Antenna advice / Fairfield, CA
 

Just looking for antenna setup advice. I currently have a DirecTV dish setup outside with all the wiring, but no service. I'm just trying to get the max number of channels possible. Not really interested in Spanish channels, but I understand picking and choosing isn't the name of the game. Thank you for the help!
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...5b940690d8b130

The local Sacramento stations should be easy to receive. I'd use an all channel antenna such as the Antennacraft HD850 or Channel Master CM-3018. This gives you a good shot at seeing KCSO-LD which is reported to carry ME-TV in addition to Telemundo. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KCSO-LD

You could build a second, separate system aimed at San Fransisco using a lager, more aggressive antenna or combination of antennas... happy to elaborate if you're interested.

Awesome, thanks! Real new to this, would I require an amplifier? The distance from the antenna to the TV isn't too bad, but would be coming from outside. I'd hopefully just attach one of these antennas to the existing DirecTV mast. I'm pretty much just interested in the major channels, so San Fran would possibly just be repeating those channels from Sac I guessing. But I'm definitely interested in any setup ideas. Thanks again!

The local Sacramento signals are strong enough to advise against any amplifier on that antenna. You don't want an amplifier or tuner to be overloaded by a strong signal, that would leave you with less reliable reception.

I would expect a considerable amount of duplication of national network programing. The local news and independent signals from San Fransisco may be interesting though. If I was to go after the San Fransisco signals, I would use an Antennas Direct DB8e + Antennacraft Y10713 + an RCA TVPRAMP1R preamplifier. I'd cable the local and San Fransisco feeds separately... http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=2882

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Above the Peak of the Roof install a , www.antennacraft.net , HD850 All Channel antenna aim at about , 85 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

Use a Real and Actual magnetic compass to aim antenna.

A antenna system amplifier is not required.

For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a simple common 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a simple common 3 way splitter.

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Here are some above the roof antenna mounts.

www.ronard.com/909911.html
Use the , ronard(911) , 5 foot tripod antenna mount.

www.ronard.com/34424560.html
Use the , ronard(4560) , eave antenna mount.

www.ronard.com/ychim.html
Measure around the chimney and use a , ronard(2212) , ronard(2218) , ronard(2224) .
Buy the ronard antenna mounts at , www.ronard.com

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As always , trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , have a Negative Effect on Broadcast Tv Reception and so do buildings and other obstructions including your own roof and building.

Some and not all Negative Effects are.

Absorbing and Blocking Reception.

Multi-Path Reflections Bouncing All Around.

The Best Pratice is to install the HD850 antenna at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind on the directions of reception including your own roof and building.

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The Tv/s Must Channel Scan for the , OTA=Over The Air , ATSC-Digital Broadcast Tv Stations Channels , often named the ~ DTV Channels ~ Antenna Channels ~ Air Channels ~ in the Tv Setup Menu because the Tv transmissions travel through the Air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.

Some digital Tv's will Automatic channel scan for cable Tv channels.

DO NOT channel scan for cable Tv channels.

Go into the Tv Setup Menu and select ~ DTV Channels ~ Antenna Channels ~ Air Channels ~ .

Scan for , ATSC-Digital Broadcast Tv Stations/Channels.