Grand Rapids, MI - Antenna needed question

[the_los]

Hi Everyone,

I've decided to cut the cable and I'm confused as to what I need to get the most channels possible at the highest quality. I have a TV turner that hooks up to my Mac and it will act as a DVR. This is my map:


http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d9900c7bd6d22e8

Now, currently, I have this antenna http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024R4B5C/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00 and it's facing Northwest and get Virtual channels 8, 13, 35, and a couple that I don't really care about. Channel 3 comes in but it's very choppy and channel 17, it doesn't really come in at all. What I'm after is to have channels 3 (CBS), 8 (NBC), 13 (ABC), 17 (Fox), 35 (PBS), and 41 (ABC). What do I need to make this happen? I've played moving the antenna around but lose some channels where others are gained. Currently, the antenna is on top of the garage at about 10 feet up. I would love to get it on the roof of the house but the roof is very steep and tall so it would be both dangerous and I don't have a ladder that will get up there. Can you guide me in the right direction?

Thanks!

[GroundUrMast]

The majority of the channels you have named are south and slightly west. I would try pointing the antenna that direction (about 166° compass). If you are blocked by a building or trees, you'll need to relocate the antenna so it has a less obstructed view. The signal from real channel 13, WZZM should be strong enough to be received through the back of the antenna, if there are no significant obstructions.

The tough channel appears to be real channel 11, WGVU. Coming from the west it will be the antenna will have low sensitivity. You can try mounting higher, though I understand you're limited with no ladder available. (The big home centers rent ladders.)

Another option is to add an Antennacraft Y5713 pointed west. You can try combining the two antennas into a common down-lead using a common 2-way splitter in reverse. The reversed splitter is cheap but allows interaction between both antennas and lacks filtering that might be needed. A tuned antenna combiner from tinlee.com (model AC-7 tuned for real channel 11) would be a more reliable method of combining these two antennas.

[teleview]

So with the ANT751 antenna on the garage roof , is the house blocking reception in a direction??

Here is a antenna mount that will get the ANT751 Up High above the roof of the house without climbing on the roof of the house.

http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com

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

http://www.solidsignal.com.


With the ANT751 antenna above the roof of the house , aim the antenna 2 different directions , about 315 and about 135 , degree magnetic compass. One of the directions will give the best reception.

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


The Tv/s Must Channel scan for the Broadcast Tv Channels sometimes named the 'Air Channels' or 'Antenna Channels' in the Tv setup menu because the Tv transmissions travel through the air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.


DO NOT channel scan for cable tv channels.

[teleview]

To Prove reception do this test.

With the antenna mounted above the roof of the house.

Connect a Known to be Good matching transformer (balun) to the antenna.

Connect a Known to be Good loooong coax to the matching transformer.

Run the Known to be Good loooong coax through a open window or open door Directly to a Known to be Good Tv that has a Digital Broadcast Tv Tuner.

Do not use the external tuner or computer.

What is reception like now??

[the_los]

Thank you all for the recommendations! I'll try them this weekend.