Need help with antenna selection

[frontier]

Hello,

We sold our 3 year old house and bought a 33 year old serious fixer! Our TV set-up consists of a 20+ year old Panasonic, a cheapo RCA converter box, and cast-off rabbit ears. The reception is actually pretty good all things considered including a 62 mile distance from most of the stations we watch. It would be nice to not have to mess with the rabbit ears to receive some of the stations and poor weather does reduce signal strength. Here's the report (if i did it right);
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d5747b5b2331658

There is a large pine and oak tree in the direction of the main stations which are the ones we get, the first 9 on the list. Ideally, I'd like to get the antenna selection right the first time and not have to buy several trying to get the right one - yes money is tight.

Thanks for your help

[John Candle]

To get it right the first time I recommend a Winegard HD7082P all channel antenna and these are the reasons why. The antenna has the 'antenna reception gain' to receive the channels down to KUVS 18. It is a all channel antenna and will receive KCSO-LD 3 , KCSO is showing the digital channels to be 3-1 Telemundo and 3-2 ME TV http://www.metvnetwork.com. . I suggest a Strong and Sturdy roof mount such as , tripod mount , chimney mount , peak of the roof eave mount. Here is how to point tv antennas , point the Tv antenna at about 175 degree magnetic compass , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html . Here are places to buy Tv antennas and etc.. , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.3starinc.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com

[John Candle]

If you have a window that faces about 175 magnetic compass try putting the rabbit ears antenna in the window or you can even try putting the rabbit ears in the attic. Here is how to aim rabbit ears antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html . If the old house has a metal screen on the window , the metal screen will need to be removed , the metal screen will reduce and block tv transmissions getting to the rabbit ears.

[Tower Guy]

It is a all channel antenna and will receive KCSO-LD 3 , KCSO is showing the digital channels to be 3-1 Telemundo and 3-2 ME TV

My experience with low band reception is that TVfool should be taken with a grain of salt. The NM value calculated by TVfool does not add the low band noise penalty. The FCC uses 4 db, but channel 3 is probably more like 8 db. The secret to low band reception on channels 2&3 is a quiet location, plenty of antenna height, and as much gain as possible. My selection for extreme low band reception include the HD7084P, CM 3671B, and HD5030. The HD5030 would also need a UHF antenna for the remaining stations.

Because of the budget restraints, I would not even try for reception of channel 3.

[dkreichen1968]

I have to agree with Tower Guy. Channel 3 wouldn't be worth the effort. An AntennaCraft HBU-22 (or equivalent antenna) pointed at 190 degrees magnetic should do the trick. Since you can get channel 9 (6.1) with rabbit ears the HBU-22 should have plenty of gain.

[John Candle]

The channels that you are receiving are on the high end of the weak range of reception strengths. And the channel dkreichen1968 has chosen as an example is the second strongest of the weak range that you receive.

[John Candle]

An antenna that is equal to the reception ability of the HD7082P antenna is a HD7696P but with out the low band reception of channels 2 thru 6. The price of the Hd7082P is $74.16 plus $ 6.10 shipping thru http://www.amazon.com and the price of the HD7696P is $74.16 plus $ 9.77 shipping thru http://www.amazon.com

[John Candle]

The price of the HBU22 is $ 36.99 plus $12.95 shipping and the price of a HBU33 is $ 52.99 plus $ 14.95 shipping . Both from http://www.solidsignal.com

[GroundUrMast]

@frontier: You're the one who decides if programing from Univision, Telefutura, Telemundo or MeTV is worth 'going after'. KUVS caries the first two. KCSO carries (or will 'soon') the last two.

I agree with TG that reliable reception of KCSO (real channel 3) will be difficult, that success would require use of the largest available consumer grade antenna designed for low-VHF reception. KCSO is also on a lone azimuth, not so far to be trouble for sure, but a reason to think you would need a two antenna system - possibly.

I'm reluctant to suggest the HBU-22, I would rather you get just a little more antenna than needed, The Winegard HD7694P and Antennacraft HBU-44 are very similar in gain. Both would offer solid reception of your existing lineup with enough received power to split to a few sets.

If money is tight, a low-band VHF could be added at a later date. You may also want to explore higher mounting elevations with the Interactive TV Maps (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=90) tool. You may or may not see improvements in signal levels.

[John Candle]

http://www.antennacraft.com , makes the antennas for http://www.radioshack.com

[John Candle]

I called KCSO , MAY 18, 2011 . phone # 916-567-3300 and KCSO is transmitting ME-TV. English language programing . http://www.metvnetwork.com

[frontier]

Thanks for all the replies. I don't need channel 3 since I don't speak or understand Spanish - OK I do know a little Spanglish. My wife said that she got some Spanish stations when she did the converter box scan but deleted them. Sounds like the two Winegards are the same except that the 7082 picks up channel 3? Should I mount the antenna on the other side of the trees or would on the house be OK since the rabbit ears are picking up signals?

Thanks again

[GroundUrMast]

If you can avoid 'shooting' through the trees you will avoid a source of signal attenuation and reflection. If you have to spend a significant amount of time, money or effort to do so, I would not worry, the HD7694P, HBU-33 and HD7082P (and larger antennas) should all be able to deal with some tree induced attenuation.

[dkreichen1968]

While there is wisdom in "when in doubt make it stout" type thinking, there is also other factors like windloading, space limitations, and how the spaceship mounted on your roof is perceived by your neighbors. That is why I'm not a fan of oversizing antennas.

Dan

[John Candle]

There is no real or implied "doubt". If you like I can put the signal gain and signal reduction numbers all the way through the system. And as for the neighbors , HOA's and every one else , here is the truth , You have the Federal right to install and use tv antennas and other antennas that are needed for reception. http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.htnl

[frontier]

I really appreciate everyones input, especially the price. No one in electronics stores know anything about OTA, at least in my experience.

Thanks again

[John Candle]

Let's say that a Tv antenna total cost $80.00. . Now divide that $80.00 by 365 days in a year , thats .21917808 or rounded up to .22 per day. And lets say that the antenna lasts 5 years outside on the roof , $80.00 divide by 1,835 days is .04383562 per day or rounded up to .05 per day. . And lets say that the Tv antenna lasts 8 years up there on the roof , $80.00 divided by 2,920 days is .02739726 or rounded up .03 per day . :)