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View Full Version : Help with Antenna - Very bad location. Parker, CO


seemit
5-Feb-2015, 3:22 AM
Okay. I bought some rabbit ears, not knowing my available channels' strength. Nada. Used to live near downtown Denver and I could hang a coax on my TV and it would pick up all. Here is my report:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d2c15a5ef118fcd

Any luck out there for me? I know that no HOA can say NO to me on putting an antenna up, but it sure would hurt my neighbors and I hate to get "Oh, its that guy" look on me. So anything small but workable? I know I am asking too much.

GroundUrMast
5-Feb-2015, 5:12 AM
I can't offer a great deal of hope for an attic mounted antenna system based on your report.

Your report indicates that you need a full sized 'deep fringe' antenna or combination of antennas. I'd go with an Antennas Direct DB8E + Antennacraft Y10713, mounted outdoors, clear of obstructions. The DB8E is a panel design so it may be able to hide on the back side of a roof if that doesn't obstruct it's view toward the stations. The Y10713 is a Yagi type... a full 10' long.

There are combo antennas such as the Winegard HD7698P and Antennacraft HBU-55 that merge UHF and some VHF capability into a single antenna, but they are also long like the Y10713.

signals unlimited
5-Feb-2015, 8:47 AM
My company specializes in small workable antennas. UHF and VHF that can mount on a satellite pole. They work very well where reception is similar to that in your report. If you want to have a look. www.tripleplayantenna.com

Jason l
5-Feb-2015, 12:52 PM
i agree with ground mast. Outside antenna for your plot.i recommend one of these. http://m4antenna.eastmasonvilleweather.com/8%20bay/8%20bay.html. I use the largest Wisker one and have great results with all yellow and red uhf / vhf.

Tower Guy
5-Feb-2015, 2:17 PM
If I lived there I'd try a 4 bay UHF plus a Y5-7-13 and a TVPRAMP-1R preamp. Mont it on the roof as inconspicuous as possible.

seemit
5-Feb-2015, 4:29 PM
If I lived there I'd try a 4 bay UHF plus a Y5-7-13 and a TVPRAMP-1R preamp. Mont it on the roof as inconspicuous as possible.

i agree with ground mast. Outside antenna for your plot.i recommend one of these. http://m4antenna.eastmasonvilleweather.com/8%20bay/8%20bay.html. I use the largest Wisker one and have great results with all yellow and red uhf / vhf.

My company specializes in small workable antennas. UHF and VHF that can mount on a satellite pole. They work very well where reception is similar to that in your report. If you want to have a look. www.tripleplayantenna.com

I can't offer a great deal of hope for an attic mounted antenna system based on your report.

Your report indicates that you need a full sized 'deep fringe' antenna or combination of antennas. I'd go with an Antennas Direct DB8E + Antennacraft Y10713, mounted outdoors, clear of obstructions. The DB8E is a panel design so it may be able to hide on the back side of a roof if that doesn't obstruct it's view toward the stations. The Y10713 is a Yagi type... a full 10' long.

There are combo antennas such as the Winegard HD7698P and Antennacraft HBU-55 that merge UHF and some VHF capability into a single antenna, but they are also long like the Y10713.

Yes. that was my initial research too. one thing that I do have in favor is that my house backs open space and that is where I have to point my antenna. Bad thing is that my town is a "basin". So line of sight gets even worse and rockies don't help.
I think HBU-55 is on sale at radio shack for $80. Will try that and return if hope is lost.
I was wondering, also, if I can repurpose an old dish to concentrate the signal and replace the LNB with a receiver?

seemit
5-Feb-2015, 4:33 PM
i agree with ground mast. Outside antenna for your plot.i recommend one of these. http://m4antenna.eastmasonvilleweather.com/8%20bay/8%20bay.html. I use the largest Wisker one and have great results with all yellow and red uhf / vhf.
No way I'd be allowed to keep that thing on my roof lol...

GroundUrMast
5-Feb-2015, 5:54 PM
...can repurpose an old dish to concentrate the signal and replace the LNB with a receiver?

The large difference between the wave length of satellite frequencies and OTA will make a typical Ku dish nearly useless at OTA frequencies. If you have an old C-band dish about 10' in diameter, you can get performance similar to the 4-bay panel designs.

seemit
5-Feb-2015, 6:08 PM
The large difference between the wave length of satellite frequencies and OTA will make a typical Ku dish nearly useless at OTA frequencies. If you have an old C-band dish about 10' in diameter, you can get performance similar to the 4-bay panel designs.

Thanks. I did not know that. looks like I'll use the dish for WiFi scanning then.

GroundUrMast
5-Feb-2015, 6:16 PM
That sounds like a much better use of a retired satellite dish... The wave lengths are far more similar.