Antenna advice

[spritemv]

Hi! I cut the cable and am now looking for an antenna that will get me ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, and FOX. Before doing my research, I tried 2 cheap indoor antennas which netted me only a few of these channels (in addition to a few I didn't really care about). I then heard great reviews for the Mohu Leaf and gave that a shot. With the Leaf, I seem to get good reception of UHF, but not VHF channels.

Looking at my map (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...9900a480023a87), it looks like some of the stations I want are in the ~50 mile range, and they come from multiple directions. It appears I need a long-distance, multidirectional, UHF/VHF antenna. I live in a 2-story home and am considering putting an antenna in the attic or roof. The roof would actually be easier as I already have coax cables running up there to the old satellite dish. Does anyone have any advice as to which antenna may work? Thanks!

[signals unlimited]

Install a Winegard HD7082 all channel antenna and a Winegard AP8700 amplifier.

To receive all networks you need to install a rotor. The Aspen Eagel Roto 100. This combo will run thru the exisiting coax, provided the distance is less than 75 feet and you remove all satellite splitters. If you need to split the signal use a splitter that passes DC on one port. Run a coax from that DC pass port to the rotor controller.

NO antenna rotator required.

Ok , All of the Networks and many more Tv stations/channels Will Be Received With one antenna aimed at about 340 degree magnetic compass.
Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Install a Winegard HD7696P antenna with a Winegard AP8700 preamp 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.


For one Tv connected use no splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a , http://www.holandelectronics.com , also available at , http://www.solidsignal.com.

HFS-2D , 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected.

HFS-3D , 3 way splitter.

ALL of Networks , NBC , CBS , ABC , FOX , CW , MyNetwork , PBS , ION , and many , many , more channels will be received with the HD7696P and AP8700 preamp aimed at about 340 degree magnetic compass.

[signals unlimited]

If you want all of the available channels and sub-channels a rotor would be required.

That is your decision.

ALL of the Digital main channels and digital sub channels Will Be received.

The GROUP of Tv stations/channels at about 342 degree magnetic compass will be received.

KIIN channel 12 PBS and KWKB channel 25 The CW are so Strong Signal Strength that these 2 Tv stations will be received no matter what direction the antenna is aimed.

KYOU channel 15 Fox is a strong signal will be received at the back angle of the HD7696P antenna.

There is also KFXA channel 27 FOX and the Country Network that is received at the front of the HD7696P antenna.

That leaves the Tv stations/channels to the south east , they will not be received by the HD7696P.

They are more of the same , NBC , CBS , ABC and etc..

They are Distant Tv signals to the south east (at about 111 degree magnetic compass) and will require a rotor with a larger antenna , the rotor is so you can watch your locals and rotate around to watch the distant stations.
Antenna rotators are not channel surfing friendly , must wait for antenna to rotate and not every one will agree with where the antenna is aimed.

The other way to receive the Distant south east Tv stations is install a second antenna a Winegard HD7082P / HD7084P antenna with a AP8700 preamp aimed at about 111 degree magnetic compass.

The 2 antenna systems Will Not be connected together on to one coax , it will be Separate coax systems all the way to the Tv's where remote control A/B antenna switches at each Tv location will be used to to switch from one antenna or the other. http://www.radioshack.com , #15-1968 , or , http://www.mcmelectronic.com , #32-4425 .
The remote control A/B switch set up is channel surfing friendly , push the button on the remote control , change antennas and keep on channel surfing.


I recommend the one antenna to start with , the HD7696P antenna set up. ALL of the Digital main channels and digital sub channels will be received.



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The Pomeranian that lives with me likes to swim in the lake.

[signals unlimited]

Your location has channels in all bands Low and High VHF and UHF. The 7096 is High VHF/UHF only. The 7082 or the larger 7084 is designed to receive Low, High VHF and all UHF. On a rotor you will deliver more options. No downside, no guesswork. It covers it all.

[GroundUrMast]

Both suggestions are 'right'. You need to mount a large antenna outdoors, clear of obstructions to accomplish the goal of receiving the top five networks. The HD7082 (or 7084) on a rotator solution gives best selection of signals. the Fixed aim HD7696P gives you channel-surfing-friendly access to the range of networks you asked for.

Your TV Fool report is based on the default antenna height of 10'. As you go up in height, I would expect conditions to improve. You can run another report at 25 or 30' (up to 500' if you like) to see, but the results of your tests have proven indoor reception is not going to be satisfactory. If you run a new report, you may find that you can use a smaller antenna.

As I look at the aerial view of the Iowa City, I'm concerned about the possibility that trees may be a factor. You'll get far more reliable reception if you are able to avoid aiming the antenna into a tree. In a perfect world, you would be able to mount the antenna above the tree tops. Rather than suggesting yet another antenna choice, I'll simply encourage you to consider that mounting location and height are likely the single most important factor affecting reliable reception.

There are various suppliers of mounting hardware to choose from,
http://www.3starinc.com/
http://www.solidsignal.com/c/product...ennas-supplies

Yes there are receivable Tv transmissions in all 3 Tv bands.

VHF low band channels 2 thru 6.

VHF high band channels 7 thru 13.

UHF band channels 14 thru 51.

The Only Direction that has receivable low band channels is the south east group of Tv stations/channels , WHBF-TV low band channel 4 CBS. the other channels in the south east direction are UHF channels. The HD7082P / HD7084P antenna is a all band antenna , to receive that one low band channel to the south east and the UHF channels.


There are No VHF low band channels 2 thru 6 in any other direction.

Hense the HD7696P antenna is used to receive the VHF high band channels 7 thru 13 and UHF band channels 14 thru 51 in all the other directions.

[spritemv]

Thanks for all the great advice! My main goal is to receive the major networks listed in my original post. Additional channels are an added bonus, but not a necessity. I'm hoping to use a single antenna without a rotor, for simplicity. I will look into some of the options you've provided! Will I need the amplifier?

[signals unlimited]

The amplifier would be helpfull, especially if you plan to run or add sets to your system in the future.

[spritemv]

I was just about to pull the trigger on the 7696P, but noticed the 7694P will end up costing me almost $30 less. Will the 7694P work, or should I stick with the 7696P if I don't plan on using a rotor?

I noticed several links to mounts in previous posts, but am unsure which to get. I currently have a satellite dish on my roof which I will be taking down. I do not have a chimney. Is a tripod mount my best option?

[GroundUrMast]

In short, the 7696 has a bit more gain, worth the $30.

A tripods installed correctly is a reliable, long lasting mounting option.

[spritemv]

Sorry, a few more rookie questions here...

1. Does the Winegard AP8700 amplifier install outside near the antenna or indoors? If outdoors, I presume it will be able to withstand the elements of a temperate climate.

2. Do I need to ground my antenna? I'm assuming most people run the coax through their home theater surge protector to prevent lightning damage since the antenna is essentially acting as a lightning rod.

3. Does anyone recommend a particular 3' tripod mount, or are they all pretty similar? I noticed links to Ronard above; their mounts look sturdy, but the site doesn't have prices.

[signals unlimited]

The 8700 is a pre-amplifier and mounts at the antenna. The power supply installs in the house and should be placed in front of any splitters. To be clear, there should be nothing between the power supply and the pre-amp.

The best way to ground the antenna is to use a ground block in line with the coax near your electrical service ground for attachment at that point. Protection at the set is a great second line of defense.

I use the Channel Master tri-pod. It is affordable, sturdy, and has a good finish.

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

The ronard antenna mounts are put to gather with nuts and bolts , not rivets.

The ronard antenna mounts are heavy gage steel.

The ronard antenna mounts might give up some (nice finish) in favor of heavy duty.

There is also the Eave mount , mounts on the side of the roof , no holes in the roof.

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The HFS splitters are -> power passing splitters <- , the power supply/power injector can be on either side of the splitter.

[spritemv]

Thanks again for all the great advice! I have installed Winegard HD7082 with a rooftop tripod mount, directed at approx 340 degrees.

When the antenna is hooked up without the preamp, I get the following (virtual) channels and signal strengths:

2.1 - 55% (CBS)
2.2 - 55%
7.1 - 92% (NBC)
7.2 - 92%
7.3 - 92%
9.1 - 97% (ABC)
9.2 - 98%
9.3 - 100%
12.1 - 81% (PBS)
12.2 - 78%
12.3 - 80%
15.1 - 75%
20.1 - 60%
20.2 - 60%
28.1 - 87% (FOX)
28.2 - 90%
32.1 - 82%
32.2 - 80%
32.3 - 80%
48.1 - 50%
48.2 - 50%
48.3 - 50%

The major networks, which I am most concerned with, come in great except for CBS. I picked up the Winegard AP8700 pre-amplifier, hoping this might boost my CBS reception, but it does not appear to be working correctly. When I plug it in, my reception actually drops significantly for most channels. I tried unplugging the downlead coax from the mast-mounted preamp and creating a short (as described at the bottom of the page here: http://www.dennysantennaservice.com/1136577.html), but the light on the power injector did not dim or turn off, indicating that the power is not reaching the pre-amp. Currently, I am using one screw-in in-line coax F-connector near the antenna as the pre-existing cable running up the house did not reach the peak. So the ~15 ft coax from the pre-amp downlead goes across the roof -> screw in in-line F-connector -> coax down the side of the house -> ground block -> coax around the side of the house and through the siding -> indoor wall plate -> short coax to power injector -> short coax to TV.

I know these screw-on in-line connectors can cause problems with pre-amps, but would a single one make this huge difference? I'm hesitant to purchase another long piece of coax when I already have an existing one running up the side of my house to use. Does anyone have any further advice? Thanks!

Install All parts of the preamp , the preamp , the power supply for the preamp , the power injector for the preamp ,

Before any splitters.

Is it working now??

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How many Tv's are connected??

1 Tv??

2 Tv's??

3 Tv's??

How many??

________________________________

Turn the antenna to the left and right to find a aim direction with strongest signal for CBS.

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Does CBS stay ' locked in ' with the signal strength at 55% ??

[thom]

I had a similar problem. Does your ground block have one of these?

http://www.amazon.com/TII-Broadband-.../dp/B0016AIYU6

Current will not pass through it to the amp if you do.

[spritemv]

I ran over the cable again and found a splitter that combined satellite and antenna inputs into a single line. I took this out and it worked like a charm. With the preamp, CBS is up to 83% and the other major networks are around 100%. Thanks again for the great advice and feedback!