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View Full Version : Yet Another Newbie Who Needs an Antenna

Harvmeister
17-Oct-2011, 6:29 PM
Hi, all!

Like alot of us, I'm looking to ditch my cable and go for th OTA signal. Here is my signal report:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d60b5fc7cfd2e4b

I mostly need the stations to my West (South bend) but also gotta have the Michigan stations to my North (Kalamazoo). I also wouild like to put the antenna in my asphalt shingled attic if possible and would really like to avoid using a rotor since we flip back and forth between to 2 constantly.

Any help with this will be very much appreciated. TVFool is Very Cool! :cool:
John Candle
18-Oct-2011, 3:03 AM
How many tv's are/will be connected??
Harvmeister
19-Oct-2011, 10:10 AM
Just 1 TV at the moment a (Sony CRT w/ a converter), but I'll probably add a second set in the future when I get a new flatscreen and move the oldie to the bedroom.
GroundUrMast
20-Oct-2011, 3:07 PM
Attic mounting may work well (depending on the construction of the roof and snow accumulation in the cold months) when going after the South Bend signals. The Kalamazoo signals are going to be more of a challenge.

The most reliable option would be to mount high, in the clear.

For South Bend signals, a 4-bay panel antenna facing 253° would give you reliable reception of the SB signals in the green and yellow section of your report. You could improve the reliability of WEID and WMYS (in the red) by going with an 8-bay panel. Antennacraft U4000 & U8000 and Antennas Direct DB-4 & DB-8 are examples. If you are going to try in the attic, go with the larger 8-bay.

Kalamazoo signals are quite weak. An antennas Direct XG-91 and a Winegard YA-1713 with a CM-7777 preamplifier roof or tower mounted would be needed.

Combining the signals from the antenna systems is generally beyond the budget and technical ability of most consumers. An A/B switch or second set-top-box tuner/converter is more practical.

If you have an interest in HTPC technology, take a look at this thread, http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=820. It's an alternative idea regarding multiple antenna situations.