Help with my two attenna setup

[robertp039]

Hello everyone,

I have done my homework and want to show you guys and gals my plans to see if I am thinking right and get some guidance and advice.

Here are my plans:

Equipment:
1. Antennas

A. Antennas Direct, inc DB8e Extreme Range Multi-Directional Bowtie UHF Antenna
B. Antennas Direct C5 ClearStream 5 High Gain Digital VHF Antenna

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4XVOOC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2I7PZX8IWHCAW

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002E1UNWS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_9?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AVFHERP2L596L

2. Pre-Amp

A. Winegard LNA-200 Boost XT Digital HDTV Preamplifier

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQN3R9O/ref=ox_sc_act_title_8?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

3. Distribution Amplifier

A. Antennas Direct CDA4 4-Way Output TV/CATV Distribution Amplifier

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0082ZJNW6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_7?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

4. Coupler

A. Winegard CC-7870 Antenna Coupler

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TK3C82/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Setup:

The two antennas (#1 A and B) connect to the Coupler (#4 A) which will combine the two antennas. This will be installed outside.

From the Coupler (#4 A) to the Pre-Amp (#2 A) which will boast the signal. This will be installed outside also.

From the Pre-Amp (#2 A) to the Distribution Amplifier (#3 A) which is inside closer to the TVs.

Here is are signal maps:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3df1f020cd81c23c 28 feet

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3df1f0bef55823aa 35 feet

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3df1f0ca58807965 50 feet


I am going to install these antennas 28 feet on my roof with J mounts about 3 feet apart from each other.

Any help, ideas, or and advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

[Jake V]

Your TVFool Report has a warning that it is only resolved to the block level. It may or may not be accurate. Please prepare a new one at the current height and at 35 and 50 feet using the following instructions and post the links in this thread: http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=14508

[GroundUrMast]

Your TVFool Reception report is flagged as potentially inaccurate. Please consider using the following method to generate an accurate TVFR. http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=14508

Depending on the actual conditions at your exact location, the Antennacraft Y10713 may be a better choice for receiving real channels 7 through 13.

It's very doubtful that two amplifiers are need. An Antennas Direct 'Juice' or an RCA TVPRAMP1R would be my choice... One or the other, not both. The LAN-200 lacks shielding which makes it prone to acting as a poor quality antenna, which can open you to symptoms of multipath interference.

The CC-7870 has no band separation filters. It's nothing more than a splitter labeled for reversed signal flow. The UHF/VHF inputs of the RCA preamp or a stand-alone UHF/VHF combiner will provide far better isolation between the two antennas.

Three feet of distance between the antennas is minimum. It's prudent to test reception before drilling holes and cutting wire to length.

[robertp039]

Your TVFool Report has a warning that it is only resolved to the block level. It may or may not be accurate. Please prepare a new one at the current height and at 35 and 50 feet using the following instructions and post the links in this thread: http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=14508

Okay, thanks Jake. I did what you requested I hope! I added-edited the new maps to my original post.

[robertp039]

Your TVFool Reception report is flagged as potentially inaccurate. Please consider using the following method to generate an accurate TVFR. http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=14508

Okay, I did that and put it in my original post.

Depending on the actual conditions at your exact location, the Antennacraft Y10713 may be a better choice for receiving real channels 7 through 13.

I will take a look at that one, If it costs less I will go with it. I only need or want a few channels that are VHF. That is what channels 7-13 are correct?

It's very doubtful that two amplifiers are need. An Antennas Direct 'Juice' or an RCA TVPRAMP1R would be my choice... One or the other, not both. The LAN-200 lacks shielding which makes it prone to acting as a poor quality antenna, which can open you to symptoms of multipath interference.

I really like that Juice amplifier and I am going to switch that out. The other amp is used to my understanding is to draw the signal through on long cable runs not to lose quality? Please correct me if I am wrong but I thought there was a pre-amp that helps get a stronger signal from the towers. Then the other one to help not lose signal through the cable run?

The CC-7870 has no band separation filters. It's nothing more than a splitter labeled for reversed signal flow. The UHF/VHF inputs of the RCA preamp or a stand-alone UHF/VHF combiner will provide far better isolation between the two antennas.

Which one would you recommend to use? I was thinking with the two antennas I was getting to combine the UHF signals from the two plus add the VHF signal from the one antenna if this makes sense to you?

Three feet of distance between the antennas is minimum. It's prudent to test reception before drilling holes and cutting wire to length.

I will do this for sure.... I wish I could afford a signal detection equipment so I don't have to run inside to see the tv.

I do want to pull in as many channels as I can without spending too much. I would figure the signal maps will dictate the equipment I should buy as well?

Thanks so much for your help so far!

[rickbb]

Consider getting a small, cheap 19" or 22" LCD TV to take up on the roof with you. It's what I did to fine tune the aiming of my antenna.

[ADTech]

Tom covered almost everything I would have. I would stick with the C5 just because it fits on a 40" J-mount much more readily, it's way easier to handle on a roof and it should be sufficient for your forecasted signal levels.

One suggestion I'd make depends on how many sets and how long your maximum run (antenna to furthest set) is. If the total insertion loss exceeds 10-12 dB, I'd simply go to a 30 db preamp like the current 7777 plus an appropriate splitter instead of a preamp plus a distribution amp. You don't have any strong TV or FM signals nearby that would raise any overload concerns.

Not mentioned yet is what your signal path looks like in the direction(s) of antenna aiming. If it's a fairly clear view, then your odds of success are pretty good. OTOH, if you're in a forest, it's going to be potluck.

[GroundUrMast]

As ADTech mentioned, having an unobstructed view toward the transmitters is going to be one of the most important factors that will determine reception reliability at your location. Aiming through nearby trees will make for frustrating results.

I was looking around online this afternoon, it looks like the Y10713 is no longer available though Amazon or Radio Shack. I did see it listed for sale at SolidSignal, but their ad copy is indicating it's replaced by a big all channel antenna from another manufacturer (ambiguous perhaps, but strongly suggesting their stock of Y10713's is nearly sold out and will no longer be available after that). It would appear that the OTA community will be forced to 'role their own' very soon in those cases where only the 10 dBd gain of a long cut to band H-VHF will do.

@ADTech, would the PA-18 be more or less likely to overload than the CM-7777? (I realize the gain of the PA-18 is different than the CM-7777, and see your point in a long distribution run scenario.)

[ADTech]

Tom,

I need to retest the new (2012 version) 7777 as the data I have is almost two years old. It was taken with our old spectrum analyzer which was determined to be off by 10 dB and I don't know if the numbers on file are compensated for that error or not, so I can't rely on them. By the time that analyzer was repaired later that year, the 7777 was up on my roof and I've been in no physical condition since then (until recently) to climb up there and swap it out for new tests.

[Tim]

I was looking around online this afternoon, it looks like the Y10713 is no longer available though Amazon or Radio Shack. I did see it listed for sale at SolidSignal, but their ad copy is indicating it's replaced by a big all channel antenna from another manufacturer (ambiguous perhaps, but strongly suggesting their stock of Y10713's is nearly sold out and will no longer be available after that). It would appear that the OTA community will be forced to 'role their own' very soon in those cases where only the 10 dBd gain of a long cut to band H-VHF will do.

Looks like a market opportunity for some enterprising antenna company with a good reputation...