Cancelling Dish for OTA

[joshuapirtle]

Hey everyone, I have been scanning the TV Fool forum for quite a few months now and am amazed with the information that is here.

December will be the end of my money sucking satellite contract, and I would like to get some suggestions on antenna/s.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d9900e75cee990a

As you can see, my OTA channels mostly point northeast and southeast. I am thinking 2 directional antennas pointed in opposite directions would work best, but I will defer to the experts online. I would like to use the existing satellite mount, if possible.

I live in a ranch style house with many, very tall trees around. I will have 3 tv's connected. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[GroundUrMast]

Maximizing your viewing options while maintaining some convenience may require two antennas.

I would suggest you start with one antenna, an Antennacraft HBU-22 or an Antennas Direct CS-2 complete (which has the added VHF dipole included).

Either antenna aimed south and a bit east should also receive the two strong signals from the north.

Then, if you want to go after the weaker signals to the NE and to the west, you can consider a large deep fringe antenna such as a Winegard HD7698P on a rotator. The two down-leads would be separate.

[joshuapirtle]

Thanks for the information. I will start with the one antenna and see what my results are. If I need the second antenna, I was thinking of using the Winegard SD 3700 to join the two signals together. Would this be a good plan of action?

[GroundUrMast]

The SD-3700 is functionally equivalent to a 2-way splitter. It has no filtering that would reduce undesired signal from one antenna or favor desired signal from the other. If you receive a usable signal on one antenna, mixing a weaker signal from the other antenna is just as likely to subtract from or interfere with the strong signal as add to it... without filters for each channel it's a roll of the dice. If you want to get an idea of costs for effective filters, contact tinlee.com.

On the other hand, it's fairly cheap. A few people manage to get lucky combining broadband antennas with a broadband combiner (a reversed splitter). Most people are disappointed with the results though.



http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=2882
http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=820
http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=8275

[teleview]

For a one antenna solution install HBU22 aimed at about 55 degree magnetic compass.
Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/point.html.

About 55 degree is where the weak Tv stations/channels are at , the HBU22 does have some forward gain to increase the reception in that direction.

And the HBU22 is not a very directional antenna it will receive the Strong signals coming from the other directions.

Use a Channel Master CM3414 distribution amplifier to send the signals out to the Tv's.


As always , it is best to put a antenna at a location that has the least amount of trees and tree leaves in the way of reception.

Looking at the Pending Applications Included - Digital Only , of the tvfool radar map plot and channel list I see the Tv stations are the directions of , north , north east , east , south east , south.

Here are some roof top 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 some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.antennacraft.net , http://www.channelmasterstore.com , http://www.amazon.com.

The Tv's Must Channel Scan for the Digital 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.