Antenna recommendations

Rick in SC · 25-Mar-2012, 10:04 PM

Hello, I'm new to the forum and would like to ask for recommendations on an antenna, rotator, and pre-amp for my location http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...0b86150418a22a. Antenna would be mounted at about 25'. I'm interested in recieving all the channels I can get both VHF & UHF. The lowest frequency strong channel here is Ch. 7 and I'm not sure if I'm going to pick up any VHF since those channels are a pretty good distance from me. I'm considering a CM3671 but I'm wondering will it be worth the extra expense and size. What do yall recommend? Thanks in advance!!!

Electron · 25-Mar-2012, 11:49 PM

This recommendation is based on the Current Plus Pending Applications Included Digital Channels for 03-25-2012. Install a Winegard HD7696P antenna with a Antennas Direct CPA-19 preamp aimed at about 26 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. Mount the antenna above the roof , here are roof mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com. All of the digital tv stations/channels in the green zone and yellow zone and the first two W19DD-D 19 PBS and W42DF-D 42 PBS in the red reception zone will be received. Thats the tv stations to the , north , north east and WNEH-DT 18 to the east. That is A Lot of digital Tv stations/channels. All the rest of the tv stations below W42DF are in Many different directions and are Much Harder to receive. I recommend be happy with the Many that are easy to receive , It's A lot.

Electron · 26-Mar-2012, 12:37 AM

There is signal for , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , Tv's with a 2 , 3 , 4 , way splitter. Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.antennasdirect.com , http://www.channelmasterstore.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.3starinc.com , http://www.tigerdirect.com , http://www.ramelectronics.net , http://www.digicircle.com. Buy the ronard mounts from solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box or buy from ronard.

Rick in SC · 4-Apr-2012, 10:55 PM

Hello, I'm considering using a CM4228HD and an Antenna Direct CPA19 amp for my location: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...0b86150418a22a. What is the likelyhood of an overload condition due to ch. 14 @ 20.3mi. Nm 56.8db and ch 18 @ 12.8mi. Nm 54.9db. I know this antenna might not have as much Hi VHF capability as some other antennas, but I think I'll get enough signal to get a lock on ch 7 & 13. Any other amp recommendations?? One of the Winegaurds or Channel Master amps will be much easier for me to find locally. Opinions??? Thanks!!!

GroundUrMast · 5-Apr-2012, 1:26 AM

I'm not convinced you need an amplifier at all. To answer the question with some confidence, how many tuners are you going to connect?

Depending on your answer to that question, it's entirely possible that the previously suggested 7-69 antenna could drive the system with no amplification.

If you have a large number of tuners to connect, the CPA-19 is the best choice I can think of. Alternately, the HDP-269 and CM-341X series would be capable as well.

Rick in SC · 5-Apr-2012, 2:22 AM

Just 2 TV's, fairly long coax, 60' to one, 75' to the other. I was wanting to see if I could get W28DB-D (virt. 28) and WNEG (virt. 32) both lower powered stations. I could get 32 back in the '90'S with my old set up back then but the picture quality was poor. I was considering the CM4228HD because of it's gain figures and because I can get it locally, but got to thinking those strong channels may cause some overload if I try to amplify the signal to try to get 28 & 32. Thanks in advance!!!

Rick in SC · 5-Apr-2012, 3:11 AM

One other question, would the CM4228HD have any gain down in the 153Mhz range? (For a police/fire scanner) All the charts I see don't show any results for that range since it's not intended for that use. Thanks again!!!

GroundUrMast · 5-Apr-2012, 5:36 AM

The 4228 and the HD7696P will both have no problem receiving W28DB. Again, I favor the 7-69 design. For a 2-way split, I don't think an amplifier is needed. You have 8 dB of coax and splitter loss, tops. Both of those antennas have more than that much gain in the UHF band. Pick the 7-69 type and you get significant gain in the high-VHF band also, leaving you with a good fade margin overall.

It sounds as if you're referring to WUGA which according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WUGA-TV used to be identified as WNEG. If that's the case, you'll need to consider dedicated antenna aimed at 268° magnetic. I would recommend antennas such as the Antennas Direct 91XG and Winegard HD9032 & HD9095. In this case a preamplifier would be needed. The previously mentioned models would be appropriate, the CPA-19 at the top of the list.

There a several ways to deal with signals from multiple directions. Rotators are not the only option:
http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=2882
http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=820

Resist the urge to use an amplifier thinking it will make a weak or marginal antenna choice better. The only thing you can count on an amplifier to do is, 'push' signal further down the line. No amplifier 'pulls' signal out of the air. If the antenna is not receiving a usable signal, an amplifier can't magically invent a good signal. http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=1514

Finally, the 4228 will receive some signal in the 150 MHz range. If I can find a copy of a 4NEC2 model, I'll run the sweep in that range... But the 7-69 will do far better, it has elements cut much closer to that frequency.

Rick in SC · 5-Apr-2012, 10:20 AM

I was planning on using a rotor to help with the direction issue. Would a Winegard HD7698P give me a better shot at Ch 32 without having to go to a dedicated antenna?? Thanks again!!!

Dave Loudin · 5-Apr-2012, 10:57 AM

Beware! What is now WUGA is now part of the University of Georgia's PBS network. They have a construction permit to move further south and raise power. To compare the effect of this move on your reception, click on a "pending applications included." I am very sure that this station is (or soon will be) nothing like what you remember, if the programming of WNEG is what you seek.

Nevertheless, the larger HD7698P will give you a better shot at receiving it.

Electron · 6-Apr-2012, 4:25 AM

If your memories are of the Analog Tv Past , those days are all but gone now. If you think that WXYZ Analog Tv is on the air with your favorite shows , it is not. This is the year 2012. This not the 90's , this not the 80's , this not the 70's , this is not the 60's , this is not the 50's , this not July 1 1941 when the analog standard for black and white Tv transmission was set by the NTSC and commericial television was released to public for television in USA.

Rick in SC · 6-Apr-2012, 11:12 PM

I enjoy trying to get small independent stations and the side channels (x.2, x.3, etc) that are more likely to have some older programming. If I could only watch the major network progamming, I would have no need for a TV as I find their programming to be very uninteresting.

Dave Loudin · 7-Apr-2012, 2:15 PM

I understand. However, WUGA is now PBS, so there won't be much programming different from what you can get from other, closer PBS stations.

Rick in SC · 8-Apr-2012, 12:55 AM

While we're talking about turning the antenna to get stations, is a CM9521A rotor robust enough to reliably turn a Winegard HD7698P? Channel Master is several weeks behind on orders for it and I've read where they had some QC problems on some of the parts or materials in the past. Will a thrust bearing be needed? Any other rotors recommended?? Thanks!!!

GroundUrMast · 8-Apr-2012, 6:11 AM

If only turning a panel antenna, the trust bearing would not be needed.

If you're swinging a larger antenna such as a 7-69 type, a thrust bearing is going to take a great deal of the load off of the rotator housing.

If the CM9521a is back ordered, consider the NTE U-106 and TB-105