Northwest NJ help

[wlepse]

I have to admit I hadn't given OTA much thought since I live in northwest NJ; couple the distance from the transmitters with the hills and it is a recipe for a whole lot of nothing. But I recently saw a deal on a tiny flat antenna from Meritline that was like 6 bucks delivered and figured what the hell. I hooked it up and was surprised to see I got around 7 channels. The best were out of the PA area. Since the wife has been on me about getting some TV back but I have been reluctant to add the ridiculous cable fees I figured I would run over to Walmart and see what they had and give them a shot. So I picked up a Phillips SDV8622T/27 an RCA multi directional amplified flat antenna and a Moho Leaf Ultimate. All three came with amplifiers and I did some playing around with mixing and matching just to see what I could get.

So this is where it gets interesting or confusing in my case since I have no idea about this stuff but the outcome kind of surprised me.

Both the Phillips and RCA units with amplifiers got less stations than the cheap Meritline unit w/o amplifiers, but using these amplifiers with the Meritline unit I was able to pull in about a dozen stations.

I had expected the most out of the Moho Ultimate just based on what I had read in the thread where I found the Meritline unit. Unfortunately this didn't really pan out. The Moho pulled in 17 stations, but if I connected its amp to the Meritline unit I got 22. Both were positioned in the same window facing approx east. So from what I read using amplifiers isn't the best option since it adds noise but I figured I had nothing to lose so I hooked up two amps with the Meritline and got 33 channels and with 3 amps I got 36. So there is definitely diminishing returns there. But what I found interesting was that in all cases this cheap antenna performed better.

Now on to the part that has me really confused. Here is a link to my signal analysis (please note this is at ground level): http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...46ae77159ada8a

According to this I should be getting 41.1 and 42.1 with ease, but in none of the iterations mentioned above did these channels ever come in. Not sure I care since I don't know what they are but this adds to my confusion since I am also getting a ton of channels that aren't listed. It is especially baffling since most of these stations are foreign language and that really isn't the make up of the community out here.

Anyway with two amps I am able to get CBS 2.1 and CBSNY 2.2 out of NY pretty much unpixelated. NBC 4.1 is all pixilated. If I go to three amps I can kind of get NBC 4.1 and WWOR-TV 9.1 but WNYW-DT 5.1 is pixelated. Now what makes me confused (besides the channels I get that are not listed) according to the analysis I should also be able to get WABC-TV 7 but I never do. I also find it strange that CBS is stronger than WWOR. So a lot of things don't seem to add up...at least to me.

But in the end I would like to be able to get CBS, NBC and PBS 100% and ABC, WWOR and WNYW would be bonuses. I am pretty close with what I have but having three amps and only one tv connected is not practical. So I am wondering what my options are. I would prefer not to have a huge outdoor antenna but I think I am pretty limited based on location. I could put something in the attic but I would imagine this would require a larger antenna and that might start to be an issue. I also don't want to have to move it to get other stations but based on locations listed I don't think I would have to. So what are the recommendations? Am I just too far out that cable is my best bet to keep the wife off my back?

[ADTech]

W42CX is unbuilt. WNJJ, as of Jan 2011, was broadcasting infomercials. Who knows if it's still on the air?

If you want reliable reception, forget all the little flat antennas, especially those for indoor use. Your TVFool plot indicates you need something substantial on the roof with a proper pre-amplifier. Unless you are content with stations from a single direction, a rotor is also recommended.

Plan on either a single 10-14' long antenna or two smaller antennas mounted several feet apart on a single mast.

[wlepse]

Based on the plot all the major networks out of NY are in the same basic direction from me so I would think I would be OK w/o the rotor. But when you say something substantial, do you have a recommendation? Can something be mounted in the attic?

[GroundUrMast]

You can try in the attic, but don't expect much reliable reception.

If we were neighbors, you would see one of the following well above my roof;

A) Antennas Direct 91XG + Antennacraft Y10713 + RCA TVPRAMP1R (Best effort to make real CH-7 through CH-51 reliable.)

B) Winegard HD7698P + Antennas Direct PA-18

C) Winegard HD7084P + Antennas Direct PA-18 (A somewhat wishful attempt at including real channels 2 through 6.)

The Current , OTA=Over The Air , Broadcast Tv stations/channels being transmitted and received in the ,

USA ,

Canada ,

Mexico ,

Are ,

VHF low band channels 2 thru 6.

VHF high band channels 7 thru 13.

UHF band channels 14 thru 51.

Your location has Receivable Broadcast Tv stations/channels in All 3 Tv bands.

The reception signal strengths at your location are medium to weak signal strengths. With most Tv stations/channels in the Red reception zone of the tvfool report.

Recommend a Large All Channel Antenna , a Winegard HD7084P All channel antenna.

Above the Peak of the Roof in such a manner that the roof and building are not , obstructing , impeding , blocking , reception in the directions of , South , South West , South East.

Install a Winegard HD7084P antenna aimed at about 180 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

Use a Real and Actual magnetic compass to aim antenna.

________________

Install a Winegard AP8700 preamplifier.

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For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

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

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

Buy the HFS splitters at , http://www.solidsignal.com.

________________

Here are some strong and sturdy above the roof antenna mounts.

http://www.ronard.com/909911.html.
Use the , ronard(911) , tripod antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html.
Use the , ronard(4560) , eave antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html.
Measure around the chimney and use a , ronard(2212) , ronard(2218) , ronard(2224). chimney antenna mount.

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at , http://www.solidsignal.com , or , buy from , http://www.ronard.com.

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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.

____________

As always , trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , have a Negative Effect on broadcast Tv reception and so do buildings and other obstructions including your own roof and house.

The Best Practice is to install the HD7084P antenna at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind in the directions of reception including your own roof and building.

______

The Tv/s Must Channel Scan for the Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels , often named the 'Air Channels' ~ 'Antenna Channels' in the Tv Setup Menu because the Tv transmissions travel through the 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 , 'Antenna Channels' ~ 'Air Channels'.

Scan for channels.

[ADTech]

I'd skip the low-VHF 7084. Odds are very poor you'd get any of the non-major stations from that far away.

If you want something more compact, I'd suggest the ClearStream 4, ClearStream 5, and PA18. You'll need about 5' of usable mast just for the two antennas.

WNJJ and W42CX.

Typing the call letters in the google or other search boxes , shows that the stations are Venture Technologies Group LLC , Tv stations.

I have requested information from them in the past and received no answer or a answer that is the same as no answer.

http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ven...nologies_Group

www.loop.com

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Concerning the antenna to install , install the HD7084P antenna.