San Diego -- Seeking the Best Antenna

[Blue in San Diego]

I am looking for the best antenna to use in San Diego (Scripps Ranch Area).

We have a ClearStream 4 HDTV Antenna pointing mostly south -- but we are only picking up mostly Los Angeles stations, and barely anything from San Diego.

Here is my report: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...99009220f0f23b

Thanks so much.

For recommendation of antenna so as to receive the San Diego and the L.A. stations.

The default antenna height of the tvfool radar plot report is 10 feet.

Please make a second tvfool radar plot report with the exact address and make the antenna height 25 feet.

Also how many Tv's are/will be connected??

[GroundUrMast]

The path profile (click on the call sign of a given station listed in your TV Fool Report) shows a hill not far from your location, between you and the San Diego transmitters. In the opposite direction, toward LA, the terrain does not appear to be as abrupt.

It would appear that you need to consider mounting the antenna higher. Another option would be to locate the antenna so that it's exposure to LA is blocked by a building while keeping the view southward clear.

Have you experimented with aim points all around the compass?

Regardless, the addition of a High-VHF antenna such as the Antennacraft Y5713 or Y10713 pointed toward 223° would give you KFMB and KGTV. Use a UVSJ to combine the UHF (CS-4) and the High-VHF signals into a common down-lead.

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

[thom]

You're in an interesting spot, 4 towers with almost perfect 90 degree separation. I'm up the road from you, and I'm actually trying to pull both LA and SD. You've got a tough nut to crack with that hill between you and the La Jolla VHF transmitter, but looks like you've got a nice path to the LA towers, though (jealous!).

I've been pleased with the Antennas Direct DB4e ($50 delivered). It's small (neighbors won't fuss), lightweight, and easy to work with on the roof. It also has surprising off axis VHF capability. Sounds like your CS has the goods to pull LA, too. The LA market has a lot more stations than San Diego, so you might consider trying to pull LA instead, and hope for some off axis VHF to La Jolla. Failing that, Antennas Direct offers a VHF add-on for the DB series that can easily be re-purposed for the DB4e or the Clearstream and pointed at La Jolla.

The one down side is ABC is VHF in both LA and San Diego, so it's going to be hard to pull that one off with a UHF only antenna.

[Blue in San Diego]

Wow -- I am so pleasantly shocked to have such informative, helpful responses. Thank you very much.

Teleview: Here is the second report at 25' (which is more accurate anyway, since we have a two-story house):http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...9900fc254cfeb0

We only have 1 TV.

GroundUrMast: Thanks for the suggestion. I will work on adding the second antenna, and see how that goes.

Thom:I will also check out the DB43 and see how that goes.

Again -- thank you all for a great forum.

The Clear Stream 4 is a highly directional antenna in the forward direction with almost no reception at the sides of the antenna and little reception at the back because of the reflector screen.

With the Clear stream 4 mounted Above The Roof in a manner that roof is not blocking reception to the north west at about 316 degree magnetic compass direction.

Also close trees and tree leaves and other buildings and obstructions will reduce or block reception.

Locate antenna at a place where there is the least amount of obstructions.

Here are some above the roof antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.com , http://www.ronard.com.
Buy the ronard antenna mounts at http://www.solidsignal.com , by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box.

Aim the Clear Stream 4 at about 316 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

Rescan for Digital Broadcast Tv Channels.

For this test only have 1 Tv connected no splitters.

Receiving lots of Tv channels now??

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A long range high gain antenna is required for reception of the Tv stations/channels to the north west.

Install a Winegard HD7698P antenna with a Channel Master CM7778 preamp above the roof aimed at about 316 degree magnetic compass direction.

Only have one Tv connected to begin with no splitters.

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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' because the Tv transmissions travel through the air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.

DO NOT channel scan for cable tv channels.