[mtownsend]

Originally Posted by nateonearth

I picked up a Philips Tilting Amplifier Antenna (SDV6122/27) from Walmart.

As for channels received, I get the basic network channels that I need and they look great, except...the CBS channel is pixelated sometimes. I've played with adjusting the direction of the antenna, but depending on which direction I turn it, I end up losing a different channel.

1) mtownsend suggested a "Channel Master 3000A or Winegard MS-2000," but they cost 2-3x more than the basic Phillips antenna I'm testing with. Do you guys think the CM or WG would have a performance advantage worth the extra $$$?...and would they still work better even if located inside?

Omni antennas are very susceptible to multipath because they can take in signal from any direction. That means signals bouncing around the walls of your house, off neighboring houses, trucks, hills, trees, fences, or anything else can potentially cause interference that makes it harder for your tuner to lock on to channels.

I would not recommend using an omni antenna indoors. They really should be used up on the roof, out in the open as much as possible. Being on the roof offers two major advantages: 1) the antenna is outside and no longer surrounded by signal reflecting/absorbing objects in its immediate vicinity; and 2) being higher up is usually better overall because you get above most of the ground-level "clutter" (houses, vehicles, fences, some trees, etc.) that get in the way of your signal. When you're above the average roof-line in a neighborhood, you usually get a pretty open view in almost all directions.

Since an omni antenna cannot filter out any multipath, you want to install the antenna in a location that has as little multipath as possible.



BTW, the Philips antenna you tried is not an omni antenna, so it may need to be rotated a bit to pick up channels from different directions. It's not a very directional antenna either, so that means it too is susceptible to multipath problems indoors. The Philips antenna is somewhere in-between the omni antenna and directional antennas suggested earlier.



If you do install one of the omni antennas outside, then I do expect it to perform better than the Philips antenna inside. That's mostly because having the antenna outside will be a big improvement.

However, in regards to your comment on price, please do not think of the Channel Master or Winegard products as being a rip-off compared to the Philips antenna. The suggested antennas are designed for outdoor installation (can't do that with the Philips) and have better electronics in them (the Noise Figure spec on the amps in either antenna should be better than the Philips built-in amp). Both Channel Master and Winegard have a reputation of building cost-effective products because they usually work well and last a long time.

2) If I "go for it" and try to mount one on the roof, I'll need a bit of guidance. Could you give me any advice (or point me to another post) on what type of mount, how to install, how to get the coax inside the house without creating a water leak through the roof, etc?

There are lots of mounting choices depending on how your building is constructed. Some good options for most people are:

1) Chimney mount. Like the Channel Master 9067. Straps go around your chimney (assuming you have one) and the brackets hold on to the mast. It does not require any holes to be put into your roof or chimney.

2) Wall or eave mount. Like the Channel Master 9023, 9030, or 9032. Mounting holes go into the side of the house/eave instead of the roof, so the chance of leaks is minimal. The mounts should go near the top of the roof so that the mast can extend above the roof-line and hold the antenna higher than the roof (ideally you want to clear the roof by at least around 4-5 feet).

3) Sled mount. For people with a flat roof. Sled mounts do not require any holes in the roof, and are held in place by some kind of counter-weight (e.g., cinder blocks, sand, water, etc.). The sled sits on the roof, and the mast attaches to the sled.

4) Tripod. If none of the other options work, or if you need a really sturdy mount (to deal with high winds or heavy antennas), then you should consider a tripod. Yes, it does require bolting through the roof, but if done right (using sealing compound at each mount point), it should not leak.



For any of these options, it's usually possible to find an attic vent or other opening under the eaves of the house to get the coax into the building. If there is a wire mesh or screen covering the vents, you just need to make a tiny hole to allow an RG6 cable to go through.

3) What's the general consensus on DIY antennas (i.e. 2x4 with coathangers)? How does their performance compare with, say, the CM and WG recommended above? Worth the effort?

The "bow tie" antennas you speak of do work pretty well, but they are UHF-only antennas. The DIY antenna is based on the same principles as any store-bought bowtie antenna, so you can expect performance to be about the same.

None of the bowtie antennas pick up VHF very well, so if you want your VHF channels (and you have a few), then these antennas are not a good fit for you. The directional antennas recommended above are high-VHF and UHF combo antennas (channels 7-69), which is more appropriate for your situation.

If you're the handy type and like to tinker with these kinds of things, then the process of building an antenna can be a nice learning experience. If working with wires and tools is not that interesting to you, then I wouldn't bother.

Some people claim these DIY antennas save money, but I don't think I'd do it just for the sake of saving money. Commercially built bowtie antennas aren't really that expensive and they will last a long time even when installed outdoors. Also, if your time is worth anything to you, then you aren't really saving any money when you factor in the amount of time needed to find the parts, do the work, and make tweaks after you're done.