Antenna Insight Sought

[caucapon]

Location is Southampton, NJ 08088.

TVFool.com analysis can be found at
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...5b941bd6c9aaca

Interested in a UHF/VHF (Lo and Hi) antenna recommendation. Order of preference: indoor/attic/outside. Looking for consistently good reception on the five channels indicated below.

Not interested in something that requires constant adjustment. Realistically, this requirement probably precludes indoor and possibly attic solutions. However, one can dream. Obviously, cheaper is better. :-)

Only interested in channels KYW CBS 26(3.1), WCAU NBC 34(10.1), WTXF Fox 42(29.1), WPVI ABC 6(6.1), WHYY PBS 12(12.1). All are about 35 miles away and are directionally tightly bunched. Any other channels would be unnecessary.

All above channels are 2 Edge. Two are VHF: one is VHF-Lo, one is VHF-Hi.

Wineguard's online wizard suggestions are:
- SS-3000 (range of only 20 miles and currently out of production)
- HD7084P
- HD8200U

Direct signal offered:
- DB4e
- Clearstream 5

Solid Signal recommended:
- HD-Blade100a
- MS2002 Metrostar

Wineguard's getfreetv.com site produced the FL6550A FlatWave Air as the best solution. Here, all five of my channels were designated high strength signals.

Do any of this forum's members have any recommendations for a one-time and proper solution?

Thanks in advance.

Al

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Above the Peak of the Roof install a , Antennas Direct , DB8e , UHF channels 14 thru 51 antenna.

Aim one panel at about 302 degree magnetic compass direction.

Aim the other panel at about 224 degree magnetic compass direction.

Can buy the DB8e antenna at , http://www.amazon.com.

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Here is how to aim antennas.

http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Use a Real and Actual magnetic compass to aim antenna.

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Above the Peak of the Roof install a , Antenna Craft , CS600 , VHF channels 2 thru 13 antenna aimed at about 302 degree magnetic compass direction.

http://www.antennacraft.net.

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Install a , Antenna Craft , 10G221 , preamplifier.

http://www.antennacraft.net

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For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

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

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

For 4 Tv's connected use a , Holland Electronics , HFS-4D , 4 way splitter


Buy the , HFS-2D , HFS-3D , HFS-4D , splitters at , http://www.hollandelectronics.com , or , http://www.amazon.com.

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Here are some above the roof antenna mounts.

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

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

http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html.
Measure around the chimney and use a , ronard(2212) , ronard(2218 , ronard(2224) .

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at , http://www.ronard.com , or , http://www.amazon.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 in the directions of reception.

Some and not all Negative Effects are.

Absorbing and Blocking Reception.

Multi-Path Reflecting Tv Signals Bouncing All Around.

To have Reliable Reception , the Best Practice is to install antennas at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind in the directions of reception including your own roof and building.

The directions of reception at your location are , West and South West.

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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 ~ Antenna Channels ~ ATSC Channels ~ DTV 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 ~ Antenna Channels ~ ATSC Channels ~ DTV Channels ~ Air Channels ~.

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

[caucapon]

Teleview, I appreciate the detailed reply. Right from the beginning, I suspected that you would recommend a dual antenna approach. The pre-amp was something I hoped would not come into play.

I'm aware that my situation is complicated by my VHF requirement and by path obstruction. Is something like the AntennaCraft C290 too much of a compromise to provide consistent quality reception?

Of note, I have received recommendations from a number of retailers. Much to my surprise, many have suggested indoor models. To my untutored eye, Denny appeared to offer the most meaningful suggestion, the Wineguard HD 7010 outside antenna. He indicated that it could probably be used without a pre-amp even though the publicized UHF range was marginal.

Since I'd really prefer to do this once with satisfactory results, I am reluctant to go the HD 7010 route. On the other hand, I hadn't anticipated spending $250 to $300 for a proper solution. If that's what it takes, then I'll just have to go that route. Still, it would be nice to have something like the C290 provide the answer.

Again, thank you for your reply.

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Test the other recommendations , and please make reports here on how all of the other recommendations work out.

What cost more??

The one time cost of reception with Broadcast Tv Antennas??

Or the ongoing cost of Pay Cable Tv and Pay Satellite Tv??

[ADTech]

I saw your email yesterday but didn't have a chance to respond from work. Since you're still looking for advice, I'll throw my analysis in there.

Merely changing your plot from 10 to 20 feet cause all of the Philly stations you asked about to go to LOS signal paths. Since I have the advantage of your exact address, I can also see your surroundings and the signal path across the pond. http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...5b9419d8d73bc0

Because you specifically limited your "must-have" stations to the majors from Philly, aiming antennas in any other direction is not part of that requirement. There are plenty of other channels in the area, but it's up to you if you choose to limit your effort to the named stations.

A small, all-channel antenna mounted on the northeast gable of your home, aimed at Philly, would suffice. No amp is needed, the signals are strong, unless you have substantial distribution requirements.

Because WPVI transmits at quadruple the power listed in the TVFool database (they've applied to double it yet again), their blowtorch signal is readily received by smaller antennas. Based on my extensive experience with it, I would have no hesitation in recommending our ClearStream 2V for this particular application even though the C2V, on paper, isn't a perfect fit.

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Here are some Weaker signal strength Tv Stations.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WTSD-CA

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WEFG-LD

http://www.btvscout.com

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WFMZ-TV

[caucapon]

Adtech, thanks for the additional input. I had forgotten that I initially limited height to ten feet (attic install). At twenty feet, all but WHYY are LOS, a huge improvement in reception for a smaller (read less expensive) antenna. Twenty-three feet really opens up all my channels.

Your comments regarding WPVI are germane as well. That is the only VHF-Lo station on my list. The additional power you mentioned hopefully would allow reception, even with a modest UHF/VHF-Hi antenna.

Glad I contacted your outfit prior to posting here.

I appreciate your returning to post.