Cutting Cable: Please evaluate my Setup
 

Dear TVFool Experts, I'm in the process of cutting Cable for my household. I've spent a brief time on research and have concluded the following setup listed below. I would greatly appreciate some feedback on my setup. If the following equipment listed below is incorrect or is not up to par, please feel free to leave your comments. I thank you in advance for taking the brief time to comment and will appreciate each and every comment that is posted.

First off, my TV Signal Analysis from TV Fool: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1ddab9468454fb

*Note we plan on installing the antennas on the roof-top

Antennas:
1) Antennas Direct ClearStream4 HDTV Antenna
2) *RCA ANT751R Outdoor Antenna Optimized for Digital Reception
*Based on a quick Google Search, it appears that ClearStream 4 is a UHF Antenna. Can anyone comment whether the RCA ANT751R is a UHF or VHF? Ideally, I'd like to join the two antennas together.

Accessories:
1) RCA TVPRAMP1R Outdoor Antenna Preamplifier -- From my understanding, this can be used to join the above antennas together to a single RG6 line.
2) 8-Port Bi-Directional Cable TV HDTV Amplifier Splitter Signal Booster -- From my understanding, this is used to boost the signal quality of the RG6 cables.
3) Zinwell ZAT-970A Digital to Analog TV Converter Box -- I'm presuming we'll need this for my Grandmother's old TV.

The first 11 Digital Tv stations channel are only 1.7 miles away. And are showing Very Strong signal strength , the first 5 Digital Tv stations are high lighted with RED , as being over the top strong signal strength.

Above the roof in such a manner that reception is not blocked by the roof and building in all directions , install a Winegard HD7000R antenna aimed at about 108 degree magnetic compass direction.

The HD7000R antenna is a small directional all channel antenna , the HD7000R antenna receives the best at the front and front angles of the antenna , and being a small antenna , it is not all that directional and will also receive good at , back angles and back of the antenna. So that includes the Digital Tv stations in other directions other then the front of the antenna.

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

A preamplifier is not required. A preamplifier will be overloaded by the Very Strong local Tv transmissions.

I Do Not recommend a distribution amplifier. The local Tv transmissions are Very Strong and will most likely Overload and distribution amplifier.

The Zinwell box is a good converter box , However the RCA DTA800B1 converter box is a good converter box and is simpler to operate.

Current research: , it looks like the Basic digital to analog converter boxes are going out of production.
Many people are dumping there Analog Tv's because the price of Digital flat screen Tv's is dropping lower and lower.
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If were to recommend a distribution amplifier , -->I Am Not recommending a distribution amplifier<-- , it would be a Channel Master CM3418.

I do have a question , are there 8 tv's in the house??

How many Tv's are there to connect??

What is the situation with the 8 hookups??

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

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Here are Digital tuners and Digital tuners with DVR's that do more -->a lot more.

And internet to Tv adapters.

http://www.epvision.com.

http://www.channelmasterstore.com/Di...onics_s/37.htm.

Expect any amplifier to overload...
 

The HD7000R is a very good choice... as mentioned already, it covers the channels now available and those that may be coming on the air soon.

With the signal levels shown in your report, I would resist the temptation to use any amplifier. You're less than 2 miles from the Sutro Tower with several stations operating at 1 million watts ERP. That means most amplifiers will be overloaded... the loss in your cable and splitter will be a good thing because it will reduce the signal power delivered to your tuners to more appropriate levels.

As an aside, amplifiers don't 'pull' signal from the air, the antenna or coax... They amplify everything fed into them, including noise and interfering signals. Amplifiers increase signal power but do not increase the signal quality. That's because they add distortion and noise to the signal over and above what was at the amp input. Good amplifiers will only add a small amount of noise and distortion... but even the best amplifiers cost you some signal quality.

Reliable reception starts at the antenna, if you don't 'make it' there, an amplifier may mask some of the problems, but it won't fix them.

I agree. As much as I tout the Channel Master distribution amplifier as nearly impossible to overload, this is one case where it will likely overload.

Using any amplifier at such close range would be like using gasoline as starter fluid for a grill (Ouch)