ag19
2-Apr-2011, 4:07 AM
Help with selecting antenna for Lebanon, Tenn
Here is my tv fool report *http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d8d172960ca778b
Note: W11BD channel 11 was shutdown six months ago. I was planning on a antenna outside at 25 feet above ground. There are trees in the background and neighborhood. I'm interested in the Nashville 29 degree span from 253 degrees to 282 degrees, others would be okay but not essential. Using a inside amplified RCA uhf vhf antenna I pick up all digital channels in this span (green & yellow @ 76-90 % strength) except for channels 27(ABC), 10(NBC), 8(PBS), and 23(CW). I noticed that I pick up a stronger signal when pointing my inside antenna at 240 degrees instead of 281 degrees. Two of the 281 degree stations that I do pickup don't come in at all at 281 degrees. The other stations are 1 to 6 percent stronger at 240 degrees. This may be due to the Castle Height Hill that runs across Lebanon (its higher at the 281 angle). I talked to a local tv shop and he commented that since the digital conversion some people are blocked by the Hill including outside antennas. I may be spinning wheels trying to deduce anything from my experience of inside antennas.
I have two tv's that I plan to use. I would rather opt for a non-rotator system even if I have to put up two antennas but will settle with a rotator system if thats whats needed. If I need a more highly directive antenna with less span etc then so be it.
I did find a example on the net where the Mt Juliet area (closer by 20 miles) was recommended to use a Winegard HD-7082P and pointed at the NBC station WSMV-DT which is in the middle of the span of Nashville channels. Using the hdtvantennalabs.com site, their automated antenna system recommended a winegard hd8200u, a preamp and a rotor. Solidsignal sent their recommendation of a Winegard HD7696P ( I did request a uhf, high vhf antenna). I requested this type antenna thinking that because I already receive the one low vhf channel at 86% that I could use a AB switch for this channel and get a smaller, more powerful antenna tuned for the high vhf and uhf channels. If this doesn't make sense please comment – I'm here to ask the experts about something I'm not very familiar with. I will purchase a all vhf uhf antenna if necessary. I do want to pick up CBS even if it is vhf low.
I was planning for a preamp with low noise (cable longer than 20 feet per hdtvantennalabs.com). Even though WHTN (38) is not in the span I'm pointing antenna at, is this station too close to have a preamp? Do I have to be aware of analog local stations also? I don't know of anyone picking up WRTN-LP analog station or whether this channel is broadcasting or not? Is there a certain NM(db) or Signal(pwr) that dictates a problem with using a preamp or is it just a function of miles from the transmitter?
What type of antenna is best for the 2Edge path? What type of antenna is best for areas that have hills interrupting the signals?
Aren't most beam widths actually half distance widths? If that is the case and my span is 29 degrees and 30 miles, then would I need a antenna rated at 30 degrees beam width and a distance of 60 miles?
I'm really just interested in the digital signals, however how are other people picking up these analog stations? Do they have a tuner that passes the analog signals through to their old sets? What is a good tuner that has good sensitivity and low noise?
If I purchase a new digital tv and am concerned with OTA use, do all the digital tv's have good sensitivity and low noise? Maybe some answers from the experts will help my future purchases. Thanks for all your trouble.
Here is my tv fool report *http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d8d172960ca778b
Note: W11BD channel 11 was shutdown six months ago. I was planning on a antenna outside at 25 feet above ground. There are trees in the background and neighborhood. I'm interested in the Nashville 29 degree span from 253 degrees to 282 degrees, others would be okay but not essential. Using a inside amplified RCA uhf vhf antenna I pick up all digital channels in this span (green & yellow @ 76-90 % strength) except for channels 27(ABC), 10(NBC), 8(PBS), and 23(CW). I noticed that I pick up a stronger signal when pointing my inside antenna at 240 degrees instead of 281 degrees. Two of the 281 degree stations that I do pickup don't come in at all at 281 degrees. The other stations are 1 to 6 percent stronger at 240 degrees. This may be due to the Castle Height Hill that runs across Lebanon (its higher at the 281 angle). I talked to a local tv shop and he commented that since the digital conversion some people are blocked by the Hill including outside antennas. I may be spinning wheels trying to deduce anything from my experience of inside antennas.
I have two tv's that I plan to use. I would rather opt for a non-rotator system even if I have to put up two antennas but will settle with a rotator system if thats whats needed. If I need a more highly directive antenna with less span etc then so be it.
I did find a example on the net where the Mt Juliet area (closer by 20 miles) was recommended to use a Winegard HD-7082P and pointed at the NBC station WSMV-DT which is in the middle of the span of Nashville channels. Using the hdtvantennalabs.com site, their automated antenna system recommended a winegard hd8200u, a preamp and a rotor. Solidsignal sent their recommendation of a Winegard HD7696P ( I did request a uhf, high vhf antenna). I requested this type antenna thinking that because I already receive the one low vhf channel at 86% that I could use a AB switch for this channel and get a smaller, more powerful antenna tuned for the high vhf and uhf channels. If this doesn't make sense please comment – I'm here to ask the experts about something I'm not very familiar with. I will purchase a all vhf uhf antenna if necessary. I do want to pick up CBS even if it is vhf low.
I was planning for a preamp with low noise (cable longer than 20 feet per hdtvantennalabs.com). Even though WHTN (38) is not in the span I'm pointing antenna at, is this station too close to have a preamp? Do I have to be aware of analog local stations also? I don't know of anyone picking up WRTN-LP analog station or whether this channel is broadcasting or not? Is there a certain NM(db) or Signal(pwr) that dictates a problem with using a preamp or is it just a function of miles from the transmitter?
What type of antenna is best for the 2Edge path? What type of antenna is best for areas that have hills interrupting the signals?
Aren't most beam widths actually half distance widths? If that is the case and my span is 29 degrees and 30 miles, then would I need a antenna rated at 30 degrees beam width and a distance of 60 miles?
I'm really just interested in the digital signals, however how are other people picking up these analog stations? Do they have a tuner that passes the analog signals through to their old sets? What is a good tuner that has good sensitivity and low noise?
If I purchase a new digital tv and am concerned with OTA use, do all the digital tv's have good sensitivity and low noise? Maybe some answers from the experts will help my future purchases. Thanks for all your trouble.