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Old 3-Jun-2012, 12:26 AM   #1
bcripon
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Antenna recommendation for 60074

I'm trying to find the best antenna to receive OTA channels in my town home. Since it's a town home, I don't have the option of an outside antenna. I do have attic access if that's necessary. Since the outlet for the coaxial cable is on the other side of the room from the TV, I'd like to stay with an indoor antenna if possible.

Here's my radar plot:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...13495975afe356

Here's the antenna I currently use:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/RCA+-+In...&skuId=8280834

The UHF portion of the antenna is only about 2.5 ft off the ground. There are tall trees (probably 20-30 ft high) in the direction of the transmitter (and the window where the antenna currently sits).

About 60% of the time, the green channels in the plot come in clearly. However, if the weather is bad or it's windy at all, then I start to get bad pixelation.

If it helps, I never watch WSNS, WJYS, or WGBO. As far as I know, WBBM is still broadcasting as a VHF channel so the antenna needs to be able to pick up VHF as well as UHF channels.

I only care about the green channels. I'm not trying to get crazy and pick up Milwaukee channels. I know I couldn't do that with an indoor antenna.

If I need to get the indoor antenna higher up (6 ft or more), I'll need an antenna recommendation where I can attach my own coaxial cable rather than it being permanently attached to the antenna (like the RCA ANT111).

Thanks for your help.


Bob
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Old 3-Jun-2012, 4:09 AM   #2
MisterMe
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You have ample signal strength even with that rabbit ears antenna. Before you purchase another antenna, understand that an indoor antenna is best located in or near a window so that it looks through the window toward the transmitters. The window should have a southeast view so that your rabbit ears can be aimed 132° magnetic or 42° south of east magnetic.

If you have no such location in the living space your townhouse, then you may be forced to try your attic. Again, you need a window or outside all with a southeast view. The RCA ANT 751 is a good inexpensive antenna that should work well if you have the space. If your space is limited, then consider the Antenna Direct Clearstream 2 Complete.
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Old 3-Jun-2012, 7:34 AM   #3
Electron
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ALL Questions and Answers and Information - Broadcast Tv Reception and More

Here is the Federal Antenna Law that says Yes the owner of the town home can install and use a antenna above the roof.
http://www.fcc.gov?mb/facts/otard.html.

For reception of the digital Tv stations/channels to the south/east in the green and yellow reception zones down too and including , WOCK digital channel 4 , http://americaone.com.

Install a Winegard HD7082P antenna above the roof aimed at about 130 degree magnetic compass.
Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Here are some antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560 , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com.

Buy the ronard antenna mounts by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box or buy from ronard.

Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.amazon.com.

Last edited by Electron; 3-Jun-2012 at 8:00 AM.
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Old 3-Jun-2012, 7:36 AM   #4
Electron
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ALL Questions and Answers and Information - Broadcast Tv Reception and More

How many Tv's are/will be connected??
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Old 4-Jun-2012, 1:53 AM   #5
bcripon
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Thank you all for your quick responses.

First of all, here's the updated URL for the OTARD rule. It appears the FCC is redesigning their website.

http://www.fcc.gov/guides/over-air-r...n-devices-rule

I should've made clear in my initial post that I was aware of the rule. However, since no other owner has a dish or OTA antenna on the roof (the satellite dishes tend to be in the owner's garden), it's obvious that the association would try to use the "common areas" loophole in the rule to try to stop any outside antenna on the roof. It's just not a fight that's worth it to me. I'm sure I'll need the association's help someday on an unrelated matter and I don't need to be known as the "troublemaker" even if I won.

Anyway, I see I should've added some more information to my initial post.

I'm only worried about one TV (living room) for the antenna. If I put an antenna in the attic, then I'm hoping to run another line to the TV in the kitchen. However, that TV is simply there to watch the morning and evening news as I eat a meal so that reception isn't as important. I'm also not worried about receiving WOCK. If that happened, it's a bonus but it's not important to me. Currently, I only get a few channels on the kitchen TV but the kitchen doesn't have a window in the proper direction of the transmitter. Until I get something in the attic, I've resigned myself to a limited channel selection in there.

Also, I did have the RCA antenna in the window facing SE. Today, I dragged in an old piece of furniture that allows me to move the RCA antenna to 6' off the ground. I bought a longer coaxial cable and adapter to make the antenna reach that height. Initially, I had difficulty with WTTW but moving the antenna slightly away from the window seems to have helped. However, it could simply be luck. It's hard for me to tell since the problem is intermittent.

I admit to being spoiled because setting up the antenna in Indianapolis was very easy. I could use my 20 year old Radio Shack special and it picked everything up immediately. It even picked up a PBS station 40 miles away. However, there's not much outside of Indianapolis except for corn fields so the signal doesn't get stopped by much.

Thanks again for your help.


Bob
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Old 6-Jun-2012, 12:15 AM   #6
Electron
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All questions and answers about Tv reception.

Install the HD7082 in the attic if it will fit.

Install a Winegard HD7000R antenna in the attic if it will fit.

Use a 2 way splitter to connect 2 Tv,s.
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Old 7-Jun-2012, 12:09 PM   #7
bcripon
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Electron View Post
Install the HD7082 in the attic if it will fit.

Install a Winegard HD7000R antenna in the attic if it will fit.

Use a 2 way splitter to connect 2 Tv,s.
Thanks for the recommendations. I hope to be able to do this in the next month or so.


Bob
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Old 11-Jun-2012, 10:11 PM   #8
Electron
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The HD7082P is the First choice , the HD7000R is the second choice.

The HD7082P is the the First choice because the antenna is larger and as such receives more signal.
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Old 13-Jun-2012, 12:19 AM   #9
bcripon
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Thanks for the clarification. When I looked up the specifications on each antenna, I figured that was the case. I have to see exactly how much room I have up in the attic now. That will probably be the determining factor as to which antenna I end up selecting.


Bob
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Old 13-Jun-2012, 2:24 PM   #10
ADTech
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Unless you actually want to receive WOCK-LD, then an all-channel antenna isn't needed and you can save a lot of horizontal space. With them only using a couple of hundred watts of transmit power, they're going to be tough to pick up in most attics at your distance.

FWIW, I've yet to have anyone contact us for recommendations or assistance that included that particular station. Like most Class A and low-power stations, they serve a very narrow niche audience.
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Old 13-Jun-2012, 8:55 PM   #11
Electron
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I do not concider America One to be a nich channel , it has a wide verity of programing.

WOCK is not as hard to receive as some would have you believe.

And as far as horizontal space in the attic , what else is up their??

Last edited by Electron; 13-Jun-2012 at 8:58 PM.
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Old 16-Jun-2012, 3:44 AM   #12
bcripon
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Since I have an unfinished attic (and I don't need the storage space), I'd rather put the largest antenna I can fit up there to try to maximize my signals for the other stations.

Looking at the antenna one website, I could see some interesting programming. However, as I said at the beginning, getting WOCK is simply a bonus. The idea of putting the antenna in the attic is simply to improve my signal for the "green" channels in the TV fool chart. Right now, if the weather is wrong (too much wind or rain), I have a LOT of pixelation.

I'm hoping that getting a much larger and higher antenna will alleviate those problems.


Bob
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Old 16-Jun-2012, 6:50 PM   #13
Electron
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ALL questions and answers about Broadcast Tv Reception and more.

The Winegard HD8200U is the largest antenna with the most reception , the next step down is the HD7084P , the next step down is the HD7082P and then the HD7000R.
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Old 18-Jun-2012, 12:10 AM   #14
bcripon
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When I'm looking at each antenna, what dimensions do I need to review to make sure it will fit in my attic?

I thought it would be maximum width, but I'm not sure what boom length is. I just want to make sure that I pick out the antenna that will actually fit in the attic. Thanks.


Bob
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Old 18-Jun-2012, 8:51 PM   #15
Electron
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ALL questions and answers about Broadcast Tv Reception and More.

The boom is what the receiving elements of the antenna are mounted on.

The boom length is how long the antenna is from the front of the antenna to the back of the antenna.
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Old 19-Jun-2012, 10:47 PM   #16
bcripon
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Ok, thanks. I think the limiting factor will still be the horizontal length then.


Bob
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