Free Beer

[BroadwayJoe]

Ok, so not really, but I saw this on an unrelated forum as a title once and it certainly got my attention. LOL

Here is my TV Fool Report
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1dda914fa45935

My neighbor has their antenna mounted to the soffit and aiming through some large trees and it picks up about 12 channels.

I have a clear shot at open sky from my home and feel if I go with a quality antenna and mount it high enough, I could get twice as many channels as my neighbor, and most on this list.

My question is, if I get a multi directional antenna, say an 8 bay DB8 along with mounting the antenna on a tower, 25+ feet, can I really accomplish this?

Will the multi directional work?
How tall do I need to go for mounting?
Will I need a preamp, booster etc?

What about several directional antennas run through some sort of distribution block for a single in feed?

Not sure about my internal set up yet, but I will need to feed 4 TV's. I remodeled about a year ago and I have at least 2 coax drops in every room, all from a smart panel for easy access and wiring.

I have a Logitech Revue with Google TV and am looking at pairing it with a DVR Tuner, or may replace it with a home theater PC. I am semi tech savvy, but am totally green in this area so help and feedback is appreciated.

[elmo]

Hmmm. So no free beer eh?! Well, while I'm here, I'll add that I've never thought of the DB8 as multi directional. Now, Antennas DIrect does have a DB8e that can aim in two diff directions. I think of that configuration as an option for the fringe case, as it's not a perfect solution for different directions due to multi-path. But that's up to the tuner to be able to sort out and hopefully give you what you want.

Having signals all around you, I think you have to figure out what channels you want from what you can reasonably get. Anything with low NM values will be a challenge; anything with an A or C could be an interference issue. That cluster just SE of you should be easy to pick up with any small UHF antenna if you have a clear view. You have some other reception possibilities to the SW obviously. I just don't think a single antenna aimed in between would have a beam width wide enough to get you solid reception. But the DB8e adjusted towards both maybe could work for you there? I'd verify that before ordering. User ADTech probably can tell you if that's an reasonable option.

Since you mentioned an HTPC, you could do a multi-antenna install and get an HD Homerun to aggregate your channels for you, no multi-path included! That takes more planning and spending though. I have two antennas feeding 3 TV's. Two of them only get channels from one antenna and the main TV has an HTPC and it tunes them all through the HDHR. It's not optimal but it works for us pretty well since we like to watch on the big screen most of the time anyway, esp since the HTPC is the DVR.

Here is a 1 antenna recommendation for receiving the Distant Charlotte-Gastonia area Digital Tv stations/channels to the , south west.

And some Local Digital Tv stations/channels to the , north west , north east , south east.

Above the peak of the roof in such a manner that the peak of the roof and house are not blocking reception to the , south west , north west , north east , south east.

Install a Winegard HD9095P UHF antenna aimed at about , 235 degree magnetic compass direction.

Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.
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Install a Winegard HDP-269 preamp.
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For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a , HFS-2D , 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a , HFS-3D , 3 way splitter.

For 4 Tv's connected use a , HFS-4D , 4 way splitter.

Buy the HFS splitters at , http://www.solidsignal.com , or , http://www.hollandelectronics.com.

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Here are some above the roof antenna mounts.

http://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.

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.

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Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. .

http://www.solidsignal.com.

http://www.amazon.com.

http://www.winegarddirect.com.

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As always , trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , have a negative effect , on Digital Broadcast Tv Reception and so does your own roof and house , other buildings and other obstructions.

It is best to install the HD9095P 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.

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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 , 'Air Channels' , 'Antenna Channels'.

Scan for channels.