Same old, same old - Help with antenna selection

[azshowers]

I live in North Phoenix and am about 18 miles away from South Mountain where most of the towers are located.

I'm thinking about ditching our cable and telephone line (which we never use) and going with OTA and a couple of Roku boxes. The only thing I will miss is ESPN and Fox Sports :)

Anyway, I'm looking to have up to 5 tv's operational, although more likely 4 would be sufficient. I used the tools on the home page and this is the information for my address.

Any suggestions on an outdoor antenna would be greatly appreciated. The more compact and sleek the better although of course I want good reception as well. I will be placing the antenna most likely on the North side of the home on top of a covered patio (approximately 10 feet above ground I would guess) The antenna will be facing South.

10 feet: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d001b56727be959

25 feet http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d001bc138238999

50 feet http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d001b99fa47c2c4

100 feet http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d001b0a4e21cba2

Thanks for the help. I appreciate it.

[John Candle]

Antenna heights of 50 and 100 feet do not improve signal strength , so a Winegard HD7694P antenna mounted above the roof will be Ok. I recommend a Channel Master CM3414 4 way distribution amplifier. Here are some places to buy Tv antennas and etc. , , http://www.solidsignal.com , www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.amazon.com . 15 to 20 feet above the ground will be better for reception.

[azshowers]

Hi John,

Thanks for the recommendations.

I did a little more research and think I might be in a little trouble here. Piestawa Peak is located to the south of us by a couple of miles which puts us in one of the pink zones (the first area to the north of the marker on the map). We're on the edge of blue, but it looks like our address is pink.

Do you have any thoughts on this or does your recommendation change?

Thank you.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=80&q=call%3dKAZT-CD%26type%3dD%26sitenum%3d0

[John Candle]

The tvfool radar report is showing the obstruction as 'Path' 1 edge. This is not likley to cause a problem with the digital Tv reception. Digital tv can correct many not perfect signal conditions. The analog stations that are showing on the tvfool radar report will have bad pictures with ghosts in the picture. Read and understand about , REAL Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Virtual Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Analog Broadcast Tv Channels , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=695 . Here is how to aim Tv antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html , aim the Tv antenna at about 191 true - 181 degree magnetic compass.

[John Candle]

If problems with digital reception happen then move the antenna , up and down , forward and backward , left to right , to find a place where the signal is strong and steady of strength. What is happening at your location is defraction , the signal is being bent buy the top ridge of the mountain and angled down ward. And if - as in if - there are problems with the digital reception it will help to also point the front of the antenna up at the top ridge of the mountain , this will put the length of the antenna inline with the angled defracted signals. But like I say just because there can be problems does not mean there will be. Like I say , digital Tv can correct many problems with the signal. The analog Tv pictures however will look bad just like the analog pictures always have.

[John Candle]

Here are some but not all tv antenna mounts, http://www.eham.net/libraries/download/430/Photo_A.jpg , http://www.sadoun.com/Sat/Products/Perfect/PVEM1.gif , http://www.rohnnet.com/files/Tripod_Roof_Mounts.jpg . Notice the wide spacing of the straps of the chimney mount , this makes the mast and antenna stable. Notice the wide spacing between the two brackets of the eave mount , this makes the mast and the antenna stable. Notice the tripod mount , this will make the mast and antenna stable.

[Tower Guy]

Do you have any thoughts on this or does your recommendation change?



How often do you plan to watch KAZT? I assume that's Spanish programming.