Antennae / signal help for East Tennesse, 37604

[wfagan59]

I am leaving satellite / cable tv and currently moving to OTA / internet only. So I tried hooking up a coaxial cable with a binder clip on the end, just to see what I could get before purchasing the big rooftop antennae. I was surprised to see that I got very good reception of the local CBS, ABC, and Fox in HD with only this setup. With this info, i went and purchased a flat uhf/vhf antennae from radioshack, in hopes that this would allow me to also get the local NBC channel which is broadcast from the same location, but I cannot get this channel. My coordinates are 36.293055, -82.408772 and this is the link (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dda32b755f4d5f5) to the signal analysis report.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[GroundUrMast]

From your post I am assuming the Radio Shack antenna is indoors. After reviewing your TVF report I'm inclined to recommend an outdoor antenna. An antenna such as this http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=HD7697P&d=Winegard-HD7697-High-Definition-VHFUHF-Series-TV-Antenna-%28HD7697P%29&c=TV%20Antennas&sku= aimed at aprox. 60° on your compass should provide all the networks including PBS. This antenna is not designed to cover VHF 5 but WCYB (NBC) covers your area with their UHF 29 signal and given the high signal level of VHF 5, I expect that the antenna I suggest will deliver more than enough signal for you to see that RF channel reliably.

If you want to receive http://goodtimevirginia.com/TV/W43BO on UHF 15 you may need to add a preamp like this http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=ANWHDP269&d=Winegard-HDP-269-SquareShooter-TV-Antenna-PreAmplifier-for-SquareShooter-SS1000-%28HDP269%29&c=Pre-Amplifiers&sku=615798396145

Also if you are going to connect more than one receiver then you may find it necessary to use the preamp as well.

[wfagan59]

GroundUrMast, thank you very much for looking at my post. When I went to take the flat, indoor antenna back, they had a VHF/UHF Roof/attic mount antenna (http://goo.gl/zk29t)there, so I switched, bought some RG6 and tried it out. Works great. I now get in HD NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, PBS along with the CW and other broadcasts from these stations in SD. UHF 15 did not come it, but that is fine with me. I'm sure a preamp would indeed help with this. I just mounted it on the same mast as my Dish is currently attached, which will be coming down on Jan 2 when my billing cycle ends. Also, from your name I think I already know this answer, my mast nor my cable is grounded. This seems to be a must when installing an antenna. Is it just to safeguard against lightning, or does it also help with signal noise? My stations are clear as a bell and look great or better side by side than the Directv.

Once again, thank you and I'm glad I have this forum to fall back on if I need some help in the future.

[GroundUrMast]

http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=901

The primary reason for grounding is safety.

Thank you for keeping OTA TV free and available.

[John Candle]

http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=695 , Read and understand about Real and Virtual Tv Channels