[mtownsend]

Originally Posted by twestwood

I am really just looking for a few channels right now. We have ditched the dish a few months ago and the family is about to go nuts. Just a couple of channels will do for now.

I'd say that a good compromise would be something like the Channel Master 4221 4-bay bowtie antenna on the roof, pointed at a compass heading of about 34 degrees (north-east). The 4221 has fairly high gain to pick up more channels further out, yet has a wide beam width (about 50 degrees) so that it can pick up channels that are spread out a bit without requiring a rotator.

This would be a UHF-only setup, so you will be missing out on WNTV (PBS), WSPA (CBS), WLOS (ABC), WCES (PBS), and WGTV (PBS).

If you want to get the VHF stations too, then the antennas mentioned in the earlier post are good ones to consider.

I live in a subdivision with certain covenants so certain antennas may cause a fuss. As if I didn't have enough complications with this endeavor.

I understand.

Just FYI, if you didn't already know, the FCC has an over-the-air reception devices rule (http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html). This is a federal law that states that everyone has the right to install a reasonable OTA antenna for TV reception. Since it is a federal law, there are no HOA, landlord, city, county, or state regulations that can stop you from exercising that right (there are a few special exceptions, so please read carefully).

I don't advocate creating friction among neighbors for the sake of an antenna, but perhaps just knowing that the law is on your side in this case is enough to negotiate a solution that everyone can live with.

Will a DB-8 style antenna work at all, VHF is not a necessary.

A DB8 is an 8-bay bowtie similar to the 4221 mentioned above. The main difference is that the DB8 is more directional and will have a narrower beam width (about 30 degrees). This means it might not pick up as many channels that are spread apart from each other without moving the antenna.

For a no-rotator setup, you will probably get more channels at once if you go with the wider beam width of the 4221.

If you do include a rotator, then the higher gain of the DB8 will outperform the 4221, giving you improved robustness (fewer picture dropouts / video glitches). You just need to adjust the rotator to view channels coming from different directions.