Choosing the right antenna

[deckman111]

Saying goodby to Directv and installing an antenna. Hooking a set of rabbit ears up currently gets just Fox and NBC, along with the local PBS. I will need to get all four networks for this to be considered a success. I'll be mounting the antenna on the peak of the roof (25'). Looking for an omni directional, since I'll be hooking up 4 tv's.

Here's my TV Fool analysis.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d46aec2cffd6c55

I've been looking at the Mohu Sky HD but it's pretty pricey. Maybe I'm over-thinking this and just need a Winegard. Antenna will be 25'. Coax run to the basement (50' max) into an amped 4-way to the tv's.

Any comments or advice would be appreciated.

[elmo]

The Mohu is UHF only and will not reliably tune the VHF signals in your area. Half the antenna at twice the price is not a good deal by any means.

An omnidirectional might look like the way to go, but I don't think they work well unless surrounded by strong signals, as in a city, etc. You have a mix of very strong and relatively much weaker.

Looks like Fox and NBC will be easy to tune since the towers are virtually in your back yard. CBS and ABC are NW of you at some distance, so you'll need a decent directional antenna to pull those in reliably. Look at a Winegard HD7694p or even the HD7698p.

What's your tree situation? The roof mount sounds good, but any nearby trees can impact your signal reception.

[deckman111]

There are trees across the street (pretty tall) and a mountain (more like a big hill) in line of site to the ABC and CBS towers.

If I point a directional antenna to those towers, would I still pick up the signal to the closer towers without rotating the antenna?

I will entertain all options.

Thanks a bunch.

[deckman111]

Anybody have any experience with the spectrum sp813?

http://www.spectrumantenna.com/product-p/sp813.htm

[teleview]

For reception of these Local Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels.

With 1 antenna aimed 1 direction.

WPMT , FOX and Antenna Tv.

WGAL , NBC and This Tv.

WLYH , CW and LWN Live Well Network.

WHTM , ABC and RTV and Local Weather.

WHP , CBS and MyTv.

WITF , PBS channels.

WGCB , Me-Tv.

Above the Peak of the Roof in such a manner that the roof and house are not impeding and blocking reception to the , North West , North East , East , South East.

Install a Winegard HD7698P antenna aimed at about 0 degree magnetic compass direction , North.

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

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Install a Winegard , LNA-100 'Boost' antenna system amplifier.

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Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. .

http://www.solidsignal.com.

http://www.amazon.com.

http://www.winegarddirect.com.

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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.

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The receivable Digital Tv stations/channels to the , South , Baltimore , Weaker Signal Strengths and are the same networks you are receiving , NBC , ABC , CBS , FOX , CW , PBS .

You can Test reception by aiming the HD7698P antenna at about 202 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

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

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The Tv stations to the West are Very Weak Signal Strength , you can Test reception , aim the HD7698P antenna at about 256 degree magnetic compass direction.

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You can find what Networks are being transmitted by Tv stations.

In the Google or Yahoo search boxes type in variations of the Tv stations call signs.

Example:

whtm tv , whtm-tv , whtm-dt , whtm , whtm 10 , whtm-10 , whtm abc , and etc. .

Two web sites that will be found that have the Practical and Useful information are , wikipedia and rabbitears.net .