another antenna advice seeker

[EricInOhio]

Hi,

Like so many others here I am in the process of trying to select an antenna and position it for optimum reception. My TVFool report is here:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d14f3776cac4ab5

I most care about receiving WVIZ, which is the local PBS and its subchannels.

It looks like the best heading for reception is about 213 degrees on the compass.

Can anyone provide a recommendation please? Thanks!

[MisterMe]

Wow! You have a lot of very strong channels including WVIZ. You should be able to pickup everything you want including WVIZ with a decent VHF-UHF indoor antenna--rabbit ears. The 213° orientation is to True North. Your antenna should be pointed 221° Magnetic North (by the compass) or 213° (True North). If you are having trouble, then you should state the nature of your residence--single family home, apartment, trailer, whatever. Also, do you have trees blocking the line between your antenna and the transmission towers.

[No static at all]

I recommend a Winegard 7694 mounted on the roof aimed at 213°. The signal from the local signal CBS station is a bit weak (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d14f3776cac4ab5%26t%3dALLTV%26n%3d9) & would likely be a source of frustration with an indoor or attic antenna.

The 7694 antenna should work well with 2, maybe 3 TV's with no need for amplification.

[Tigerbangs]

Don't ever count on reliable reception from an indoor antenna. There are way too many variables to promise that you will ever be satisfied with what an indoor antenna can provide you.

If you want everything reliably, without stutters and blanking, use a Winegard HD-7694P antenna mounted on your roof aimed at a compass heading of 225 degrees. Use good quality RG-6u cable from the antenna to the TV set, and all of the Cleveland stations will come in perfectly for you.

Good Luck

[John Candle]

I recommend a Winegard HD7694P antenna aimed at about 222 degree magnetic compass. The tv stations in the red zone are weak , if connecting 3 or 4 tv's I recommend a Channel Master CM3414 distribution amp. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.3starinc.com. Here are antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html

[John Candle]

Read and understand about , REAL Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Virtual Broadcast Tv Channels , Analog Broadcast Tv Channels , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=695. Here are some tv guides , http://www.zap2it.com , http://www.television.aol.com , http://www.titantv.com , http://www.tv.yahoo.com , http://www.tvzap.com , http://www.entertainment.excite.com. Most tv guides list the channels as virtual channels.

[EricInOhio]

Thank you everyone for the responses.

To address a few questions/comments:

I am living in a single family residence (ranch home with attic) and plan on only having one TV connected. There are a couple of trees which may be troublesome for me, one of which is in my neighbor's yard.

Using the cheapo indoor/outdoor antenna I bought at monoprice.com is just not working for me. It is currently indoors and I am looking to once and for all solve the problems I've been having with it by replacing it with a high quality antenna, of which the suggestions for me have been unanimous.

The local CBS station is not too much of a concern for me, but obviously, the more stations I receive the better.

John, thank you for the useful information. This link http://www.ronard.com/909911 seems to be broken.

[EricInOhio]

John (or anyone who knows),

I do have a question now that you have mentioned chimeny/roof mounting hardware.

I assume I will have to buy a chimney mount seperately from the antenna?

[Tigerbangs]

Antenna equipment is sold a la carte: here is a good installation guideto help you along:

http://manuals.solidsignal.com/AntInstallGuide.pdf?utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=3932741&utm_campaign=CJ

[John Candle]

As a extra measure of reception a larger antenna can be used , Winegard HD7697P antenna. Using one of the mounts , try and mount the antenna so that it is not aimed into a tree , try and mount the antenna so it is aimed past the tree one side or the other. Unless other wise stated all antennas , mounting equipment , coax cables , and etc. is by the piece.

[EricInOhio]

I just wanted to post my results here.

I bought the Winegard 7694 as most recommended, though I decided to attic mount versus roof mount. I have the antenna pointed at approx. 220 deg compass reading.

The local CBS station is the only station I might expect to receive that I don't actually receive. I might try a signal amplifier to fix this, but I am actually pretty happy without. I receive a fairly strong signal from all the other local stations with 99% trouble free reception.

[Dave Loudin]

No static predicted that you would have trouble with that station with an attic install. Preamps will not help if the antenna does not get enough signal to begin with.