Quote:
Originally Posted by MetHerb
I like the fact that the Antennacraft is actually cheaper...thanks for the tip!
I'm curious why you say "actually be able to watch WPRI". The TV Fool report list the db at 4.1 and regularly can get stations now the -4 range and as low as -14. My new setup should have an antenna with higher gain (actually, I don't even have a VHF antenna now) and shorter and better cabling for less signal loss. Do VHF signals work differently? My only distant VHF station that I'm hoping to pickup is WRGB from Albany which is listed at 1.5.
Also, I wanted to ask about a low noise spliter/combiner. What does everyone recommend? I have a couple of ideas but I'm just wondering.
Thanks again everyone for your thoughts as I put everything together!
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If you are in Stafford Springs then you have a lot of large hills and forests between you and the tower. And I think this is a 2 edge signal. VHF signals are tougher to catch when they are weak compared to UHF signals.
In my current location I have a Ch. 7 with a NM of around 1.0 and it is also a 2 edge. I also have to receive it through several small hills and lots of trees. And I need a pre amp to even see it for a few hours during the day because I have a very large Oak tree in an adjacent yard that directly blocks the path of the signal to my antenna at its current location. But if I moved the antenna to the middle of the roof where a chimney sits, then I would be able to watch it continuously if I added a little more height than its present 22 feet above ground.
I suspect you will run into a similar problem at your location. Every bit of extra gain will count. I've tried several VHF antennas at this location and to date the best one at getting this signal is the Antennacraft HBU 55. I tried the HD Stacker, YA 1713 from Winegard, Y10-7-13 from Antennacraft and 7084p from Winegard in this very spot and NONE of this could even detect a signal on CH. 7 at any time during the day or night while I tested them out. But the HBU 55 is actually able to at least receive it during some night time hours and early morning around daylight and beyond for a couple of hours past sunrise before it fades. BTW. The HBU 55 has about .5 db more gain on Ch. 7 than the Y10-7-13 according to the Antennacraft Tech Support desk. And the UHF section on this antenna is better than expected. It actually outperforms the MXU 59 and 91XG from Antennas Direct on most of the middle range UHF signals at my location. And on the following 2 edge, weak signals, the HBU 55 is slightly weaker on Ch. 45 (NM of minus 12) and also Ch. 17 (NM of minus 8 but comes in sporadically) but stronger on Ch. 15 (NM of around 9) . Overall it gets the nod over the other two UHF only antennas.