Where to start

[Brutismax]

Gonna ditch the sat and install an antenna. So I came here to get some advice on which type of antenna to get and if I need an amp to go with it. would like to run 3 tv's off it. http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d4033c7f0ef0266 Thanks for any help.

[ghz24]

I think the link should be http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d403363519e666d

does this look like your analysis page Brutismax ?

[Brutismax]

Yes thats it, not real great with computers.

[GroundUrMast]

There are several ways to approach your situation. If you are interested in receiving every possible signal, you are in a location that lends itself to the DXing hobbyist.

Your OP sounds like you want simple and reliable though, so...

Any of the reputable antenna brands 4-bay UHF panel antenna would be a good choice.

U4000, DB-4, DB-4e, CS4, CM-4221 or HD4400.

http://www.antennacraft.net/Antennas/AntennasUHF.html
http://www.antennasdirect.com/store/UHF-Multi-Directional-Antennas.html
http://www.channelmaster.com/Channel_Master_Digital_HDTV_Antenna_Outdoor_HD_Antenna_s/3.htm
http://www.winegarddirect.com/cview.asp?d=winegard-television-%28tv%29-antennas&c=UHF%20Only%20Antennas

With the antenna mounted outside, facing between 190° and 220° you should have the major networks and enough signal power to drive a 3-way splitter with no amplifier.

I think this simple option may leave you with no CW, ION or MyN.

If you want to consider other options, let us know what you need/want.

[MisterMe]

...

I think this simple option may leave you with no CW, ION or MyN.

...Not all all. The CW is available on a WFMJ (RF20) sub-channel which identifies itself as WBCB 21.2. MyN is available on a WYTV (RF36) sub-channel which identifies itself as MyYTV 33.2. It is the strongest signal in the area. The OP should have no trouble receiving ION because WVPX (RF23) is not his weakest LOS station.

[Electron]

Install a Channel Master CM3000A antenna above the roof. Here are some roof mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html. Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.channelmasterstore.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com

[GroundUrMast]

Install a Channel Master CM3000A antenna above the roof. Here are some roof mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html. Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.channelmasterstore.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com

This may work... but omnidirectional antennas are the least capable of dealing with multi-path.

[Brutismax]

Thanks for the help. I got a 10 year old aluminum antenna for free yesterday. Its about 5ft long maybe 4ft wide in good shape, I mounted it off my chimney, single story house so around 15ft high. Ran 108ft of coax to one tv without any amp, aimed it south to youngstown. Getting 28 channels and it's getting 3.1 and 3.2 from cleveland (they break up a bit though)off the side of the antenna. Today I might try turning it west a little and see if any more channels from cleveland come in without messing up the younstown ones. When I split it for the other 2 tv's would it be a good idea to get an indoor signal booster?

[Electron]

A note about U4000 , DB-4 , DB4e , CS-4 , CM4221 , HD4400. These antennas Will Not receive tv transmissions from many of your multipul directions around the compass. The reflector screens of these antennas Will Block many of the tv transmissions at the back sides of the antennas and the antennas are the least sensitive at the edge wise sides of the antennas and will not receive signals. That leaves the front of the antennas to receive the signals.

[Brutismax]

Posted a reply earlier, didn't show up.Yesterday I put up a used aluminum antenna mounted off my chimney. Aimed south with no amp just 108ft of coax to tv and got 28 channels. Today I aimed it west and came up with 40 channels, some are clear some a little pixelated or grainy. When I split the line for the other tv's I might need a signal booster, would an indoor one be ok?

[Dave Loudin]

Ok, here's a technical critique: practically speaking, there are two other markets showing up, Pittsburgh and Cleveland/Akron. We've advised several folks in the NE part of Ohio and those who have chased Pittsburgh have had less than stellar results. Note that those are 2-edge paths, so are more variable than most. Cleveland/Akron is more tantalizing - noise margins in the teens and low 20s with 1-edge paths. However, I don't believe a low-gain omni antenna will deliver reliable reception. All other directions, including Erie, are far weaker, so they definitely won't be picked up by an omni.

It's entirely possible that by aiming a 4-bay antenna more towards the southwest, you can pick up the stronger Akron stations while maintaining reception of Youngstown. So, the bottom line is, an omnidirectional antenna will not provide more stations than a properly aimed 4-bay.

[GroundUrMast]

Posted a reply earlier, didn't show up.Yesterday I put up a used aluminum antenna mounted off my chimney. Aimed south with no amp just 108ft of coax to tv and got 28 channels. Today I aimed it west and came up with 40 channels, some are clear some a little pixelated or grainy. When I split the line for the other tv's I might need a signal booster, would an indoor one be ok?

Great, you've proven that the strong local signals, to the south, are easy to get. And the signals to the west are within reach. From here, it's hard to tell if the pixelation is caused by the free antenna (we would need to know more about it, a make & model # or a photo). You have more to choose from by aiming west, but the indications are that you need an antenna with some gain and directivity which is a strong vote against an omnidirectional design.

You have also answered the question "Do you plan to connect more than one tuner?" So it sounds like you are after a full line-up of programing, but not in need of a tower, large antenna and rotator array.

If I understand your goal correctly, I'm inclined to recommend that you try a preamp such as the Antennas Direct CPA-19 or Winegard HDP-269. Both will tolerate the strong local signals while providing the gain needed to overcome the 6 or 7 dB loss of your long coax. You'll still have enough gain left to overcome the loss of a 2, 3 or 4-way splitter. The job of the preamp is to preserve the signal quality available at the antenna. Signal quality lost in coax and splitter loss can't be recovered by any amplifier.

Reliable reception starts with the right antenna, so if you still have problems with reliable reception, you'll want to consider using an antenna such as the Winegard HD7696P. Aimed at due west, you should see all the major networks (ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, ION, MyN, NBC, PBS, UNI...) The gain and directivity of the HD7696P may make reception of the signal to the south unreliable.