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Old 24-Oct-2012, 12:05 AM   #1
Himey
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Reception help in South Bay Area (Cupertino, Ca)

Looking for some advice, any help would be appreciated!

I just setup an antenna, and am only receiving a few channels consistently and would love for some advice on antenna setup, or potentially a different antenna. I Live in a single story house, large yard, tall trees to the east and west, and would prefer to keep the antenna in the attic. I am not completely averse to climbing up on the roof (though the house is a rental, so don't want to put holes in the roof, potential to chimney mount if needed).

Here is my current setup:

I have a Wineguard FV-30BB ~14 Feet above ground, in attic, roughly aimed NW, roof is plywood and asphalt tiles. Between it and my TV is
~40 Feet of RG6, 1 Splitter Going to Tivo HD and split to Samsung Tv.

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Here are the channels I receive regularly:
Real / Callsign / Network
36 / KICU / ind
49 / KSTS / TEL
27 / KTSF / ind
41 / KKPX / ION
7(35?) / KGO / ABC
12 / KNTV / NBC
50 / KQEH / PBS
42 / KAXT / IND

I sometimes get these channels, and would like to get them clearly (they scan, and show up occasionally):
Real / Callsign / Network
45 / KBCW / CW
38 / KRON / Myn
44 / KTVU / FOX

I would also like to pull in these networks, which I currently do not get:
Real / Callsign / Network
19 / KOFY / Ind
43 / KCSM / PBS
29 / KPIX / CBS
9 / KQED / PBS



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Thanks again for any advice.
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Old 24-Oct-2012, 1:08 AM   #2
GroundUrMast
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My first suggestion would be, test the FV30 outside. If the reception improves significantly, as I suspect it will, you'll have a much better idea of well any antenna will perform in the attic. Some attics are satisfactory reception sites but many are challenging.

To test, simply get a section of coax long enough to run from the chimney area down through a door or window to a single TV.

If I was in the same situation I would lean toward an outdoor mounted Winegard HD7000R. I would split the aim between the NW & NE groups.
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Old 24-Oct-2012, 2:18 AM   #3
teleview
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A Simple reception situation.

Install a Winegard HD7000R antenna above the roof , aimed at about 345 degree magnetic direction.

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

Here are some antenna mounts that do not put holes in the roof , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html.

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

Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com.

For 1 Tv connected use No splitter. No antenna amplifier.

For 2 connections use a common simple 2 way splitter. No antenna amplifier.

For 3 connections use a common simple 3 way splitter. No antenna amplifier.

For 4 connections use a common simple splitter. No antenna amplifier.

As always , trees and tree leaves do a real fine job of , reflecting (multipath) , reducing or blocking Tv reception and so do buildings and other obstructions.

It is best to install a antenna at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind in the directions of reception.

The Tv/s Must Channel Scan for the Broadcast Tv Channels , sometimes 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.

DO NOT channel scan for cable tv channels.

Last edited by teleview; 26-Oct-2012 at 3:13 PM.
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Old 25-Oct-2012, 4:26 AM   #4
Himey
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Posts: 2
Moved it to the roof

And now the only channel I can not get cleanly that I would like to get is:

29/ 5.1 / KPIX / CBS

It is just a dirty quick run and install on the roof, attached to the chimney, aimed NW. It does seem that the Tivo HD is able to pull a couple of channels that the Samsung TV doesn't.

When someone else is around I am going to attempt to aim it more accurately and see if it comes in cleaner. In the meantime I am going to pull the splitter out of the equation, would reducing the length of the RG6 by 10ft or so help in any significant way?

Thanks for the adivce.
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Old 25-Oct-2012, 9:26 AM   #5
GroundUrMast
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10' of RG-6 will have about 0.5 dB loss. That's not enough to make much if any difference.

The signal from KPIX should be very strong in terms of power level. If you're still having trouble with it after you optimize aiming, you'll need to consider the possibility of multipath. A more directional antenna would be the logical tool in that case. The HD7000R is not extremely directional, but it's certainly more directional than the FV-30.
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