First post in this forum and I tried to find some good answers before posting.
I'm trying to help someone install an antenna at this location:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...81a302332c8386
This project started a couple of weeks ago before I looked up the signal strength on this forum. I picked up a new TV and grabbed a Philips amplified indoor antenna thinking that he was close enough to the tower to get the San Francisco channels (202 degrees).
The indoor antenna was this Philips one
http://www.frys.com/product/5915404?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG. After not having much success I walked down to the Radio Shack and picked up what they had left in stock which was this antenna,
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...uctId=3537124#
After some breath holding and pointing just right we picked up enough channels (~14) and more importantly we were able to watch the Giants playoff game. After the game we decided to try and put the antenna up in the false ceiling (this is a restaurant) and when we did the signal strength dropped enough that we only got 1 or 2 channels. The building is made of metal studs so I just wrote it off that there was too much metal to get a signal.
I just went back today and we tried up on the roof however with a commercial building the roof is lower than the building walls by about 4 feet and those walls have metal flashing. I have a signal strength meter and couldn't get it to read much more ~40dBv on any channel which created my first confusion. I ever stood on a ltter and tried to hold the antenna above the walls of the roof and didn't due much better.
Bummed and confused I figured well lets try that Philips indoor antenna up here and sure enough when it was resting on top of the roof wall we picked up the most channels ever (29) and that was after 100' of coax. When I connected my signal strength meter I was seeing most channels at ~60dBv but this is the first time checking an amplified signal so I wasn't sure if that improvement was just the amplification or if it was really the antenna style.
It began to rain pretty good so I couldn't finish testing but bottom line is that the Radio Shack antenna (I know it's a crappy antenna but it shouldn't be worse than the Philips should it?) barely could get any channels. The ONLY time I found it to pick up channels was when it was inside the building 2 feet off the floor.
I didn't take down notes on everything but I don't think the Philips picked up the KGO station which is the only "real" channel in the VHF band but it's "important" because it's ABC.
Sooo
1) Is the Radio Shack Antenna really that bad of a design?
2) possibly the balun is bad on the Radio Shack?
3) Did I get signals on the Philips because it amplified and overcame the 100' of coax or do I need a dedicated UHF antenna and add a preamp even though there is only 1 coax run to 1 TV. We probably could shorten the cable run to 50' but I think that's splitting hairs.
Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated because I went there armed with my signal strength meter and location maps all rpinted and expected to leave with him getting all these great channels in the bar.
Thanks in Advance!!!
George