Outdoor Antenna

[trek_fool]

Hi all,

I experimented with an indoor flat antenna (clearstream micron) and found it did very well out on the porch adjacent to our living room (see attached pics). It's about 20 feet from the HDTV inside, facing east. The only station I have not been able to pick up is the NBC affiliate. I'm thinking to get an outdoor antenna and mount it outside the porch screen on one of the vertical posts. The top of the porch is ~10 feet above ground. There is an exterior outlet available should I need a preamp. Any suggestions on what to get?


My signal analysis is located here:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...99007d1feac977

[GroundUrMast]

The trees call for higher mounting and more antenna gain.

An Antennas Direct 42XG or even the 91XG are not over kill IMO. I'd much rather see you use antenna gain rather than amplifier gain to solve this reception problem.

Antenna gain comes by way of designing the antenna to be more directional, which is a plus when faced with foliage induced loss as well as multipath. Amplifier gain does not help the same way, in fact it adds noise and amplifies both the good and the bad attributes of the signal received by the antenna, including noise and interference.

If we were neighbors, you'd no doubt see an antenna on my roof... trying to reach over the trees.

Given that I'm a fan of RTV network, I'd add an Antennacraft Y5713 pointing north at real channel 11, WTZT. With a UVSJ, I'd combine the two antennas into a common down-lead.

http://www.antennasdirect.com/store/...-Antennas.html
http://www.antennacraft.net/Antennas/AntennasVHF.html
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...nna-%28UVSJ%29

[trek_fool]

Thanks for the recommendations.

Our home is a single level, but the roof has a fairly steep pitch. I'd guess the peak would be another 8-10 feet. We just purchased the house, so not familiar with HOA rules, but I already know about the FCC law. Would an SR15 HDTV Antenna be out of the question? How tall of a mast were you thinking? We can get violent weather in the spring and fall (and saw my first tornado when we moved here 3 years ago.)

BTW, I'm able to pick up RTV with the indoor located out on the porch.

[GroundUrMast]

Would an eave or wall mount with a 5' mast work with your architecture?

http://www.3starinc.com/wall_mounts.html
http://www.summitsource.com/eagle-ad...t-p-11161.html

[trek_fool]

The only eaves we have are in the front yard, facing west. A wall mount would work.

A simple reception situation.

For reception of All the local Tv stations/channels of All directions install a ANT751 antenna above the roof aimed at about 99 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

Here is the Federal Antenna Law that says Yes you can , install , use , maintain , Tv antennas of any size and locate the antenna to get reliable reception. http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html.

For 1 Tv connected use no splitter and no amplifier.

For 2 Tv's connected use a Channel Master CM3412 distribution amplifier.

For 3 or 4 Tv's connected use a CM3414 distribution amplifier.

The antenna needs to be Up High for reception of All directions.

The ANT751 is a simple small antenna that has some forward gain , and is not very directional and receives Ok in all directions.

A simple 'J mount' antenna mount can be used with the ANT751.

And here are some other 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.amazon.com , http://www.channelmasterstore.com.

Here are the Local Digital Tv stations/channels.

WTZT-CD Real channel 11 , virtual number (x) , RTV.

WMJN-LP Real channel 29 , virtual channel (29.1) , Religion.

WYAM-LD Real channel 15 , Virtual number (x) , Religion.

WAAY-DT Real channel 32 , virtual number (31.1) , ABC.

WZDX Real channel 41 , virtual number (54.1) , FOX and MyNetwork and Me-Tv.

WHDF-DT Real channel 14 , virtual number (15.1) , The CW.

WHIQ-DT Real channel 24 , virtual number (25.1) , PBS.

WHNT-DT Real channel 19 , virtual number (19.1) CBS and Antenna Tv.

WAFF-DT Real channel 49 , virtual number (48.1) NBC and Bounce Tv.

WHVD-LP Real channel 34 , virtual number (67.1) Religion.

W38BQ Real channel 17 , virtual number (38.1) , Religion.

[trek_fool]

Amazon has a ANT751 antenna for $22.50 + shipping.

I'll probably use either this J-mount, http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...u=610370579954

or this universal tripod, http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...%28RONNIE-5%29

and attach it over the porch. Since I've never done this before, are there some good instructions for mounting the antenna and running the coax off the roof?

One cleaver way to run the coax off the roof is inside the rain gutter and rain gutter down tube.

Another way is the roof vents , the coax goes up under the lip of the vent and into the attic.

Here are some examples of coax clips when fastening the coax to the outside Wall of the house.

In the http://www.solidsignal.com search box type , pvccswht and gc12wht .

Home Depot or Lowes has these clips in smaller amounts then 100 clip packages.


The 4 leg tripod with one leg mount in the center is to much tripod for such a small antenna.

A 3 leg tripod will be more then fine.

________

The ANT751 at solidsignal has the J mount included for $49.99

[trek_fool]

You know what, I checked again and believe this does include the J mount. It originally sold for $79.99 and is marked down to $22.50 (72%). It looks like I'm all set.

http://www.amazon.com/RCA-ANT751R-Ou...eywords=ANT751

BTW, I read in some of the reviews that buyers have experienced faulty transformers.

I could mount this on the southeast corner and tie into the existing cable box (which I am not using). And use the existing ground rod on that side.

Can also run the coax over the edge of the roof the feed the coax behind the straps that hold the rain gutter down tube.

Most attic have electric power outlet so if the coax goes up under the lip of a roof vent and into the attic , then a CM3410 distribution amplifier can be connected in the attic and the coax would continue on through the attic and through the attic wall to the outside of the house , down the outside wall to the box that is on the outside of the house where the coaxes are and connect a splitter there if more then one Tv is connected.

I do not think a amplifier will be required for one Tv connected.

______

The pictures show that the trees are distant from the house , thats good.

Because trees and tree leaves do a real fine job of reducing or blocking Tv transmissions.

The Local Digital Tv transmitters are , north , east , south west . north west.

If there are any trees that are close to the house in the directions of , north east , south west , north west , avoid placing the antenna so the tree will be in the way of reception.

Think in terms of having the antenna Up High free and clear , not down low and block.

[trek_fool]

Another option I have is to mount it on an eave in the front of the house, facing west. This is directly above the outside cable box (see attached).

I don't really know how to size eave mounts. Do you recommend the Ronard 3442 or 4560 Adjustable Universal Eave mount, or just use the J mount that comes with the antenna?

Will a 1-1/4 inch mast suffice?

I recommend the 4560 eave mount , the bottom mast mount bar can be extended out further and this allows more distance between the top clamp and the long bottom bar and clamp.

The standard outside diameter of Tv antenna masts is 1 1/4 inch.

The mast clamps of the eave mount will not be smaller then 1 1/4 because then the standard Tv antenna must would not fit in.

It is Ok to have mast clamps larger then 1 1/4 because then 1 1/4 masts and larger will fit.

The eave mount is -> a eave mount.

The J mount has more flexibility because of the one foot mounting.

The ANT751 is a very light weight antenna , the J mount that comes with the antenna will more then hold the antenna.

So really it is all your choice now.

[trek_fool]

I tested the ANT751 antenna in the attic and was able to pick up all the stations listed in the above post, but decided to mount it on the eave directly above the cable box. Ran out of daylight, so I'll run the coax to the box in the morning.

Is it necessary to caulk around the lag bolts?

[GroundUrMast]

Originally Posted by trek_fool

I tested the ANT751 antenna in the attic and was able to pick up all the stations listed in the above post, but decided to mount it on the eave directly above the cable box. Ran out of daylight, so I'll run the coax to the box in the morning.

Is it necessary to caulk around the lag bolts?

Calking seems like inexpensive insurance against needless water damage. I've calked every hole in my siding. Even if the hole does not pass through, it's good to keep water out of the wood... just to keep paint from peeling or blistering.

Good looking brick home.

Enjoy

Caulking is good. Water has a way of getting into places you do not think it will go.

Back the screws out on the eave mount brackets , put some caulk behind the bracket and tighten the bracket down.

Nice looking install , Free Tv , thats Ok.

If you will like more Free Tv.

Here is , FTA = Free To Air , Satellite Tv with a small dish and receiver.

The channels are Free to receive.

Here is a good place to start learning about FTA Satellite Tv.

http://www.ftalist.com.

[trek_fool]

I ran the coax yesterday (2 drip loops, one below antenna and the other at the base of the mast) and found the best alignment of the antenna at 90deg (magn). WAFF (NBC) is the only station at 99deg. and comes in fine. WAAY (ABC) has a weak signal and I was not able to improve it at either direction.

Should I elevate the coax running between the downspout (photo 2) and cable box (photo 3)?

The coax is grounded at the box with a grounding block.

That is a great looking installation.

The coax will be fine , in with the flowers and wood chips.

And the coax can be elevated if you like.

I would leave it with the flowers and wood chips.

[trek_fool]

Would an inline signal booster help bring in the weak ABC station?

You tested the antenna in the attic and picked up all the channels in the list.

With the antenna above the roof with the antenna mounted in such a manner that the roof is not in the way of reception , You were saying that ABC is a little weak , NBC is weak also??

Now that I see how the house is wired with coax.

A better amplifier setup is a Antennas Direct CPA-19 preamp.

For 1 Tv connected use no splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a , HFS-2D , 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a , HFS-3D , 3 way splitter.

http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com.