Need Antenna Help - Trees

[LoSx]

TV Fool Report: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3dc84f5aaf551d25

As you can see I have high signal strengths but still have issues. My issues are that the channels cut in and out anytime there is any wind. I believe I currently have a Radioshack VU-75 antenna. It has lost one of the back vhf elements and another moves in the wind and crosses over other ones. A 3rd is bent down a good 6". There used to be a tree near it that hit it.

Now my biggest issue is that my house is about 15ft or so off the ground (1 story + chimney). Behind the house and all of my neighbors homes is a creek that is covered by a small forest which happens to be directly where I need to point my antenna to. These are tall birch and tulip poplar type trees. Now anytime the wind goes I start having some channels block. I added and RCA pre amp which helped get more channels and overload the 2 VHF channels sometimes (it was a UHF/VHF RCA preamp) which is overkill for my signal power but I thought lets try it.

Now what antenna can I replace this broken antenna with so that I can dump the pre amp hopefully and still get good signals. Currently I get signals at 80 - 100 but when the wind blows they jump to 0 for some channels on the UHF bands. The 2 VHF channels are overloaded so they actually will only go out from too strong a signal.

I have a 50 ft run to the basement and it goes through 2 grounding blocks and then gets split and goes another 30 feet or so to 2 TV's.

The Antennas I have been looking at based on reading are:
Antennas Direct C2-V
AntennaCraft HBU33
Winegard HD7694P

I am ok with a bigger antenna if needed but kind of like the C2v just because or how compact it is. Any and all help is appreciated. Could this just be a case of a really crappy radio shack antenna being the only problem? It used to work a little better but I only notice it being worse now because we cut the cord so it would be nice to make it a more reliable signal (Also I am only like 10 miles from the stations I want the most) 4,5,7,9,20,50,66

Thanks for the help in advance. I will also provide pictures of the tree's later if it helps.

[ADTech]

Just to keep you from beating your head against a wall like I've done in the past...


I've only found three things effective for combating tree-induced issues when using an antenna. Everything else is going to be hit or miss.

Move the antenna,
http://www.rohnnet.com/files/65G.gif


Move the tree(s),
http://www.stihlusa.com/Imgs/Product/545/MS-290-STIHL-FARM-BOSS/CorpMain.png

Just plain move!
http://www.alliedvanlines.com/images/allied1.jpg

[teleview]

A highly directional antenna will help cut through the multipath.

Above the roof install a Winegard HD7082P antenna with - no preamplifier - aimed at about 166 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

Here are some strong and sturdy antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html if using the eave mount use the #4560. , http://www.ronard.com , http://www.ronard.com/Tripods%200703/4712.html

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

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

For 1 Tv connected use no splitter.

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

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

____________________________

As always , trees and tree leaves do a real fine job of , reflecting , reducing , blocking , Digital Broadcast Tv transmissions and so do buildings and other obstructions including your own roof and house.

It is best to install the HD7082P antenna at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind in the directions of reception including your own roof and house.

Here is another way to get the antenna higher , No guy wires , Free standing , Light weight aluminum tower , The tower lays over , do all antenna install a adjustments standing on the ground.
http://www.palcoelectronics.com/pe.aspx

[LoSx]

That was a funny reply. Unfortunately this area won't let me put a tower in nor do I really have ebough land for it since it is the suburbs. I also can't cut down the tree's because they are county property. Moving is not really an option just to get a TV signal (though I will probably consider it in my next house).

Any antenna's that should at least make it better?

[Stereocraig]

That was a funny reply. Unfortunately this area won't let me put a tower in nor do I really have ebough land for it since it is the suburbs. I also can't cut down the tree's because they are county property. Moving is not really an option just to get a TV signal (though I will probably consider it in my next house).

Any antenna's that should at least make it better?


If you are referring to HOA covenants, they are wrong.
Ordinances may be a little different, but it would still help you to glean this over.

http://www.fcc.gov/guides/installing-consumer-owned-antennas-and-satellite-dishes

As far as ADTECH's recommendations, I am reluctant about #2, but I am working on #1 and will consider #3, if we ever move.

[LoSx]

The Winegard HD7082P is a huge antenna.

I am inferring that a large directional antenna will be better than say the c2v because the tree's cause the signal to come from many different directions?

Either way it sounds like I am best off with a very directional antenna instead of trying to get extra channels to guarantee the ones I want come in the best.

[ADTech]

While my earlier post was intended as a bit tongue-in-cheek, it does reflect my experience in dealing with tree-related problems both first-hand and with our customers.

I've tried everything in the toolbox (Yagis, panel, loops, amps, etc) and I've yet to find anything except those previous items that are sure to solve the problem (site selection).

When viewing the signals on a spectrum analyzer, that old Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme comes to mind. Once they've been shredded too much, nothing is going to fix the signals, so it's important to avoid the problem to the extent feasible.

There's really no need for a large all-channel antenna anyway, a 7-51 antenna would be all that is required. The only low-VHF station in the area is a Franken-FM channel that's going to be forced off the air in 2015 anyway. When that happens, the channel 2-6 spectrum will be completely empty in the DC/BMI area. There are no pending applications and the UHF broadcasters we've spoken TO (and we've spoken to many) who might be affected by the potential spectrum repack have universally referred to pigs flying before they'd move their operations to low-VHF.

[teleview]

The reference to being forced off the air is the Analog low power and repeater translator Tv stations have until September of 2015 to convert to digital.

Many Analog Tv low power and repeater translator stations have converted to digital and more are converting every day.
_______________

All Full Power Tv stations converted from Analog to Digital in June 2009.

_______________

UHF Tv channels 69 thru 52 were recently taken away , "sold off" , to the International and Local wireless cell phone and internet providers.


The FCC Federal Communications Commission and the International and Local wireless cell phone and internet providers have there eyes on UHF frequency spectrum that make up Tv channels 31 thru 51.

More Tv channels Will Be taken away , 'sold off' from the Tv stations and that leaves one place left to go , back to the Low Band Tv Channels 2 thru 6.

There are 36 -->Digital Tv Stations<-- transmitting on the VHF Low Band Channels Now here in the USA.

And 29 -->Digital Tv Stations<-- transmitting on VHF Low Band Channels 2 thru 6 Now in Canada.

And applications are being submitted for the VHF Low Band Channels here in the USA and Canada. To transmit ->Digital Tv<- in/on the Vhf Low Band Channels of 2 thru 6.

Predicting the demise of Low Band Tv Channels 2 thru 6 is premature.

________________________

As I have stated many times , there are those persons here at tvfool and Tv reception web sites and in the Tv industry that want VHF Low band Channels 2 thru 6 to go away for ever.

Why??

Because they think that if channels 2 thru 6 are not there for Tv any more , then they will be able to keep more of the UHF frequency spectrum for Tv transmission.

These not so subttle on going jabs and negative comments , "Franken-FM" and other on going comments at tvfool and other web sites are designed to instill a negative conception and reaction about channels 2 thru 6 , in people even if they do not understand what is happening.