Junior Member

mizzou · 25-Sep-2010, 10:13 PM

I am an amateur at posting threads, and also new at selecting a good antenna for my home. I see a lot of good information, but cannot seem to find a website that matches what my readout is for reception to an appropriate set of antennas. Maybe there is not such a thing.

My antenna height is nominal at 25 ft. I would mount against my chimney, but have read that smoke from chimney could affect reception. I do burn wood for heat. There are trees around my house, yet the South, SE and SW directions are not as prominent to tree growth. I am open to placing the antenna in the attic.

I would appreciate some guidance and suggestions. Here is my readout.

Thanks much,

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...a362b13f8c00b2

baud · 26-Sep-2010, 12:08 PM

You should do well with just about any channel 7 to 69 antenna without an amp.
The problem with wood smoke is it will corrode the metal parts of the antenna.

I prefer a wall mount.

mizzou · 26-Sep-2010, 12:24 PM

Thank you baud,

A wall mount to stay clear of the wood smoke sounds good. This method will help with high winds, which occur in-frequently, but do occur. Will look for an antenna to cover channels 7-69.

BTW, When I posted, I thought the "Title" was to be the given title (rank). I now see what is to be placed in the "title" for the post, and changed it.

Appreciate it,

mizzou

baud · 26-Sep-2010, 12:31 PM

Your report indicates you might want a rotor or what i prefer is two antennas with separate coax and an ab switch.

mizzou · 26-Sep-2010, 12:53 PM

baud, I have read/thought of a rotor as well. If I go that route, will I be able to do a wall mount? I guess if the wall mount is cantilevered out far enough I could, the range of motion ought not to be that wide a swing. Or, like you suggest I can mount two antennas to pick up the range of signals/antennas. Will look at wall mounts online this afternoon. Thank you, mizzou

baud · 26-Sep-2010, 1:11 PM

The antenna needs to clear the roof by at least 5 Ft for a number of reasons.

Not knowing what your site looks like and how it is located from the transmitters it's hard to give good advise.

Take a look around for close neighbors that have an antenna and see what there using and post a picture of the roof area your thinking mounting to, it should be on the side of your house facing the transmiters.

ADTech · 26-Sep-2010, 3:15 PM

You need a small high-VHF antenna pointed towards Jeff City for 8 & 13 (Channel 25 is Larry's Rice's religious channel... and is not considered unless you really want it) and a small UHF antenna pointed south west for your ABC, PBS, and fox stations. With separates, there is no need to screw with a rotor unless you want 25.1.

Our C5, pointed southeast, would likely work as a single-antenna solution. Worst case, add a 42XG via a UHF/VHF combiner to fill out your reception needs.

Call us for further advice.

Tigerbangs · 26-Sep-2010, 3:28 PM

Since your VHF stations lie in one direction, and your UHF stations lie in another direction, you can use a simple two-antenna installation without a rotator to accomplish what you need. The C5 is small, but very expensive for what it gives you: you can accomplish the same thing with a Winegard YA-6713 for about half the money for your VHF channels. Aim that antenna at roughly 130 degrees, and you can then use an AntennasDirect XG-42 aimed at 220 degrees to get ABC, FOX and PBS. You can also side mount, or eave mount this combination, and combine the signals from the 2 antennas using a Pico-Macom UVSJ antenna joiner, which will allow you to run one cable from the roof. When mounting the two antennas, mount the UHF antenna on top, separated by 4' from the VHF antenna mounted on the same mast. This antenna system will make sure that you see FOX, which is a low-power channel in your area.

mizzou · 1-Oct-2010, 11:07 PM

I am attaching links to photos of the house where we would mount antenna(s). The photos' views are incorporated into the photo name. We can mount a single or a UHF and a VHF antenna combo, whichever seems to be the best for reception. The trees to the south are approximately 100' away from house, and rise about 30-40' above the house ridge cap. Ridge cap runs directly N and S. Chimney is on south side of house for any orientation on photos. Trees to the west, north, and east are within 25' of house.

Links:

Look forward to your expanded inputs. Thanks much! GO MIZZOU

John Candle · 2-Oct-2010, 6:31 AM

Pictures very good. What looks like in the pictures , trees all around the house , but beyond that is not so many trees with more open space. Here is a suggestion , put a antenna pole beyond the the trees to the south , http://www.channelmasterstore.com/Antenna_Mast_s/42.htm . Before doing all that I recommed putting a tv antenna on top of the chimney , put blocks or books on top of the chimney so as to hold the antenna up off of the chimney metal cover so as to see what can be received through the trees. Run the coax in to the house through the front or back door and connect to the tv.

baud · 2-Oct-2010, 11:40 AM

Tigerbangs advise is a very good way to keep cost down and get good results without the hassle of a rotor or switch.

The top of your chimney doesn't allow much space between the mount straps so i would run the mast all the way to the ground for best support and easy grounding.

I wouldn't worry about the trees too much, your signals are strong and the XG-42 YA-6713 should work well.

You could also use wall brackets instead which would allow you to keep clear of the wood smoke.

mizzou · 2-Oct-2010, 2:42 PM

Thanks guys, I have some work to do! Yea, this is what I like most. I appreciate the idea of seeing how the signal might be, by setting an antenna up before mounting. I am also thinking of placing the pole/post to the surface. Checking out a signal will require buying an antenna or two. Is there a source that allows returning product if the purchased items do not work (i.e. YA-6713 or C5 & XG-42)? Is buying direct to Channel Master, Winegard, etc the way?
Thank you again, mizzou

Tigerbangs · 2-Oct-2010, 2:53 PM

if you follow the advice that I gave you, and install it as I recommended, you aren't going to have to screw around with returning antennas: it will work: if you try a single antenna solution it WON'T work. Most people find that Solidsignal.com has the equipment that you need and has very competitive prices. You shouldn't use a chimney mount if you burn wood, but an eave mount or a tripod mount on the roof will work well for you. This isn't all that hard: don't make it harder than it actually is. Here is a good installation guide to help you:

http://manuals.solidsignal.com/AntInstallGuide.pdf