Seattle Antenna Help

[tomseattle]

Hi,

I’m looking for advice on an antenna. Here is my TV fool report. I have a house, and can put the antenna in the attic or the on the roof. Of course the attic is easier. I would like to get as many channels from the south as possible, but also make it as easy as possible. Would it be worth the effort to mount it on the roof vs the attic? I think I need a vhf/uhf so I get the FOX (kcpq) channel, correct?

Also, is all coax cable the same? I have a length of cable that says Digital Satellite Cable RG/6 2300mhz. will that work?

Thanks so much!


http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dcc49000d183771

[Tristan]

Fox is VHF-hi at 13, but I've heard some UHF only antennas can pick up a bit of the VHF-Hi, although I don't have practical experience in that regard. Not sure about 9 & 11 which go farther down in the VHF-Hi spectrum (although those are at 175 degrees vs Fox at 240, so not sure if one antenna can get them all plus the UHF).

I'm looking for a similar solution (I'm in NE Seattle). I get pretty good reception with an old UHF/VHF standard antenna, but it's too directional to work with all stations without a rotor (I'd rather avoid a rotor).

I wonder if this would work for you: two antennas, UHF pointed to about 180 (or closer to 160 if you care about channel 33, and are able to get them all), plus a VHF model pointed about 210 (hoping to get 9,11,13), then join by UHF/VHF joiner. That is a lot of work though, and probably requires roof mounting to have space.

Sorry, I don't know about the cabling question. Probably would work just fine. I've heard you should keep cable signals (if you're getting cable) and OTA signals separated on different physical cables. Can anyone confirm or refute this?

[GroundUrMast]

Here in the Seattle market, KCPQ has brought their fill-in transmitter online, on real CH-22. The power is lower than the CH-13 transmitter on Gold Mnt. but the CH-22 facility is on Capitol Hill adjacent to KCTS & KSTW so it's easier for you to see it. (Check the 'pending' version of your TVFR.)

I'd suggest you use an Antennas Direct DB4e, an Antennacraft Y5713 and combine the two using an inexpensive UVSJ (UHF/VHF Signal Joiner). That will give you the option of optimizing UHF and VHF aim independently. For sure, you'll get one or both signals from KCPQ.

If the cable is marked 'RG-6' it's the right stuff. If you need to put connectors on one or both ends, you'll want to use connectors designed for both double and quad shielding... unless you know for certain which type cable you have. If the cable already has connectors... no worries.

If you have trees nearby, outdoor mounting will eliminate the attic induced reception impairments, leaving you with just the trees to fight.

FWIW, You've got an excellent TVFR for the Seattle area. I just moved out of Seattle, and had no realistic shot at the signal from Tiger Mnt.

[GroundUrMast]

...

I've heard you should keep cable signals (if you're getting cable) and OTA signals separated on different physical cables. Can anyone confirm or refute this?

You're right...

Cable systems must never be connected to an antenna. Cable systems are 'closed' systems which allows them to use frequencies assigned to over the air services including police, fire, medical, military and aviation services. If you connect cable signals to an antenna, you'll cause harmful interference to licensed services.

So, if you install an antenna and keep cable for internet only, do not connect the cable network to any part of your OTA antenna cabling system.

And even if interference to life safety service was not an issue, the cable company often uses the same frequencies as the TV broadcaster, so the cable signal would interfere with the antenna derived signal... and cable uses an different modulation scheme than OTA broadcasting, QAM vs. ATSC.

[tomseattle]

Thanks for the help. I was wondering why you recommend those antennas? I've read a lot of recommendations on this site for RCA ANT751R. That has both uhf and vhf. Was your recommendation based on distance? If I only wanted to get one antenna which one would it be? I checked the pending channels and it shows the new KCPQ. So i could probably just get by with a UHF antenna. I think the other VHF channel are things i would not watch anyway.

[tomseattle]

Fox is VHF-hi at 13, but I've heard some UHF only antennas can pick up a bit of the VHF-Hi, although I don't have practical experience in that regard. Not sure about 9 & 11 which go farther down in the VHF-Hi spectrum (although those are at 175 degrees vs Fox at 240, so not sure if one antenna can get them all plus the UHF).

I'm looking for a similar solution (I'm in NE Seattle). I get pretty good reception with an old UHF/VHF standard antenna, but it's too directional to work with all stations without a rotor (I'd rather avoid a rotor).

I wonder if this would work for you: two antennas, UHF pointed to about 180 (or closer to 160 if you care about channel 33, and are able to get them all), plus a VHF model pointed about 210 (hoping to get 9,11,13), then join by UHF/VHF joiner. That is a lot of work though, and probably requires roof mounting to have space.

Sorry, I don't know about the cabling question. Probably would work just fine. I've heard you should keep cable signals (if you're getting cable) and OTA signals separated on different physical cables. Can anyone confirm or refute this?

Thank you for the response. Very informative. I am hoping to get the most out of one antenna. I can get a few channels already with just some rabbit ears near a window. I think this is because i live near I5 and it creates some kind of "signal corridor" or something. I'm just looking to pick up a few more with a minimal effort. I don't have cable now so it's not like I'm going from 50 to 5 channels anyway.

thanks again

[GroundUrMast]

Thanks for the help. I was wondering why you recommend those antennas? I've read a lot of recommendations on this site for RCA ANT751R. That has both uhf and vhf. Was your recommendation based on distance? If I only wanted to get one antenna which one would it be? I checked the pending channels and it shows the new KCPQ. So i could probably just get by with a UHF antenna. I think the other VHF channel are things i would not watch anyway.

The ANT-751 is a very good option if you have no desire to receive the weaker signals from Tiger Mnt. KUSE may or may not be of interest to you.

The DB4e has quite a bit more UHF gain and a wide forward beam. That makes it a good choice for someone trying to 'get as many stations as possible'.

As mentioned earlier, the VHF antenna would be needed by those interested in receiving PBS or CW (real CH-9 & 11).

for a simple one antenna install the ANT-751 is fine.

[Tristan]

Tomseattle,
did you have any luck? I recently updated my similar post with my experience in NE Seattle mounting the antenna ten feet higher.
--Tristan