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26-Jan-2011, 7:09 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 10
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Want exterior antenna...
... Local signal is great, but literally all over the map: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...3cf470ed3756a0
There are many larger structures around my house. A set of bunny ears inside will pick up 17 or so channels but is missing the 2 PBS channels that I want, and some of the others break up frequently. I would would like to get all of the green channels but have 1 antenna driving 3 TV's, preferably outside where it doesn't get messed up.
Omni-directional antennas are said to not be so great is that still the case in this situation?
Thanks...
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26-Jan-2011, 8:06 PM
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#2
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Greater Seattle Area
Posts: 4,773
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Given the very high signal levels, you need to attenuate the line. Absolutely NO amplifier...
http://www.amazon.com/10-DB-ATTENUAT...=pd_sim_misc_4
You should experiment with at least 20 dB of attenuation. Even at 40 dB I expect you to see both PBS stations.
__________________
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.)
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Last edited by GroundUrMast; 26-Jan-2011 at 8:26 PM.
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26-Jan-2011, 8:28 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 10
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I can do that. Would a non-amplified splitter to the 3 tv's do the same thing?
I still am trying to select an antenna... The guide on antennacraft says HBU33 would work but that is a directional unit. Would that pull the strong signals from directions other than where it is pointed? Sorry am a newbie.
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26-Jan-2011, 8:39 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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A passive 3-way splitter will attenuate 4 to 8 dB. Hopefully the manufacturer labeled the ports. (Often on three way splitters, one of the three outputs will have less loss)
You need much more attenuation. I suspect the strong signals are overloading the receiver front-end, which appears as signal break-ups.
Though it is counter-intuitive, a directional antenna is often needed for it's ability to reject multipath. If you get to the point where you try a directional antenna, you will most certainly need to attenuate the signal from it also.
But first, let's work with the antenna you have.
__________________
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')
Last edited by GroundUrMast; 27-Jan-2011 at 1:51 AM.
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26-Jan-2011, 8:49 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 10
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Cool.
I will look for some attenuators an report back.
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27-Jan-2011, 12:59 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,697
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Tv Antennas and Reception
Also I suggest a FM trap. You location is in the thick of it Tv and Fm stations. An indoor antenna should work if you knock those signal levels down. http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=233
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27-Jan-2011, 1:49 AM
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#7
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Greater Seattle Area
Posts: 4,773
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__________________
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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27-Jan-2011, 4:53 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 10
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Just ordered the FM trap and Attenuators. Thanks for the help guys!
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1-Feb-2011, 4:10 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 10
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I'm back...
Man in brown brought me attenuators which really seemed to kill the signal; and the FM trap which seemed to improve the channels which were breaking up. I'm still experimenting. I did a rescan on the tv and am pulling in 28 channels now (although a few of them say no signal on the tv I think there's something on the line), I get 30.1 PBS but am missing 5.1 FOX. I would still like to get the 8.1 PBS though...
Maybe the antenna is in a bad location or it's the weather (low clouds & overcast today)...
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1-Feb-2011, 4:17 PM
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#10
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Greater Seattle Area
Posts: 4,773
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Are you still using a single set of rabbit ears at this point?
__________________
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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1-Feb-2011, 4:47 PM
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#12
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Greater Seattle Area
Posts: 4,773
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Good antenna for UHF close to the transmitters. It lacks support for VHF though.
The previously mentioned HBU-33 is more antenna than needed. An RCA ANT-751 is designed to cover all of the UHF channels plus the high VHF channels 7 through 13. Another antenna to consider would be a Winegard FV-HD30. Both are somewhat directional but not to the point of causing you to loose access to the strong local stations.
I expect that either of these antennas mounted outside will receive so much signal, that you will need to use some attenuation.
__________________
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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1-Feb-2011, 5:14 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 10
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Those are both nice looking antennas...
Would I need to worry about their mounting direction? Reason I ask is I could mount either of them at the cable demarcation point on the side of the house but that would limit where I could point it- this would be the north side. If i need W-E or NE-SW orientation I probably need to run a line from the roof.
Also, the attenuators... are they directional on the line they are installed? Maybe that is why they killed the signal.
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1-Feb-2011, 5:35 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 10
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One more thing to add which i guess I should have mentioned earlier is that I have a metal roof, at first I didn't think it would affect anything but now I'm reading it can give me a lot of interference.
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1-Feb-2011, 5:44 PM
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#15
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Greater Seattle Area
Posts: 4,773
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Attenuators are passive devices, not sensitive to direction of signal flow.
To receive WGTV (real CH 8) you will want the antenna to point (ANT-751) or face (FV-HD30) east. You TVF report indicates 84° (compass).
But there is no harm trying it in the more convenient location first...
It sounds like attic mounting would be unsuccessful given the metal roof.
__________________
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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1-Feb-2011, 6:11 PM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 10
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Thanks I think I will go with the ANT751 on the roof. I've read elsewhere & want to confirm the antenna should be 4' off a metal roof?
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1-Feb-2011, 8:44 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,697
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Tv Antennas and Reception
If you read back in other posts you will find that I ask about Metal Roof over and over and over again. I know this about many question askers , they will leave out what is important and talk about what is not important. It's because the world we live in now the important is , THE IMAGE , THE EGO , THE ATTITUDE. . I despise , image , ego , attitude , tells me the person is out of touch with reality and is crazy. Tv antennas are not Tv antennas because they are cool. Tv antennas are Tv antennas so as to Receive Tv signals so you can watch Tv. READ AND UNDERSTAND THE INFORMATION IN THESE LINKS. http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=233 , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=695 , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html
Last edited by John Candle; 2-Feb-2011 at 10:22 AM.
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1-Feb-2011, 8:58 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,697
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Tv Antennas and Reception
Yes mount the antenna a minimum of 5 feet above the highest part of a metal roof.
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1-Feb-2011, 9:01 PM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 10
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I actually didn't think the roof was an issue- only figured it out be researching grounding requirements.
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