Port Ludlow antenna

M rust · 6-Mar-2012, 3:36 AM

Just bought a DB8 antenna with an amplifier to try for Seattle area stations about 25 miles away. The antenna is temporarily mounted about 10 feet off the ground and pointing SE which is approximately the right direction. There are hills between me and the transmitter, about 500feet high. I am unable to pick up any of the channels I would like ( abc, NBC, CBS ). Any suggestions? Should the antenna be higher? Also, would it help if the antenna was tilted up so it "looks up"?
TV Fool report link. Http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...0b869ca34eb7b0

Thanks, MR

Electron · 6-Mar-2012, 7:29 AM

Please make a second tvfool radar report with the antenna at 25 feet height. Also how many Tv's are/will be connected??

GroundUrMast · 6-Mar-2012, 4:20 PM

You're situation will improve if you can mount higher. Can you consider between 35' & 50'? The DB-8 should be enough to give you access to KING, KOMO and KIRO.

However, the UHF only design of the DB-8 would not make it my first choice in the Puget Sound area. Starting from scratch, I would consider a Winegard HD7698P... with a good UHF antenna already in hand, an Antennacraft Y10713 or Winegard YA1713 would add several other stations. (Real channels 9, 11 & 13)

What amplifier are you using?

M rust · 7-Mar-2012, 1:43 AM

Here is the link to the 25' test results.
http://Www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...d0b86fa0dc014d

Higher is not possible, we can only get 25' if installed in our attic. While we understand that by law we can install an antenna we would rather not fight with our neighbors and HOA.

We can install as big as possible in our attic. There will be just two tv's but the whole house is wired with coax cable. It is a two year old house.
Thanks, Mike

M rust · 7-Mar-2012, 2:18 AM

Here is some more information on my set-up. the antenna currently set up on the south side of the house about 12 feet up with a radio shack 15-259 high gain amplifier. It connects to the wiring that was built into the house. If the DB8 is not a good choice, I am willing to start over with something else. I would like to mount ithe antenna in the attic, but I am concerned about how much reception I would lose. The roof is asphalt composition over osb sheathing. There is no insulation at the sheathing, it is on top of the sheet rock ceiling.

Electron · 7-Mar-2012, 3:30 AM

The 25 foot post is not there. Always check to see if information is actually there.

M rust · 7-Mar-2012, 4:49 AM

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...0b867884470b2d

I think I have it now, sorry I was trying to use my Ipad which isn't always the best for cut and paste. I tested this link.
Mike

Electron · 7-Mar-2012, 5:42 AM

Install a Winegard HD7698P antenna with a Antennas Direct CPA-19 preamp , the preamp unit and the power supply and the antenna all in the attic , aim the antenna at about 153 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/pointing/pointing.html. Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.antennasdirect.com , http://www.ramelectronics.net

M rust · 8-Mar-2012, 2:16 AM

Electron, Thanks for the reply. I will check out the winegard HD7698P antenna. Will the Radio Shack amplifier I have work, or should I spring for the new one? The amplifier's specs are:

Frequency: 54-806MHz
FM trap: >20dB @100MHz
Gain: 15dB at outdoor amplifier, up to 10dB at indoor amplifier (adjustable)

Thanks again for the help. I admit that I know nothing about antennas, so help from an expert is greatly appreciated.

MR

MisterMe · 8-Mar-2012, 5:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M rust

Electron, Thanks for the reply. I will check out the winegard HD7698P antenna. Will the Radio Shack amplifier I have work, or should I spring for the new one? ...

Although you did not specify your model Radio Shack amplifier, Electron is conversant with Radio Shack's product line. He did not recommend it. He recommended the CPA-19 because it is less likely to saturate when strong signals are present.

GroundUrMast · 8-Mar-2012, 6:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M rust

Electron, Thanks for the reply. I will check out the winegard HD7698P antenna. Will the Radio Shack amplifier I have work, or should I spring for the new one? The amplifier's specs are:

Frequency: 54-806MHz
FM trap: >20dB @100MHz
Gain: 15dB at outdoor amplifier, up to 10dB at indoor amplifier (adjustable)

Thanks again for the help. I admit that I know nothing about antennas, so help from an expert is greatly appreciated.

MR

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterMe

Although you did not specify your model Radio Shack amplifier, Electron is conversant with Radio Shack's product line. He did not recommend it. He recommended the CPA-19 because it is less likely to saturate when strong signals are present.

I agree with the recommendation of the CPA-19, it's a superior amplifier. But if the RS amplifier is already in-hand, try it.

Dave Loudin · 8-Mar-2012, 5:25 PM

The issue, normally, with RS preamps is the noise they add to the signal (the noise figure.) Some models have a noise figure as high as 7 dB, and that 7 subtracts from the noise margin predicted by TVFool.

ADTech · 8-Mar-2012, 5:54 PM

I had several RS amps that I had accumulated well before I started here.

I brought them all in last year and tested them after we got some test equipment (tracking generator/spectrum analyzer).

All of them went into the trash....

Haven't tested any of their current lineup, though.

Electron · 9-Mar-2012, 2:00 AM

I agree , radio shack preamps and distribution amps are in fact Trash. With so many other quality amplifiers from , Winegard , Channel Master , Antennas Direct and some others. It is a true crime that radio shack sells such junk.

M rust · 9-Mar-2012, 2:02 AM

Thanks to all the people who replied to my question abqout the radio shack amplifier. I think I will take it back and order the one that was recommended.

Thanks again, Mr

M rust · 25-Mar-2012, 9:48 PM

Okay, I am back again. Still trying to get reception in Port Ludlow, WA. I installed the Winegard 7698 and cpa-19 amplifier in my attic. Unfortunately, with poor results. I have tried it in a couple of different locations and at varying angles from 120 magnetic to 155 magnetic. I get FOX ( ch 13 ) and ch 28 well, but no Seattle stations. The truss system in the attic is like a wooden spider web. Could this be breaking up the reception? Also due to space limitations, I can only get the antenna about 20 ft above the ground. I am considering taking the antenna outside and trying it on the roof to try for better reception. I was hoping not to have to put on the roof because of fussy neighbors. Any suggestions?

MR

PS - the antenna is suspended from the rafters with nylon cord. is this good or bad?

Electron · 25-Mar-2012, 10:14 PM

Here is the ->Federal Law<- that says Yes you can install and use antennas above the roof. This is -> Settled Law <- . Hoas , coven-nuts , cities , counties , states , and any and all other types and kinds of crazies that dislike and hate antennas are over ruled by the Federal Law. This Federal Law has been challenged many times in court and the , hoas , coven-nuts , cities , counties , states , and all other types and kinds of crazies have Lost the challenges . http://www.fcc.gov/guides/over-air-r...n-devices-rule.

GroundUrMast · 25-Mar-2012, 10:19 PM

Wood is far less a problem than metal but it attenuates RF. The 'spider web' arrangement is of little significance. The nylon cord causes virtually no interference. The combination of low mounting height and the attenuation caused by construction materials and wet shingles is more than enough to cause you to loose the Seattle signals.

Mounting outside, in the clear is the next logical step.

Electron · 25-Mar-2012, 10:36 PM

Here are above the roof antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com , buy the ronard mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box or by from ronard. Do not put the antenna in the trees to try and hide it , the trees Will reduce reception. Do not put the antenna down low on roof the reception Will be reduced , Do not hide the antenna behind the house the reception Will be reduced. Do not think up any tricky manuvers with the antenna , reception Will be reduced. Yes Do Mount the antenna away from the trees and other obstructions , antenna receive the best when the antenna has elbow room and nothing is crowding in to upset reception.

Electron · 25-Mar-2012, 10:48 PM

It is best to have the CPA-19 preamp and CPA-19 power injector connected to/in the same coax cable that is connected to the antenna , before any splitters. Some splitters do not pass power and some splitters pass power through only the input and one output. If the CPA-19 preamp is on one side of a splitter and the CPA-19 power inserter is on the other side of the splitter and the power is not being passed through the the splitter then the preamp part of CPA-19 will not be working. The power inserter part of the CPA-19 Is Not A Amplifier , the power inserter supplies power to the preamp part of the CPA-19 , The preamp part is the amplifier.