Please LOOK AT this antenna! VHF and UHF -- which way to point?

[cuttingcable]

Hello.
I got this antenna from a buddy who had this in storage and was about to throw it away. I hooked it up to my DTV and got good reception but a couple of stations would lose signals now and then.

Here is my tvfool signal analysis:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d99008949ed1a68

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Can someone please look at the antenna and tell me what part of it is the UHF and which is the VHF and help me pointing them in the right direction?
Right now, I have the LOWER antenna pointing about 129 magnetic and the top one kind of that way too (don't know if that's the right direction for it)

Please look at the photo of the antenna and review my analysis and give me some guidance as to what is the optimal way to point this thing

Thanks a lot!

PS: i'm just interested in getting the LOS stations. (and maybe-though not necessary- those less than 40 miles) Also, i highest i can go is about 20 feet. the Analysis is based on about 12 feet.

[GroundUrMast]

While the lower antenna looks similar to a Channel Master CM-3016 or Radio Shack VU-90-XR I don't think that that's the case. Regardless, it's an all channel combination. The longest elements are at the rear.

The antenna on top is a UHF only antenna, I think it may be an Antennacraft 7B141.

Both antennas are in bad shape, given the number of broken elements.

The combiner box on the mast is an unknown. Without a model number I can only guess that it might be a Channel Master signal joiner tuned to some UHF channel.

Frankly, I would scrap it all, as your friend was about to do.

Get an Antennas Direct CS2V. http://www.antennasdirect.com/store/ClearStream-C2-VHF-Combo.html Aim so it faces about 130° per a compass.

[cuttingcable]

While the lower antenna looks similar to a Channel Master CM-3016 or Radio Shack VU-90-XR I don't think that that's the case. Regardless, it's an all channel combination. The longest elements are at the rear.

The antenna on top is a UHF only antenna, I think it may be an Antennacraft 7B141.

Both antennas are in bad shape, given the number of broken elements.

The combiner box on the mast is an unknown. Without a model number I can only guess that it might be a Channel Master signal joiner tuned to some UHF channel.



Your identification of the antenna is impressive. All correct, based on what I could read from whatever is left of the branding/labels etc !! Down to the combiner box and broken elements-- So you had me at 'hello' :)

Having said that, I would like to see if I can salvage this thing as it is working as good as the RCA 751R that I currently have (going to give that to my pop). Can you review the analysis and tell me if the UHF part is pointing the right direction? Should it be pointing the opposite direction of 130 magnetic, perhaps? And when pointing the lower antenna, I should have the "arrow" point facing the stations, correct?

[GroundUrMast]

Try just the combo antenna (the lower one in your photo) pointed toward 130°. (Remove the upper UHF and combiner box.) It may be too directional though.

Or, use the lower unit as a VHF only, pointed at 290°, tun the output of this to the VHF port of a UVSJ, then point the UHF antenna at 130° and connect it to the UHF port of the UVSJ.

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=UVSJ&d=Pico-Macom-UVSJ-UHF-VHF-Band-Separator%2FCombiner-for-Antenna-%28UVSJ%29
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103923
http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html

[cuttingcable]

Try just the combo antenna (the lower one in your photo) pointed toward 130°. (Remove the upper UHF and combiner box.) It may be too directional though.

Or, use the lower unit as a VHF only, pointed at 290°, tun the output of this to the VHF port of a UVSJ, then point the UHF antenna at 130° and connect it to the UHF port of the UVSJ.

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=UVSJ&d=Pico-Macom-UVSJ-UHF-VHF-Band-Separator%2FCombiner-for-Antenna-%28UVSJ%29
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103923
http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html

Thanks. I like the suggestion of just one antenna. In your opinion, would using two (with the second option) make a world of difference?

[GroundUrMast]

I would try option two only if the first single antenna option proved to be too directional. That's for you to decide, do you need/want all of the San Diego and Tijuana signals? If the antenna is too directional, you'll not be able to find an aim point that gives you reliable coverage of both groups.

The signals from real CH-8 & CH-10 should be received well through the back side of the antenna.

With option two, the broader beam width of the UHF only antenna makes it quite similar to the CS2.

[cuttingcable]

I would try option two only if the first single antenna option proved to be too directional. That's for you to decide, do you need/want all of the San Diego and Tijuana signals? If the antenna is too directional, you'll not be able to find an aim point that gives you reliable coverage of both groups.

The signals from real CH-8 & CH-10 should be received well through the back side of the antenna.

With option two, the broader beam width of the UHF only antenna makes it quite similar to the CS2.

Hi
Just ABC,NBC,CBS,PBS,FX and CW,KGTV and KUSI would satisfy my viewing needs.

[teleview]

A simple reception situation.

Above the roof install and aim a ANT751 antenna at about 135 degree magnetic compass direction.

Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html

Solidsignal has the ANT751 that comes with a J mount antenna mount.

Not much money.

For 1 Tv connected use no splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a common simple 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a common simple 3 way splitter.

The Tv/s Must Channel Scan for the Digital broadcast Tv Channels , sometimes named the 'Air Channels' or "Antenna Channels' in the tv setup menu because the tv transmissions travel through the air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.

DO NOT channel scan for cable tv channels.

[cuttingcable]

A simple reception situation.

Above the roof install and aim a ANT751 antenna at about 135 degree magnetic compass direction.



Thanks. Can you look at the photo of the antenna I'm trying to use (in the original post) -- regarding the LOWER antenna, which end is the one that i should point to the broadcasting station.

This end? <---| or this end |---->

Regarding the rca 751, that's what I have now which i plan to give away.

[teleview]

The right hand side points at the Tv stations.

http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html