Need help choosing a TV antenna

[Rangerdbs]

I live in Mansfield, MA which is between Boston, MA and Providence, RI. I live in a two story colonial house that is pretty much surrounded by tall trees. The TV is in my first floor family room.

At the time the conversion to HD took place several years ago, I hooked up a digital converter box to my TV and continued watching it using my existing radio Shack VHF/UHF antenna, preamplifier, and rotor that is installed in the rafters of my garage. The Providence stations are mostly about 10 miles away and the Boston stations are mostly about 20 miles away. The number of stations that I receive and the signal strength (which I can display on my TV) varies from day to day. Sometimes I can get a good consistent signal from only a few stations, but other times I am able to get channels 2,4,5,6,7,10,12,25,28,44,56, and 64.

I am planning to get a new HD TV and want to improve my reception so I can consistently get all those stations. I do not want an outdoor antenna so I am thinking that I will install an antenna in the attic of my house (the roof is normal wood and asphalt shingle construction). The attic can hold a larger antenna, and while the antenna will still not be above the trees at least it will be higher than the one in the garage. The cable to the TV will probably be about 40-50 feet long.

I am also considering using a splitter and running a cable to my basement in case I want to add a TV there in the future, but will not do that if it will significantly degrade the signal to my family room TV.

What antenna and preamplifier would you recommend? Any other suggestions?

Thanks

To complete the important information.

Please make and post a tvfool radar plot report.

Use the Exact address.

Make the antenna height 25 feet.

http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=4

[Rangerdbs]

Thanks - here it is:


http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...99002f89824e70

In the attic install a Winegard HD9095P antenna aimed at about 20 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

For 1 or 2 Tv's connected use a Channel Master CM3410 distribution amplifier.

Most attics have electric power outlet , put the CM3410 in the attic if you can.

Having 2 Tv's connected will not degrade reception.

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The receivable Digital Tv stations/channels to the North are UHF TV stations/channels 14 thru 51.

Examples:

The channel list of the tvfool radar plot report shows the Real Digital channel being transmitted and received , and the virtual number.

WGBH-DT , REAL Digital UHF channel 19 , virtual number (2.1) , PBS.

WHDH-TV , REAL Digital UHF channel 42 , virtual number (7.1) , NBC.

WFXT-DT , REAL Digital UHF channel 31 , virtual number (25.1) , FOX.

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Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com , 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.

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WWDP-DT , REAL Digital VHF channel 10 , virtual number (46.1) , Shop NBC Channel.

Can be added to the reception of the North group of UHF Tv stations/channels , install a Winegard YA1713 , VHF high band channel 7 thru 13 antenna aimed at about 105 degree magnetic compass direction.

Use a UVSJ = UHF/VHF Separator/Joiner to Combine the HD9095P and the YA1713 togather.

The HD9095P is connected to the UHF connection and the YA1713 is connected to the VHF connection and the remaining connection of the UVSJ is connected to the CM3410.

Type these letters -> uvsj , in the solidsignal search box.

[Rangerdbs]

Thanks for the info. What about the stations to the south in Providence - do I need a rotator to get those? Some of those are Providence stations are also VHF. Since I use part of the attic for storage and the house has a hip roof, I do not have room for two antennas - do you know if there is an antenna that could get me both those UHF and VHF stations?

What is the difference between a distribution amplifier and a preamplifier?

The wording of what you will and will not do is , clear.

You do not want a antenna/s above the roof.

You will put the antenna in the attic.

Quote , "The attic can hold a larger antenna , and while the antenna will still not be above the trees at least it will be higher then the one in the garage."

I have provided the information for antennas in the attic. You can look up the sizes and decide if the antennas will fit in the attic.
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A distribution amplifier will handle stronger signal input of received Tv transmissions without overloading.

Some , but not all , of the Tv transmissions at your location are very strong.

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VHF channel 10 is a shopping channel. If you do not require the shopping channel , do not install the YA1713.

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Tv antenna rotators Are Not channel surfing friendly , Must wait for the antenna to rotate. And not every one in the house will agree on where the antenna is aimed.

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A second antenna Will Be required for reception of the southward group of Digital Tv stations/channels.

Aim a Winegard HD7697P antenna at about 200 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

I do not recommend a amplifier for the southward group of Digital Tv stations/channels.

For 1 Tv connection use No splitter.

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

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The southward HD7697P antenna and no splitter or 2 way splitter and All of the coaxes that will make up the system is a SEPARATE system and Will Not be connected to the other antenna system.
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At the location of the Tv or Tv's will be a , Remote control A/B antenna switch to change from one antenna system to the other antenna system.

A/B antenna switches Are Channel Surfing Friendly , press the button on the hand held remote control , change antenna systems and keep on channel surfing.

http://www.radioshack.com , # 15-1968 , or , http://www.mcmelectronics.com , # 32-4425 .

[Rangerdbs]

Okay - thanks for the info