Newbie advice

jakkwb · 14-Aug-2011, 8:59 PM

Here are my report details:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...3e47ad07dce187

I picked up a ChannelMaster 3671 at a closeout price on our vacation. Just curious as to how high to mount it. I have a 2 story older house with very high ceilings, so can get it at least 40'+ up.

I would love to pick up the channels to the SE from the Memphis area. Is this possible? The antenna details say 100 mile range.

Thank you.

jakkwb · 15-Aug-2011, 2:03 AM

Ok, here is my info:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...3e4738e0716755

I picked up a Channel master 3671 for pretty cheap over the weekend. I would like to be able to pick up the stations to the SE of me, in the Memphis area.

I can get the antenna at about 40ft or so to start with. I do have a large magnolia tree right in the path less than 30 ft away from where the antenna is to be mounted. Do I need to select a better location where this tree is not in the way?

Any suggestions? Do I need an amp? Also, I plan to attach 3 tvs, and a computer. What do I need to do that with?

Sorry, I don't know much about this...

John Candle · 16-Aug-2011, 12:37 AM

Wow that is one big honk'n antenna. The biggest one Channel Master makes and yes it will do the job. And Yes a antenna that big is needed to do the job. I recommend aim the antenna at about 135 degree magnetic compass. Is the Magnolia tree taller then the roof of the house?? Also , I need to know how many Tv's will be connected. And is there Old tv wiring in place or is the wiring fairly new RG-6U type coax??

jakkwb · 16-Aug-2011, 1:50 AM

OK, the magnolia is a little more south, so it will not be in the direct line of site with the antenna pointing SE. There is no existing wire.

I will be hooking up 3 possibly 4 tvs to it.

Is the height OK at 40'? It may be a bit less. Just approximating...

Thanks so much for your help!

John Candle · 16-Aug-2011, 6:44 AM

Tv transmissions to the south south east are what will be received in the green and red shaded part. KAIT 8 ABC , KTEJ 20 PBS , KVTJ 48 IND. , are in the green shaded area and will be easy received. WMC-DT 5 NBC and a digital sub channel named (This Tv) , are Very Weak in the red shaded area and will Not be easy received. I recommend a Antennas Direct CPA-19 preamp. Use only the splitter that is needed. If 2 Tv's are connected use a 2 way splitter. If 3 Tv's are connected use a 3 way splitter. I Strongly Recommend Install all new RG-6U coax on the outside and on the inside of the house. WMC is a Very Weak signal so only the best coax signal transference should be used. I also recommend a coax ground block be used and connected to the house electric service ground wire. The reason for the coax ground is , WMC is Very Weak , so need to get the cleanest most interference free signal to the Tv. Using a coax ground block will direct interfering static or electric/electronic interference to ground.

John Candle · 16-Aug-2011, 6:58 AM

I recommend a Strong and Sturdy antenna mount like one of these , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html . This is a picture of a typical coax ground block , http://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master.../dp/B000BPEZKK

John Candle · 16-Aug-2011, 7:17 AM

Here are places to buy , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.3starinc.com , http://www.homedepot.com , http://www.lowes.com

John Candle · 16-Aug-2011, 7:23 AM

Here is how to aim a Tv antenna , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html . Also 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

jakkwb · 17-Aug-2011, 3:02 AM

John,

Thanks for all the information.

I have a small problem with this antenna. I put it together today, it has a manufacturing defect. When you put all three pieces together, the end with the longest elements sticking out is rotated about 10-15 degrees from all the other elements. The longest elements are not on the same plane as all the others. It is slight.... looks like the drilled holes to connect the tubes together are not exactly 90 degrees from the element plane.

Will this be a problem?

You are right. It is as big as a house!

John Candle · 17-Aug-2011, 4:14 AM

Can it be rotated to line the elements up so all are of the same plane and then drill new hole and put a screw in .

Tower Guy · 17-Aug-2011, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakkwb

Will this be a problem?

Electrically, no. The only problem is aesthetics.

jakkwb · 18-Aug-2011, 2:30 PM

OK, I will mount the monster as soon as the weather clears here.

I have looked thru the forum but have not found an answer - can you tell me a good brand splitter to use, or are all brands reliable?

Thanks again everyone for the information.

mtownsend · 18-Aug-2011, 4:06 PM

You need a pre-amp for your setup, and the mast-mounted portion of the pre-amp needs to get its power via the same coax that's carrying the signal. The other half of the pre-amp is a power injector that goes inside the house.

If you install the splitter between the power injector and the pre-amp module, then you need to make sure you get a splitter that can pass DC power along one of its paths. That is, the DC power must be allowed to pass through the splitter along ONE of it's paths.

Most splitters are built to pass power along one of its ports, but some splitters pass power on ALL of its ports. You don't want to share power on ALL ports because that means the power intended to drive the amp might go elsewhere with potentially undesirable side effects.

If there's only a single line between the power injector and the amp, and you put the splitter "after" the power injector, then you have nothing to worry about.

In general, variations in splitter performance across brands is small compared to other things in your overall setup (e.g., antenna gain, cable loss, amp noise figure, etc.), so I wouldn't worry about choosing one brand over another.

It's more important to choose the right kind of splitter for the job. Depending on your setup, you may or may not need DC power passing. Split the signal only as many times as you need. You don't need an 8-way splitter if you're only driving 3 TVs. More splits means less signal power is reaching each end-point. Splitters are always done in powers of two (i.e., 2-, 4-, and 8-way), so if you end up with more ports than you need, you should "cap off" any unused ports with a terminator (like this). Any ports that are left "open" can reflect signals back into the cable and can potentially cause a kind of self-interference. Terminators will prevent that from happening.

jakkwb · 19-Aug-2011, 2:51 AM

OK, I have the antenna temporarily attached at the very top of my roof, around 40' or so. I am shooting right between a pecan tree and the magnolia.

I do not have the pre-amp or a splitter on it right now.

I am currently picking up most of the channels in that direction. Some of them will pixelize every so often.

Pretty strange - I am picking up 18.1 really good. The chart reports it to be 141.5 miles away.

Will any additional height make any difference in reception? Also, will the amp make a lot of difference?

The reception is very finicky. I can turn it very slightly, and lose some stations completely and gain others....

But overall, pretty pleased with the performance of this monster!

John Candle · 19-Aug-2011, 4:28 AM

So , 'that direction' , is about 135 degree magnetic compass???? Is WMC-DT 5 NBC being received???? . Yes the preamp will improve WMC-DT 5. . . . And the station 18.1 , what is the network???? . . . More height will likely not help with reception.

jakkwb · 19-Aug-2011, 2:27 PM

Yes, it is pointing that direction (135 degrees). wmc-dt comes in most of the time.

18.1 is PBS.

Thanks for all your help!

jakkwb · 20-Aug-2011, 12:54 AM

OK, it rained this morning, now about 7:45PM, I am not picking up any channels except for the 8-xs (ABC) and 19-xs (PBS). Both of these are within 30 miles of me.

What is going on with this?

John Candle · 20-Aug-2011, 9:34 AM

Does the matching transformer and the connection of the coax to the matching transformer have water in it?? Is the preamplifier connected now??

jakkwb · 20-Aug-2011, 6:14 PM

There is no water or moisture in the coax connection to the antenna (is that the transformer?). I just had the antenna supplied boot on (over) it. It does not seem like it seals very well. Should I put some sealer around it?

Also, the coax I am using was from a previous dish network installation. The cable appears to be in good shape, however, the installer spliced it in one place. It has screw on connectors, however, there is no water proofing at all on this splice except for the rubber gaskets on the coax around where the connectors are attached. The actual connection between the two cables is not sealed.

Thanks again, John.

John Candle · 20-Aug-2011, 8:16 PM

Here is a typical matching transformer , http://www.radioshack.com , type 2062049 in the search box , it matches the 75 ohm coax to the 300 ohm connection of the antenna. Put silicon grease - not sealer - in the boot. Fill the boot with silicon grease and slide it up snug the matching transformer. Do not put silicon grease in the connector that is on the end of the coax. The best coax for the out doors to use is , RG-6U coax , is also called RG-6 coax. The connectors on the ends of the coax will be the compression type connectors. Not the crimp on connectors. The compression type connectors keep water out.