The Winegard is an excellent antenna in the correct application. In your situation I'd not use it for two reasons. First, you are in 2-edge conditions. The DB8e has a larger surface area to collect UHF signals from the air. This especially becomes important when 2-edge TV signals can "bend" and "shift" a bit due to the obstructions they are pushing through and having their path modified. The DB8e's large surface area gives you an antenna that keeps a shifting signal locked on better than a narrow beam type of antenna with less surface area.
Second, when you get to these weak to very weak signals, you want an antenna that is giving you the best chance at reception. The DB8e is specialized for weak UHF signals, the Y10713 is specialized for weak VHF signals. With the two antenna set up, your bang for the buck in terms of performace is slightly higher than just a Winegard or HBU44.
With 3 TVs being served, I would purchase a mast mount
Antennas Direct EU385CF signal combiner. DB8e jumper coax to the UHF input, Y10713 coax to the VHF input. Run coax into home into a
Channel Master 3414 4 port distribution amp. This compensates for the loss of signal that happens when you "split" an antenna feed. Think of it like a stream of water, as additional smaller streams branch off the main stream's water flow weakens. If it is split too many times the original stream turns into a trickle. This is the same with TV signals. With TV signals, what you see is loss of reception.
Many times people install antennas and split 3 or 4 times with a standard splitter. Then they run into some problems on 1 or 2 of the TVs because some channels drop out while other TVs have no problems. This is precisely where you need the distribution amplfier. You install on the single coax that comes from the antenna, then via the distribution amplifier you branch out each additional line to each TV. The desired goal is to compensate for losses of coaxial signal that happens when it is split.
Do you have any trees to contend with?
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Originally Posted by joyinmyheart
Years ago I was recommended the winegard hd7698p. What are you thoughts on it?
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