Hi all,
I need a little help with antenna selection. Last autumn I built an HTPC with a Hauppauge 2250 as the TV tuner which is connected through my AV receiver to a Panasonic plasma TV. Windows 7 Media Center is the software used for live/recorded TV. I ditched my satellite provider last October and haven’t looked back. Most of our TV viewing is on network television so the 450 channels of nothing to watch offered by the satellite provider was pretty much a waste of money for me. I’ve supplemented my TV viewing with Netflix and Amazon on demand. This is the only system in the house.
I purchased an Antennas Direct – Clear Stream Micron XG Indoor Long-Range Digital TV Antenna based on the transmission towers being 11 miles from my address. Reception has been disappointing. Some stations occasionally freeze in clear weather. When it is cloudy or snowing reception is worse, especially the NBC affiliate. Sometimes I get a message from WMC saying the signal is too weak to display. I took a chance on the indoor antenna even though my initial instinct was to put up an outdoor antenna last autumn. I’m guessing by the channel numbers I’m going to need a vhf/uhf antenna setup. The CBS and NBC affiliates station numbers are 13 and 11 respectively
Here’s the link to my TV signal analysis report.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...5b94ac15cb40de
I’m mostly interested in clear reception from the stations at 172 - 173 degrees. There is another channel at 68 degrees that would be nice to receive but not a necessity. I’m saving about 120.00 a month by switching to OTA tv. I’m all in favor of spending the extra money on an antenna setup to insure my reception is clear and as uninterrupted as possible. I’ll quickly get my money back by not paying for satellite/cable service. I’m not saying money is no object but most times you get what you pay for. I don’t think I will need a rotator. All local channel transmitters are located on the same mountain top. I’d like to get this right the first time, well second time. The indoor antenna isn’t working out very well.
As far as antenna location I can mount it on my back porch roof which is about 12 feet AGL. This will place the antenna facing the transmission towers however there are about 10 acres of trees about 100 feet behind the house. At this height the antenna won’t be above the trees. If I need more height I will have to hire someone to mount it on the main roof which is about 25 feet AGL. I’m getting to old to hoist it up there myself. The trees may still be an issue but the antenna will be close to the top of them.
Can I please get some recommendations for an antenna setup that will fulfill my needs and if mounting on the porch roof will be high enough? Thanks in advance for any advice.