equipment advice for a newbie

[Kipper]

Hi. I am brand new at this and would welcome any advice as to the best combination of antenna, rotor, amp etc. for my location. I am not a techie but I can handle the setup and wiring if I know what to get.
I am basically trying to get as many channels as I can without having the antenna too noticeable above the roof line. My roof is about the tallest in the immediate vicinity - especially to the east where I guess most of the signals will be coming from - though there are some taller trees to the southeast a few city lots over.
The peak of the section of roof I can use is about 31 or 32 ft. high so I have used that in the analysis.

The link to my signal analysis is here: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d9e74885436d9a1

Any advice would be welcome.

[John Candle]

A rotor will work Ok for 1 Tv , however if more the one Tv is connected , conflict will develop over where the antenna is pointed. How many Tv's will be connected?? With a rotor you will receive a lot of channels , with out a rotor , not so many. How ever you will receive all the Canada channels.

[Kipper]

Hi John,
Thanks for the reply.

I was hoping to run 3 TV's - 1 upstairs at about 25' of cable and then use the existing cable in the walls - could be 100 ft or so (not sure) to run 2 TV's on the main floor. Is this do-able from my location or am I asking for too much here?

[John Candle]

If you will like to 'reach out' for the American channels , WICU-DT 12 NBC and WNLO-DT 32 CW and WIVB-DT 39 CBS. And all so receive the Canada channels. I recommend a Winegard HD7698P antenna , http://www.canadapost.ca/shopper/items/3621945/WINEGARD-HDTV-HIGH-BAND-HD7698P?local=en . And a Channel Master CM 9521A rotor. And a Antennas direct CPA-19 preamp. The big HD7698P antenna is needed to 'reach out' for the listed American channels. And this big antenna on a rotor will also receive the Canada channels. A smaller antenna can be used for the Canada channels only.

[John Candle]

Again . A antenna and a rotor works Ok for one Tv. However if more then one Tv is connected , CONFLICT Will develop over where the antenna is pointed.

[John Candle]

I am researching for a smaller antenna that will get you the Canada channels with out a rotor. And Yes you can connect more then one Tv.

[Kipper]

Thanks for the research John.

The Winegard HD7698P antenna seems to have a range of 60 miles. What does that actually mean? Is it enough to pull in the US channels from my location?

[GroundUrMast]

Thanks for the research John.

The Winegard HD7698P antenna seems to have a range of 60 miles. What does that actually mean?...

Not much. Mileage ratings are based on generalized and usually unspecified assumptions. Mileage claims are something that the marketing department came up with to help non-technical customers and retail sales people guess better. The published specifications provided by Winegard and other reputable vendors are far more specific in describing the capability of an antenna.

http://www.winegard.com/kbase/upload/HD7698P.pdf

An accurate prediction of signal conditions (your TVFool report) combined with the specific gain of an antenna will be vastly more accurate than reliance on a general mileage figure in an advertisement.

In the case of dishonest or misleading advertisers (I'm not referring to Antennacraft, Antennas Direct, Channel Master or Winegard) fantastic mileage claims are based on the most improbable theoretical conditions, or in some cases, the number is just made up.

[John Candle]

Of the American channels that I listed , WICU-DT 12 NBC will likely be received all the time because it is in the red reception zone. WNLO-DT 32 CW , WIVB-DT 39 CBS are in the gray zone and are real stretch and may or may not be received reliably all the time. . To help you decide WICU also has the digital sub channels , The CW and CBS . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WICU-TV. . WIVB is currently just CBS , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WIVB-TV . And WNLO is currently The CW with some CBS programing , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WNLO. Here is some interesting information at the CW web site , http://www.cwtv.com/thecw/about-the-cw

[John Candle]

For reception of the Canada Tv stations channels I recommend a AntennaCraft U4000 antenna with a Channel Master CM7777 preamp , aimed at about 280 degree magnetic compass. Turn the metal reflector bars of the U4000 so the reflector bars are more in line with the bar that the reflector bars are mounted on. This get's them out of the way so more signal get to the V shaped metal reception elements through the back side of the antenna. This makes the U4000 a 2 directional antenna for reception of the Tv stations in the westerly directions and easterly directions. Here is a place to buy the AntennaCraft U4000 , Lighthouse Electronics , 1636 Tecumseh Rd. , East Windsor , Ontario . Phone 519-252-2512.

[John Candle]

Here is more information. http://www.saveandreplay.com , http://www.trentondistributors.com , http://www.user.dccnet.com/jonleblanc/Canada_TV_Stations , http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/117022 , http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/105462 , http://www.digitalhome.ca , http://www.friends.ca , http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/home-accueil.htm , http://www.canada.com/entertainment/television/index.html , http://www.zap2it.com , http://television.aol.com , http://tv.yahoo.com , http://tv.entertainment.excite.com