Planning antenna install in Pittsburgh

[TVTomFool]

I am in a residential neighborhood in the city and can receive most of the green channels (10miles or less) with a small flat set top antenna on the third floor. This is with the antenna next to the window.

report:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d46ae1d675fe430

With the TV and set top antenna on the first floor the reception is not good and when a car drives by the picture drops.

I'm thinking about installing a roof top antenna mounted on the chimney. I have a large oak tree in the backyard that is ~15ft higher than the roof and ~30ft from the chimney. The tree is on the West side of the house, the chimney is on the South side of the house. The houses in the neighborhood are all about the same height. There are two churches nearby that rise slightly higher than my roof.

Would the Winegard HD7697P be a good choice (no amp, no rotator, with 2 or 3way splitter)? The cable would run to the basement and split there to the 1st floor and maybe back up to the 2nd and 3rd floors.

For grounding the mast can I use the included messenger wire that is bundled with some RG6 cable or do I need to run a separate ground? I have an existing grounding block for the coax.

[GroundUrMast]

I think the HD7697P is much larger than needed.

Consider the RCA ANT-751 roof top mounted. By going higher, you hopefully place the antenna further from the reflected signals caused by vehicles.

You're correct to spec 'No amplifier'. Some folks struggle with low signal strength... That's not going to be the case for you. Most, if not all amplifiers will be overloaded with the strong signals you're facing. And if you could find an amplifier that doesn't overload, it would very likely cause your tuner to overload.

The copper clad steel messenger wire found on certain types of RG-6 is intended for use as a mast grounding conductor. In fact the NEC 810.21(H) specifically endorses 17 Ga. copper clad steel or bronze as a suitable mast grounding conductor.

[teleview]

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

Install a ANT751 or Antenna Craft HBU11 antenna aimed at about 112 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

A antenna system amplifier will most likely not be required.

Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. .

http://www.solidsignal.com.

http://www.amazon.com.

http://www.antennacraft.net.

[TVTomFool]

Thanks for the suggestions. I installed the RCA ANT751. For convenience of installation the antenna is probably not aimed optimally. Currently it is aimed ~West. I'm happy with the signal.

Found digital channels:
2.1, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 7.1, 7.2, 7.2, 11.1, 11.2, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4, 19.1, 22.1, 40.1, 40.2, 40.3, 53.1, 53.2, 59.1, 59.2, 59.3, 59.4, 61.1, 61.2, 65.1, 66.1, 66.2, 66.3, 66.4