Antenna Decision

[sking]

Here is my TV Fool Analysis:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1dda0c0c4a4939

I am primarily interested in the UHF and VHF (Channels 7- 69) stations to my south.I am considering an attic mount using one of the following:

Antennas Direct C2-V-CJM ClearStream 2-V
or
AntennaCraft HBU33

Pointed to 200 magnetic. And a pre-amp like the Winegard ANWI8700. I have approximately a 100 foot run from the attic to the cable distribution point in the basement and then split out to 5 TV’s.
It seems that boom type antennas outperform panel type but a panel type would be easier to install and aim in the attic. If I added a second antenna pointed to 350 magnetic could they both be connected to the same preamp.

Because of the channel combinations of the Tv stations at your location , 2 antennas aimed different directions , connected on to one coax will not work well for your reception situation.

_________________________________________________________

For reception of the , south west , south , group of Digital Broadcast Tv stations channels at the front of the antenna.

And some of the north group of Digital Tv stations/channels , through/at the back angle of a antenna will be received.

Above the Peak of the Roof in such a manner that the roof and house are not blocking reception in the directions of , south west , south , north.

Install a Winegard HD7698P antenna aimed at about 214 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

Here are some above the roof antenna mounts.

www.ronard.com/909911.html. Use the 5 foot tripod antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html. Use the #4560 eave antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html. For the correct strap length measure around the chimney.

http://www.ronard.com.

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box or buy from ronard.

Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. .

http://www.solidsignal.com.

http://www.amazon.com.

http://www.winegarddirect.com.

____________________________

Install a Winegard HDA-100 distribution amplifier.
_____________________________

Install a Levition 47690-6 , 6 way splitter.

______________________________________________________

As always , trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , have a negative effect on Tv reception , multi-path/reflections , absorbing , blocking , Broadcast Tv Reception and so do buildings including your own roof and house and other obstructions.

The best practice is to install the HD7698P 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 house.

___________

The Tv's Must Channel Scan for the , OTA=Over The Air , Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels , often named the 'Air Channels' or '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 the 'Air Channels' ~ 'Antenna Channels'.

Scan for channels.

[sking]

Thanks for the advice. Most if not all of the stations to my north are the same networks as the stations to the south so no loss there. It will be interesting to see how many stations from the north I receive from the rear of the antenna.

Yes please return with a report of the Tv stations/channels received to the south-south west and north.

[sking]

I went with an Antennas Direct ClearStream C2-V UHF/VHF antenna mounted on the roof aimed to approximately 214 magnetic and a Winegard AP8275 preamp with a 80 foot run of RG-6 coax to a distribution amp in the basement.

I am getting all the channels to my south except one, channel 45 (virtual 56.1) the odd thing is I get a perfect signal on channel 50 (virtual 16.1, 16.2). I am assuming this is because I actually receiving channel 50 via channel 14 call sign W14CO-D the WNEP translator.

Is there any hope of picking up 50? I do get a good signal on channel 41 (virtual 44.1, 44.2, 44.3) and as near as I can tell they are transmitting from the same tower.

Here is my TvFool report:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1dda0c0c4a4939

Thanks for the help I have learned a lot from reading through the posts.

What is the make and model number of the distribution amplifier??

Are any splitters being used??

2 way splitters??

3 way splitters??

4 way splitters??

?? way splitters ??

[ADTech]

Your signal path profile indicates you have a very substantial hill in your way (or you are in a valley). Such situations result in diffracted signals that will be quite non-uniform, even for different channel signals from the same antenna or tower.

Therefore, you're probably going to need to experiment with the antenna's mounting location to see if you can find a spot where the signals all happen to coincide.

I'd probably also loose that particular pre-amp. You have full-power stations dead ahead at only 5 miles and you're probably either getting IMD splattering into certain channels or are getting spectral regrowth into others.

[sking]

I'll experiment with different locations.

I am recieving the following real channels:
7, 11, 13, 24, 31, 32, 41, 43, 50

What pre amp would you recommend? I have a very good picture (better than cable!) on all of the stations listed above except real channel 45 which I get no signal at all. I am also picking up real channel 7 to my north which i assume is because it is VHF. This particular antenna seem to be bidirectional in the VHF range.

I was very surprised that I am picking up real channel 24 which is the analog version of 45. The picture quality is very poor is there any way to improve the signal. I didn't think digital tuners would even pick up a analog signal.

I used the distribution amp installed by the cable company it has four outputs one of which feeds to a 2 way splitter. Which distribution amp would you recommend?

Even if I can't pick up that one particular station given the amount of money I am saving monthly I am a very happy camper. I should have done this years ago.

Thanks for all the help.

Recommend Disconnect and Remove All parts of the preamplifier , remove the preamplifier , remove the preamplifier power injector , remove the preamplifier power supply.

2 amplifiers in the system is 2 , 2 many amplifiers.

Over amplified strong signals with a amplifier that will not tolerate strong signals.

Will overload the amplifier and produce all manner of reception problems on different channels even the weak signals.

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________


I recommended the HD7698P antenna that has more gain for the weak Tv signals.

__________________________________________

The Cold Hard Truth is ,

Antenna Gain Is More Important then amplifier gain.

__________________________________________

And use the HDA-100 distribution amplifier that has very high tolerance for strong signals without overloading.

And the 6 way splitter.

With coax going out to each Tv location from the 6 way splitter.

[sking]

I wanted to post a follow up. I was receiving all the channels I wanted except one(real channel 45). I didn’t change anything and did a double rescan http://www.dtv.gov/rescan.html. And I now get the channel.

I left the preamp and distribution amp in place and I’m not getting any distortion. Between the run from the roof to the basement and then back out to all the TV’s there is at least 200 feet of coax.

Now instead of having 500 channels and nothing on I have 16 channels and nothing on. I’m very pleased I will be saving over $100.00 a month.