[rabbit73]

Originally Posted by niv

Atmospherics must have been really good last night for the LGTV. All channels were coming in trouble free even 12.1. I was watching 2 football games on 10.1 & 15.1. When there was commercials on both at the same time (more often then you'd think) I'd check out all the other channels. No tearing on any channel. The SDT tuner Channel 3.1 was stable 5.1 was flakey, no 12.1. I was able to scan and add 3.1 to the Hopper OTA tuner but not 5.1.

I like the dual antenna idea. Is the Stellar Labs 30-2476 secs as good or better then the VHF section of the 7698?

Many say that it is just as good. The instruction sheet says 10 to 14 dB.
https://www.newark.com/stellar-labs/...vhf/dp/71Y5462

http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/23...426.1504358738

https://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/thr...ntenna.373747/

The only spec on the 30-2476 I read where someone said that it had a maybe useful UHF activity. Would that be a problem or would the combiner take that out.

It does have some useful UHF gain, but you want the UHF/VHF combiner (UVSJ) to remove the UHF signals from the VHF antenna so that they do not interfere with the UHF signals from the UHF antenna.

Could I use my Channel Plus LPF-380 Low Pass filter 0-380 MHZ to take out the UHF signals before the combiner? Or would there be another filter I should put on along with the FM Trap?

You could insert the CP LPF-380, but it is not necessary because the UVSJ will remove the UHF signals from the VHF antenna.

Watching the Y-Tube video on trouble shooting the 7698 they were taking about tying into the VHF section with a 300-75 transformer. If the Stellar Labs Antenna isn't as strong as the VHF section of the 7698 maybe I could do that.

The purpose of showing the balun transformer clipped to the wires of each section of the antenna in the troubleshooting video was only a temporary test to be certain that each section of the antenna is working OK before being combined.

The antenna realignment has done wonders for the 12.1 reception, never seen at 33' before and perfect on the LGTV last night. But 3.1 & 5.1 have been problematic where they hadn't been at the old location. Black line in the attached picture is the old path. Is this a better path for the UHF stations or is there another better path that is different than the VHF path? That would make the dual antennas a really good idea.
https://tinyurl.com/ya5bvex4

That link doesn't work; it takes me to my Amazon album, which I don't have. Anyway, the best path is the one that gives the best signals. The path for your signals can get skewed because the signals are scattered by the rough terrain.

If I were to do this what combiner would you suggest?

My first choice would be the Antennas Direct UNF/VHF combiner because it has low loss and a plastic housing for protection from the weather. It is in short supply:
https://www.antennasdirect.com/store..._combiner.html
ADTech says they will have some more soon.

The Radio Shack UVSJ is good, but it doesn't have a housing:
https://www.radioshack.com/products/...itter-combiner

Avoid the Stellar Labs 33-2230, it isn't as good; higher losses.

How much separation should there be between antennas? Since height has been a factor with 12.1 I'd think I'd have the VHF on top.

About 3 to 5 feet is usually enough.

https://www.tonercable.com/pdf/antenna.pdf

I know that the cable length from both antennas to the combiner should be the same.

Not true; it is only necessary when two identical antennas (2 UHF or 2 VHF) aimed in the same direction are being combined with a splitter in reverse.

This is an interesting idea if having the antennas pointed in slightly different direction would improve results.

The "right" way is the way that works the best.