Antenna Recommendation

[KNR]

I currently have an old roof antenna, which is about 30 years old. I'm missing one of the elements but it doesn't seem to a problem with the channels I'm watching. The antenna is cabled to a Leviton module 1x8 Premium Amplified CATV Module, 47693-8P and is distributed to various location in the house. The picture is good on all channels except the sound gets broken up on channels 11.1 and sometimes on 9.1 and 13.1. I only lose pictures on a few channels with the weather is bad. I would like to replace the antenna and would like to get a recommendation. Most of the channels are about 30 miles away. Thanks

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d055925cbfb22d8

[teleview]

The Current Broadcast Tv stations channels in the , USA , Canada, Mexico , are.

VHF low Band Channels 2 thru 6.

VHF high band channels 7 thru 13.

UHF band channels 14 thru 51.

Your location has receivable Broadcast Tv stations/channels in All 3 Tv bands.


Install a Antenna Craft HD1200 All channel antenna.

Aim the HD1200 All channel antenna at about 314 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

Install the HD1200 All channel antenna in such a manner that the roof and house are not blocking reception to the , north west.

As always , trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , have a Negative effect on Broadcast Tv reception and so do buildings including your own roof and house and other obstructions.

The Best Practice is to install the HD1200 antenna at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions in the directions of reception including your own roof and house.

___________________________________________________________________

Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. .

http://www.solidsignal.com.

http://www.antennacraft.net.

___________________________________________________________________

Even if all outside coax and connectors and connections , Look Ok.

Replace ALL outside coax and connections with New.

To keep Weather/Water out of , connectors , connections , coax.

Use the coax that has the Compression type connectors on the ends of the coax , not the old crimp type connectors.

Replace All other outside connectors with New.

Remove and discard Rubber Weather Boots , the boots take in water and hold the water inside the boots , this is not good for connections.

To make Double Sure that Weater/Water does not get into outside coax , connectors , connections.

Wrap with http://www.coaxseal.com.

Also wrap all of the matching transformer that connects the antenna to the coax with coaxseal.

____________________________________________

Digital Tv tuners can develop - Digital Glitches - that are not cleared out with simple channel scans.

Do Double Rescan , http://www.dtv.gov/rescan.html.

[Pete Higgins]

KNR,

The antenna that teleview is recommending is ~109” wide but a good choice for receiving REAL channels 2-6 and the FM band as well as high VHF (7-13) and UHF (14-51). If you are not interested in the Low VHF channels 2-6 & FM then there are more compact High VHF/UHF combination antenna designs available that are only about 51”-55” wide like the Winegard HD76XX series 7697/7698 or the AntennaCraft. HBU44/HBU55.

[teleview]

Comparing , measurements , flexibility of use , and price , prices at http://www.solidsignal.com.

The Winegard HD7697P antenna is designed to receive channels 7 thru 51 , is 10.9 feet long , and cost $89.99 .

The Winegard HD7698P antenna is designed to receive channels 7 thru 51 , is 14 feet long , and cost $110.99 .

The Antenna Craft HBU44 antenna is designed to receive channels 7 thru 51 , is 9.6 feet long and cost $52.99 .

The Antenna Craft HBU55 antenna is designed to receive channels 7 thru 51 , is 12 feet long and cost $79.99 .
___

The Recommended Antenna Craft HD1200 is designed to receive channels 2 thru 51 , is 10 feet long and cost $97.99 .
___

It is true that the HD1200 antenna reception elements are longer at the back of the antenna and the antenna is wider at the back of the antenna because of the longer reception elements.

The longer reception elements are designed to receive channels 2 thru 6 and FM radio.

The HD1200 antenna provides the flexibility to receive the VHF low band channels 2 thu 6 and FM radio frequencies.

And the longer reception elements at the back of the HD1200 antenna act as reflectors to increase the forward gain and direction ability of reception of the shorter of length 7 thru 13 reception elements.

This forward gain and sharper forward reception , helps reject multi-path/reflected signals that bounce off the surrounding mountains and buildings and interfere with reception of channels 7 thru 13.

(channels 7 thru 13 are more supseptable to the disruptive effects of multi-path/reflections)


I recommend install the HD1200 All channel antenna.

[ADTech]

I've been doing this since before the digital transition in 2009. I've yet to have a SINGLE person in the LA area ask for help or assistance or to get a recommendation for reception of any of the low-VHF channels in the area. Unless you really, really know that you want those particular broadcasts, it makes little sense to throw extra aluminum up in the air.

YMMV

A small 7-51 antenna should get you everything off Mt Wilson. There's no need for a antenna that's 10' long and 9' wide.

[KNR]

I appreciate the suggestions. I currently don't watch anything on the low-band VHF, I guess I only have to decide on whether I would want FM reception. If I do, would it be better to go with a high-band VHF antenna and then a separate one for FM? I noticed that the 751 is often recommended, will it be a good choice for 30 miles or would one with a higher gain? Thanks again for the recommendations and the info on installation.

[Pete Higgins]

KNR,

According to TV Fool, all of your OTA stations that I would be interested in (green) should be receivable with an indoor “set top” antenna (depending on house construction & # of TV sets, etc.) so the RCA ANT-751 is quite adequate for your location. I live in Moreno Valley, 23-24 miles further away from Mt. Wilson but unfortunately all of my reception is 1&2 Edge. I generally try to buy more antenna than TV Fool would dictate to compensate for propagation effects (signal fade), multipath, buildings, trees, aging & distribution losses -which are not taken into account by TV Fool. The cost differential is usually in the noise when you include the time invested erecting the antenna, cabling and other associated costs.

An FM Fool report @ 15’ for Yorba Linda shows quite a few Line of Sight stations, again, that should be receivable with an indoor antenna. Take a look for your exact address to decide if there are stations in the yellow and/or pink area that you deem worth going after with a dedicated FM antenna. I’m envious of your reception potential.

I’m not sure what to make of your intermittent sound problem. If you had included 7.1 then that would suggest loose or oxidized VHF high elements being affected by weather.

Your bi-directional distribution amplifier must be a lot newer than the broken antenna. I checked the specs. and the 3.0 dB NF is in line with most other recent CATV & OTA distribution amps.

[teleview]

Intermittent sound and picture problems.

Intermittent sound and picture problems.

Digital Tuners can develop - Digital Glitches - that are not cleared out with simple channel scans.

Digital Tuners can develop - Digital Glitches - that are not cleared out with simple channel scans.

Do Double Rescan. http://www.dtv.gov/rescan.html.

Do Double Rescan.
http://www.dtv.gov/rescan.html