Need help with an antenna for Escondido, CA
 

I recently moved to Escondido and I'm looking to "cut the cable". It turns out that we're in a decent location be appear to be quite far from all the TV stations.

The report:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...46ae752e2b6b1c

I'm mostly concerned getting good reception on HD Channels, but I'm also interested in the analog channels. I'd like to get as many OTA channels as possible. It looks like I'll need something with 60 mile range although many channels are 25-25 miles away.

I listed the antenna height as 12 feet and I'll be putting it on my rooftop. However I don't plan on having a very high mast so that's the max height. At least it will not be within the attic.

As for the antenna itself, I'd like something that's big enough but I'm willing to pay more for a smaller antenna. If it is something like 12 feet long, that's too big! I'm thinking max size of 6-8 feet, hopefully smaller.

What should I get? Thanks!

Agreeing with Pete, the Antennas Direct DB4e and Antennacraft Y5713 would be examples of the UHF and H-VHF antennas to consider. (I would also consider the Y10713.)

http://www.amazon.com/Antennas-direc...&keywords=db4e
http://www.antennacraft.net/Antennas/AntennasVHF.html

I have been very pleased with the Antennas Direct combiner & housing.

http://www.amazon.com/Antennas-Direc...enna+Combiners

Thanks guys. I didn't know antennas could be combined and didn't think the San Diego stations were so far apart. (I used to live in Poway and used a single VHF/UHF antenna, but I could never quite aim it properly - it would either get Ch 10 and then lose something else, or I could get the others but lose Ch 10.)

If I get two antennas, can I stack them on the same pole or should they on separate mounts?

That Y5713 seems to be what I'm looking for. I think I'd rather pair it up with a traditional long antenna like the Antennacraft MXU47. (I'm pretty sure my wife would balk at the vertical panel style of the newer UHF antennas.)

I am concerned that all of your signals are listed as 1-Edge & 2-Edge. This typically means that at your location they are being blocked. In your case probably by hills or mountains. The signals will “bend” or diffract to some degree around these obstructions but based on my experience in Moreno Valley, CA you can’t depend on “Edge” reception 100% of the time. Here is my TV Fool report:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1dda169109ca5c

While I get channel 11 & 13 most of the time, there are times I can’t get one or both at all. The same applies to all of the channels below them in my TV Fool report. In other words, your reception will at times be at the mercy of existing propagation conditions.

I use an Antennas Direct 91XG for UHF and an Antenna Craft Y10 7-13 for high VHF with a +15 dB amplifier increasing the signal from both antennas before the amplifiers outputs are combined in a UVSJ.

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...u=853748001910
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...u=716079000994

You might find a single combo antenna that covers all the available channels... But I agree with Pete, you are contending with edge path conditions so being able to optimize the aim at real CH-8 & CH-10 without compromising your UHF aim is going to be worth the effort involved with adding a second antenna and the combiner.

Given the large difference in frequency between the UHF band and VHF bands, an effective combiner/filter network (UHF/VHF Combiner AKA UHF VHF Signal Joiner or UVSJ) is relatively easy to design and build. So combining a single UHF antenna with a VHF antenna can be done effectively, without great expense. In fact, there is enough separation in frequency range between the H-VHF band and L-VHF band that there are inexpensive combiners that are intended for combing a Low-VHF (real CH-2 through CH-6) and a High-VHF (real CH-7 through CH-13) antenna into a single down-lead... such a devise is often referred to as a HLSJ (high low signal joiner) One could combine three antennas, but I digress.

Yes, you can stack the two antennas on a common mast. Try to keep them at least 3' from each other, more is better. If you use a 10' TV mast or a 10.5' chain link top-rail section, you'll have lot's of room to mount the UHF at the top and the VHF 4' to 5' below. A 5' mast would be a poor choice for stacking two antennas IMO. http://www.homedepot.com/p/YARDGARD-...2#.Ufdtiaw5Nsg

The MXU47 would by a viable choice for the UHF portion of your system... I guess it's a matter of individual taste or preference, I like the compact profile of my DB4e... but I like to look at my 91XG too. :D

A Simple 1 Antenna Solution.

Above the Peak Of The Roof in such a manner that reception is not impeded or blocked by the roof and building in the directions of , South West , South , South East.

Install a Channel Master CM4228HD UHF/VHF antenna aimed at about 165 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

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Install a Channel Master CM7778 preamplifier.

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For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a , HFS-2D , 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a , HFS-2D , 3 way splitter.

Buy the HFS splitters at solidsignal.

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A Winegard DS3000 , J pole type antenna mount will work well with the CM4228HD antenna.

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Here are some places to buy antennas and etc.

http://www.solidsignal.com .

http://www.amazon.com .

http://www.channelmasterstore.com