Thought I Had This Figured Out ????

[jj-chlt]

Hi, my first post so please bear with me. I'm trying to figure out what antenna to get, but the more I learn by reading online the more confused I'm getting. Maybe I am making this too complicated. Anyway, I want to go OTA, and place the antenna in the attic w/o amp or rotor. The TVFool Signal analysis for my address with the antenna 25' AGL is: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d3cf4d0002f48b8. My home is a two story with asphalt roof shingles and hardiplank siding. No aluminum on insulation. So have a little bit of aluminum HVAC ductwork up there. Have some BIG oak trees to the north and east in the yard. Want to run coax to 1st floor and split to 2 TVs. Est total cable length ~100'. Use of rabbit ears gets a fair number of channels.

The majority of the close transmitters are in two groups (about 40 degrees and 305 degrees). All the strongest signals appear to come from 40 degrees and are within 10 miles. So I was thinking about going with a high gain 8-bay antenna such as Antenna Direct DB8 or Channel Master 4228 aimed @305 degrees.

Will this work? Too big an antenna for this type of scenario?

Any other suggestions or tips would be helpful. Sorry for such a long post, but I thought the more info I could provide the better replies.

Thank you.

[GroundUrMast]

A CM4221 or DB-4 would actually give you a better shot... they have a wider horizontal beam-width and therefor can see a wider spread of stations to the NE. (About 35° on your compass).

You should have no problem with signal strength, in fact, don't use an amplifier, just use a two or four way splitter.

You may have trouble getting an NBC affiliate, if so, add a High Band VHF like an Antennacraft Y10713 http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=Y10-7-13&d=Antennacraft-Y10713-HighbandBroadband-VHF-TV-Antenna--(Y10713)&c=TV%20Antennas&sku= aimed at WOLO CH-8 on a heading of 187° per your compass. Combing the VHF antenna with the UHF with a UVSJ like http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=UVSJ&d=Pico-Macom-UVSJ-UHF-VHF-Band-SeparatorCombiner-for-Antenna-%28UVSJ%29&c=Signal%20Combiners&sku=

If you mount in the attic and have trouble, definitely consider moving the antennas to an outside mast. The weaker CH-8 signal would be most likely to have trouble, because it's coming over at least two hills.

[John Candle]

Splitters are 2 way , 3 way , 4 way or more. If it's 2 Tv's then use a 2 way splitter. I suggest direct the antenna at about 55 degrees magnetic compass. Reason: to get the strong stations of the 307 magnetic compass direction to be received on the back side of the antenna. Or you can do it this way , direct the antenna at about 297 degrees magnetic compass. And you will get some strong channels from about 50 degrees magnetic compass on the back side of the antenna.

[jj-chlt]

Thanks for the suggestions GroundUrMast and John Candle. Looking at specs for the DB4 and 4221HD, the DB4 seems to have a wider beam width while some have indicated the 4221 has a little bit better gain. Since the stations in my area seem to generally be in two clusters at 307 deg. mag. and 25-40 deg. mag. I probably need to go with the wider reach of the DB4.



Regarding John Candle's positioning suggestions, I am afraid I don't understand. Would it not be better to aim at the weaker, and farther away, NBC and CBS affiliates @306/307 deg. mag. since the stations to the NE are stronger and within 10 miles?

[GroundUrMast]

There is no harm in trying various aim points. In the end, you are the best judge of what stations you 'need' or 'don't need'. We have offered a couple of reasonable suggestions as a starting point.

Until you actually try sweeping the antenna around, you won't know what's the best option for you.

[John Candle]

The aim points I give are what is most likely to get some results of reception at back side of the antenna and the front of the antenna. The final aiming of a Tv antenna is turning the Tv antenna to the left and right to get the best reception of the desired channels. Antenna aiming is not set in stone.

[jj-chlt]

OK, I see what you both are saying. Thanks for your great suggestions! I am ordering the DB4 in a few minutes. I am hoping Solid Signal will ship it right out so I have it by next weekend. Would be nice to see the Packers-Bears game in HD. Once I get it set up I will let you all know how it has worked out.