Antenna Recomendation

[NEOHMatt]

Hello all. I'm new here, so let me start off by saying thank you so much for helping me out. I really appreciate it. My wife and I have finally decided to cut cable and go with just the OTA channels and some streaming services. I've run the mapping tool (results) and it looks like I will probably need a UHF/VHF antenna since many of the channels are in the low VHF range. I'd love to be able to pull in CBC (CBET) in addition to the standard US channels, but I don't know if that will be possible since it's pretty far away.

My plan is to mount the antenna in the attic. Interesting enough my house is oriented such that most of the really close stations are out the side of the house and don't have to penetrate the shingles.

Anyway, what I am hoping for is a good recommendation on an antenna that will serve my needs. I've found a number of different ones online, but nothing seems to cover both UHF and VHF well.

Thanks again!

[rabbit73]

Welcome to the forum, NEOHMatt:

I've found a number of different ones online, but nothing seems to cover both UHF and VHF well.

there are 3 TV bands, based on the real channel on your tvfool report, not virtual channel:

VHF-Low, real channels 2-6; not many channels there; antennas very large
VHF-High, real channels 7-13
UHF, real channels 14-51

You need an antenna for VHF-High and UHF. I doubt that you need real channel 6 WLFM, because it is FM audio only, not TV.

my house is oriented such that most of the really close stations are out the side of the house and don't have to penetrate the shingles.

That's good, but signal loss for an attic location is difficult to predict. Aluminum thermal barrier, aluminum siding, and stucco will block signals, as will trees and other buildings.

Your channels are very strong, so you don't need a large high-gain antenna or a preamp.

I suggest the RCA ANT751 or the Winegard HD7694P antenna, aimed at 114 degrees magnetic. You might need to try different locations in the attic for best reception. Don't drill any holes until you get what you want with a test setup. If your TV has a signal strength indicator, that would help.

If WVPX ION is missing, you might need to aim the antenna between 114 and 152, but a little more toward 152 degrees.

I'd love to be able to pull in CBC (CBET) in addition to the standard US channels, but I don't know if that will be possible since it's pretty far away.

CBET, real channel 9, is a very weak poor quality signal. It is in a different direction and has terrain interference for the signal indicated by 2Edge. You would need a separate high gain antenna and a preamp, but the preamp would be overloaded by your strong local signals.

You have some very strong FM signals that might interfere with TV reception. You should inert an FM filter in the coax line. See attachment.
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/produc...-FM-88-/33-341

[NEOHMatt]

Thank you so much. I suspected as much with CBC but I was just hoping. I'll give your recommendations a shot and report back how it goes. I did purchase a powered splitter to make sure I get enough signal through to all the TVs in the house.

[rabbit73]

Which powered splitter did you buy?

There is a possibility that the powered splitter might overload the tuners. If so, switch to a passive splitter.

[rabbit73]

By the time the CBET signal reaches your location, it is almost gone. Notice that only about 5 kW of the max 26 kW of power is sent your way because of the directional pattern of the transmitting antenna:



Just for curiosity you could aim your antenna at CBET 322 magnetic.

The problem is the curvature of the earth that blocks the signal:

[NEOHMatt]

I bought this one
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WDR94U

Hopefully it will work. In end it looks like I could run it un-powered if need be. I know I don't have 8 TVs running in the house, but a set and forget is something I was hoping for.

And thanks for running those other looks at CBET. I had seen the antenna pattern and also figured earth curvature was a problem. Sometimes we can get a nice inversion layer over Lake Erie and we can see all sorts of strange things happen (like you can see the lights on the other side of the lake, but that is a rare occurrence and certainly not something I can count on.

[rabbit73]

In end it looks like I could run it un-powered if need be.

It must be powered.
http://www.pctstore.com/v/vspfiles/a...on%20sheet.pdf

I know I don't have 8 TVs running in the house, but a set and forget is something I was hoping for.

The more outlets it has, the less gain for each outlet.
http://www.pctstore.com/RF_amplifier...p/pctma28p.htm
http://www.pctstore.com/v/vspfiles/a...4_20101027.pdf

And thanks for running those other looks at CBET.

You are welcome. They do show what you are up against.

Sometimes we can get a nice inversion layer over Lake Erie and we can see all sorts of strange things happen (like you can see the lights on the other side of the lake, but that is a rare occurrence and certainly not something I can count on.

Correct