Need New Antenna

[pigeonx]

We recently moved outside of town. While in town my little outdoor Philips antenna did the job quite nicely. Now that we're out in the country, it's not so good. I would like some advice on getting a new affordable antenna to get more channels. I really only care about the major networks (ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, and PBS). I can get ABC, NBC, FOX and sometimes CBS, but never PBS.

Thank you in advance for helping me!

Attached you'll find my reception chart.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...2c158ac35d8da3

[Jake V]

Pigeon: There is no link to your TV Fool Report. Please re-do it and re-post. You might follow these instructions.

[StephanieS]

Hello PigeonX,

Your report looks pretty good for Springfield and Decatur signals. If you have clear pathways in the below headings, I can see a Antennas Direct DB8e mounted outdoors with a panel pointed to each heading would work nicely.

A couple questions first - What type of Philips antenna were/are you using? Second question - Is your 180 and 355 magnetic headings obstruction free? Meaning no trees or buildings blocking that direction.

Cheers.

[pigeonx]

Originally Posted by Jake V

Pigeon: There is no link to your TV Fool Report. Please re-do it and re-post. You might follow these instructions.

Jake, it appears StephanieS was able to see it just fine? Here you go: http://bit.ly/1DbaHBM

[pigeonx]

Originally Posted by StephanieS

Hello PigeonX,

Your report looks pretty good for Springfield and Decatur signals. If you have clear pathways in the below headings, I can see a Antennas Direct DB8e mounted outdoors with a panel pointed to each heading would work nicely.

A couple questions first - What type of Philips antenna were/are you using? Second question - Is your 180 and 355 magnetic headings obstruction free? Meaning no trees or buildings blocking that direction.

Cheers.

Stephanie, 180 and 355 both look clear. 355 might have part of a tree in a way, but mostly looks clear. Antenna I currently have looks like Philips MANT940.

When it comes to the Antennas Direct DB8e, what do you mean by "panel pointed to each heading"?

[StephanieS]

Ok. Good to know your headings are clear. It's not uncommon for people to say "my report says it should be easy but I'm not getting XXXX signal" then upon further questioning it turns out they are shooting through a dense treeline which reflects and blocks the signal from getting to the antenna.

Thanks for the info on the Philips-like antenna. I'm not a fan of that design. Especially if it has internal amplification at the expense of element driven gain.

In regards the Antennas Direct DB8e, please see:
https://www.antennasdirect.com/store...V-Antenna.html

Check out the images on the Antennas Direct website and you'll notice it has four panels, two on each side. This antenna is unique for it's ability on each side to aim to specific headings. In your case, magnetic 180 and 355 you would point each side of the antenna.

I'd expect all of Springfield and Decatur in this configuration. I'd also expect MyNetwork and ABC affiliates from Peoria.

How many TVs do you want the antenna to serve?



Cheers.

[ADTech]

If signals are coming from nearly opposite directions (+/- 20-30°), you're usually better off taking the reflector panels off and making the DB8e bi-directional, unless there's a compelling need for stronger reception in one direction over the other. Doing so eliminates around 3 dB of combiner loss that otherwise occurs when the elements are not phased.

The rivets have to be drilled out to remove the reflectors. If you need to put them back on, standard #10 screws and nuts work well.

[pigeonx]

Originally Posted by ADTech

If signals are coming from nearly opposite directions (+/- 20-30°), you're usually better off taking the reflector panels off and making the DB8e bi-directional, unless there's a compelling need for stronger reception in one direction over the other. Doing so eliminates around 3 dB of combiner loss that otherwise occurs when the elements are not phased.

The rivets have to be drilled out to remove the reflectors. If you need to put them back on, standard #10 screws and nuts work well.

What's the difference between DB8 and DB8e?

[pigeonx]

Originally Posted by ADTech

If signals are coming from nearly opposite directions (+/- 20-30°), you're usually better off taking the reflector panels off and making the DB8e bi-directional, unless there's a compelling need for stronger reception in one direction over the other. Doing so eliminates around 3 dB of combiner loss that otherwise occurs when the elements are not phased.

The rivets have to be drilled out to remove the reflectors. If you need to put them back on, standard #10 screws and nuts work well.

Tom with antennasdirect.com said the DB4e would do the job.

[pigeonx]

Originally Posted by StephanieS

Ok. Good to know your headings are clear. It's not uncommon for people to say "my report says it should be easy but I'm not getting XXXX signal" then upon further questioning it turns out they are shooting through a dense treeline which reflects and blocks the signal from getting to the antenna.

Thanks for the info on the Philips-like antenna. I'm not a fan of that design. Especially if it has internal amplification at the expense of element driven gain.

In regards the Antennas Direct DB8e, please see:
https://www.antennasdirect.com/store...V-Antenna.html

Check out the images on the Antennas Direct website and you'll notice it has four panels, two on each side. This antenna is unique for it's ability on each side to aim to specific headings. In your case, magnetic 180 and 355 you would point each side of the antenna.

I'd expect all of Springfield and Decatur in this configuration. I'd also expect MyNetwork and ABC affiliates from Peoria.

How many TVs do you want the antenna to serve?



Cheers.

1 DVR with 2 tuners and 1 TV (total of 3 connections).

[timgr]

Originally Posted by pigeonx

What's the difference between DB8 and DB8e?

As I understand it:

The DB8e is the newer version, with revised features.

In 2009 the FCC reallocated channels 52-69 (700 MHz band) to public safety and broadband wireless broadcast. The DB8e is optimized to this narrower 14-51 reception band.

[GroundUrMast]

Originally Posted by pigeonx

Jake, it appears StephanieS was able to see it just fine? Here you go: http://bit.ly/1DbaHBM

We can see the png image... But the live html link to your report allows us to click on each of the call signs listed in your report to see additional information that can help to further understand your signal conditions.

The live link also allows us to look at 'pending' changes.

The png image has no live html links.

http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=4
http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=14508

[pigeonx]

Originally Posted by GroundUrMast

We can see the png image... But the live html link to your report allows us to click on each of the call signs listed in your report to see additional information that can help to further understand your signal conditions.

The live link also allows us to look at 'pending' changes.

The png image has no live html links.

http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=4
http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=14508

Here you go. http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...2c158ac35d8da3

[pigeonx]

Originally Posted by Jake V

Pigeon: There is no link to your TV Fool Report. Please re-do it and re-post. You might follow these instructions.

Here you go: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...2c158ac35d8da3

[GroundUrMast]

Thanks for the live links. The path profiles confirm you have very flat terrain so there is less concern about the warning, "Address was only resolved to block level and might not be that close to your actual location. For more accurate results, try entering a specific address or coordinates."

StephanieS' suggestion re. the DB8E and ADTech's input strike me as 'spot on'. One could also consider adding an Antennacraft Y10713 if either WCIX or WILL are desired.