Antenna Recommendations - Chicago Burbs

[turningfinal]

Greetings all,

I'm looking for recommendations for an antenna to pick up HD OTA broadcasts. I'd like to mount it on my roof (attached to my chimney) if possible. Additionally, the smaller the antenna the happier I (and my neighbors!) would be

Here's my TV Fool reports:

10 feet:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...0b86c8b1dbbcb6

25 feet:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...0b8619e9541343

40 feet:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...0b862f62a42cba

I took a look at the reports and found that most of the stations are ~072 degrees away from me. Here's a picture of the roof of my house facing approximately 072 degrees.

http://i.imgur.com/2VaJm.jpg

Will the tree & neighbors house be an issue? I don't want to put this antenna on a huge mast - 5 foot maximum. Otherwise how about an attic mount towards the front of the house where the neighbors house isn't much of an issue?

Any advice would help. Thanks!

[Electron]

This recommendation is based on the tvfool radar report for 01-12-2012. Of the Current Plus Pending Applications Included for Digital Only Channels. If your house is wood frame with wood or vinyl siding. A Simple Indoor NON AMPLIFIED antenna such as a , Channel Master CM4010 or Terk HDTVi indoor antenna aimed at about 78 degree magnetic compass , will receive most but not all of the digital tv stations/channels in the green and yellow zones of the tvfool radar report. Here is how to aim indoor antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. Here are places to buy indoor tv antennas , http://www.channelmasterstore.com , http://www.solidsignal.com. If however the house is , concrete , concrete blocks , cinder blocks , bricks from ground to roof , big rocks for walls , metal siding , metal backed insulation , metal roof , solar panels , close big thick dense trees , then reception will be reduced or blocked. Also the indoor antenna needs elbow room , do not stick the antenna behind a entertainment center or behind a couch or in a closet or etc. , it is best to get the indoor antenna up high in the clear in the room for better reception. The rods of the indoor antenna will be adj. to a low V <- lower then this example.

[turningfinal]

Great! Thanks for the recommendation. I placed an order for the Terk HDTVi. I'll get it on Wednesday and let you know how it works out.

[Electron]

For reception of All the digital tv channels in the , green , yellow , zones , of the tvfool radar report of the Current Plus Pending Applications for 03-12-2012. Install a Winegard HD7080P antenna Above The Roof aimed at about 78 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim outdoor above the roof type antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing.html. here are some Strong And Sturdy antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com. Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com. New RG-6 coax will go from the antenna to the place to connect with the houses coax wiring.

[Electron]

How many tv's are/will be connected??

[turningfinal]

2 TVs. A run from the roof of about 25-30 feet. Signal would be split and then additional runs of 20-25 feet to the televisions.

[Electron]

Outdoor Tv Antennas are not bad. Outdoor Roof Top Tv Antennas are , Pretty , Handsome , Dashing , Impressive , Wonderful , Exciting , Loving , Dependable , Responsible , and will put $ 100.00 or more in your pocket each month , thats $1200.00 a year when you cancel cable and satellite. You will be climbing on to the roof to admire and kiss your roof top Tv Antenna. The neighbors will be astounded amazed and will be lining up to get a Tv Antenna on their roof and $1200.00 in their pockets.

[Electron]

The HD7080P antenna will supply signal to two tv's using a simple common 2 way splitter. A super wiz bang gold plated high dollar splitter is not needed. If you have one or will like to buy one thats Ok , the wiz bang splitter will also work.

[Electron]

If you have never looked at a Digital Broadcast Tv Picture or heard the high quality sound of Digital Broadcast Television then you are in for a wonderful suprize. The Tv Must Scan for the Digital Broadcast Tv Channels. In the tv menu sometimes called the 'Air Channels' or 'Antenna' Channels' because the digital tv broadcasts travel through the air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna. Do Not scan for cable tv channels.

[turningfinal]

Will do. I'm going to give the indoor antenna a shot before I try the Winegard.

Thanks again for all the help!

[Electron]

Very good you are trying the indoor antenna first. It is best to not bury the indoor antenna deep inside the house. Better reception will happen with the indoor antenna close to a outside wall in the direction of tv transmissions , 78 degree magnetic compass , or in the window of a outside wall in the same direction. I ask you to evaluate the reception tv channel for me , the channel is WOCK-CD VHF low band channel 4. The channel number that will likley show on your tv screen is Virtual digital channel 13 , 13.1 , 13.2 , 13.3 , 13.4 . The Real and Actual digital tv channel is VHF low band channel 4 , the sub channels of digital channel 4 are , 4.1 , 4.2 , 4.3 , 4.4 . Here is the programing that is on WOCK , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WOCK-CD . What I will like you to evaluate is , Is the station received with the indoor antenna? , Are there any drop outs or pixilation? If the tv has a signal strength meter , what does the signal strength show , any fluctuations of signal strength? And if I were so lucky and the tv has signal quality meter , what does that show.

[Electron]

If you install the roof top antenna , please give the evaluation just like the evaluation with the indoor antenna. The reason I am asking is because the VHF low band channels of 2 thru 6 are subject to more interference from natural electric signals such as lightning and reflected signals off of hills mountains and trees , and human made electric electronic and building reflections. . Thanks!!

[turningfinal]

The Terk HDTVi will be here tomorrow. I'll post an evaluation as soon as I get it set up and tweaked!

Thanks again for all the help. You're a huge benefit to the forums!

[turningfinal]

Electron,

Just got my Terk antennas. The one in my bedroom is great and picks up all the available UHF channels. The 1 VHF channel (CBS) is not so good but they have applied for a license to broadcast on UHF so i'm not too worried.

I was wondering if it would be okay to extend the cable about 10 feet for my antenna so I can put it next to a window in my living room?

[Electron]

Yes , and the coax can be extended longer then 10 feet , 20 , 30 or longer.