newbie - help in the hinterland

[krcLud]

Hi-
Currently I am using rabbit ears on top of my TV on the second floor. On a good day I can pull in a station 80 miles away but never the NBC station 49 miles away. I would like some advice on getting a good antenna, either outside or attic.
http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?opti...pper&Itemid=29
Thanks so much!
kris

[GroundUrMast]

Please check the link to your TV Fool report. The posted link points to the data entry form.

Thanks

[krcLud]

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1dda74b28dc532

Thanks.

[krcLud]

I forgot to ask. How do I know which are UHF and VHF on my listing?
http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?opti...pper&Itemid=29

[GroundUrMast]

The column 'real-channel' lists the actual channel used to broadcast each signal. UHF channels are numbered 14 and higher. There are two VHF bands, the low band is real channels 2 through 6 and the high band is real channels 7 through 13.

Virtual channel numbers have no bearing on antenna selection, they are used to maintain branding for stations who used to operate on a different real channel before the analog/digital transition and to sort out separate data streams in the tuner when more than one program is broadcast over the same real channel.

[GroundUrMast]

I don't see a small attic install as an effective solution for you. Most of the signals are simply too weak/distant. After looking at your situation, I'm inclined to suggest you try for the Green Bay market. To be effective, you'll need to consider mounting as high as safety and budget allow, and then, use a high-gain directional antenna system.

If in the same situation, I would be looking at either a roof mounted mast or a tower of some sort. I would opt for a UHF antenna such as the Antennas Direct 91XG with an extra center section added. I would use an Antennacraft Y10713 to receive High-VHF signals.

A good preamplifier such as the Antennas Direct PA-18 should be installed on each antenna, then the outputs can be combined using a UVSJ.

At over 80 miles, you may find that you can't make reception 100% reliable. However, in this case, you have no terrain to contend with (thanks to Lake MI).

I don't often suggest rotators, but this is a case that would benefit from being able to turn the antennas to point at the other signals.

For reception of the -->Easier To Receive Michigan , Local Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels.

WCMW-DT REAL UHF Digital channel 21 , virtual number (21.1-2-3) PBS channels.

WWTV REAL VHF Digital channel 9 , virtual number (9.1-2) CBS and Fox.

WPBN-TV REAL UHF Digital channel 50 , virtual number (x) NBC and ABC.

WFQX-TV REAL UHF Digital channel 32 , virtual number (33.1) Fox.

Install a Winegard HD7696P antenna with a Winegard HDP-269 preamp.

Aim the HD7696P antenna at about 70 degree magnetic compass direction.
Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

A antenna rotator Is Not Required to receive the above listed Local Michigan Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels.

For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

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

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

Buy the HFS splitters at , http://www.solidsignal.com , or , http://www.hollandelectronics.com.
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Here are some above the roof antenna mounts.

http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , use the 5 foot tripod antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , use the #4560 eave antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html.

http://www.ronard.com.

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

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Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. .

http://www.solidsignal.com.

http://www.amazon.com.

http://www.winegarddirect.com.

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As always , trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , do a good job of , absorbing , multi-path/reflecting , blocking , Digital Broadcast Tv reception and so do buildings and other obstructions including your own roof and house.

It is best practice to install the HD7696P antenna at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind in the directions of reception , (north east , east , south east) , including your own roof and house.

The Tv's Must Channel Scan for the Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels , often named the , 'Air Channels' or 'Antenna Channels' in the Tv Setup Menu because the Tv transmissions travel through trhe Air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.

Some Digital Tv's will Automatic channel scan for cable tv channels.

DO NOT channel scan for cable tv channels.

Go into the Tv Setup Menu and select , 'Air Channels' ~ 'Antenna Channels'.

The Current Tv channels are.

VHF low band channels 2 thru 6.

VHF high band channels 7 thru 13.

UHF band channels 14 thru 51.

Your reception location currently has receivable channels.

VHF high band channels 7 thru 13.

UHF band channels 14 thru 51.

The HD7696P antenna is designed to best receive the channels 7 thru 51.

The Real/Actual Channel is what is Transmitted and Received.

Tv antennas are selected to receive the Real/Actual channels.

_________________________________

Virtual numbers Are Not real channels , even if the virtual number is the same as the real channel.

For the most part virtual numbers exist because the Tv station/s.

As a simple example as shown in the tv fool channel list.

WFQX was transmitting on UHF Analog channel 33.

During the transition from Analog to Digital , WFQX changed it's Real/Actual channel to UHF Digital channel 32.

But is displaying the Old Analog channel number on the Tv screen , Why would a Tv station do this??

The main reason is because the old number is what people expect to see the the number 33 FOX.

So the Tv station keeps the 33 number.

This is known as Channel Branding.

The tvfool radar report and channel list shows the , Real Channel and (virt. ) Virtual Number.

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There are 2 Digital Broadcast Tv stations channels the direction of , south east , at 154 and 149 degree magnetic compass direction.

WZZM REAL VHF Digital channel 13 , virtual number (13.1-2) ABC and ACCU Weather.

W42CB-D REAL UHF Digital channel 42 , virtual number (x) FOX and Antenna Tv and This Tv.

To Test reception , by hand , turn and aim the HD7696P antenna at about 149 degree magnetic compass.

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

Rescan for Digital Broadcast Tv channels.

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If Reception is Reliable and you decide that you will like to receive , Fox , Antenna Tv , This Tv.

And ABC , ACCU Weather.

Install a Second Separate antenna system.

That is the same as the first antenna setup.

The 2 Separate antennas systems Will Not be connected together on to one coax.

The 2 separate antenna systems are Separate All the Way to the Tv Locations.

At each Tv location will be a , Remote control A/B antenna switch , http://www.mcmelectronics.com , #32-4425.

Remote control antenna switching is Channel Surfing Friendly , press the button on the hand held remote control , change antenna/s systems , and Keep On Channel Surfing.

Using a antenna rotator Is Not channel surfing friendly , must wait for antenna to rotate and There Will Be Domestic Situations about the direction the antenna is aimed.

The Digital Tv Must have the , Rescan/Scan/Add Feature.

So the Digital Tv can Add more channels into the tuners memory without erasing the first channel that were scanned into the tuners memory.

Some Digital Broadcast Tv tuners do not have a , rescan/scan/add feature.

[krcLud]

Thank you SO much!