West Michigan Lakeshore

[mv-free]

TV Fool Report

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d990057d515fe2a

I bought this antenna months ago to test the waters, had no clue about anything at the time (http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Aspen-Dtv2Buhf-Directv-Antenna/dp/B000GIT002) Now I realize of course that is only UHF, and most of my channels are the VHF.

Pointing antenna SE from my location.

Currently:
13.1, 13.2 good to very good.
17's good at night
35's good.
Nothing below 13 at all.

I picked up an RCA pre-amp at menards, just to test (can easily return). That helped, but still nothing below 13...

I am interested in the networks Fox, NBC, CBS, ABC.

I am looking at an outside gable mount about 15ft or so up, pretty short cable run, maybe 35 feet total. (I'd like to do chimney mount...but a bit afraid of harming it)

I'd like the smallest, easiest antenna possible.

What pre-amp model? (Seems like Winegard are favored in this forum)

What antenna? CS5? Antennas Direct V21?

Would LOVE to hear suggestions... THANKS!

[teleview]

A Teleview Recommendation for Tv Reception.

Above the roof install a Winegard HD7696P antenna with a Winegard AP8700 preamp aimed at about 125 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

Here are some above the roof antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com.

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box.

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


As always , trees and tree leaves do a real fine job of reducing or blocking Tv reception and so do buildings and other obstructions.

Locate the antenna at a location that has the least amount or no amount of obstructions to the south east.

[teleview]

A Teleview Recommendation for Tv Reception.

For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a HFS-2D , 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a HFS-3D , 3 way splitter.

http://www.hollandelectronics.com , or , http://www.solidsignal.com.

______________________

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.

[teleview]

A Teleview Recommendation for Tv Reception.

All outside coax is suspect of being bad , replace with new RG-6 coax.

_____________________________________

Here is a way to prove reception.

Run a looong Known To Be Good coax from the HD7696P antenna through a open door or window , direct to the Tv , No splitters , No preamp , No nothing.

Antenna , coax , Tv.

What is reception now.

[mv-free]

Thanks for the info... ordering items today! Can't wait to get it going :)

Another quick question:

I am going with the eave mount here:

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=RON4560&d=Ronard-4560-Adjustable-Universal-Eave-Mount-(4560)&c=Mounting%20Supplies&sku=610370579947

Mast, what is recommended to use?

Something like this?
http://www.3starinc.com/ez5-16_galvanized_antenna_mast_5_foot_by_1_25_inch_od_16_awg.html

OR

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=TB-0005&d=Winegard-TB-0005-5-Ft.-Swedged-Antenna-Mast-(TB-0005)
Thanks!

[teleview]

A Teleview Recommendation for Tv Reception.

Yes 16 AWG thick antenna mast is good to use. It is stronger.

Yes use the 4560 eave mount you have selected.

The bottom mounting bracket is extended out , and this will produce more distance between the top bracket and the bottom longer bracket.

This will make the mast more stable.

[mv-free]

Ronard
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=RON4560&d=Ronard-4560-Adjustable-Universal-Eave-Mount-(4560)&c=Mounting%20Supplies&sku=610370579947

or

Winegard
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=SW-0012&d=Winegard-SW-0012-Gable-End-Mount-for-OffAir-TV-Antenna-(SW0012)&c=Mounting%20Supplies&sku=615798313272

Big price difference, but if it is worth it I'll spend the extra $

[teleview]

A Teleview Recommendation for Tv Reception.

Your choice.

[mv-free]

Okay, so early this morning I hooked this all up. Awesome! 33 channels came in, even a few from across Lake MI (Green Bay)! All the networks came in really good. 3, 8, 14, and 17.

As the day went on, I lost 17, and now 3, but yet channel 2 from across the lake still comes in.

I am wondering if my own house is getting in the way?, if you see the pictures. If I point at 125 degrees as suggested, it points right toward my 2nd floor.

Question 1: Is the exact degree crucial? If it is pointed slightly the other direction is that okay? Given these towers are a good distance away.

Question 2: I think if I went from 5 foot mast to 10 foot mast I would probably be able to shoot over my roof, but I am not sure if the mount is capable of a 10 foot mast... any ideas?

Or is it just the trees? I have to wait until fall...

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/60933855/antenna%20mount.jpg


http://dl.dropbox.com/u/60933855/antenna%20house.jpg

[teleview]

A Teleview Recommendation for Tv Reception.

As always , the starting aim direction is the -> starting aim direction.

Your starting aim direction is 125 degree magnetic compass direction.

The antenna is then rotated to the left and right to find a aim direction that produces the best reception.

It looks the main situation with reception is the trees and tree leaves.

As always trees and tree leaves do a real fine job of reducing or blocking reception.

The antenna mount looks good and strong , I think a 10 foot mast will be Ok.

Here is a 10 foot tripod.
Put a mast pipe in that is 10 feet above the top of the 10 foot tripod and that will put the antenna 20 feet higher. http://www.ronard.com/Tripods%200703/4712.html.

In the fall and winter when the leaves fall off the trees . reception will be much improved.


Trees can also have the tops cut off or cut the trees down.

[mv-free]

Thanks...

So if trees/leaves are the major problem, then adding 5 feet probably wont' fix it right?

Fall and winter is really only time I need TV anyway... all I need it for is for sports... mainly football.

:)

[mv-free]

Okay playing around today, trying to get ch 17 in better, I hauled out my old video 10 db 4 way booster I've had from way back, and hooked up right before the TV input.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/60933855/10db-4way-booster.JPG

To my surprise, 17 now came in without interruption, but quality dropped on many other stations... is this normal? How can I deal with this effectively? (an A/B switch to turn the booster on or off?)

Any suggestions?

Should I put this farther back on my line? My total run from antenna to TV is probably around 80 feet...

Antenna to pre-amp (3 feet).
Preamp to basement (45 feet).
Basement contains pre-amp power injector splitter.
30 feet from pre-amp injector splitter to wall-jack.
6 feet from wall-jack to TV set.

So around 84 feet from antenna to a single TV only.

These runs aren't too long are they?

Some of the cables I can shorten in total by probably 20 feet by chopping/replacing oversize cables...(if it will make a difference)

[teleview]

The following is a Teleview Recommendation for Tv Reception.

Is a HFS splitter being used??

The preamp power supply and power injector is connected what connection of the splitter , input connection or output connection??

[mv-free]

There is no splitter. When I say "splitter", I just mean the winegard injector. (kind of looks like a splitter)

[teleview]

The following is a Teleview Recommendation for Tv Reception.

My concern is coax and connections being the real problem , however if the little distribution amplifier provides reliable reception on the channels go ahead and use it.

Yes you can try it at one end of the coax or the other.

If the other channels are also steady then no need to switch it in and out.

All amplifiers add electronic noise to the signal.

[mv-free]

All the cable runs are new in the last year...

but, I am going to re-do the run from the basement to the TV jack, and see if that helps things... I just seem be getting such inconsistent results...

Again, thanks so much for the help.

[teleview]

The following is a Teleview Recommendation for Tv Reception.

Movement of trees in the directions of reception will also effect reception.

[mv-free]

One other item I did not think of before that could explain some of the inconsistencies...

My next-door neighbor has some serious HAM radio equipment with very large antenna's strung up.

This whole setup is 50 or so feet from my antenna.. wondering if when he turns on the equipment if that is causing interference..

[GroundUrMast]

One other item I did not think of before that could explain some of the inconsistencies...

My next-door neighbor has some serious HAM radio equipment with very large antenna's strung up.

This whole setup is 50 or so feet from my antenna.. wondering if when he turns on the equipment if that is causing interference..

There's a chance that may be the case. If so, the majority of HAMs are inclined to be helpful. Hopefully, you and your neighbor are already on good terms.

[mv-free]

Would something like this help? If so... where is the best place to install it in the line?

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=HPF-54HR&d=Holland-HPF-54HR-54mHz-High-Pass-Filter-With-High-Return-Loss-(HPF54HR)

[GroundUrMast]

Would something like this help? If so... where is the best place to install it in the line?

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=HPF-54HR&d=Holland-HPF-54HR-54mHz-High-Pass-Filter-With-High-Return-Loss-(HPF54HR)

If your neighbor is operating in the in the HAM bands from 6 to 160 meters, yes. That's the range of frequencies from 1.6 to 50 MHz. The popular 2 meter band and higher will not be blocked by that filter.