What is the best way to test reception?

[jodebg]

We are considering dropping our cable tv service and installing an antenna for local channels. We will also be streaming Netflix, etc, for other programming options.

We may not be in the best location to receive good antenna reception, so I thought that it would be best to begin with a reception test.

Wondering what sites you would advise us to use and if there is any advise on reading the reports for someone not familiar with doing so??

Thanks for your help!

You are at the Correct web site now , tvfool.

Is this a , house , town home , condo , apartment , mobile home , motor home , or etc.??

What directions do the , windows face , patios/balconies face??

What floor??

What is the top floor??

Make a tvfool radar report plot and channel list.

Use you Exact address and make the antenna height 25 feet above ground to make the tvfool report and channel list.

[GroundUrMast]

Here is a quick explanation of how to use the services of TV Fool: http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=4

Welcome to the forum.

[jodebg]

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1dda72fd2f9c84


This is the link to my report using 20ft height.

2 story home

home is on solar path..2 story back wall (lots of windows for passive solar exposure) runs 10 degrees west of south, with woods in backyard, and facing an upsloping mountain.
Large wooden deck mounted on the entire back of house

2nd floor bedrooms

Let me know if you need anything else

The provided tvfool radar report plot and channel list says.

Address was only resolved to the block level and might not be that close to your actual location. For more accurate results , try entering a specific address and coordinates.
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By pass a smaller 'Testing' antenna and go straight to the reception.

Based on the provided tvfool report.

Install a Winegard HD7698P antenna with a Winegard HDP-269 preamp , aimed at about 160 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

Install the HD7698P antenna Above The Peak Of The Roof in such a manner that the reception is not blocked buy the roof and house in the directions of , south east / east / north east.
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As always , the starting antenna aim direction is the -->starting antenna aim direction.

The antenna aim can be adjusted for the best reception.

Most digital Tv's have a signal strength meter and some digital tv's also have a signal quality meter.

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Here are some Strong and Sturdy antenna mounts.

http://www.ronard.com/909911.html. use the 5 foot tripod antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html. use the #4560 eave antenna mount.

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 or buy from ronard.

Here are some places to buy antennas and etc..

http://www.solidsignal.com.

http://www.amazon.com.

http://www.winegarddirect.com.

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For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

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

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

Buy the HFS splitters at , http://www.solidsignal.com , or , http://www.hollandelectronics.com.

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For coax that is outside exposed to , weather/water , use coax that has the Compression type connectors on the ends of the coax , not the Old crimp type connectors on the ends of the coax.

To add more protection from weather/water getting into the outside connections and coax , wrap the connections and coax with , http://www.coaxseal.com

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As always , trees and tree leaves do a good job of , multipath/reflecting , absorbing , blocking , OTA=Over The Air , Digital Broadcast Tv Reception and so do buildings and other obstructions including your own roof and house.

It is best to install the HD7698P antenna 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 house.

The Tv/s Must Channel Scan for the Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels , often 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.

Some Digital Tv's will automatic channel scan for cable tv channels.

DO NOT channels scan for cable tv channels.

Go into the Tv Setup Menu and select , 'Air Channels' / 'Antenna Channels'.

[GroundUrMast]

The antenna system suggested by teleview is appropriate based on your TVFR. I see no point in spending money on a smaller antenna for 'testing'.

If the internet service is delivered by Cable Service.

The Cable internet service Must Be On A Separate Coax from the coaxes that are used for the antenna system.

[jodebg]

I did use my home address and seems the report did not recognize it?

Is the Winegard HD7698P better than the Mohu Sky or RCA ANT751R?

Can the antenna be mounted in the garage or attic-wife would prefer that!

Cable feed comes into house to a splitter. Separate/isolated coax cable connects to this splitter and goes directly to the computer. Other TV feeds begin at this splitter and go to TV's. They did run a separate cable to the computer for best signal strenght.

Will this set up allow me to use the current coax cables (installed by the cable service) for the Antenna?

Thanks for all of your HELP!!

[elmo]

"Better" antenna is somewhat relative to the installation. To give you a visual, consider a flood light and a spot light bulb. Both are 100 watts. The flood light lights up your back yard nicely. The spot light finds that deer at the far edge of your property line. So what's the better light? Well, it depends on your needs. In this case, the spot light is the 7698 and the flood is the 751, and what you pick up on the antenna is like what you can see with the light. So if you have stations nearby and spread out some, that 751 will do the job. If the stations are further away in a tighter cluster, the 7698 will work.

I can't speak about the Mohu because they choose to hide the elements behind the plastic. It does have a bit of a bowtie look to it, which would make me think it's not the best design for the full spectrum of HDTV channels. Based on the price I see at Amazon, I would think there's gold hidden in behind them thar plastics! But that's pure speculation, of course. ;-)

You can always try the attic first. No one here will say that will be the best reception though. But it could be good enough.

Make sure the coax you use for the antenna has nothing else on it, like cable/internet, as Teleview said.

As always , attics Are Not a reception friendly environment and Never Will Be a reception friendly environment , signal attenuation , signal interference , multipath reflections - signals bouncing all around in the attic.
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The coaxes that are in or on the outside or inside of your house can be used for the antenna system.

The one coax that is used for the Cable Internet , Can Not be connected to the antenna system coaxes.

And the coaxes that are used for the antenna system Can Not be connected to the Cable Internet coax.

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The HD7698P antenna is my best recommendation for reception of All ( NBC , CBS , PBS , FOX , The CW , MyNetwork , And Etc. , Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels that includes , WPQX-DT/WHPX-Tv ION , and WTNH-DT ABC , with one antenna.

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ION is Weak signal strength , I can not say that ION will be received using a smaller antenna.

To give it a try , outside above the roof install a Antennas Direct , Clear Stream 2 Complete Uhf/Vhf antenna aimed at about 90 degree magnetic compass direction. All of the other channels including WGGB-TV ABC will be received with the CS2 Complete aimed at about 90 degree magnetic compass direction.

http://www.antennasdirect.com/store/...VHF-Combo.html.

And use a Antennas Direct CPA-19 preamp with the CS2 Complete antenna.

The rest of the antenna system signal distribution is the same with the HFS splitters and etc..

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[ADTech]

BTW, here's what's in the Mohu...





The 7698 might not be the most appropriate antenna for this situation unless you're also using a rotor. All of the stations to the south east are UHF and the only two VHF stations in the area are from New Haven and Springfield. You'd likely have to re-aim that antenna to pick up either of those stations.

You can greatly improve the accuracy of your TV Fool report by performing the following, a message I often send to e-mailers who contact us for assistance:

In order to perform a more accurate assessment of your possibilities, we will need your GPS coordinates (latitude/longitude).

If you don't have them handy, proceed as follows:

Go to http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=90
Enter your full address and hit "Map This". You will get a Google map with its guess as to your location. Drag and drop the red balloon to your approximate location, click on "Hybrid" to switch to a combined map/satellite view, then fine tune the location by adjusting the balloon's location on the map onto your rooftop.

Under the lower left of the map will be a set of numbers similar to 36.410621,-92.239341

Those are your GPS coordinates and are what I'll need to do an accurate assessment. Copy and paste them into your reply.



You can use those coordinates to come up with an exact location report.

The orientation of your home relative to hillsides and the surround trees also makes your situation somewhat iffy. I'd actually have to look at the terrain and satellite views of your location to better analyze your possibilities.

The current channels of Tv stations are.

VHF low band channels 2 thru 6.

VHF high band channels 7 thru 13.

UHF band channels 14 thru 51.
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There is , WTNH-DT REAL VHF Digital channel -->10<-- , virtual number (8.1) ABC.

That is why the HD7698P antenna is aimed at about 160 degree magnetic compass direction.

No antenna rotator is required for reception of All the Network Digital Tv stations/channels , NBC , CBS , ABC , PBS , FOX , The CW , MyNetwork , ION , and Etc. .

[jodebg]

this is what I get when I add in my address info.

ERROR: The address could not be resolved. Please check the address or try entering coordinates instead.
ERROR: Longitude is out of range. Please check your location and try again.

The same , has been happening , off and on , when I put in address or longitude/latitude , Even with address or longitude/latitude that have -->Always worked before.

And no matter what changes I make to make it work it says the same thing , and then all of a sudden it works.

[jodebg]

Still having difficulty getting actual home address report.

Is there a way that I can get get an idea if an antenna will work for me without first prchasing and installing the equipment?

[ADTech]

Originally Posted by jodebg

Still having difficulty getting actual home address report.

Use the instructions in post #11 for the most precise results. Coordinate entry has been working for me even when address look-up hasn't been.

Is there a way that I can get get an idea if an antenna will work for me without first purchasing and installing the equipment?

The simulation software here is as good as it gets until you actually put metal up in the air and test.

[jodebg]

ERROR: The address could not be resolved. Please check the address or try entering coordinates instead.
ERROR: Longitude is out of range. Please check your location and try again.

This is the error message following the instructions in #11. Could not proceed at all this time??

Most likely the antenna recommendation I have made will work Ok.

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Here is another way to get a accurate report for your location.

Go to the tvfool home page and click on , >>Start MAPS<<.

Inter a location that is some where around the area of where you live or even some where in the USA.

Move the pointer to your location.

Click on Make a Radar Map.

Copy the information in the Address Bar at the top of the screen on to a paper and then inter that address bar information in to your thread.

If that does not do it then contact a moderator.