Report
Due to our budget, my wife and I are dropping cable. We can get most of the specialty programs that we wouldn't get off the air with Hulu or other internet sources so I'm just looking for an antenna that can provide us with very basic coverage for the big 3 networks, PBS, and FOX.
2 story home. No current antenna installed. Based on the report it looks like I'd have to point my antenna through my backyard which would mean there would be 1 large tree in the direction of the broadcast towers. I can mount the antenna on the topmost roof but would prefer to mount it on the roof of my 3 season room which would put it about 15ft above the ground on the side of the house closest to the direction of the broadcast towers (so clear line of site except for that tree). That location also allows for easy access to run cabling to the current junction box where the cable company's wire comes in and is split to the 3 TVs and easy access for power for a preamp if necessary. Of the 3 TVs one is an LCD HDTV and the other 2 are older CRTs that will need converter boxes.
I've look at all the resources online as well as manufactures sites and Amazon reviews but am still having difficulty choosing an antenna and figuring out if I'm going to need a preamp. Recommendations on converter boxes would be welcome too.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. CBS, PBS, and ABC and FOX are all on UHF and it looks as if ABC might be a bit of a stretch and FOX probably a no-go regardless of the antenna. NBC is VHF and also looks like it might be a bit of a stretch.