Combining 2 DB8 antennas

[Ken]

Please give me a suggestion for an antenna for my area. I have been considering the HD Stacker and the Winegard HD 9032. I have a Winegard Chromstar 2000 Preamplifier to compliment it. Any advice appreciated. My location is a rather frinze area.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...67d9753c139a90
Thanks.

[GroundUrMast]

The signal from WCYB calls for an all channel antenna design. Few television markets have stations on the low VHF channels, in large part due to a bit more noise and interference in that frequency range. The signal from WCYB is strong enough at your location to expect little or no trouble with reliable reception.

The HD Stacker does not have elements tuned for reception of real channels 2 through 6.

The HD9032 is a UHF only design.

I'd recommend a Winegard HD7082 aimed at 45° compass.

Which model preamp do you have? Chromstar 2000 is the name of a series of preamps, some of which may be less than ideal for your application.

A PBS signal comes from the NW so a rotator or second antenna may be needed. How many sets will you connect to this antenna system? The answer to this question may drive the choice between a rotator or an alternate suggestion.

[Electron]

The FCC web site is showing that only digital channel 5 is transmitting , and not , 21 , 28 or 29 , http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=2455. The antennas you have suggested do not receive the low band tv channels. Install a All Channel antenna that receives VHF Low channels 2 thru 6 , VHF High channels 7 thru 13 and UHF channels 14 thru 69. Install a Winegard HD7082P antenna aimed at about 35 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/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

[Electron]

An important question for your location is , how many tv's are/will be connected?? The PBS stations are off to the side of the HD7082P antenna and are weak signal strength and will most likley not be received. So a second antenna or a rotor will need to be installed. How many tv's are/will be connected??

[Ken]

There will be a total of 4 TV's connected. being new at this, some of the terminology will be difficult at first. Thanks for your help.

The Winegard Preamp is model AP-8275.

If the HD stacker and the HD 9032 will not work. What is your suggestion? At the present time, I am using a small cheap Lava digital preamplified antenna that does a good job with the local channels, but will not grab the PBS stations. Prior to Digital, I received channel 41 (old2) PBS and also 13 from Asheville and old channel 8 from Charlotte.

[Electron]

You have 4 tv's to connect. A rotor that turns the antenna to receive tv stations that are not in the same direction is Ok for one tv , however for 4 tv's a rotor is not good because there Will Be disagreement about where the antenna is pointed. I recommend a separate antenna with no rotor , a http://www.antennasdirect.com , DB4e antenna connected to the AP8275 preamp , aimed at about 311 degree magnetic compass for reception of the 2 PBS stations to the west. The DB4e/AP8275 and the HD7082P antenna with a Channel Master CM3414 , 4 way distribution amplifier , Will Be 2 Separate Systems. With Separate coax wiring all the way to the 4 locations of the tv's. The 2 separate systems with separate coax will go to a remote control A/B switch that is located at each tv and the output of the A/B switch will be connected to the tv at each tv location. The A/B switch is a http://www.radioshack.com , #15-1968.

[Electron]

Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.channelmasterstore.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.3starinc.com.

[Ken]

Thanks Electron. I haven't had any experience with the DB4e, but what you are saying makes sense and it sounds as if it would be stronger for the west PBS stations over the HD7082. So far your advice is a go. There are 4 TV's, but only one would be on, but I understnd that I would still have to turn a rotor before going to the other room. I like the ideal of the DB4e as it seems to be stronger than the HD7082 with the AP8275.

[Electron]

The wording of your response has me thinking that you do not understand. This is 2 separate antenna systems. The HD7082P aimed at 35 degree magnetic compass with the CM3414 distribution amp. is one system. . The DB4e UHF antenna with the AP8275 preamp. aimed at 311 degree magnetic compass is a second separate system. The 2 systems are not connected together on to one coax. No antenna rotor is used at all with either antenna.

[Ken]

Right. That was the way I understood it and using the Cm3414 with the hd7082 on a separate coax. Thanks.

[Ken]

Is there any way to run the two antenna systems into a diplexer and then one cable to the TV? How can I check signal strength?

[GroundUrMast]

Originally Posted by Ken

Is there any way to run the two antenna systems into a diplexer and then one cable to the TV? How can I check signal strength?

The AC7 or CMN7 combiner products from www.tinlee.com are possible solutions. You'll need to contact the vendor directly re. pricing and availability.

[Ken]

I'm new at this and it is an exciting challenge. I got to thinking about Electron's reply that I would have to use two different systems with two lines using an A/B switch. Would a combiner work with the UHF antenna from the NW connected to the UHF terminal of the combiner and then I would be connecting the other antenna cable to the VHFterminal that has to carry VHF and UHF signals. Will it work?

[Ken]

I have one DB8 antenna pointed around 310 degrees using a winegard 8275 preamp and another DB8 pointed around 40 degrees also using another Winegard 8275 preamp. At the present, I am using an A/B switch. Is it possible to take these two leads from their preamps and feed into a combiner and then a single in line to the TV? I was afraid to try this in danger of damaging a preamp if that is possible. Any suggestions appreciated. By the way the DB8 brings in the VHF channel WCYB. These antenn's are supplying signals to 3 TV's. Thanks for your advice.

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[GroundUrMast]

There should be no cause for harm to the preamps.

The question is, will the signals from each source combine positively or negatively. Typically, you'll get both, that is, some signals will improve at the TV and others may be made worse.

A 2-way splitter/combiner is cheap... I expect the cost of that part is all you're risking.

[Dave Loudin]

The normal answer is: no you should not combine the two feeds. It is not a matter of damaging anything. It is, instead, a matter of net loss of signal strength in the combined feed.

What do you receive with the 310 degree antenna?

[Ken]

Thanks. I'll give it a try. I was afraid of damaging the preamp. The two antenna's are mounted on the same mast. I thought once about disconnecting one preamp and run a 300 ohm twin line from one antenna to the other, but I figured it would lose signal strenght then.

[Ken]

Dave I receive 6 channels 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 47.1, 47.2, 47.3.
which is 32 & 41.

[Dave Loudin]

Ok, that makes sense. I was looking at some simplification strategies, but I see how they wouldn't work.

[Electron]

So is WCYB channel 5 NBC bring received with the UHF antenna. I do not recommend combining the two DB8 UHF antennas antennas on to one coax. the two antennas will cross talk and some channels will be better and some channels will be worse , over all it will be worse but go ahead and try it any way.