[StephanieS]

Hello Chris,

I agree with Billiam on the HD1850, if I were to approach your reception plot, I'd want to utilize it as well.

My assumption is you want the big four (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) along with CW and PBS? The good news is you have viable options. The bad news is as you and Billiam has noted NBC is going to be difficult.

A two antenna system would be my recommendation. You may need still rotor ,however my goal would to give it a shot with two stationary antennas before going the rotor route. That said, the first antenna would be an Antennas Direct DB8e. Orientate first panel to magnetic 195 for coverage from WHNS FOX and WYCW CW. Second panel orientate to magnetic 240 for WUNF PBS.

This where the HD1850 comes in with ABC, CBS and NBC. The HD1850 is one the most powerful all channel fringe antennas on the market. You'll be using this to receive NBC WCYB real channel 5 from the Tri-Cities. The reasoning here is WYFF on real channel 36 has a stronger signal, but being UHF you have terrain obstructions. Those obstructions combined with a 7.5db signal puts you near the digital cliff. This is where once signals hit that cliff, they don't produce a picture on your TV due to being too weak. Being on real channel 36 (UHF), the likelyhood of dropouts are pretty good. Plus, UHF doesn't handle terrain blockages as well as VHF. W11AU-D is a rebroadcast of WYFF. It would be an option as it has a stronger signal of 9.0 db, however WJHL CBS is operating on the same channel. This is what we call co-channel interference. W11AU-D would require you point the HD1850 and see if it decodes. Co-channel interference situations can be unpredictable. I wouldn't attempt W11AU-D because of interference issues.

This leaves WCYB. You may notice it is weaker than WYFF and W11AU-D. It is at 5.8db signal strength. However, WCYB has few factors going for it that WYFF and W11AU-D don't. First, there is no co-channel interference listed. WCYB operates in the less used low VHF band (channels 2-6). This is ideal for a weaker signal to not have to overcome other co-channel transmitters. WCYB is also on VHF which allows for more tolerance of terrain issues due to its longer wavelength. The low VHF band is also less crowded with signals next to it. There are some small translators, but nothing strong next to WCYB.

It's my thought that WCYB would be the NBC I'd go after.

Now, the HD1850 I would orientate to magnetic 27 pointing directly at WCYB. I would anticpate the HD1850 would receive WLOS ABC and W08BP-D (WSPA) CBS off the side.

You'll need to combine these into one downlead. The Antennas direct EU385CF is a great way to take UHF and VHF dedicated antennas and combine them. Put DB8e coax into the UHF input, then put the HD1850 coax into the VHF input. Run single lead down into home.

The HD1850 is being used exclusively for VHF reception in this configuration.

Run coax lead to ONE TV and scan and see what you have.

Make sure you mount the antenna with the best possible line of sight. If you are battling through trees at magnetic 27, NBC may be off the table no matter what. A reasonably clear line of sight is mandatory for any shot at NBC.

Mount DB8e on a mast 4' above the HD1850.

To reiterate:
Antennas Direct DB8e: PBS, FOX, CW
Panel 1 heading: 195
Panel 2 heading: 240

Antennacraft HD1850: NBC, ABC, CBS
Heading: 27

You can have the option of 3 TVs. The first though is attempt one signal TV with the coax straight from the antenna. If reception is satisfactory but when split it becomes unsatisfactory on one or more TVs, a Channel Master 3414 4 port amp may be needed to offset those signal losses.

I wouldn't run a preamp either at this location.

Best of luck!