No clue need help

[sjuanie]

I have been reading some of these threads and have no idea how to choose the right antenna nor would I know what do do once I get one. I'm just trying to cut my cable out and was wondering which is the best antenna and what setup some of you are using. I have 1 Roku and WII, would be looking to get as close to a cable setup as possible. Here is a link to my location info?

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d99004f4b5de7f5

Thanks for your time,
Steve

[GroundUrMast]

I would install a Winegard HD7696P pointed at about 285° (compass). This would focus on reception of the major networks broadcast from the towers south of Sacramento.

There is a transmitter to the NNE on real channel 3 which is receivable. That would require a second antenna such as an Antennacraft CS600 pointed at about 0° (compass).

These antennas can be combined into a single coax to feed one or more TVs.

[sjuanie]

I still have an old Dish network setup, the dish is still up. I currently have U-verse hooked, would I be using these existing cables to run to my TV's. Are these antennas difficult to install/mount. Thanks for your help, it's much appreciated.

Steve

[GroundUrMast]

The cable used in satellite and cable TV installations can be reused once it has been disconnected from those services.

Some TV antenna installations are very easy. A beginner do-it-yourself project. Others can require expert DIYer skill and tools.

A roof top installation calls for an understanding of what may be harmful to the roof and the person working on it. The slip/fall hazard is a risk you would need to be able to assess and take appropriate steps to mitigate. If power lines are present, you need to know that you can identify them, avoid them and plan the installation so that if the antenna or mast fell, there would be no chance of contact with power. We can help you choose the antenna and related hardware, then talk you though the install. If you want to try this your self, feel free to give us the details... ask all the questions, none are dumb, unless you don't ask :D. You can post photos if you like.

The tools and supplies are commonly available to the DIYer. But if you decide you only want to select and purchase the hardware, then we'll be happy to help with that.

If you're inclined to hire the work, companies specializing in 'structured wiring', 'home theater installation' and independent 'satellite system installation' would be worth inquiring of.

Ultimately, you're a far better judge of your skills than we are.

[Electron]

This recommendation is based on the tvfool Current Plus Pending Applications Included for Digital Tv stations and channels.

Install a Winegard HD7000R antenna with a Winegard AP8700 preamp aimed at about 315 degree magnetic compass.
Here is how to aim antennas, http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

With the HD7000R antenna aimed at about 315 degree magnetic compass the English language Tv stations/channels in the Green and Yellow reception zones of the tvfool radar plot report will be received.

With the HD7000R aimed at 315 degree , some Religion and Spanish and other language channels may not be received.

If you will like to receive more religion and other language channels , will require more then one antenna and coax cables.

[Electron]

The HD7000R will be installed above the roof.

Here are some above the roof 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.

[Electron]

My recommendation is to start with the HD7000R antenna system install , it is simple.

And more can be added later.

Yes the coax wiring that is in place now can be used.

For splitters I recommend , http://www.hollandelectronics.com , also available at http://www.solidsignal.com.

For one Tv connected use no splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a HFS-2D , 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a HFS-3D , 3 way splitter.

For 4 Tv's connected use a HFS-3D , 4 way splitter.


Are you discontinuing and disconnecting U-Verse and sattelite service Completely??

[sjuanie]

Electron..........Yes, discontinuing completely. The Dish network is already disconnected, they left the dish up there, I didnt bother removing it just in case I went back. U-Verse is current, but as soon as I get this gear I will cancel. My goal is to get a cheap phone service if any, cost effective internet service, though I will be looking for quality here. I dont care about the other languages and religious stations, though I do care about religion :). Thank you for the itemized list and links, you are too kind, same goes for GroundUrMast. I will do the install myself as I am into saving money. I have 2 TV's, one in the living room and one in the bedroom. Quick question, I have solar panels installed, will that interfere with reception in any way?

[GroundUrMast]

You can reuse the mounting (J-pole) that the dish is on... IF the OTA antenna will not touch the roof or other parts of the building - and - the antenna will not be aimed into the roof. Most satellite mounts are not on the north side of the building because they need a view of the southern sky. Satellite matrix switches and diplexers (which may look like OTA/CATV splitters) need to be removed so that OTA signal can pass.

Solar panels will pose a problem if they are in or close to the path from the antenna to the transmitter towers.

[sjuanie]

Here are some Pics of where my cable is coming from. Would this be a good spot or higher up on the eave?

[Electron]

If any type or kind of u-verse service is on a coax cable then that coax can not be used for the Tv antenna coax.
The Tv antenna system coaxes and any active u-verse coaxes must be separate systems.
If there is no type or kind of u-verse service at all then all of coaxes can be used for Tv antenna system.

Tv antennas like elbow room.
Tv antennas like the least amount to no obstructions.
Tv antennas like to be free and clear to receive Tv transmissions.

Mount the Tv antenna so that the Tv antenna clears the high point of the house roof and clears the solar panels.

[sjuanie]

Gotcha, so I will just cancel all u-verse, they really arent that good and there pricing doesnt match the quality anyway. Then I will use the eave mount at the highest point of my roof which would clear everything. Is this mount pretty sturdy? What do you recommend? I do have a chimney but it is clear across the other side of my house.

[Electron]

The http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html.
Eave mount is Strong and Sturdy.

[sjuanie]

Ok, I'm gonna work on getting the parts needed. I want to thank you both for your help, I will update when I get the ball rolling.

Steve

[sjuanie]

I'm not sure if I should continue where I left off. I ordered the winegard HD7000R antenna as recommended, I finally got around to opening the box after 3 weeks, was ready to install it. Unfortunately, the rods on the antenna were bent into a perfect curve, almost looked like it was made that way. Here is my problem, they are out of stock and don't know when they will be getting them in. I ordered this with the Sonora HFS-3D DBS satellite diode steered 3-way splitter and the Ronard 3442 Eave mount, all from Solid Signal. Should I get my refund and find the same antenna some place else or order a different antenna. Thanks for your time,

Steve

[sjuanie]

Or can I unbend them?

[teleview]

Get the refund and order the antenna some place else.

[sjuanie]

Thanks for the response, they ended up having a order come in so they are sending me a new one, thanks again.

Steve

[sjuanie]

Ugh! I've had nothing but problems with this install. After receiving my replacement antenna, I open the Ronard 3442 eave mount and is there supposed to be a mast included in this? It shows it on the picture but doesnt say anywhere whats included in the box, so I have no idea. All I know is it didnt come with a mast, they are closed today so I thought if somebody knows the answer to this and solution.
Thanks again,
Steve

[teleview]

The eave mount does not come with a mast pipe.

Home Depot and etc. , usually have Tv antenna mast pipe.

[sjuanie]

I'm back, I finally have all the parts, actually 1 extra antenna with slightly bent poles. I went to look at installing, propped the ladder up there and, well, its up there. If I was younger and havent had a bunch of surgeries from injuries lately I wouldnt think twice. But I cant afford to miss anymore work, I'm not as trusting with my agility as I once was, so, can anybody recommend an installer, in the 95361 area and what type of price I should expect to pay. It's an eave mount install, running off the existing old dish network cable, I currently have u-verse and they are just crap...period. I have comcast coming out Wednesday for my internet install, then I will cancel U-verse altogether. How about cheap phone service, we currently haven't used our land-line in probably a year, all calls are forwarded to my Verizon cell phone. Hopefully I will be running comcast internet, getting OTA reception with 1 Roku and thinking of getting Tivo for the big screen in the living room, it currently uses our Wii for Netflix. I got the 3 way splitter as I have cable running to 3 rooms.

Thanks for your help!

Steve

[sjuanie]

I want to thank everybody for there help. I have the antenna installed, bought me the TIVO Premiere and am now getting about 20-30 channels, its just awesome. Last question, there have been a few instances where reception has been lost, no reason, no wind, rain or anything from my point of view. I had it professionally installed, aimed as specified, the only thing I didnt get was the Pre-amp. The person who installed it also has the same setup and didnt mention a pre-amp. My question is, how would I know I needed one, I mean overall, reception is good, but if by installing a pre-amp it would stop those few times where the reception goes bad?? BTW, the spanish stations never go out and are crystal clear.

[sjuanie]

After investigating this further, I do have a 3 way splitter but only 2 TV's as the third TV I decided not to hook up, so I have read there is a greater loss there. That plus the distance of cable run to each TV, if I were to guess since its late at night and I cant measure at the moment, I would say the furthest TV is at least 100 feet away from the antenna. Im no expert, this is just stuff I googled, but it seems it wouldnt hurt to get the Winegard ap-8700 preamp? Or would this cause a overload, I do have a ROKU attached to the bedroom TV, and the TIVO plus DVD/VCR combo hooked up to the living room TV.
Thanks for your help,
Steve

[teleview]

The following is a Teleview recommendation for braodcast tv reception.

What did Electron say about Tv reception??

[sjuanie]

Well, lets recap what he said shall we?

This recommendation is based on the tvfool Current Plus Pending Applications Included for Digital Tv stations and channels.

Install a Winegard HD7000R antenna with a Winegard AP8700 preamp aimed at about 315 degree magnetic compass.
Here is how to aim antennas, http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

With the HD7000R antenna aimed at about 315 degree magnetic compass the English language Tv stations/channels in the Green and Yellow reception zones of the tvfool radar plot report will be received.

With the HD7000R aimed at 315 degree , some Religion and Spanish and other language channels may not be received.

If you will like to receive more religion and other language channels , will require more then one antenna and coax cables.


My recommendation is to start with the HD7000R antenna system install , it is simple.

And more can be added later.

Yes the coax wiring that is in place now can be used.

For splitters I recommend , http://www.hollandelectronics.com , also available at http://www.solidsignal.com.

For one Tv connected use no splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a HFS-2D , 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a HFS-3D , 3 way splitter.

For 4 Tv's connected use a HFS-3D , 4 way splitter.


Are you discontinuing and disconnecting U-Verse and sattelite service Completely??

So I went with his recommendation to start with the antenna, splitter and have discontinued U-VERSE, these were his recommendations to start as he said more can be added later, so it's later and I am asking about the preamp, did I miss something?


Tv antennas like elbow room. CHECK
Tv antennas like the least amount to no obstructions. CHECK
Tv antennas like to be free and clear to receive Tv transmissions.CHECK

Mount the Tv antenna so that the Tv antenna clears the high point of the house roof and clears the solar panels. AND CHECK!

So again, after googling, rereading these post, I'm asking, is it worth the extra $35 or so to buy and install the preamp, if my question is out of line or seems ignorant, I didnt mean to be out of line, the ignorance may just come natural, though I tried to research myself

[sjuanie]

Oh, and it was professionally installed as I said earlier at 315 degree magnetic compass, this is what I told the installer, I can only assume he did this, its what he told me, he did an awesome job. I appreciate all the patience and help from Electron and the others who have gave suggestions. I think its great you pass on your knowledge of this stuff to help others, as I do with computers, I fix them on the side free of charge, I enjoy it so I dont need anybodys money, I have a regular fulltime job, I just like to help people that cant afford to get ripped off for sometimes simple computer fixes.
Thanks for your time,
Steve