Antenna Decision Time

[ksrussell]

I'm hoping I can get some help with the antenna I need. I already ordered the 4228HD but I'm having buyer's remorse. I'm thinking I could maybe use a more wide spread antenna. Can someone please give me their awesome advice that I'm seeing in the other threads. My TV Fool's report is http://wwwDOTtvfoolDOTcom/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d0b8633c7ec15fa (DOT = .)

[Electron]

The tvfool radar report link is not working. How many tv's are/will be connected?? Make antenna height 25 feet.

[ksrussell]

Here's the link.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d0b8633c7ec15fa

[Electron]

How many tv's are/will be connected??

[Electron]

Install a Winegard HD7698P antenna with a Winegard AP8700 preamp , aimed at about 270 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.ramelectronics.com , http://www.tigerdirect.com.

[ksrussell]

Only 2 TV's. The 2nd one isn't all that important though.

Thanks for the advice on the antenna, I'm checking it out now. Do you mind explaining why you think that antenna would be the best for my situation?

[ksrussell]

Wow I just looked at that antenna. There is no way my wife would allow me to put that on our roof and I don't think it'll fit in my attic pointing in that direction, any second choices that would be smaller?

[coco]

Take a look at this antenna: http://www.dennysantennaservice.com/hd_stacker_tv_antenna.html
I've had this antenna along with a Winegard AP8700 preamp for nearly 2 years.I am very pleased with its performance.Here is my TVFool report
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d0b86a814248302
I catch all channels on my list down to WLPB channel 25
When I purchased mine it was $100 ,I see now it it $130 but free shipping &100% guarantee or you money back

[ksrussell]

Thanks Coco, that's certainly an interesting antenna. I wish I had your TVFool report!
After looking at my TVFool report, I'm only really concerned about picking up the first 7 channels. My two worries would be the NBC and Fox networks that shoot 240'sdeg instead of 280's. They are all less than 50 miles although most are 2Edge. I'm thinking the other two antenna's that were recommended thus far may focus on getting more channel's than what I'm really after. The Channel 8 WGAL is also available as 49 so I don't really need to get in the VHF's (I think) except for channel 10. Should the 4228hd that I ordered get these 7 channels, or would something else be better?

[Electron]

The television transmissions at your location are weak to Very Weak. The bigger the tv antenna is the more signal the tv antenna will collect. A amplifier can increase the strength of the signal that is collected by the antenna and push the signal on through the coax , but first the antenna has to collect the signal. Small antennas do not collect much signal , large antennas do. If you will like to do it a different way then install a Antennas Direct C5 VHF antenna and Antennas Direct DB4e UHF antenna the two antennas are connected together with a Antennas Direct UVSJ Uhf/Vhf separator joiner. A Antennas Direct CPA-19 preamp will amplify and push the tv signals through the coax out to the tv's. The CPA-19 preamp is connected to the output of the UVSJ. Mount the C5 below DB4e. The antenna height is 40 feet in the tvfool radar report , will the antennas be on a tower or a two story house?? Do you have mounting in place to mount the antennas on?? . http://www.antennasdirect.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com

[Electron]

You can also combine the C5 with the 4228HD.

[ksrussell]

Electron,
I think my TVFool report was set to 25ft? I have three plans for mounting the antenna's. The first plan is to have it hidden in my attic. If that won't work than to use the existing bracket that was used for my satellite dish. That's on the roof just above my garage, so probably 15 ft? The 3rd option is my last resort to install an eave mount on my house (2 story). So what you're saying it's mostly the lower power of the channel's that my problem will be?

[ksrussell]

Combining the C5 with the 4228 would suit me better so I don't have to cancel that order! Are you saying I need the C5 so that I can get Ch10 in?

[Electron]

Reliable reception will not happen with the antennas in the attic. The antennas Will Be Mounted Above The Roof in such a way that the antennas have plenty of elbow room and big thick dense trees are not blocking reception. You Will Use a UVSJ to combine the antennas with , you Will Not use a two way splitter to combine the antennas with. A AP8700 or CPA-19 preamp Will Be connected to the output of the UVSJ. OR you can use a Winegard AP2870 preamp in place of the UVSJ and the other preamps , The AP2870 has a input for the C5 VHF antenna and a input for the 4228HD UHF antenna and then one output from the AP2870. . The C5 is for reception of the VHF high band channels of 7 thru 13. . Here are some STRONG and STURDY antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim/html , http://www.ronard.com. Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box or buy from ronard.

[ksrussell]

Excellent thank you Electron. By the way, I always see solidsignal being recommended and some other places, but never summitsource (where I just bought my antenna and only place I could find it in stock). Do you know if there is a reason for this, I hope they are reliable!

[Electron]

The tvfool radar report that you provided is showing the antenna height at 40 feet. Having the antenna lower then 40 feet , say at 25 or 15 feet will mean less received signal strength. The Current Plus Pending Applications Included of Digital Only Tv Stations/Channels is showing one Tv station that is strong signal strength , WLYH-DT Uhf Channel 23 The CW in the green reception zone on the tvfool radar map. The other tv stations/channels are weak in the yellow zone and even weaker in the red zone.

[Electron]

If the AP2870 preamp is used , then UVSJ or the AP8700 or CPA-19 would not be used. I think I am done now with my recommendations. These are the places I recommend , Direct from the manufactures , http://winegarddirect.com , http://www.channelmasterstore.com , http://www.antennasdirect.com , http://www.antennacraft.net. Retailers , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.3starinc.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , And for those that like to shop around and squeese out the last dollar http://www.amazon.com. Here are other places that have some hard to find electronics and cables and etc. , http://www.ramelectronics.net , http://www.tigerdirect.com , http://www.digicircle.com

[ksrussell]

Electron,
Thank you very much for all of your great recommendations. I still haven't received an email since I ordered from summitsource so I'm going to try to cancel that order and go with one of your recommended. Once I have my antenna installed I'll update this thread to let you know how it turned out. One reason I want to go with one of your recommended retailer's is in case I have to return anything, I don't want to be messing around with a so-so company. Thanks again!

[Billiam]

Electron,
Thank you very much for all of your great recommendations. I still haven't received an email since I ordered from summitsource so I'm going to try to cancel that order and go with one of your recommended. Once I have my antenna installed I'll update this thread to let you know how it turned out. One reason I want to go with one of your recommended retailer's is in case I have to return anything, I don't want to be messing around with a so-so company. Thanks again!

Summit Source is fine. I've purchased products from them in the past. Simply call them before canceling the order to make sure everything is OK.

[ksrussell]

Summitsource treated me well, I received my 4228HD today already! I tested it in my computer room shooting out a second story window. I picked up 15.1, 8.1, and 21.1. Unfortunately I'm away for the rest of the day, but tomorrow I'm going to take it outside to see how many more channels I can get, especially with pointing it more directly. This antenna may have been the answer after all!

[Billiam]

ksrussel.

If you want a really good antenna to obtain signals at the low end of the UHF band then I would recommend the following:

http://www.summitsource.com/channel-master-3023-uhf-hd-tv-antenna-outdoor-60-mile-long-range-directional-roof-top-hdtv-corner-reflector-cm3023-28-element-fringe-suburban-offair-local-tv-signal-television-aerial-red-zone-part-cm3023-with-50-ft-coax-cable-p-6678.html

I own one of these and tested it against several other UHF antennas including the 4228 that have (older model though) and the 3023 gives noticeably better gain on channels below 30 on UHF.