Dumping cable - things to know and attenea

[Nex6]

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...8d173f2543e256

and , i have like 5 TVs, with 2 Tivos, any recommendations?




EDIT: (added by request from my other post)
I am in the process, of dumping 'cable' actually "direcTV" doing my research, what can be replaced, etc. and in my research i found many people are considering or have done the same thing? so i ask:

are more people switching to OTA?

me, my plan is Tivo (from tivo) + netflix, replaces 80 to 90%. which is pretty
good for me....




-nex6

[John Candle]

Here is information about the question of other people watching over the air Tv , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=1539 . . .Is this a , house , condo. apt. , mobile home , motor home ?? Is the structure wrapped with any type or kind of metal such as but not limited to metal siding or stucko with stucko Wire ?? Are the walls made of poured concrete ?? Is the roof metal ?? Is the structure wrapped with brick from ground to roof ?? Does the structure have metal backed insulation ?? Does the structure have coax cable to all the Tv's ?? Read and understand this about , Real Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Virtual Digital Broadcast Tv Channels and Analog Tv Channels , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=695

[Nex6]

2 story house, roof is a standard roof, walls have stucco. no metal siding, or anything funky. i have directv which has coax to all TVs.

[Nex6]

think of this one for an antenna:
http://www.winegarddirect.com/viewit...(MS2000)&post=

[Dave Loudin]

To drive all the TVs in your house, you should mount the antenna outside. Unless there are houses or trees in the way, you need only to be 10 feet off the ground to have a clear shot at the LA stations. You might be able to use the smallish RCA ANT-751, but a larger Winegard HD-7694P or an AntennaCraft HBU-33 will certainly do it.

[John Candle]

The stucko is held in place with stucko Wire. The Tv transmissions at your location are Very Strong. I suggest try one of these Non amplified indoor Tv antennas and see if the Tv transmissions get through the Wire Ok. http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=233 Put the indoor antenna on the second floor on the side of the house that is close to the transmitters . The other 4 Tv's will be connected to one of the antennas that Dave suggests with a 4 way splitter to the 4 Tv's. The Tv channels are digital so the Tv's need to be set to receive the Digital Broadcast Tv Channels. If some of the Tv's are not digital then here are converter boxes to use , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=380. As Dave says , the outdoor antenna does not need to be up high , but does need a clear shot at the Tv transmitters at 86 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim Tv antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html

[John Candle]

Yes many people are going to OTA over the air Tv reception. The constant drain of money with pay cable Tv and pay satellite Tv is a real drag. Many people are going with Roku/Netflix with its 1000's of movies and Tv channels for 10 dollars a month. You buy the Roku receiver box and it's 10 dollars a month for the service. http://www.roku.com , http://www.netflix.com.

[Nex6]

looked at: Winegard HD-7694P, and it says its tuned for ch 7-69, does that mean it does not pick up ch lower than 7? or that those channels dont need tuning?

what about a: Winegard MS 2000?

ps: attna would be mounted on roof, about 30ft off ground with clear view....

[John Candle]

The MS2000 antenna is a amplified antenna , the Tv transmissions at your location are VERY STRONG and will likley Overload the amplifier and be the cause of bad reception. Also the MS2000 is a omni directional antenna , now omni directional seems to be a good idea , however omni directional antennas do not reject multipath , multipath is reflected Tv signals off of mountains - houses- and other objects , to much multipath will cause a bad picture/reception. I do not advise using a omni directional antenna. However if you will like to try one then use the MS1000 NON Amplified antenna. Please note that omni directional antennas are not truly omni directional and might need to be turned/adjusted and then tighten the clamp , to receive all the channels you will like to receive. The antennas that Dave has recommend do a better job of rejecting multipath at the sides and back of the antenna. The Tv antennas that are 7 thru 69 have the shorter metal receiving elements that are sized in length for 7 thru 69. The 7 thru 69 antenna will receive channels 2 thru 6 but not as well as a 2 thru 69 antenna such as a Winegard HD7082P antenna that has the longer metal receiving elements. Your receivable channels are 7 thru 69 with the exception of KSFV digital channel 6 that is not transmitting at this time and according to the information on the internet is not likley to be transmitting for quite some time , and even if it does start transmission the programing is likley to be asian or spanish. If you like you can install a 2 thru 69 antenna such as a Winegard HD7082P antenna or the ANT751 would also handle it.

[John Candle]

Here are some places to buy Tv antennas and etc. , http://www.3starinc.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.amazon.com . . Lowes stores have a nice selection of coax connectors , coax cutting prep tools to dress the end of the coax so as to put the connector on the coax , and crimpers and compression connector tools and etc. . Made by http://www.idealindustries.com

[John Candle]

You are beginning to understand that the forum here at TVFOOL has helpers that provide Information that is based on FACTS and not opinion and emotion and urban myths like other web sites. Here are web sites that have free Tv guides, http://zap2it.com , http://www.titantv.com , http://television.aol.com , http://tv.yahoo.com , http://tv.entertainment.excite.com , http://www.tvzap.com . . Here is the Federal Law that says Yes you can install and use outdoor Tv antennas and other types of outdoor antennas , http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

[Nex6]

my guess, is if i get an: Winegard HD7082P , a preamp, and dist switch (8 port ch master). that should not only cover all the channels, but enable all of my TVs to work.

seems like 80% of all signals are all in one direction, tho there are some trays
here and there, my guess is the ones in off areas with a decent signal I will still
get.

[Nex6]

yes, I appreciate the help. I am an IT geek, so FACTS are important. been on direcTV for more than 10 years....

once, you start researching this subject there is alot of noise. On, how to go about "cutting the cable". if you have one TV, its not as hard, but most of us with large familys and multiple Tivos need upwards of 8 "feeds". you would also like to get a decent amount of channels, and have them clear and watchable.

the only really big "hit" is sports, but hey cant have everything.

[John Candle]

Yes the Tv transmissions at your location are STRONG and the off axis transmitters should be received Ok. Many people think that , because of the numbers of the broadcast Tv channels 2 thru 69 that all of the channels are consecutive one right after the other. This is not true. there are large gaps in the frequencies between VHF Low band 2 thru 6 , VHF High band 7 thru 13 and UHF 14 thru 69. and this is why tv antennas look the way they do , with shorter metal receiving elements for UHF and longer elements for VHF High and even longer elements for VHF Low. , http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/TVfrequencies.html

[GroundUrMast]

You have one of the best OTA receiving opportunities in the entire world.

You do not need a preamplifier. A preamplifier will be overloaded by the strong TV and FM signals present at your location. Unless you 'need' access to real CH-6 (which may or may not be on the air) you don't need an all channel antenna. A roof mounted Winegard HD7694P aimed at Mt. Wilson will easily drive a passive 8-way split. If I'm wrong, and there are unexpected losses, an amplifier can be added later. If anything, you need to be ready to install an inexpensive FM trap.

[Tower Guy]

Originally Posted by Nex6

my guess, is if i get an: Winegard HD7082P , a preamp, and dist switch (8 port ch master). that should not only cover all the channels, but enable all of my TVs to work.

seems like 80% of all signals are all in one direction, tho there are some trays
here and there, my guess is the ones in off areas with a decent signal I will still
get.

I'd get the HD 7694P instead. It's smaller and will pick up everything except for KSFV, which is operating as a Catholic radio station.

[Nex6]

so, the winning configuration seems to be:

Winegard HD7694P
passive 8 port coax splitter

connected to:
2 tivos, and 5 TVs (LCD, plasma)

based on signals, get a channel master 8 port ONLY if really need.


and for sports seems, TSN.CA streams hockey games... what more do you need?

[John Candle]

NO preamp at your location , the Tv transmissions at you location are VERY STRONG and will likley Over Load a preamp and be the cause of bad reception.

[Nex6]

gotcha, aviod amps. use only the coax splitters. until, such a time as the splitting causes degrading. then, dont automaticly amp it.

[John Candle]

If using an 8 way splitter and the signals are to weak for digital lock on of Tv of the weak channels down around KJLA-DT 49 , then use a 8 way distribution amplifier CM3814. If any output ports are not used on the 8 way splitter or 8 way distribution amplifier be sure and put 75 ohm screw on terminators on the unused ports. The reasons are that it provides better balance of the antenna system and keeps out interference.