Antenna Suggestions Northeast PA

[rry19]

I have cut the cord about two years ago and have indoor RCA-1450 antennas attached to my three TVs with poor results. I am receiving 2 stations consistently, the rest have signals that come and go. My house has aluminum siding so an outdoor antenna would be needed. I live in a small house in the suburbs so I can mount the antenna around 20ft high on a mast. The other issue to contend with is the terrain, I'm in a valley at the base of a mountain (~600ft) to my north. Would a smaller antenna like the RCA ANT751 be a good bet or should I go for something bigger as well as the best direction I would want to point it at?


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[teleview]

Yes a ANT751 antenna installed above the roof in such a manner that the roof and building are not , obstructing , impeding , blocking , reception in the directions of , south , north , north east.

Aim the ANT751 antenna at about 186 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

Use a Real and Actual magnetic compass to aim antenna.

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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.

If the weaker signal strength , WQPX-DT , ION Tv and WSWB-DT , The CW , are not reliably received with No amplifier.

Then re aim the antenna at , WQPX / WSWB at about 50 degree magnetic compass direction.

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A amplifier such as a Winegard , LNA-100 'Boost' amplifier , before the splitter can be installed If required.

It is always better to use No amplifier if reception is reliable.

Amplifiers Are Not a --> automatic given.

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Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. .

www.solidsignal.com

www.amazon.com

www.winegarddirect.com

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

Do Double Rescan , www.wchstv.com/DoubleReScanAlert.pdf

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As always , trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , have Negative Effect on Broadcast Tv Reception

Absorbing , Blocking , Broadcast Tv Reception

Multi-path Reflections bouncing around and disrupting reception.

And so do buildings and other obstructions including your own roof and building.

The Best Practice is to install the 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.

[rry19]

Thanks teleview for all of the information I needed. I am nearly ready to put everything up but I am left with one more question I hope somebody can answer. Knowing that both the coax and antenna mast must be grounded what is the best way to go about it. I have seen Coax with ground wire together on the same cable in a few stores. Would that work or should/must I keep the coax and ground wires on separate cables.

[teleview]

Ground wire with/part of the coax is Ok.

[GroundUrMast]

Agreed, coax with messenger wire can serve as the grounding conductor for the mast.

You will also want to ground the coax shield, use a grounding block prior to the coax entering the building. A common location for the grounding block is near the existing electrical service were it's a short run to connect to the ground rod.

http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=901 (post #20 is a summary)