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Old 31-Jul-2012, 3:25 AM   #1
linux203
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Cut the cord, need help with antenna selection.

TV Fool report with exact location here.

I have a single television with an ATSC tuner. I previously had DirecTV and a single coax cable enters the house and goes straight to the TV. I am thinking about mounting an antenna just off the peak of the house, unscrewing the house connection from the DirecTV grounding block and attaching to a new grounding block from the antenna. The house ground is used for Cable Internet, Satellite, and will be used for the antenna.

The channels I care about are 2.1 (VHF) 7.1, 4.1, 62.1, 31.1, 56.1 (UHF)

I currently have SuperSonic Flat Digital Antenna VHF/UHF. I can get the above channels except 2.1. The antenna is perpedicular to 142 deg. and I still get 31.1 without moving it. Some channels pixelate now and again and weather plays more of a role than I'd like.

Goal is for parts and supplies to be less than $140 (two months of DirecTV fees)

Last edited by linux203; 31-Jul-2012 at 3:31 AM.
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Old 31-Jul-2012, 4:11 AM   #2
GroundUrMast
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It looks like the SS Flat antenna is a nice looking UHF loop antenna. If that's the case, it no doubt has negative VHF gain.

An RCA ANT-751 mounted so it has an unobstructed view will offer a bit more UHF gain and positive gain in the High-VHF band. Pointed at about 150° compass, you should still expect to see list of signals you care about... though you may need to fine tune the aim.

Amazon is asking about $41 for the antenna right now, so that leaves a bit of room for mounting hardware.
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Old 31-Jul-2012, 4:39 AM   #3
teleview
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Tv Reception.

The Tv stations/channels you have listed and many more will be received.

Recommend install a ANT751 above the roof aimed at about 160 degree magnetic compass reading.

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

And get better reception of KPXD-DT 31 ION.

And WHTV 34 MyNetwork.

If you require a antenna mount here are some common antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com.

Buy the antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box.

Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com.

The ANT751 will be receiving Tv transmissions from the , south east , south , south west and WCMZ-TV 28 PBS to the north west.

Tv antennas receive the best when nothing is reducing or blocking reception.

Such as trees and tree leaves and buildings or other obstructions.

Last edited by teleview; 31-Jul-2012 at 4:55 AM.
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Old 31-Jul-2012, 4:54 AM   #4
teleview
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Tv Reception.

The Tv Must Channel Scan for the Broadcast Tv Channels sometimes named the 'Air Channels' or 'Antenna Channels' in the Tv setup menu because the Tv transmissions travel through the air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.

DO NOT channel scan for the cable tv channels.
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Old 31-Jul-2012, 11:06 PM   #5
linux203
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First off, thank you both for the great feedback. Always nice to see more than one person recommend the same product.

I ask this question only because I wish to learn more. I understand how WCMZ 28 will improve at 352 deg. (160+180=340) But how does a directional antenna pointed at 160 deg pick up a signal from 282 deg (WHTV 34)? or even at 245 deg?

NEC 2008 (governing code for my area) says:
Quote:
810.21 Grounding Conductors — Receiving Stations.
Grounding conductors shall comply with 810.21(A)
through (K).

(H) Size. The grounding conductor shall not be smaller
than 10 AWG copper, 8 AWG aluminum, or 17 AWG
copper-clad steel or bronze.
So another question is about Philips SWV2197W/27 RG6 Coaxial Cable Burial Grade with Ground Wire. I can't find any data on the Internet with specifications on the grounding wire, neither composition, nor gauge. I'm assuming code was written at 17 AWG simply to prevent 18AWG from being used. Does anyone have data on this cable?

Thanks again!
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Old 1-Aug-2012, 1:49 AM   #6
teleview
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Tv Reception.

The ANT751 is a small antenna that does have some forward gain and is not a very directional antenna.

The antenna does not have any specific dedicated director/reflector elements that would increase the directional ability of the antenna.

So the antenna receives fairly well from all directions.

WCMZ PBS to the north is a Strong Signal and and will be received by the ANT751 even though the signal is at a back of the antenna.

The 160 degree aim direction is a in between aim direction of the Tv stations to the , south east , south , south west.

Most all of the Tv transmissions are Strong and easy to receive and you might be surprised at some of the weaker signals that are received.
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Old 9-Aug-2012, 1:09 AM   #7
linux203
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Antenna is up, need signal help.

So the RCA ANT751 arrived today and it's mounted near the roof peak pointed at 160 deg. Total cable length is about 110' with no splits and all external wire is new. (including grounding block)

I can pick up 18 and 9, but not 47. If I read my tvfool report correctly, 18 and 9 are 2edge and 1edge, respectively. 47 is Line of Sight and closer than 9.

Here's an updated TVFool Report to reflect an actual antenna height of 28 feet, not 34.

Do I need to repoint my antenna, get a preamp, or just accept that I won't get the channel?

Thanks,
Daniel

Last edited by linux203; 9-Aug-2012 at 1:14 AM. Reason: Update TVFool report.
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Old 9-Aug-2012, 11:14 PM   #8
teleview
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Tv Reception.

Try changing the position direction of the antenna. And rescan for digital channels.

The station might have changed to UHF channel 19 , or the station might be off the air.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W47DL-D

http://www.rabbitears.info/tvq.php?r...ms&facid=67923
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