Advice requested regarding Antenna type, pre-amp

[canuck]

TV signal Analysis Report:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...cc49fa2d3ba64b

I am completely new to all OTA technology. I am hoping to find some solid advice. I ran the Signal Analysis above. I have an unobstructed line of sight view to the CKVR tower in Barrie, ON Canada (1000ft tall broadcast tower). I am surprised at how few channels are supposedly available in my area. Is it possible, considering the LOS view, that I might receive more channels than what the report says?

What model of antenna would someone recommend for me? I would mount the antenna on the roof. What model of pre-amp would one recommend? Will I need a rotating motor, if so, what model would one recommend? Is there a decent omni-directional antenna I could use?

I currently have some sort of antenna on the roof pointed directly at the CKVR tower but the coaxial cable has been cut. Is the antenna of any use? The current antenna was placed by the previous owner. I believe the antenna is this very model: http://www.calamp.com/products/mmds-...ys/131740-lnby

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thank you

[signals unlimited]

The antenna and coax in place are not TV and are of no use in your project.

All receivable stations are located at 178 degrees.

Install an Antennacraft HBU55 or a Winegard HD7698p antenna above your roof aimed to 178 degrees magnetic.

No pre amplifier or rotor are needed. If you are connection more than one set or have a coax run longer than 75 feet you can use a Channel Master distribution amplifier 34xx with the proper number of ports to feed your sets.

The CalAmp microwave antenna is/was commonly used for a Pay Tv System known as MMDS Multichannel Multipoint Distribution System. This transmission and reception system operates in the microwave frequencies that are different then broadcast Tv frequencies and can not be used for broadcast Tv reception.
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At your location some Tv transmissions are from the CN Tower some 51.7 miles distant to the south.

And 2 Tv transmissions are to the north at 42.2 miles distant.

And CKVR is 2.7 miles.

I recommend install a Winegard HD7698P antenna (up high) aimed at about 176 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

Do not use a preamplifier , the strong local Tv transmission of CKVR will overload a preamplifier and be the cause of bad or no reception of some channels.

For 1 Tv connected use no splitter , no amplifier.

For 2 Tv's connected use a Channel Master CM3412 distribution amplifier.

For 3 or 4 Tv's connected use a CM3414 distribution amplifier.

Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.saveandreplay.com , http://www.trentondistributors.com , http://www.canadapost.ca/shopper , http://www.amazon.ca , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.channelmasterstore.com.

You say you are installing the antenna above the roof.

How many floors (how high) is the house??

What will the HD7698P antenna be mounted on??
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As always , trees and tree leaves do a real fine job of reducing or blocking Tv reception and so do buildings and other obstructions.

It is best to install a antenna up high at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions in the directions of reception.

The Tv/s 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 cable tv channels.

[canuck]

Thank you teleview and signals unlimited for your replies. They are very helpful.

By the sounds of it, I guess I can only expect 9 channels at best, and if 2 of those are from the north, it's not likely my south facing antenna will even receive those. Is that about right? I assume based on the tvfool report that I can't expect to receive any of the channels colored Grey. I don't know if I can justify the expense for so few channels. I thought the CKVR tower was a 'retransmission' tower, I thought it was so tall for that reason, I guess I was mistaken.

The antenna would be mounted to the existing mast from the MMDS antenna. The house is 2 stories, the antenna would be about 30 feet off the ground. I would have to remove the old antenna and mount the new one in its place. Does the Winegard HD7698P come with all the necessary mounting brackets or will I have to make it up as I go along?

Any further insights are greatly appreciated.

The HD7698P antenna will be installed in such a manner that the roof or the house is not blocking reception to the , north , south west , south.

Some Strong and Sturdy antenna mounts , tripod antenna mount , eave antenna mount , chimney antenna mount.

In the Gray reception zone , CJMT-DT 40 Omni 2 , CITY-DT 44 City Tv , CFMT-DT 47 Omni 1 , may or may not be received reliably. The situation is a , install the antenna and see what happens situation.

As always , trees and tree leaves do a real fine job of reducing or blocking Tv reception and so do buildings and other obstructions.

It is best to install antenna/s at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind in the directions of reception.

And for your reception situation getting the antenna up high is important.