 'J-pole' used for mounting satellite dishes. The base bracket needs to be bolted securely into sound structure. This would be true for any other mounting method. If bolted to just siding, roof decking or similar materials, expect this and other mounting hardware to pull fasteners out of the non-structural material when put under significant load.

A premium mount would be a 3 or 5' tripod plus mast section. (But it certainly needs to be fastened into structure or blocking that's attached to structure.)

Again, try your CS1 up there as a quick test. I think you will see some of the distant signals but some may come and go because other stations are on the same or adjacent channel.

[spinnaker]

It will be mounted to roof decking, which not more than a year old. Please define "significant load".

Should it hold up in a normal storm?

I really don't have access to the roof. Living in a townhouse has some disadvantages. One being no place to store a ladder. :) And really no need to purchase one since any outside maintenance is done by the association. So roof top testing could be problematic.


But I do have access to the attic. I was thinking of try my current CS1 there to see if there is any improvement.

[teleview]

Your location has Many Strong Tv Transmissions.

If attic is wood frame with no metal backed insulation and no metal roof and no solar panels.

Install a ANT751 aimed at about 300 degree magnetic compass.

Hang the antenna as high as possible.