Antenna Suggestions

[matt55014]

Pretty new to OTA Tv. Really would like to get NBC and FOX but realize they are very far away. I will be mounting the antenna mast on my roof. I really don't want to poke holes in my metal roof so could I use one of those gable end brackets that screw into the fascia? Anyone have experience with those? Do they hold up in wind? Do I need two antenna's, one for VHF and one for UHF? Any info would be appreciated.

I have a little powered Magnavox rabbit ear type antenna that will pick up 22, 42, and 7 depending on how I rotate it.

My dad and I mounted his home antenna (not sure what kind) on two pool skimmer poles and walked around the house with a hand held tv and 15db amplifier from radio shack. We got 7(CBS), 9(FOX), 11(NBC), 12(CBS), 22(PBS), 26, 41(ION), 42(ABC). Now I had to rotate the pole to get all of these. And I didn't get them all at once.

Could someone make an antenna recommendation? Thanks in advance.

tv fool link: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3df1f0577378c802

[rabbit73]

Welcome, matt:

A lot of your channels are far away, some are VHF, some are UHF, and they are in many different directions. It isn't going to be easy, so you will have to decide which are the most important channels and concentrate on them first.

What will help is that there is more than one Fox to pick, and some of the networks you want are not listed on your tvfool report but they are available on translator transmitters:
http://www.rabbitears.info/search.php?request=zip_search&zipcode=56443&miles=60&address=&lat=&lon=&dbtype=dBm&height=

Click on each callsign to expand to see the networks.

I added some networks to your report; see the attachment.
I really don't want to poke holes in my metal roof so could I use one of those gable end brackets that screw into the fascia? Anyone have experience with those? Do they hold up in wind? They are OK for small antennas, but the large antenna/antennas that you need would be too much for them. You could run the mast down to the ground, and have the gable mount hold it at the top.

The VHF (7-13)/UHF combo to consider is the Winegard HD7698P. For UHF (real channel 14-51) only in another direction consider the Antennas Direct 91XG or DB8e. Combining antennas is a little tricky. A VHF with a UHF is easy with a UVSJ. Combining two UHF antennas doesn't always work.

You could use a rotator, but who wants to wait while it swings around, and who wants to repair it in the middle of January?

If you need to have more than one antenna, you can use an A/B switch for instant change of direction.

[matt55014]

Awesome! Thanks. That totally explains how we got those channels. Maybe if I point an antenna toward the rebroadcast tower I would get everything.

What would be some antenna options for me?

This site is awesome.

Thanks again.

[rabbit73]

What would be some antenna options for me?For VHF (real channels 7-13) and UHF (14-51), the Winegard HD7698P.
For UHF, the Antennas Direct 91XG or DB8e.

Mounts in attachments.

Mount discussion:
http://forum.tvfool.com/showpost.php?p=47874&postcount=114

[Jake V]

Your TVFool Report is only resolved to the block level. It might or might not be accurate. You might consider using these instructions to create a more accurate one: http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=14508

[matt55014]

Antenna at 30'

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3df1f078bba86336

Thanks for all the info everyone!

Still deciding on the mounting technique. I have a steel roof and really hope to not put holes on the top of it. So I was thinking about the gable end fascia board mount but I am worried about weight and torque from the wind grabbing the antenna and damaging things. Not to mention I still haven't decided which antenna I am going to try.

So....what are some other options for mounting? Is a tower an option? Where can you buy a tower?

Also what type of setup do I need for the inside of my house. I have coaxial ran throughout my house for dish. I assume I can use that for OTA now? Do I need a certain amplifier? Splitters?

Again thanks to everyone for the info.

Matt

[Jake V]

Here's a re-cap of the stations I'd probably go after (with networks added for translators):

KAWB--28 PBS 34.7 dBm at 26 degrees magnetic
KCCO---7 CBS 32.8 dBm at 215 degrees
KSAX--42 ABC 30.8 dBm at 218 degrees (also MeTV, Antenna TV, This)
K49KQ-49 FOX 6.9 dBm at 147 degrees (also MyNTV, Movies! Bounce)
K16BQ-16 ABC 6.5 dBM at 61 degrees (also MeTV, Antenna TV, This)
K48IF--48 FOX 5.7 dBM at 61 degrees (also MNTV, Movies!, Bounce)

My question about the Winegard HD7698P is how good it would be at receiving signals off the back, since Matt has signals in opposite directions?

For UHF, what about a DB-8e? With one panel (reflector removed) aimed at about 212 degrees (splitting the difference between ABC at 218 degrees and PBS at 26 degrees) and the other panel (with reflector) aimed at either 149 or 61 degrees (for FOX). [Experts please comment.]