Help with Antenna Selection and Aiming

[Berniebac]

I have a cottage at a rural location here in NS. I would like to receive a couple channels (CTV and CBC) so that I can keep up on news and weather and watch a few shows.

My TVFool Analysis can be found here: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d1349c394a96042

I currently have a set of rabbit ears mounted in my attic and a long (maybe 20 feet) 2 lead antenna wire down to my TV. With an analog TV I was getting channel 4 (CBC) and 9 (CJCB - CTV) with a fairly good picture. When I upgraded to a new Phillips LCD TV I now only get Ch. 9 and the pic is not great.

I would like to purchase an outdoor antenna. This I would mount on my rooftop at a height of approx. 25 feet from ground level. I will likely still have a problem with trees that surround my cottage, but will have to see if I can find a hole in them to get to a transmitter.

I have been told the transmitter for Ch. 4 is going down the end of this month so likely I will no longer get it. So my questions are:

1) What would be a good choice for an antenna?
2) Where best to aim it based on the analysis?
3) There are transmitters shown at approx 290 degrees that might be the clearest line of sight, could I possibly get these?

[Electron]

Looking at the Current Plus Pending Applications Included as separate Analog channels and Digital channels.

Receivable Digital Tv stations/channels at 246 degree magnetic compass.

CJCH-DT , UHF channel 48 CTV.
CBHT-DT , UHF channel 39 CBC.
CIHF-DT , VHF high band channel 8 GTN.

For reliable reception of these Digital channels install a Winegard HD7698P antenna with a Winegard AP8700 preamp above the roof aimed at about 246 degree magnetic compass.

Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

The other receivable broadcast tv channels showing in the tvfool radar plot report are Analog Tv channels to the north/east.
They are repeats of , CTV , CBC , GTN . Except for CBHFT-7 UHF channel 15 SRS a French language tv station.

Will you like to receive the French language , Analog Tv station to the north/east??

Some common above the roof antenna mounts are , tripod mount , chimney mount , eave mount .

Here are places to buy antennas and ect. , http://www.saveandreplay.com , http://www.trentondistributors.com , http://www.amazon.ca , http://www.canadapost.ca/shopper , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazom.com.

[Berniebac]

Thank you Electron, if I could get those three channels that would be great and especially in digital. The French channel would not be of use to me.

I will look at the links you provided to source the equipment and I would prefer the eave mount as it would be the simplest in my case.

So you believe that those digital channels could be received given their weak signal strength?

[Electron]

Tv antennas like elbow room and receive the best when there are no obstructions in the way , trees and tree leaves , buildings and etc. .

If there are obstructions in the way it is best to mount the antenna in such a manner that there are less obstructions or no obstructions.

With less or no obstructions the digital channels will be received.


Something else to consider.

F.T.A = Free To Air Satellite Tv with a small dish and receiver.

The Tv channels/programing are Free to receive and watch.

All of the American PBS channels are free to receive and watch.

And more English language satellite Tv channels are free to receive and watch.

Here is a web site that is informative to get you going F.T.A.

http://www.ftalist.com.

http://www.saveandreplay.com , sells and will install FTA satellite Tv systems.

There are other business that sell and will install a FTA satellite system.

[Berniebac]

I wasn't able to follow you advice on the Winegard 7698P antenna, there was no local supplier to provide Winegard equipment and to have one shipped in was outrageous. So, I found a supplier of Channel Master Antennas and picked a CM 3671 with an 8777 preamp. I mounted it on my roof and although I am 63.3 miles from a transmitter I am able to get two HD local channels.

My antenna is pointed directly at a large spruce tree and there are a few more behind it that I feel are affecting the quality of my signal. One channel comes in very good with no lose of signal. The other channel comes in but often breaks up to the point that it loses the signal. My TV posts a message saying "No Signal". I am guessing the trees are my problem.

My antenna is on a 10' mast on the gable end of my cottage, but is only about 18 inches above the ridge of the house. It would be difficult to support a higher antenna location without going to much stronger supports.

The lose of signal on Channel 5.1 seems intermittent. This morning it was very good till about noon time. Then the cloud cover started to clear and the wind came up and my signal stopped coming thru.

Do you think the trees are blocking the signal? Or, is the signal affected by weather and would it be better on cloudy days then it is on clear days.

I can't get above the trees, but I might cut a few down. Would like your opinion on whether that would improve things or am I stuck with what I got. Let me know if you have any suggestions. I took a pic of the trees that my antenna is pointed at but can't post that till tomorrow.

[teleview]

As Always , trees do a very good job of Reducing or Blocking Tv transmission and reception.

Move the antenna to a location that has the lest amount of trees.

Yes cutting down trees is a great way to get them out of the way so they are not reducing or blocking reception.

_________________________

Yes the CM3671 antenna is a very good long range antenna and yes the CM7778 preamp is a very good preamp.

[teleview]

A straight tall pine tree can also make a tower to mount the antenna on.

http://www.ronard.com/tree_adjust.html.

http://www.ronard.com.

Cut the branches away in a manner that the branches can not whip around and destroy the antenna.

[Berniebac]

A straight tall pine tree can also make a tower to mount the antenna on.

http://www.ronard.com/tree_adjust.html.

http://www.ronard.com.

Cut the branches away in a manner that the branches can not whip around and destroy the antenna.

I figured cutting the trees might improve things. I just hate to cut them down, it takes a long time to replace them.

I wonder about a tree mount for an antenna. Wouldn't the tree swaying in the wind cause a loss of signal?

[ADTech]

Wouldn't the tree swaying in the wind cause a loss of signal?

Yes, it can if the amount of sway is excessive. ATSC (excepting M/H) reception is predicated on a stationary antenna.

[Berniebac]

Here's a couple pics of what my antenna has to see thru to get to the transmitter. In one of the pics you can see the antenna at the very top of the pic and the tree that it is pointing directly at. After these trees is the lake and pretty much a straight run to the transmitter 63 miles away. No other hills in the way.

I think I can remove some of the trees but would prefer to not have to take all down. Do you think removing some of these will help?

[ADTech]

Temporarily install the antenna on the other side of the trees with a long coax and, if needed, a pre-amp and see how it works there. That will tell you what needs to be done.

[Berniebac]

I just might try that. I would loose a lot of elevation though as I would drop about 50' from the top of the roof to the lake shore. Still might be worth a shot. Could I join a couple 50' pieces of coax with one of those connectors to get it that into the clear? Or would the connector cause more loss of signal?

[ADTech]

The additional cable length and inline connectors will add a bit of signal loss which can be overcome with the use of a pre-amplifier.

[teleview]

Looks to me like cutting down the first tree in the middle , straight ahead of the antenna will give a better view of the Tv transmitters.

Looks like the elevation drops very quickly down to the lake , and this would also produce a better view of the lake area for you and guests.

One of the many reasons for having a cottage is to enjoy the view , not look into one or two trees.

[Berniebac]

Looks to me like cutting down the first tree straight ahead of the antenna will give a better view of the Tv transmitters.

Looks like the elevation drops very quickly down to the lake , and this would also produce a better view of the lake area for you and guests.

One of the many reasons for having a cottage is to enjoy the view , not look into one or two trees.

When it comes to cutting them it will be one at a time and likely that one in the middle, which is also the biggest, will be the first to go. Oh well, can always use a little fire wood.