Need Antenna Advice, In Mountains

[Hobbes24]

Hello. After many years with DirecTV, I am excited by the DVR potential of going back to using an antenna to get my regular TV channels. We currently live in the mountains of upstate NY and getting the big four, CBS, NBC, ABC & Fox has always been a challenge, one I'm hoping this forum is up to tackling. Since we've gone to DirecTV, we have built a bigger house so I am able to get the antenna higher off the ground. I hope this helps in increasing my signal reception. Right now we only have coax installed in the house and no antenna mount or antenna-specific wiring, although I can install the wiring if it's necessary. I have included both the Signal Analysis report and the TV Coverage report.

TV Signal Analysis Results:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...ec2f3914059ecb

Interactive TV Coverage Browser:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=90

What I would like to get is the best antenna to receive the maximum amount of channels possible at a decent price. I realize that is a lot to ask, but at this point I'll take what I can get. Thank you in advance for your help and I look forward to your responses.

[GroundUrMast]

It looks as if you'll need to use a large antenna such as the Winegard HD7084P, Antennacraft HD1850 or Channel Master CM-3020.

The path profiles of the signals from the NW show that you have rising terrain fairly close to your location. You'll need to take advantage of as much height as budget and safety allow. Before committing to a mounting location and drilling any holes, you'll want to verify reception.

Avoid aiming through trees and any part of nearby structures, including your own.

A high performance weak signal preamp such as the Antennas Direct PA-18 is indicated as well.

[Tower Guy]

GUMs suggestions are good ones. You could try another approach if you can find an HD5030 (try warren electronics) for VHF plus an XG91 for UHF. A dual input preamp such as the tvpramp-1r will add the two antennas together.

[No static at all]

Originally Posted by Tower Guy

A dual input preamp such as the tvpramp-1r will add the two antennas together.

I would opt for the RCA dual input pre-amp since you have some nearby FM stations that concern me. The FM trap will likely need to be kept off since you will need CBS on channel 6.

+=>

The Current Broadcast Tv Stations/Channels that are being Transmitted and Received in the , USA , Canada , Mexico , are.

VHF low band channels 2 thru 6.

VHF high band channels , 7 thru 13.

Current UHF band channels 14 thru 51.

Your reception location has receivable Tv station channels in All 3 channel bands.

The Real channels column of the tvfool channel list and the radar plot map shows the Real channels that are transmitted and received.

The tvfool channel list also shows the (virt) virtual numbers.

Virtual numbers are Not Real Channels even if the virtual number is the same as the Real Channel.

Tv antennas receive Real Channels that are transmitted and received.

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The Signal Strengths are Very Weak Signal Strengths at your reception location.

And in All 3 channel bands.

So a Big antenna is required to receive the Digital Broadcast Tv Stations/Channels.

Above the Peak of the Roof at no less then 25 feet above ground in such a manner that reception is not , obstructed , impeded , blocked , by the , attic , roof , building , in the directions of , North West.

Install a.

http://www.antennacraft.net.

HD1850 , All channel antenna.

Aim the HD1850 antenna at about 318 degree magnetic compass direction.

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Here is how to aim antennas.

http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Use a Real and Actual magnetic compass to aim antenna , do not trust a , cell phone , tablet and etc. compass.

Also to assist the best reception , most Digital Tv's have a Signal Strength Meter and some Digital Tv's also have a Signal Quality Meter.

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Install a.

http://www.antennacraft.net.

10G201 preamplifier.

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For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a , Holland Electronics , HFS-2D , 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a , Holland Electronics , HFS-3D , 3 way splitter.

Buy the , HFS-2D , HFS-3D , splitters at.

http://www.hollandelectronics.com. , or , http://www.amazon.com.

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At no less then 25 feet above ground.

Here are Above the Peak of the Roof antenna mounts.

http://www.ronard.com/909911.html. Install the , ronard(911) , 5 foot tripod antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/712.html. Install the , ronard(712-50-10) , 10 foot tripod antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html. Install the , ronard(4560) , eave antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html. Measure around the chimney and install a , ronard(2212) , ronard(2218) , ronard(2224) .

http://www.ronard.com.

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Home Depot has , 10 foot 6 inch length , 1 and 3/8 inch diameter , TOP RAIL , chain link fence , PIPE , that makes excellent antenna mast/pipe , the price is low at about 12 dollars.

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Also know this.

As always , trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , have a Negative Effect on Broadcast Tv Reception and so do buildings and other obstructions including your own , attic , roof , building.

Some and not all Negative Effects are.

Absorbing and Blocking Reception.

Multi-Path Reflecting Tv Signals Bouncing All Around.

The Best Practice for Reliable Reception is install the antenna at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions in the direction including your own , attic , roof , building .

The direction of reception is North West.

[Hobbes24]

Thank you very much for all the replies. You've given me a lot of useful information. It seems the the majority of recommendations go into two camps.

One way to go is a major antenna like the Antennacraft HD1850, which seems to be an all-in-one solution with a Direct PA-18 Pre-Amp.

The second way to go is a two-antenna approach, utilizing the HD5030 if I can find it for VHF and the XG91 for UHF. I then connect both antennas to a tvpramp-1r preamp or RCA dual-input preamp and hopefully I have all my channels.

Is there a true benefit to going the multi-antenna route, or would getting a big antenna like the HD1850 really solve my problem? I'm no expert at this, but I am getting more knowledgeable as I read about these solutions. Thank you again for your help and I look forward to reading your responses.