Recommendation for Egg Harbor

[raptor62]

Can someone please recommend and antenna solution for my seasonal campsite in Egg Harbor WI ?

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d13496f08919a97

Thanks!

[signals unlimited]

Mount a Winegard HD7697P above your roof. Aim to 225 degrees magnetic.

No amplifier is required, provided you are hooking up only one set and the coax is less than 50 ft.

Purchase the antenna and any mounting hardware needed at www.solidsignals.com

[GroundUrMast]

It appears that your report is based on the default height of 10'. If that is the only mounting height available, we can make recommendations based on that information. However, if you can mount higher, a TV Fool report based on the available height would be helpful.

I suspect you're surrounded by trees. If that's true, what type and how tall? Can you consider a mast or tower tall enough to place the antenna above tree-top level?

[Electron]

Please make tvfool radar plot reports with the antenna heights at 25 feet and 40 feet.

[raptor62]

We are in a low-land area with mature trees 50-60 ft. high. They are a mix of pines, oak, maple etc. I can put a mast up maybe 20-25 ft high. I also have two neightbors that would like to hook up to it if possible.

Thanks

[raptor62]

Here is a report at 25 Ft.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d13494f8c926fc3

Thanks!

[Electron]

Above the roof , mount and , Aim a Winegard HD7698P antenna with a Winegard AP8275 preamp at about 225 degree magnetic compass.
Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

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 ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box.

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

If more/stronger signal strength is required then with the antenna mounted above the roof then here is a way to get the antenna higher , http://www.ronard.com/Tripods%200703/4712.html , http://www.palcoelectronics.com/pe300.aspx.

[signals unlimited]

With tall trees, the above recommendation is "spot on".

Good luck!

[raptor62]

If I want to share the signal with a neighbor is there something you recommend to split the signal?

Thanks

[GroundUrMast]

How far away are your neighbors?

Sharing the signal is do-able but we need to have an idea of the cable lengths involved.

[raptor62]

Only about 75 feet away.

Thanks!

[GroundUrMast]

If you use the AP8275 suggested by @Electron or the competing Antennas Direct PA-18, no additional amplifier should be needed. Simply select a passive splitter with the number of needed ports. For example, if you need to feed signal to 3 TV's, select a 3-way splitter. To drive 4 TV's then use a 4-way splitter.

As a side note, 3-way splitters are usually unique in that one of the output ports will have half the loss of the others. The lower loss port is best used for driving the longest piece of coax.

[signals unlimited]

You need to use a two set splitter. If you install the splitter outside and between the amplifier and the power supply, you need a splitter with a DC pass port. Connect the line to your cabin to the port that passes DC and place the power inserter in your cabin. The other port can run to the other cabin and connect directly to the other DTV or converter box.

[GroundUrMast]

Here are some helpful diagrams that may guide you when connecting a preamplifier and a splitter in the same system.

http://www.antennasdirect.com/empoweren10475.html

credit: @ADTech

[Electron]

Here are high quality splitters from Holland Electronics.

HFS-2D , 2 way splitter.

HFS-3D , 3 way splitter.

HFS-4D , 4 way splitter.

http://www.hollandelectronics.com

http://WWW.solidsignal.com

[raptor62]

How far from an electric utility cable should the mast and antenna be? We scoped out a location but it is 10 ft away from the electric service poles running through the campground.

[Electron]

The HD7698P antenna is a long antenna.

If the mast pipe that the antenna is mounted on is 10 feet from electric power , does that mean that a end of the long antenna will be very close to electric power??

It is not a good idea to have a antenna close to electric power lines in such a manner that if the antenna were to fall over the antenna will fall on the electric power lines.

Murphy's Law is in full effect.

[raptor62]

A friend suggested the Winegard HD8200U. Is this an upgrade over the Winegard HD7698P?

[Electron]

The HD7698P antenna receives channels 7 thru 51 , as well as , the HD8200U.

The HD8200U also receives channels 2 thru 6.

The HD7698P is not designed to receive channels 2 thru 6.

There are currently no receivable channels 2 thru 6 at your location.

There might be in the future.

Installing the HD8200U is Ok , will be ready for what ever Tv channels are receivable now and in the future.

Keep in mind that the HD8200U and HD7698P are Big antennas.

Strong and Sturdy antenna mounting is recommend.