Antenna Upgrade

[turbobob]

Presently, we have an old VHF/UHF outdoor antenna with approximately 50 feet of 300-ohm twin lead wire to the digital TV. We will probably add an analog TV and one recording device at each TV. The analog TV will connect at about 25 feet from the antenna on the main cable and with about 15 feet to get to the room.

NBC, FOX, and PBS are all received with good quality, CBS and MyNetwork will usually come in well if the weather is good. ABC will sometimes digitize even when the weather is clear and never if the weather is bad, even foggy. ION is usually not even available.

Any information concerning the type of antenna, cable, splitters, or amplifiers, would be greatly appreciated.

This is what I found at this site: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d99000ed9ea618d

[GroundUrMast]

There are several ways to approach this situation.

A simple one antenna solution would be an Antennas Direct DB4e aimed at about 55° compass. A preamp such as the CPA-19 from the same vendor would give the gain needed to split several ways.

A large combo antenna on a rotator is another option but it becomes frustrating when there's a disagreement over which way to aim.

Regardless, discard the twin-lead. Replace it with RG-6 coax.

[Electron]

Aim a Antennas Direct DB4e antenna , http://www.antennasdirect.com/store/DB4e.html , with a Antennas Direct CPA-19 preamp , http://www.antennasdirect.com/store/clearstream_pre_amplifier_kit.html ,
at about 70 degree magnetic compass , here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Get rid of ALL the 300 ohm twin lead.

Use RG-6 coax.

For one Tv connected use no splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a , http://www.hollandelectronics.com , also available at , http://www.solidsignal.com.

HFS-2D , 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a.

HFS-3D , 3 way splitter.

Here are some strong and sturdy 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.comychim.html) , http://www.ronard.com.

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

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

Here are High Quality converter boxes , with and with out recording capibility.

http://www.epvision.com.

http://www.channelmasterstore.com

[MisterMe]

... We will probably add an analog TV and one recording device at each TV. The analog TV will connect at about 25 feet from the antenna on the main cable and with about 15 feet to get to the room.

...Your strongest transmitters are digital. Virtually all digital TV sets have NTSC [analog] tuners. To watch programming on an analog TV, you will need a digital converter, digital tuner, or OTA DVR. So ... why the analog TV?

[turbobob]

Thank you for the information. It was very helpful.