Dropped satellite, need advice on antenna (newbie)

Kwells · 19-Oct-2011, 10:20 PM

Hey guys, had to drop satellite due to the expense of it and need a little advice. First of all, I live in Davenport, Ia, have an HDTV with a tuner built in with no buildings besides houses anywhere near me. I have a cheap Philips amplified indoor antenna sitting in the West window with which I can get pretty good reception of the local 4 channels and spotty reception from the various PBS stations from Iowa and illinois. based on the information from this link, what do you recommend as far as a roof top antenna?
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...60b5d6f6a38511 I read good reviews of the RCA ANT751R and would use my existing satellite mount and wires.
Any help would be appreciated

Thanx, Kent

GroundUrMast · 23-Oct-2011, 6:03 AM

An outdoor antenna will certainly offer better reception. I think well of the ANT-751 and expect that others may recommend it in your case. But I think a 4-bay panel antenna (U4000, DB-4, CS4, CM4221, HD4400) would be a better choice in you situation because it offers more gain. My hope would be that you would find a single aim point that offers reliable reception of all the stations you're interested in. I'd start with the antenna facing about 145° but try panning left and right, even trying the opposite direction, about 285°.

The challenge you might face is that the stations are scattered around the compass. If you can't find a single aim point that gives you the stations you want, you would need to consider adding a rotator or a multi-antenna solution.

The 4-bay UHF only antennas I mentioned will not provide the best reception of KIIN-PBS, real channel 12. However, with WQPT and WQIN available, I am in favor of trying a simple one antenna solution.

Kwells · 23-Oct-2011, 7:08 AM

Thank you GroundUrMast for the information. Question; the antennas you recommend
Are UHF; I think 4.1,4.2,6.1,6.2,8.1,8.2,8.3 (aka 4,6 and 8) are VHF; if they are, do
I need a combo VHF/UHF antenna to pick up the most stations?. I know the RCA antenna
I mentioned is both but its not multi directional.
Please excuse my ignorance on this subject, and all help is very appreciated and well
Learned

Kent

ADTech · 23-Oct-2011, 1:01 PM

You only need a UHF antenna for local reception unless you absolutely have to have KIIN.

Everything else in the QC is available on UHF stations. WHBF simulcasts on VHF-4 and UHF 47. Local channels 6 & 8 are UHF regardless of their analog channel numbers.

GroundUrMast · 23-Oct-2011, 3:13 PM

Take a close look at your TVFR, the column 'channel, real' indicates if the station is using a UHF or VHF channel. Real channel 14 and up are UHF.

Kwells · 23-Oct-2011, 6:37 PM

Thank you AdTech and GroundUrMast, I'm understanding much better now,
I looked at the the real channels and I understand that..thank you.
Now I hope I can use my existing satellite mount; I'm assuming I can,
And if Its not easy I'm sure there's a way. I'll let you know how this goes.
Thanks guys!!

Kent

Kwells · 24-Oct-2011, 6:05 PM

I just ordered the DB4, there were no stores locally that had any of the ones that were recommended.
Do I need an amplifier for this or is that something I'll know after I install it?

Kent

Tower Guy · 24-Oct-2011, 6:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwells

I just ordered the DB4, there were no stores locally that had any of the ones that were recommended.

Did you try Warren Electronics in Moline, IL?

http://www.warrenelectronics.com/

GroundUrMast · 24-Oct-2011, 6:34 PM

If you have only one TV connected, try running with no amplifier.

If you prove the need, use a high-input design such as Antennas Direct CPA-19 or Winegard HDP-269. You'll be facing several strong signals that will overload many other amplifiers. If you anticipate adding one or two high-VHF antennas, the Antennacraft 10G221 is another amplifier to consider.

Kwells · 29-Oct-2011, 5:40 AM

Ok, just received my DB4 and going to install to satellite mast on roof
Tomorrow, question: I was studying the existing RG6 cable in the basement
And I noticed that it comes in to the house with the ground wire riding along
Side the wire then at one point it attatches to the ground then enters a little
Box; it goes in to "pwr to SWM" and the cable that comes out to the TV is
Labeled "Signal to IRD" and is plugged in to an outlet. Do I need to bypass
This box and go directly to the TV?

Thanx, Kent

Kwells · 31-Oct-2011, 4:26 AM

Ok, installed the new antenna today and it was very easy and quick.as far as the SWM box in the
Basement, I just unplugged it because I still don't know what it is and didn't want to damage
Anything. Well, I'm getting good reception and getting 24.1 and 24.2 PBS, I didn't receive them before.
I didn't do an exact pointing of the antenna but it seems just fine where its at. I'm not getting any
Additional staitions with it except the ones mentioned but the ones I get are more consistant
As far as always getting reception. Anyway, all seems well and thank you guys for all your help; if I
Decide to experiment with trying to get even more stations I'll be posting

Thanks, Kent