I had gotten some advice here, and I have my base set-up up and running. Here are the original threads for reference.
http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=14907
http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=14820
Here is my current approximate plot from the previous threads.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...d2438e744b90c9
Some of the channels are not accurate anymore. I used rabbitearsinfo in order to figure out what stations I am aiming for.
http://www.rabbitears.info/search.ph...pe=dBm&height=
Even with over 350 plus feet of coax in my run I can receive most of of local stations I anticipated being able to get, and I'm not even using any type of amplification since I broke both the unit and the power supply by over tightening the connections. Anyone out there using the RCA preamp for the first time, do it by hand not with a wrench. I'm not pulling in any of the major affiliates except my VHF ABC station as they are either far away or weak signals. My questions are:
1. My antenna is an Antennacraft 5884 combined UHF/VHF and is pointed approximately 220 degrees in order to pick up all the stations I can except NBC, which is around 159. They are all UHF. Only ABC (Channel 7) is VHF, and there is a UHF alternative on the same tower. Should I just replace it with a UHF only since I don't need to try for any VHF stations, or if I replace the preamp and only amplify UHF would that work?
2. In order to try to get NBC I'm probably going to need an amplified high gain UHF antenna and point it southeast to Chico where it transmits from. Will having two UHF antennas with one pointed at 220 and one at 187 on the same mast pose a problem if I attempt to combine the signals? Can two separate UHF amplifiers be powered on a single run of coax? Do I just have two power supplies in line with each other? In my original set-up, and prior to breaking it, I had put the power supply in the pump house for my well. It reduced the distance the power had to travel back up to the antenna while still shielding it from the elements.
3. If interference was an issue and I needed to use an A/B switch would I need to use a diplexer so they can share the same long coax run from the hill to the house?
Just trying to plan ahead and make sure I'm not overthinking it all. Thanks everyone, it's great being able to watch anything, but I'm always trying to improve my set-up. Drives my wife nuts.