Help with Antenna in far NW suburbs of Chicgo

[Newbe]

Good Afternoon,

I'm in the process of attempting to get rid of Directv. Just to many other options and it's becoming too costly. I want to get an antenna and I'd like to do it correctly the first time.

Here is my radar plot...

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d46ae7c264f57fa

I'd like all the main channels. NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, FOX, PBS.

I live in a Ranch and have a line of trees in the back that run along a creek. I will not be able to get the antenna above those trees. The land itself is very flat.

I'd like to have 3 tv's hooked up and am also looking into using Tivo.

What kind of setup would you recommend in my situation?

Thanks!

[elmo]

Ok - so you have LOS to the transmitters east of you at 119 degrees. So you say a line of trees...from the install point, what direction are they? Point at compass at 119 and you will know what you have to contend with. Trees at a distance aren't so bad; if they're shading your house, that's an issue.

Besides trees, you also have some range to the towers as well, so a decent sized directional antenna would be best to pull them in.

With trees not being an issue, I'd consider the Winegard HD7697.

Just connect to one TV at first - no 3-way splitter yet - tune it there - get it dialed in. Then split it out and see how it works. If it drops channels on the test set, then you'll definitely need to add an amp before the split. I would assume you probably will need it, but I'm more of a "test and see what I need" type. If you don't like that approach, the CM3410 would probably work for you.

[Newbe]

Thanks!

The line of trees is about 75' away from the house directly in line with the direction the antenna needs to be aimed. They are very large cottonwood trees so I'm thinking that the signal should be able to shoot through them. What's the max cable length recommended from an antenna?

[teleview]

The current Broadcast Tv stations/channels that are being transmitted and received 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 Tv station/channels in all 3 Tv bands.

Most of the signal strengths at your location are Weak Signal Strength.

Recommend install a Big All Channel Antenna above the roof in such a manner that the roof and house are not impeding and blocking reception in the directions of , South East , West , North West , North East.

Install a Winegard HD7084P All channel antenna aimed at about 116 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

Use a Old School magnetic compass to aim the HD7084P antenna.

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Install a Winegard LNA-200 'Boost' XT antenna system amplifier.

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For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a , Hollandelectronics , HFS-2D , 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a , Hollandelectronics , HFS-3D , 3 way splitter.

Buy the HFS splitters at soldsignal.

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Here are places to buy antennas and etc. .

http://www.soldsignal.com.

http://www.amazon.com.

http://www.winegarddirect.com.

http://www.ronard.com.

http://www.hollandelectronics.com.

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Here are some strong and sturdy antenna mounts.

http://www.ronard.com/909911.html.
Use the , ronard(911) , 5 foot antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html.
Use the , ronard(4560) , eave antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html.
Measure around the chimney and use a , ronard(2212) , ronard(2218) , ronard(2224).

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing , ronard(x) , in the solidsignal search box or buy from ronard.

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As always , trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , have a Negative effect on Broacast Tv Reception and so do buildings and other obstructions in the directions of reception including your own roof and house.

The Best Practice is to install the HD7084P 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.

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The Tv's Must Channel Scan for the , OTA=Over The Air , Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels , often named the 'Air Channels' or 'Antenna Channels' in the Tv Setup Menu because the Tv transmissions travel through the Air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.

Some digital tv's will Automatic channel scan for cable tv channels.

DO NOT channel scan for cable tv channels.

Go into the Tv Setup Menu and select 'Air Channels' ~ 'Antenna Channels'.

Scan for channels.

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Some satellite systems will accept and distribute antenna signals and some satellite systems Will Not.

To reduce and eliminate the situations/problems of antenna reception when connected to a satellite system.

It is best to Disconnect and Remove All satellite system passive and active componets such as and not limited to , multi-switches , multi-plexers , splitter , combiners , amplifiers , power injectors , power supplies , and etc. .

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Yes the satellite system coaxes and other coaxes that are in/on the building can be used for the Tv antenna system.
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[GroundUrMast]

Thanks!

The line of trees is about 75' away from the house directly in line with the direction the antenna needs to be aimed. They are very large cottonwood trees so I'm thinking that the signal should be able to shoot through them. What's the max cable length recommended from an antenna?

Can you mount the antenna on the other side of the trees?

Maximum cable length depends on the strength of the signal you're stating with. If one or more desired signals is weak at the antenna (which appears to be true in your case), you'll need to amplify the signal at the antenna before any more cable loss. Roughly every 5 to 6 dB of amplifier gain will overcome 100' of RG-6 cable loss. An RCA TVPRAMP1R is rated at 22 dB gain in the UHF band and 16 dB in the VHF band. A typical 4-way splitter should not have more than 8 dB insertion loss so you could support a total cable length between the antenna and any one TV of 200' with a bit of margin left over.

[Newbe]

Thanks to all... I've made the purchase and will update after the install.