Antenna suggestions please

[jodowd]

Here's my report: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...99005625d32aec

I live in Katy, Tx. Just West of Houston.

I am trying to figure out what the best antenna and signal amplifier combination to get for my house to become HD OTA only.

I have a 2 story brick home and can place the antenna in the attic. probably can't mount one very high outside because of home owner assoc. restrictions.

I have 4 TVs in the house and currently I cannot get any kind of good reception with a basic indoor antenna or rabbit ears.

Please let me know what you recommend.

Thanks.

[signals unlimited]

If your roof is standard shingles and there is no foil backed insulation, mount a Channel Master 4221 4 Bay UHF antenna in your attic. Aim the antenna to 136 degrees magnetic. If you can mount outside above the roof you can use a smaller Antennas Direct DB2 UHF antenna.

To connect four sets use a Channel Master 3214 distribution amplifier.

Here is the Federal Antenna Law that says yes you can mount any size antenna above the roof to reliable reception.

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html.

HOA's , housing covennuts , and etc. are well aware of this Law that is in effect for 16 years now and they know that they must comply.

Yes you can start with antenna in the attic.

In the attic install a Winegard HD7694P antenna aimed at about 95 degree magnetic compass direction for best reception of the Groups Tv stations and channels to the east and south east.

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

If metal backed insulation is in the attic , reception will most likely be reduced or blocked on some Tv stations channels.

If thick roof tiles are on the roof reception will most likely be reduced.

If the roof is metal , most Tv transmissions will be blocked.

If the outside walls are stucko with stucko Wire that is all the way up to the roof , reception will be reduced or blocked.

The Digital Tv stations/channels of the Green and Yellow reception zones to the east and south east of the tvfool radar reception plot and channel list should be received.

If you find that some Tv stations/channels are not received very well and you will like to receive them then move the HD7694P antenna to above the roof.

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.html , http://www.ronard.com.

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box.

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

For 1 Tv connected use no splitter.

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

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

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.

[GroundUrMast]

FWIW, the FCC is on your side:
http://www.fcc.gov/guides/over-air-r...n-devices-rule
http://www.fcc.gov/guides/installing...tellite-dishes
Mounting outside, clear of obstructions almost always provides superior reception results.

While the 4221 will do very well receiving UHF signals, there are also VHF signals that are available. (KUHT, KTRK, KHOU & KDHU)

One approach would be to use the 4221 or similar antenna from another vendor. (The Antennas Direct DB2e and DB4e come to mind.) Plus, an Antennacraft Y5713. This would be a good option if you wanted to shift the aim of the UHF antenna to include the main group of signals at 136° and the few others at 89° (aim about half way between the two groups). The Y5713 would point at 136° and be combined into the same coax with a UVSJ.

A simpler approach that is also quite likely to accomplish the same result would be an Antennacraft HBU-33 aimed between 136° and 89°.

I want to echo signals unlimited's caution re. foil backed insulation. If present, the attic will be a poor location for an antenna.

Your location has channel band VHF channels 7 thru 13.

And UHF channel band 14 thru 51.

_______________________________________________________________

KUHT channel 8 is a VHF channel.

KTRK channel 13 is a VHF channel.

KHOU channel 11 is a VHF channel.

KDHU-LD channel 7 is a VHF channel.

The rest are UHF channels.

The HD7694P antenna is designed to receive both VHF channels and UHF channels.

_________________

The CM 4221 is designed to UHF channels.

The DB2 is designed to receive UHF channels.

[signals unlimited]

The 4221 is designed for UHF reception, but strong high channels should be received. I have had better results with UHF with the 4bay than with the UHF section of the mid size all channel antennas when mounting in the attic. Either should work, but the 4221/y5713 combo offers a wider reception pattern and seperate aiming capability.