I think I'm out of luck

dadkind · 1-Jan-2012, 8:51 PM

Here's my link:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...4033a69b829b0d

I think I'm out of luck. Any hope here?

Thanks!

GroundUrMast · 1-Jan-2012, 9:17 PM

I won't settle for 'out of luck' but 'challenging'... yes.

Can you consider installation of a tower? If so, can you post another TV Fool report based on the higher mounting elevation?

Any reliable reception is going to require the largest antenna(s) available, combined with mounting at an elevation that will give a view unobstructed by trees or buildings.

dadkind · 1-Jan-2012, 11:05 PM

My house sits on a downward sloping hillside facing SSE. The peak of my house is about 25' which is what I ran for the report.

Purely for aesthetics, I probably would not consider installing anything taller than an antenna at slightly above the height of the roof.

So... based on the report, how likely am I to receive the stronger stations listed in the report if I use an antenna like the ones sold at Radio Shack (which boasts a range of 100 miles (over flat terrain)? http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=3767303 (or something along these lines).

Thanks for your help thus far!!

Electron · 2-Jan-2012, 12:19 AM

The default antenna height of the report is 10 feet. Post a report for 25 feet.

Electron · 2-Jan-2012, 5:04 AM

For reception of , NBC , CBS , ABC , PBS , FOX , The CW , ION , MyNetwork. Install a Winegard HD7084P antenna above the roof at about 20 to 25 feet high above the ground , aimed at 194 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. For one or two tv's connected use a Winegard AP8700 preamp. For 3 or 4 tv's connected use a Winegard AP8275 preamp. . . Here are some roof mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html. Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com. Use new RG-6 cable on the outside.

Electron · 2-Jan-2012, 6:33 AM

Also received will be , Telemundo , Telefutura , Univision , Tr3's , religion and home shopping channels.

dadkind · 2-Jan-2012, 1:46 PM

Electron: Here is a link to the 25' report. Doesn't seem much different to me (but that's why I'm asking! haha )

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...403301a79b417a

I'll start looking into the antenna you mentioned.

Thanks for all the help!

Electron · 2-Jan-2012, 2:46 PM

With the antenna at about 25 feet there is a slight improvement on some channels. Also having the antenna up high helps get it in the clear , so is not affected by buildings and trees. You like the word luck , so you are - in luck.

Dave Loudin · 2-Jan-2012, 8:26 PM

Electron has recommended a single antenna that has great performance. However, you will need all the antenna gain possible to ensure reliable reception. Your Noise Margins are close to 0 or negative, meaning there is just enough signal in the air or not quite enough for successful reception. In addition, the signal paths are all 1- and 2-edge paths, adding variability to the received signal.

I recommend the combination of the Antennas Direct 91-XG and Antennacraft Y10-7-13 for best results. This will sacrifice reception of the low-power station on channel 3.

dadkind · 11-Jan-2012, 8:23 PM

Hello All,
A few days (weeks?) ago, you helped me determine that I should be able to get reception at my new house. Some initial tests show that this is true.

By "initial tests" I mean that I got a GE Futura Indoor/Outdoor antenna to confirm that the strongest signals were available and they were. In fact, with the futura, I was able to get most of the signals that I hoped to receive.
But, it didn't get ALL the signals (no ABC network) and it stopped working altogether last night. So I've decided to install a normal antenna.

I wanted to use the Dish Network bracket that is on the corner of my roof and just mount the antenna to that. However, that bracket isn't very tall and it is located right next to where the utility power attaches to my house.

How much room do I need to leave between an antenna and the utility drops into my house?

Do I need to move to another corner of the house altogether?

Would some pics help?

Thanks,
-tomas

GroundUrMast · 12-Jan-2012, 7:07 AM

A J-pole commonly used as a small satellite dish mount provides inadequate support for antennas such as those recommended in previous posts. A strong wind would put you at risk of damage to your roof and antenna system. Even those J-poles with bracing are at best, marginal. The typical J-pole is also too short to allow reasonable clearance from many sloped roofs, that is, many large antennas would contact the roof as it slopes upward.

The Ronard brand products suggested by Electron are more appropriate for supporting large antennas. 3starinc.com and solidsignal.com offer similar products also.

I would recommend that you consider the warnings provided by the antenna manufactures. For example, Winegard's Instruction sheet shipped with the HD7084P antenna includes the warning,

Quote:

WARNING
INSTALLATION OF THIS ANTENNA NEAR POWER LINES IS DANGEROUS.
FOR YOUR SAFETY, FOLLOW THE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.

I would make an effort to mount the antenna in a location and in such a way that if it fell during a storm, it would be unable to land on or near any utility lines.