Help with Napa Ca.

[Calpyro]

Hello,

I need a little help. Just made the decision to ditch the Direct TV and go to over he air TV and I am a little confused.
I am here: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d0b86b5fa1127ab

My house is surrounded by trees and I am in a bit of a shadow directly south of my house (in the path from the SF stations)

Which antenna should I buy? This is what I am looking at: http://www.winegarddirect.com/viewitem.asp?p=HD7698P&d=Winegard-HD-7698P-High-Definition-VHFUHF-HD769-Series-Antenna-(HD7698P)&post=
with the 8700 amp to deal with a 1:4 splitter and 100' of cable.

Thanks for the help.

[GroundUrMast]

The Winegard HD7698P is a very good choice. The AP8700 will be close to overloading, I would opt for a Winegard HDP-269 or Antennas Direct CPA-19, either of which will handle much higher signal input levels.

[Electron]

The HD7698P is spot on. Install a Antennas Direct CPA-19 preamp. Aim the antenna at about 180 degree magnetic compass , KGO-TV 7 ABC. As always turn the antenna to the left and right to find the best reception aim. Most digital tv's have a signal strength meter. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. If you do not have a antenna mount here are some 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 mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box or buy from ronard. Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.antennasdirect.com , http://www.amazon.com

[Calpyro]

I ordered the Winegard HD7698P with the Winegard HDP-269. Thanks for the help.

[Calpyro]

The HD7698P is spot on. Install a Antennas Direct CPA-19 preamp. Aim the antenna at about 180 degree magnetic compass , KGO-TV 7 ABC. As always turn the antenna to the left and right to find the best reception aim. Most digital tv's have a signal strength meter. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. If you do not have a antenna mount here are some 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 mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box or buy from ronard. Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.antennasdirect.com , http://www.amazon.com

Thanks for the tips on the mounts

[Calpyro]

Thanks for the help.
Just got the new antenna fired up and all is well execpt that I do not get one of the major TV stations KPIX (CBS 5).
All of the other stations on the Sutro Tower come in fine, but KPIX does not even register in my (New) tv's. I rotated it slowly while monitoring the signal strength and set if for other stations on the same tower. Both of my Tv's indicate 70-85% signal strength.
I decided to ditch the four-way splitter for a two-way when my cable ended up measuring just around 200'

Is there anything that I can do?

[Electron]

Tvfool lists REAL channel that is being transmitted and the virtual channel. The REAL channel is what is being transmitted and received. The Virtual channel in most cases is the Legacy channel of the Tv station. The Legacy channel number is the old analog channel number of the tv station. Try scanning for KPIX UHF channel 29 , with out the preamp , ALL parts of the preamp must be disconnected , the outside part the inside parts. It can also help to move the antenna up or down or from location to an other location.

[Calpyro]

Tvfool lists REAL channel that is being transmitted and the virtual channel. The REAL channel is what is being transmitted and received. The Virtual channel in most cases is the Legacy channel of the Tv station. The Legacy channel number is the old analog channel number of the tv station. Try scanning for KPIX UHF channel 29 , with out the preamp , ALL parts of the preamp must be disconnected , the outside part the inside parts. It can also help to move the antenna up or down or from location to an other location.

Thanks,
I will give your tips a try

[Calpyro]

Thanks again for the help.
I ended up purchasing another pre-amp:
Winegard AP8275 Chromstar 2000 Series VHF/UHF Pre Amplifier (AP-8275)
Apparently I underestimated the total distance of coax cable. The picture is now good and I am getting a pretty good selection of channels.

KPIX from Sutro Tower is off and on. Sometimes I get it an sometimes not. Can't figure it out. It is the same distance as other channels and more powerful that most.

[Electron]

Installing a higher gain amplifier , Immediately , puts in my mind , Bad coax connections , bad coax , bad splitters , bad couplers , etc. . Check All connections and coax. A way to prove out reception is to connect a Long Known To Be Good RG-6 coax to the antenna and run the long coax through a open window or door direct to the Tv.

[Calpyro]

Installing a higher gain amplifier , Immediately , puts in my mind , Bad coax connections , bad coax , bad splitters , bad couplers , etc. . Check All connections and coax. A way to prove out reception is to connect a Long Known To Be Good RG-6 coax to the antenna and run the long coax through a open window or door direct to the Tv.

I did run the new RG-6 without anything directly to the TV and still had a problem.

That being said in total, I have around 100' in new RG-6 to the splitter and around 110 of older RG-59 installed inside the walls to the TV's for a total of +/-210'. My original estimations were off quite a bit.

[Electron]

For the KPIX-TV Real UHF channel 29 issue , turn the antenna to the left and right and change the height of the antenna to find a position that gets better reception. May even have to change the location of the antenna.