Greetings again,
Some say reuse the satellite people's left over equipment. I find it can be a headache. I suggest doing a clean installation of coax for this system. That way you know what you have. I've seen too many people at wits end because everything should work and it doesn't - and they relied on leftover satellite system wiring.
For your reception, Milwaukee is the easier of the two. A portion of Chicago signals are doable and as such I will be recommending a two separate antenna systems with three different antennas but let me address Milwaukee first.
For Milwaukee, since VHF signals aren't a concern, Milwaukee can be a one antenna solution. I would purchase an
Antennas Direct DB8e (
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...u=817848011620) aimed at magnetic 28.
Further, I would purchase an
RCA TVPRAMP1R preamp.
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...catvpramp1r%29
Mounting instructions will follow Chicago recommendations.
For Chicago, I would purchase a second RCA preamp and a second DB8e. Orientate second DB8e towards magnetic heading 143. Chicago has a high-VHF (real channels 7 - 13) to consider in CBS WBBM. Signal strength is very weak. With an
Antennacraft Y10-7-13 http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...u=716079000994 will be your only chance to receive this signal.
Mounting on 10 foot mast above the roof, I would make the top DB8e Chicago. Make sure both panels are aimed in unison to magnetic 143. Run 3 to 6 foot jumper to RCA Preamp. Install second Chicago antenna in the Y10-7-13, mount 3' below top antenna. Also aim to magnetic 143. Make sure to input DB8e coax into "UHF combined" coax input while putting Y10-7-13 coax into VHF input. Check for switch under the rubber gasket by the input. You'll want it in "separate" mode. Run drop of coax indoors.
For second DB8e on mast (Milwaukee), mount 3 foot below the Y10-7-13. Run another 3 to 6 foot jumper of coax to second RCA preamp. Connect to UHF combined input. Make sure switch under rubber gasket is in "combined" mode. Run coax down into home.
So far, we have two DB8e's and a Y10-7-13. One setup pointed at magnetic 28 and one 143 respectively with each antenna 2 1/2 to 3 foot apart on the mast. We have both antenna systems feeding separate preamps and running from the preamps down into the house on separate coaxes. These antenna systems are completely independent of one another.
In the home, at the end of your coax drops that come from your preamps, insert power inserter to each coax end. This is how each preamp on the mast gets their power. Connect end of power inserter to A/B Switch.
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...-%28abslide%29. This is where you will switch between antenna systems. You will have Milwaukee or Chicago, but you won't have both at the same time. You have now combined down to a single coax.
Run coax jumper from A/B switch to 2-way signal splitter.
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...1000-2ap-gx%29
Run additional lengths of coax to each TV you wish to feed.
Now.... that's how the end set up would be.
Before, you go installing the A/B switch and the splitter, test both the single drops of coax coming off preamp on the mast into one TV. You would be taking the power inserter that is connected to the Chicago coax for example and hooking the unconnected end of the power inserter directly into your TV. Do signal scan. See if Chicago shows up. If satisfied, then move on Milwaukee coax.
Repeat hookup processs. Do a new scan. I would expect Chicago signals to disappear and Milwaukee to appear. If satisfied move to next step.
Connect both ends of coax from the preamps with the power inserters on them to the A/B Switch and then connect single coax output to a jumper to the 2-way eagle aspen splitter. Connect first split run of coax to one TV testing Milwaukee. Since you did your last scan for Milwaukee TV no rescan is needed. If reception is fine, connect second coax to 2 way splitter. After installing second run to second TV, do scan. Ideally, Milwaukee channels will show up.
If Milwaukee is good on both, on A/B switch, switchover to Chicago. Rerun scan on both TVs check reception Chicago. If satisfied this part is done.
You now have to flip a switch to toggle between Milwaukee and Chicago signals. You should be able to like, say if you were scanned for Milwaukee, you flip to Chicago, you should be able to enter 19 on your remote and you should see WGN. If you have a reciever like my sharp and my samsung, even if you didn't scan, there are options to manually add signals.
There is also an option if you don't want to play the tuner and A/B switch game, you can buy two separate HD component tuners and connect them via HDMI to your TVs. This would eliminate switching between antennas. You would just be changing sources. For example, the internal TV tuner would be Milwaukee and the external tuner would be Chicago. If this option has interested, we can have more discourse about it.
It's all how you want to do it.
Mounting Supplies:
http://www.solidsignal.com/cview.asp...ing%20Supplies
Replacement coax:
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...nal-connectors
This is a robust system that gives you the best chance at Chicago and Milwaukee. Just make sure before you perminently install you test locations on your roof for reception. Don't assume just because it is "high" reception is guaranteed. There have been cases of reliable reception being found only by moving a few inches one way or another.
The end result here with this system, I would anticipate the vast majority of Milwaukee signals. For Chicago, you should be able to go down to NBC WMAQ if all things are equal. Beyond that, as signals get weaker for example like CBS WBBM you might see them, but they may have intermittent drop outs. So you may decide the Y10-7-13 isn't worth it and settle for just what can get from Chicago. You just have to get something in the air.
Best of luck.
