Help with chosing the correct antenna
 

I have a brick ranch/style shingled roof home and I would like to use an outside antenna.I currently have satellite, but to go OTA.Thanks for for any advice you can give. Please see below address:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...0b86b1cfe84ad3

Also, could I use the cables from the satellite to connect to the antenna?

Thanks for your help.

Just two. one analog and one digital

Tv antennas and Tv reception
 

Yours is a simple reception situation and you will receive Many digital broadcast tv channels. Install a Antenna Craft Y5-2-6 VHF low band antenna for reception of WBRA-DT channel 3 PBS , aimed at about 360 degree magnetic compass. And install a Antenna Craft U4000 UHF antenna aimed at about 130 degree magnetic compass. Connect the two antennas together with a UVSJ UHF/VHF Seprator Joiner. That joines the two antennas on to one coax. the output of the UVSJ will connect to a Channel Master CM3412 distribution amplifier and the outputs of the distribution amplifier will connect to coaxes that go to the tv's. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. The digital channels that will be received are the Current Plus Pending Applications Included , Digital Only Stations/Channels in the green and yellow reception zones and some of the tv stations/channels in the red reception zones of the tvfool radar report. . You will make a simple modifaction to the U4000 , you will lift the metal clips that hold the reflector rods in the horizontal position and turn the reflector rods so the reflector rods are more in the vertical position , this gets the reflector rods out of the way so the >< shaped metal reception elements can receive at the back and front of the antenna.

Tv antennas and Tv reception
 

Here some antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com. Mount the Y5-2-6 low band antenna on bottom and the U4000 UHF antenna on top of Y5-2-6 antenna with about 2 feet separation. Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.antennacraft.net , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com. Type the words , ronard , or , uvsj , in the solidsignal search box.

Tv antennas and Tv reception
 

The digital tv that you have, the tv Must scan for the Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , sometimes in the tv menu called the 'Air Channels' or 'Antenna Channels' because the tv transmissions travel through the air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna. Do Not scan for cable tv channels.

Thanks Electron, I will get started acquiring this equipment.

Tv antennas and Tv reception
 

If the analog tv does not have a converter box , Channel Master has some very good converter boxes. http://www.channelmasterstore.com

Any thoughts on Lightning protection?

Tv antennas and Tv reception
 

The best place for grounding is to connect to the electric service ground wire. Or to the ground rod that is in the ground close to electric service at the house. Most houses have the coaxes located close to electric service because that is where ground is at. Use a coax ground block to connect the coax from the antenna to ground. Home depot has all manner of grounding hardware and ground wire. Use a ground strap to connect the ground wire to the antenna mount.

My house has the old lightning rods that run the ridge of the roof down to a ground rod on the same end of the house that I will put the antenna, could I connect to that gound rod?

Tv antennas and Tv reception
 

Yes use the lightning rod ground.

Will it matter if mount/connect to the distribution amplifier inside or outside? If I connect inside I would have one coax cable coming in to the house from the Separator Joiner, about 45ft. Connecting to the distribution amplifier with one short 3ft. cable to first TV and lastly one 20ft. cable to the second TV.
Does this sound correct?

Thanks for your help.

Tv antennas and Tv reception
 

Put the distribution amplifier where it is convienient to plug it in.

Tv antennas and Tv reception
 

So have you actually bought or installed any thing yet??

Yes, both antenna's, part of the mast and the mount came in yesterday. I hope to start installing tomorrow if the weather holds off. The rest of the equipment should be hear by the first of next week. I would like to have everything set-up and ready to test by next weekend.

I finely have everything (except coax cable) to complete my OTA setup.I have the mount and mast in place, hopefully I will get everything installed this weekend. The next and hopefully the last big question is should I use premade cable or spend the extra money to buy tools to make the cables myself. As of now if I use the premade I will have around 20 ft. of total extra cable. Will the Amp. be enough to over come the extra cable length? I have a hard time thinking of buying $75 worth of cutter, striper and crimpers to make to use one time. My be I am over thinking this.

The 20' of coax will add about 1 dB of loss. That's not enough to justify spending $75 IMO.

Tv antennas and Tv reception
 

20 foot of extra coax is Ok. Will make no difference in reception.