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-   -   Need help selecting an antenna setup in Rural East Texas (http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=16155)

rabbit73 2-Dec-2016 1:16 AM

Need help selecting an antenna setup in Rural East Texas
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed2010
I've been waiting since the 17th for my account to be activated so I can post but running out of time before I need to buy my equipment. Hopefully you can help via PM or post for others input if you don't mind.

We just built a house in the country so I'll need to get a mast, antenna, etc. The house is ~250 feet off of the road and has 5 oak trees in the front yard and woods behind it.

I generated a report for 10', 20' and 30' heights. I'm not really sure what's available in the way of masts but I'm guessing for 20' I'd use a fence top rail or for 30' I'd need to buy a telescoping mast.

Here are the results:
10’ antenna
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...dfaf31a8f6772f

20'
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...dfaf1b2ef132fe

30'
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...dfaf626f86d22f

One thing I forgot to mention and I don't know if it will create any interference but I'll also be installing a Weboost cell phone booster as well. The house has a radiant barrier in the walls and roof so it will definitely need to be an outside antenna.

You're welcome to post everything except my address to get input from others. I really appreciate your help.

Thanks again.

Ed

I will post your question for help with your reception problem, Ed.

rabbit73 2-Dec-2016 1:23 AM

2 Attachment(s)
Thank you for the additional information about your location. When I look at the satellite photos, I see your location at the end of an access road off the main road.

The satellite image from the tvfool interactive map browser, using Google maps, was done in the winter when the leaves were off the trees. The image from Bing maps, if I have the correct location, shows a lot of trees that might block your signals. You will need to find a location for your antenna that avoids the trees as much as possible.

A high gain UHF antenna aimed at about 14 degrees magnetic and a preamp should work. My only concern is about NBC. If KTAL is too weak, you will need a rotator or a separate antenna, and single channel injector for KETK.

CW is also in a different direction.

Antenna: Antennas Direct DB8e with both panels aimed in same direction, or 91XG, or Solid Signal HDB91X.
Preamp: Antennas Direct Juice or Channel Master 7778.

If the antenna is outside, the coax shield should be grounded with a grounding block that is connected to the house electrical system ground with 10 gauge copper wire for electrical safety and to reject interference. For further compliance with the electrical code (NEC), the mast should also be grounded in a similar manner to drain any buildup of static charge which will tend to discourage a strike, but the system will not survive a direct strike.

http://forum.tvfool.com/attachment.p...9&d=1441917363

rabbit73 2-Dec-2016 2:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed2010
Thanks for your help. Unfortunately I can't open images on the website yet so can't verify the images you posted. The five oaks in the front yard are far enough forward that I should have a path towards the north signals. We had the trees thinned in 2011 including about a dozen where we just built the house and the neighbor to the north just clear cut his land so that may help. Bing maps is before we had the trees thinned. Google maps is a more current image but doesn't show the clear cut to the north of our land. I'll use the admin contact info you provided to see if they will help me get full access.

Ah, yes; I forgot about the image problem.

Ed2010 2-Dec-2016 7:19 PM

1 Attachment(s)
My account was activated today so I can see the images now. :D
Thanks again for posting for me.

Here is a more representative picture of the trees since we had some timber cut. Also, the section of trees in blue have now been clear cut.

I'll take a look at the options you provided and get one of the antennas and preamps on order.

Does any one have the potential to be significantly better then the other?

If we can pull in several channels we'll be happy.

Does anyone know if our Weboost cellular signal booster will have any negative effect on the tv signal? Is it ok to mount on the same mast?

Also, was there much improvement in going from 20' to 30' height? I'm guessing that will be somewhat dependent on the trees in the direction of the signal.

ADTech 2-Dec-2016 7:58 PM

Quote:

Does anyone know if our Weboost cellular signal booster will have any negative effect on the tv signal? Is it ok to mount on the same mast?
I had a similar cellular system with its antenna mounted several feet above my 91XG at my old place for several years without any issues.

Ed2010 2-Dec-2016 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADTech (Post 56912)
I had a similar cellular system with its antenna mounted several feet above my 91XG at my old place for several years without any issues.



That's good to hear. Thanks.

rabbit73 3-Dec-2016 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed2010 (Post 56910)
Here is a more representative picture of the trees since we had some timber cut. Also, the section of trees in blue have now been clear cut.

That looks much better. Where did you find that more recent photo?
Quote:

I'll take a look at the options you provided and get one of the antennas and preamps on order.
Does any one have the potential to be significantly better then the other?
The Juice preamp has an internal 4G-LTE filter.

Most of your channels are at the low end of the UHF band. The DB8e, with both panels aimed in the same direction, has more gain than the 91XG in that part of the UHF band.
https://www.antennasdirect.com/cmss_files/attachmentlibrary/Technical%20Data%20PDF's/DB8E-TDS.pdf
https://www.antennasdirect.com/cmss_...y/91XG-TDS.pdf
Quote:

Also, was there much improvement in going from 20' to 30' height? I'm guessing that will be somewhat dependent on the trees in the direction of the signal.
Right, the trees are more significant.

Ed2010 3-Dec-2016 12:25 AM

1 Attachment(s)
Quote:

Originally Posted by rabbit73 (Post 56914)
That looks much better. Where did you find that more recent photo?

I found it on TerraServer.com but if you zoom in too far, it switches to the same image you had.

I just found this one on maps.google.com that is even more current. The gaps are starting to fill in with undergrowth but it isn't over about 10' tall.

Attachment 2478

Ed2010 5-Dec-2016 2:11 AM

Did the the 30' report look considerably better than 20' or about the same?

rabbit73 5-Dec-2016 9:58 PM

Not much difference.

Ed2010 6-Dec-2016 8:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabbit73 (Post 56951)
Not much difference.

That's what I thought but really don't understand what the numbers mean so appreciate the confirmation. I'll start with a 20' pole. I ordered an AD DB8e and Juice as well as grounding blocks for the antenna and pole. Hopefully the weather will cooperate this weekend and I can get it installed.

Ed2010 28-Jan-2017 4:02 AM

Just wanted to take a minute to say thanks. I got all of the components and have been so busy with other projects that I haven't installed the antenna yet. Tonight I wired everything together and put the antenna on the back porch to see what stations I could pull in.

I currently have 29 very clear stations (a few duplicates) so I'm going to be very pleased once I get the antenna mounted on the mast. Thanks again for your help. These channels come in better than those at our home and we're in the greater Houston area. Obviously I'll need some help selecting the correct antennna for that location once I complete this setup. I fell for the Leaf Mohu marketing :(

rabbit73 28-Jan-2017 8:17 PM

Thanks for the update. It sounds like you will be OK.
Quote:

I fell for the Leaf Mohu marketing
The marketing is getting worse; they are promising more performance than what is possible just to sell an antenna that might not be suitable for you.

It makes it hard for us to help people that have had their hopes raised to unrealistic heights, only to have them crash on the rocks of reality.


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