*EDIT* If you could, rerun your TVfool plot at the heights of 25' and 50'. I want to see if any improvement comes up. For now, take the recommend below as worst case scenario.
Hi amtt81,
I'm unclear on what signals you are receiving and where they are coming from. Is it cable? Dish? I seem to be reading you are receiving no over the air TV stations. Is this correct?
You are using an indoor amplified antenna. I am not a fan of them. TV signals are best received when your antenna is outdoors with the best possible path to the transmitters. Further, you are in a 1-edge and 2-edge situation. This means you don't have line of sight due to terrain blockage. This does funny things to the signal(s) and makes it act differently than if have line of sight to your signals of choice.
Using the indoor amplified antenna, you are inducing 2-edge and 3-edge conditions. Plus, making the signals fight to get through your household electronic interference. Not ideal for reception at all.
Just for checking purposes, have you done a TV tuner scan? Are you set to "over the air" or "broadcast" on your TV? I would expect you'd see something.... Are you sure the RCA is getting power?
I honestly wouldn't fuss too much more with the RCA ANT1650. You need an outdoor antenna especially with your 1-edge and 2-edge pathways.
You have a combination of high-vhf which is real channels (RF) 7-13 and UHF RF channels 14 and up available to you for reception. There is one WDCN-LP RF channel 6, that broadcasts spanish language only audio programming. For purposes of this recommendation, I'm going to ignore RF 6.
Due to you being in a 1-edge and 2-edge conditions, I would install one antenna to start with a further option on a second outdoor solution for high-VHF if needed. The first for UHF coverage exclusively I would install a
Antennas Direct DB8.
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=DB8. This antenna design is often the best in situations where there may be refracting or bending of signals due to terrain blockage as it has a wider surface area as to gather signal. I would install DB8 to magnetic heading 81. Do channel scan and see what you receive. I would expect that you'd see signals that would be into the red. Real channels 7 and 9 may or may not be reliable. You'll just have to test. If they aren't, see below.
For high-VHF coverage if needed I would add an
Antennacraft Y10-7-13 http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=y10-7-13 mounted on the same mast as the DB8 but 3' to 4' below. This antenna is designed specifically for RF channels 7-13. Further if adding this antenna, purchase an
Antennas Direct EU385CF-1s combiner.
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=EU385CF-1S. Input coax from DB8 to UHF input, input Y10-7-13 coax to VHF input. Run single lead of coax into home.
Point Y10-7-13 to magnetic heading 81 as well.
Mount on your roof in a location that has the best pathway to magnetic 81. The less obstructions such as trees, other buildings, etc, the better.
Here are examples of mounting supplies. You have tripods, chimney mounts or just a simple J-pole (though, those aren't for applications like yours).
http://www.solidsignal.com/cview.asp...ing%20Supplieshttp://www.solidsignal.com/cview.asp...ing%20Supplies I am a fan of the tripod mount with a 10' pole. After you set it up, you can pretty much leave it be and it should barring extreme weather give you years of enjoyment.
Example of my set up:
I would also not recommend a preamp.
I know this is probably a lot to digest. Over the air television reception is highly individual and every situation has its own wrinkles which must be planned for. With your 1-edge and 2-edge conditions, you have to go outdoors for the best chance of reception. With the above antenna(s) I am confident you'd have the best chance at the reception you want, which is pretty much all of the Washington D.C. broadcasts.
If you want Baltimore, which may in some cases be doable, that's a whole different approach.
Regards.