Need help near Omaha, NE

[wpbacon]

I'm just north west of Omaha, NE. I'm using a Antennas Direct DB8 Multidirectional HDTV Antenna, Winegard AP-8700 Preamplifier, and an 8-Port Bi-Directional Amplifier/Splitter Signal Booster for my HTPC. I have a two questions.

1.) I live close enough to Omaha, the local stations are picked up by the coax cable in the walls of my house even before I added the antenna. There are stations farther to the south and southwest I'd like to pick up. Can I direct my antenna toward the farther stations in the south and southwest without losing the nearer stations in Omaha to the east? Can you suggest a good direction to maximize my reception?

2.) When I first hooked up the antenna, I had it sitting in my living room and picked up about 15 stations. My young daughter wouldn't leave it alone, so until I could mount it on the roof I put it in the basement. Number of stations went down, as expected. Since I don't have the time to roof mount the antenna for a while I then moved it to my bedroom on our 2nd floor. There, it had to face north, away from most of the local and distant stations. But the number of stations I received went to 30. Then I moved it to my son's bedroom, also on the 2nd floor. His window faces directly south, toward more of the stations I want to get. The number of stations went to 14. Any idea why I would lose stations when I moved to my son's room?

I've attached the digital radar map for my area. Any help to improve my reception would be appreciated.

[John Candle]

The front of the DB8 the reception side of the antenna is the side that has the V shaped metal elements. The screen/reflector reflects signals to the V shaped metal receiving elements. If the antenna is turned around so the screen/reflector is facing the transmitters then not much will be received. If the coax cable in the walls is receiving Tv transmissions then that is not good. The coax needs to be grounded with a coax grounding block to electric service ground. If after grounding the coax with out a antenna connected is still receiving watchable tv signals then there is a problem with the coax. . How many Tv's will be connected????

[John Candle]

How many Tv's are/will be connected????

[GroundUrMast]

Multi-directional is not how I would describe any 8-bay panel antenna.

I'm not convinced that one amplifier is needed. Two will be begging for inter-modulation distortion that will reduce the quality of the signals. As the antenna is aimed at the stronger stations, you can expect less not more usable signals due to overloading of the amplifiers.

Try the antenna with no amplifiers.

Do you have a list of 'must have' stations (by call sign)? The answer to this question will determine if any amplifier is needed.

[John Candle]

I agree with GUM. An 8 bay panel antenna is not a multidirectional antenna. It's marketing department hype. The truth is a 8 bay antenna has a narrow half power forward beam width. I also agree with GUM that 2 amplifiers are Not needed , and for the reception of the tv stations in green , no amplifier might not be needed , unless you have A Lot Of Tv's Connected. It is highly likley that the amplifiers are over loading and blocking reception. How many Tv's are/will be connected.

[John Candle]

How many Tv's are connected????

[John Candle]

How is the house coax wired?? Daisy Chain or Structured wiring?? Daisy chain is not the correct way to wire/install coax. Structured wiring is the correct way to wire/install coax. http://www.swhowto.com/Structured.htm

[Tower Guy]

Any idea why I would lose stations when I moved to my son's room?


The AP8700 preamp is overloaded. Remove it and the power supply from your system.

[wpbacon]

At most, three tv's and an HTPC with 4 tuners (a dual and 2 single)will be connected.

The installed coax is no longer connected together. I just moved into the house and the former occupants "cut" out the distributor/amplifier instead of unscrewing the lines. They're just hanging down in the basement. However, it is a structured wiring setup.

I didn't know about grounding the installed coax, I'll get that done and let you know if it changes anything.

I'd really like to get KLKN-DT (Digital) Channel: 8 (8.1) Network: ABC, it's about 60 miles away. Might it be better to use the DB8 for the close Omaha channels and add a directional second antenna to try for this station?

[John Candle]

If you will like to receive KLKN-DT 8 then do it this way , aim a Winegard YA1713 antenna with a Winegard AP3700 VHF only preamp at channel 8 , 10 and 12 will also be received. And aim the DB8 at 153 degree magnetic compass. The two antennas will be connected together with a UVSJ inside of the house at the location where all of the coax cables go to. That means that there are two separate coax , one from the DB8 and one from YA1713. http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=UVSJ. A VHF only - AP3700 preamp and power supply will be connected in the coax that goes from the UVSJ to the YA1713 antenna. The DB8 will not have a preamp. The line/output of UVSJ is connected to the house coax system at the place where all the coax go to.