New Antenna Installation

[soundbuild]

Here's my signal analysis - http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d7fb97606e2c439

I am getting rid of my cable, so I purchased a RCA ant751, mounted it on my eave/gable. Ran coax R6 cable into the house from the antenna, and was hoping I could just hook it into my existing runs of coax cable I used when I had cable tv. Where the cable came into the house I basically had a splitter and then I have home runs to each tv (3 of them), and when I connected the new antenna I didn't get any picture at all. So I tried each tv run separately (no splitter) and still no luck. From antenna to each tv is around 60 -70 feet.

Shouldn't I be getting some sort of picture coming through? I get the black and white static. Is it my antenna installation? TV's? There are currently two tv's, LGLK520, and an AOC L26W661 (hope that's the right number). Eventually a 3rd will be hooked up. Do I need a digital converter box?

thanks

[Electron]

Aim the antenna at about 163 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. Yes Both Tv's Have the Built in ATSC Tuners to receive OTA , Over The Air Broadcast television. In the menu , find and set to scan for the Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , sometimes called the "Air" channels because the signals travel through the air. Do not scan for cable analog channels , Do not scan for cable digital channels.

[soundbuild]

I'll give it a try tomorrow and let you know how it goes. The antenna is aimed roughly in that direction, and I did try both tv's to search for the "air" channels and didn't get anything. That's why I was wondering what I did wrong.

[GroundUrMast]

The ANT-751 should be able to 'see' several stations despite the fact that you're down over the edge 'in a hole'. (I'm familiar with the area from Aurora Village to Lake Forrest Park.)

With the antenna connected to only one TV, no splitters and NO possible interconnection with active cable TV service... what does a channel scan (for air or antenna) produce.

[Electron]

One way to prove out a reception situation is run a known to be good RG-6 coax cable from the antenna DIRECT to the tv. Through a open window or open door in to the house. And use a known to be good matching transformer that connects the coax to the antenna.

[soundbuild]

Well, I ran a direct line from antenna to TV, and it worked. That must mean I can't hook it in to the coax that my cable TV was working on.

Will amplifying the signal make it work? I'm trying to avoid running new lines to each TV if possible. It would be simplest to just hook the antenna line in to where the cable came in to the house. Is there any way to make this work?

thanks for the help

[GroundUrMast]

Just to be certain, has the cable service been disconnected completely?

If you connect an antenna to a cable service drop, even one that is only providing internet access service, you risk causing harmful interference to aircraft communication and navigation as well as other licensed radio services. Given that you're right under the instrument approach path to Seatac you could expect someone to notice quickly.

You should be able to disconnect the cable company service drop from the splitter, then connect the antenna to the splitter input. In your situation, a high-input preamp such as the Antennas Direct CPA-19 or Winegard HDP-269 could be used to overcome splitter and cable losses.

But before you spend money on a preamp, be sure that the antenna is connected to the input port of the splitter, not an output port. Good splitters will have a great deal of loss between output ports.

[soundbuild]

the cable drop, I disconnected from the splitter, and the connected the antenna in its place. The only channel I'm getting is KOMO. It comes in great.

Will the amplifier solve the lack of channel problem?

Which of the recommended preamps is best?

again thanks for the help, it is greatly appreciated.

[GroundUrMast]

The CPA-19 has slightly better noise performance (it's less noisy). I'd expect either amplifier to overcome all of the loss caused by the splitter and cable in a typical residential installation. That should give you the channels seen when you connected the antenna directly to one set.

You may be able to fine tune the aim and improve your situation a bit more. However, having a general idea of the terrain and Douglas Firs in the area, the ANT-751 is a bit on the small side.

[soundbuild]

What would be a good setup for this area and will it make that much more difference over the ANT 751 I have now?
There aren't any big trees nearby, we're just on the backside of the hill with the water tower. My house is the tallest around for at least a couple 100 feet until the ground rises in elevation.

[GroundUrMast]

If you were starting from scratch... and reception of the signals from the stations on Queen Anne and Capitol Hill is the primary goal, A Winegard HD7694P (http://www.winegarddirect.com/viewitem.asp?d=Winegard-HD-7694P-High-Definition-VHFUHF-HDHD769-Series-TV-Antenna-%28HD7694P%29&p=HD7694P) or it's larger variations up to and including the HD7698P would be useful in overcoming the hill just south and west of you. I'd expect the signal from KWPX-ION from W. Tiger Mt. to be strong enough that you would not need to be aimed directly at it... Electrons suggested aim point of 163° (Capitol Hill) is the right aim to try first.

KZJO, real CH-25 carries a copy of KCPQ-Fox on their second sub-channel, but it's data rate is limited to about half the rate broadcast on real CH-13 from Gold Mt. south of Bremerton. If you want KCPQ at full resolution, you could add a Winegard YA1713 (http://www.winegarddirect.com/viewitem.asp?d=Winegard-YA-1713-Prostar-1000-10-El.-HiBand-VHF-TV-Antenna-%28YA1713%29&p=YA1713) and insert the lone CH-13 signal using a CH-13 Jointenna (http://www.channelmasterstore.com/Channel_13_Join_Tenna_Antenna_Combiner_CM0583_p/cm-0583.htm) from Channel Master.

Having said all that, I'd start with adding a CPA-19... you can then decide if you need more antenna. Either way, the CPA-19 will provide gain to overcome cable and splitter losses.

[Electron]

I recommend a Winegard HD7696P antenna with your choice of recommened preamps. Start with the aim of the antenna at about 163 degree magnetic compass and turn the antenna in the direction of KCPQ-DT 13 FOX / KTBW-DT 14 Ind. , to improve the reception of those weak channels. With out losing the reception of KUSE-LD 46 , http://www.tufftv.com in the other direction.

[Electron]

Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.antennasdirect.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com

[soundbuild]

Well, the snow finally melted off my roof, and I was able to install my new CPA-19. I am still not getting as many channels as I was hoping. Is my antenna too small...there's a joke there I'm sure.

I get KOMO very clear and KSTW ch. 11. KING sort of comes in but comes in and out.

I've moved the antenna around but it doesn't seem to make a significant difference.

thanks again.

[Electron]

I recommend look for bad connections. Look inside of the coax connectors on the ends of the coax , I look for coax shield wires that are touching or wrapped around the center wire. I look to see if the metal foil shield is pushed in to the center wire , if so , I use the point of a knife or small flat blade screw driver to push the foil shield away from the center wire. I look to see if the foam that surrounds the center wire is smashed out of round , if so , I use the point of a knife or a small flat blade screw driver to clean the foam and make the foam more round inside the connector. A coax or coaxes can be bad. Coax that is installed inside walls can be cut or have nails or screws in the coax. The connector barrels that go through the wall plates can be bad. A splitter can be bad , try a different splitter.

[GroundUrMast]

Well, the snow finally melted off my roof, and I was able to install my new CPA-19. I am still not getting as many channels as I was hoping. Is my antenna too small...there's a joke there I'm sure.

I get KOMO very clear and KSTW ch. 11. KING sort of comes in but comes in and out.

I've moved the antenna around but it doesn't seem to make a significant difference.

thanks again.

OK, there could be a joke there... but;

In post 11 & 12, we answered the question... Electron's suggestion of the Winegard HD7696P is spot on. Paired with the CPA-19, I believe you'll see much more reliable reception, particularly of CH-9 & CH-11. Overall, the gain and directivity of the larger Winegard will significantly improve both UHF and VHF reception.

[Electron]

The preamps power supply needs to be on the input side of the splitter not on one of the outputs the go to the tv's.

[soundbuild]

So I've had my Ant-751 antenna hooked to one tv, no amp. And got channels 4 KOMO,5 KING,7 KIRO most of the time, and a few others. I wanted to get more channels, so I followed the suggestion and got a bigger antenna, a Winegard HD8200U. Now I'm only getting 4 KOMO...is the antenna too big? The new antenna is hooked directly to the tv with no amp. Would raising the mast make any difference?

thanks

[MisterMe]

... Now I'm only getting 4 KOMO...is the antenna too big? The new antenna is hooked directly to the tv with no amp. Would raising the mast make any difference?

thanksI see nothing wrong with your antenna, per se. The fact that you are receiving only KOMO leads me to suspect that the antenna is either misdirected or that it has a bad cable connection to your TV.

As a first measure, redo your channel scan. Be sure to scan for the AIR or ANT channels.

[Electron]

According to the tvfool radar report your location has Many easy to receive digital Tv channels. You said that running a coax direct from the antenna to the Tv , produced good reception with many channels , and connecting the in house coax produces bad reception , so there is a problem or problems with the coax wiring of the house. Do Not connect the Tv antenna to any active cable coax. Not cable tv , Not cable internet service , Not cable phone service , if it's active cable service of any type or kind , Do Not connect the antenna to it. Yes the coax that is in or on the house can be used for delivering the antenna reception to the Tv , but the coax that is used for delivering the antenna reception , Can Not have any type or kind of active cable service connected to it. Also the Tv Must Scan for the Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , sometimes called the 'Air Channels' or the 'Antenna Channels' . Do Not scan for cable tv channels.

[soundbuild]

it was the connection at the antenna. I replaced it and I get quite all the channels I expected. I was wondering how to get KONG to come in better. Most of the time it's so weak I get nothing, every once in a while it's strong enough to actually watch. It looks like it's the same direction/distance as other channels I am getting.

thanks for the help

[Electron]

Is the CPA-19 preamp being used?? Is the antenna pointed at about 163 degree magnetic compass?? Looking at your tvfool radar report and list of the Pending Applications Included , How far down the list of digital channels in the , green , yellow and red recption zone are being received??