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29-May-2012, 7:13 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 4
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OTA wannabe needs help with antenna selection, etc
I am not currently receiving any stations OTA, but would like to. Here is a report of my location: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...073ba550d023d0
I am not sure what antenna would be best. I am mainly interested in KQET (ch 25) and KSBW (8.1 and 8.2). Anything else is gravy. I was fooling around with a cheapie antenna: RCA ANT1050 Digital Flat Passive, and was excited to receive KMUV. (Not that I want that station – but I got something, and it’s on the same transmitter location as KSBW and KQET!) So I started moving the antenna around. I got brief flashes of a couple other stations, too. Then I remembered I had an amp, so I added that. I stuck the antenna out the window and I could receive KQET. (sort of – it froze up frequently.) But no matter what I did, I could not receive KSBW.
I’m wondering if maybe that antenna is not good for VHF, since all the stations I could receive were UHF? Or maybe the amp was a problem? I would prefer an attic install, but could mount an antenna on the pole of the soon-to-be-removed DirecTV dish, I think. I have looked at the RCA ANT751R. Would that be suitable for my needs? Is there something else that would be better? Thanks for any help you can provide.
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29-May-2012, 8:59 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,832
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ALL Questions and Answers and Information - Broadcast Tv Reception and More
How many Tv/s are/will be connected??
Most of the receivable Tv stations are Very Weak signal strength.
The antenna is going above the roof.
Make 2 new tvfool radar plots with the antenna heights at 25 feet and 40 feet.
Last edited by Electron; 29-May-2012 at 7:36 PM.
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29-May-2012, 12:18 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: south-central PA.
Posts: 453
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For KQET, KSBW, and all of the other stations at 126 and 164 degrees magnetic, you only need the RCA ANT751R in the attic aimed at around 145 degrees magnetic. If you want the stations from your Northwest you will need a much larger antenna mounted above the roof, with a pre-amplifier aimed in that direction. Since the stations at 126 and 164 degrees are very strong, they may come in off the rear of the Northwest pointed antenna. If not you will need to add the 751R at 145 degrees with seperate coax, and an A/B switch to select between locations.
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29-May-2012, 3:53 PM
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#4
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Greater Seattle Area
Posts: 4,773
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Because of the mountainous terrain around you, weak signal from KQET, will not be reliably received by an antenna in the attic. If you have large trees nearby, the problem is made even worse.
Are you willing to consider a large roof or tower mounted antenna antenna?
If I were in the same situation, I'd be looking at a tower and the largest cut for band antennas... like the Antennas Direct 91XG and Antennacraft Y10713.
__________________
If the well is dry and you don't see rain on the horizon, you'll need to dig the hole deeper. (If the antenna can't get the job done, an amp won't fix it.)
(Please direct account activation inquiries to 'admin')
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29-May-2012, 8:12 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,832
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ALL Questions and Answers and Information - Broadcast Tv Reception and More
The default tvfool radar plot report is 10 feet. At 10 foot antenna height the Tv stations/channels are Very Weak.
Raising the antenna height can improve signal strength.
Please make 2 more tvfool radar plot reports. 25 feet and 40 feet.
The reception of the English Speaking Networks in one direction to the south/east.
KSWB channel 8 NBC and ABC.
KCBA-DT channel 13 Fox and CW.
KQET-DT 25 PBS.
KION-DT channel 32 CBS and CW.
KOTR channel 2 Mynetwork.
Tv channels with other languages will also be received to the south/east.
Install a Winegard HD9095P UHF antenna above the roof aimed at about 150 degree magnetic compass.
And install a AntennaCraft CS600 , VHF low band/high band antenna aimed at about 126 degree magnetic compass.
Before recommending a amplifier , Please make 2 more tvfool radar plot reports , 25 feet and 40 feet.
How many Tv's are/will be connected??
The english speaking networks to the north/west are , and will require a 3third antenna to receive.
KNTV-DT channel 12 NBC.
KGO-Tv 7 ABC.
Last edited by Electron; 31-May-2012 at 8:30 AM.
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29-May-2012, 11:57 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 4
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Thanks, Signals Unlimited, for letting me know that for the 2 stations I want to receive, the RCA 751r should be sufficient.
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30-May-2012, 2:20 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,832
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ALL Questions and Answers and Information - Broadcast Tv Reception and More
Ok install the two antennas I recommended , the HD9095P and the CS600.
Connected together with a Winegard AP2870 preamp.
Install the antennas above the roof at about 20 to 25 feet above ground.
Here are some antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com.
Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com, http://www.antennacraft.net , http://www.amazon.com.
Last edited by Electron; 31-May-2012 at 1:34 AM.
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