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22-Jun-2011, 8:13 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 3
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Thinking about getting the HD Stacker
Hi Everyone,
I was thinking about buying an HD stacker from Dennys Antenna and also a wineguard AP8780 preamp. I was wanting to install it in my attic. I have a single story ranch style home. Here is my tvfool report: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...001b394c6be419
Just wondered what your thoughts are. Thanks in advance.
Aaron
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23-Jun-2011, 5:16 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,697
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Tv Antennas and Reception
The hd stacker has been covered and evaluated several times. I do not recommend it and never will recommend it. You can buy much better antennas for about the same money. For the best selection of a Tv antenna , How many Tv's will be connected?? Some of the Tv stations are weak of signal strength. Please make a second radar report with an antenna height of 25 feet. How many Tv's will be connected??
Last edited by John Candle; 23-Jun-2011 at 6:10 AM.
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23-Jun-2011, 6:45 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,697
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Tv Antennas and Reception
By Googling the stations call letters I found that , WIBW-TV 13 is - CBS - MyNetwork - This Tv , KTKA-DT 49 is - ABC - Weather - CW+ , KSNT 27 is NBC - FOX , KGKC-LD 10 is Religion , KDCU-DT 31 is Univision. How many Tv's will be connected??
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23-Jun-2011, 7:04 AM
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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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I wont speak ill of the HD Stacker, but I can't recommend it either. The only information I have been able to find is testimonials and field a test against several dissimilar antennas. I have not been able to determine if each antenna tested was mounted in the exact same location or if the antennas were mounted at separate locations on the field. Because the report of the field test indicates that an uncalibrated, consumer grade tuner was used as the signal strength/quality measurement devise, I simply don't know what the performance of the HD Stacker is. I can only estimate the performance to be somewhat similar to that of a Winegard HD769X series antenna which it may be derived from.
Regardless of which antenna you choose, attic mounting is going to limit the likelihood of success. If you have large mature trees in the area, you will be facing an even greater challenge.
If your goal is to receive the major networks, ABC , CBS, NBC and PBS, you will need to use a high gain UHF antenna such as the Winegard HD9095P or Antennas Direct XG-91 (Either of those antennas aimed at 19° mag. would provide reliable reception of KSNT-real 27, KTKA-real 49 and KTWU-real 36. You may see WIBW-real 44 but how reliable that is could be determined by nearby obstructions such as trees and buildings.
A reliable signal from WIBW-real 13 would be far easier if you added a Winegard YA-1713 high-VHF aimed at 5° mag.
I expect that you will need to mount these antennas outside in the clear. Of course, you can try in your attic... If we were next door neighbors, you would see antennas on my roof.
If you have a desire to receive KSCW-real 12, you could try aiming the YA-1713 toward 252°. Frankly, I doubt you will get a reliable lock on that signal, but it would be worth looking for if their programing interests you. If you found reception of KSCW reliable, mounting the YA-1713 on a rotator would allow you to select between WIBW and KSCW without turning the UHF antenna.
Combining the signals from the UHF and high-VHF antennas can be done several ways. I would use an Winegard AP2870 or Antennacraft 10G221 preamp which have an input for each antenna and the amplifiers are less prone to overload than many. The strong signal from KTWU-real 36 will be a possible problem for amplifiers designed for low level input.
__________________
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; 23-Jun-2011 at 7:23 AM.
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23-Jun-2011, 9:06 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,697
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Tv Antennas and Reception
KSCW 12 is the CW. The CW is also received at the north east group of Tv stations. I will suggest a 1 antenna solution of reception of the north east group of Tv stations. The 1 antenna will be mounted on the roof for reliable reception. How many Tv's will be connected??
Last edited by John Candle; 23-Jun-2011 at 9:08 AM.
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23-Jun-2011, 2:34 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 3
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Thank you all for your info. I am planning on just hooking up 1 TV possibly 2 in the future. I am a complete novice. I really would like to stay with the attic mount even if I loose a few channels because of it. I have not had any tv programming other than netflix for over a year. So a few lost channels will not break my heart, I just am looking for the best set up possible for the attic.
Thanks, Aaron
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23-Jun-2011, 4:33 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,697
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Tv Antennas and Reception
In the attic I suggest Antennas Direct DB 8 UHF antenna and a Antennas Direct C 5 VHF antenna. The C5 comes with a UHF VHF combiner. Connect a Antennas Direct CPA 19 preamp to the Output Of The Combiner in the attic. Mount the antennas as high as possible in the attic. Mount the antennas so that each antenna can look at the Tv stations without being obstructed by the other. Aim the antennas at about 17 true , 13 degree magnetic compass. Here are places to buy Tv antennas and etc. , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.antennasdirect.com.Here is how to aim Tv antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html , Read and understand about , REAL Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Virtual Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Analog Broadcast Tv Channels , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=695 This set up will provide signal to 2 Tv's. with 2 way splitter. A common simple passive splitter is what is used.
Last edited by John Candle; 26-Jun-2011 at 5:55 AM.
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24-Jun-2011, 1:45 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Delmar, NY
Posts: 1,236
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doublearon77
Just wondered what your thoughts are.
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The Stacker is bigger than necessary, because you don't need low band VHF.
The signal strength of NBC is too weak for any attic antenna.
The preamp that you've selected is prone to overload.
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29-Jun-2011, 4:49 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,697
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Tv Antennas and Reception
For one antenna mounted higher then the roof on the out side of the roof I recommend a Winegard HD7697P antenna aimed at about , 23 true , 19 degree magnetic compass. No preamp needed with this antenna.
Last edited by John Candle; 29-Jun-2011 at 4:55 AM.
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29-Jun-2011, 4:53 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,697
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Tv Antennas and Reception
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29-Jun-2011, 4:57 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,697
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Tv Antennas and Reception
The stacker does not have low band capability.
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