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Old 8-Feb-2014, 9:45 AM   #2
StephanieS
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 442
Greetings ncfj40,

Glad to help you out. Looking at your TVfool plot, I think you are in good shape to receive the channels you want.

WSPA CBS RF 7: excellent signal strength
WNTV PBS RF 9: excellent signal strength
WHNS FOX RF 21: 1-edge moderate signal strength
W05AC RF 32 (retransmission of WLOS ABC): Good signal strength
W11AH-D RF 11 (retransmission of WYFF NBC): moderate signal strength.

You have a mix of excellent signal strengths and some moderate signal strengths to contend with. You also have a mix of high VHF and UHF channels. Further, you'll notice you aren't getting ABC and NBC from their originating stations. Instead, you are getting them via translators. These are small retransmissions of the above signals to fill in their signal where the originating stations aren't receivable. Also, W05AC lists as a construction permit on RF channel 32. It may or may not be on the air. The construction permit was issued in 2012. A call to the engineering department at WLOS might we wise to confirm if that translator is broadcasting. I am going to for the sake of this write up proceed that W05AC on RF 32 is operational.

In regards to the signals above, you have two bands to contend with: high VHF which is real channels 7-13 and UHF which is real channels 14 and above. This is important because this affects what antenna you purchase.

I am glad you are mounting this on a chimney mount outdoors. This will especially aide in your reception of FOX and W11AH-D.

A single antenna I would suggest would be an Antennacraft HBU33. http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...na-%28hbu33%29. This antenna supports high-vhf and uhf reception. It is also recommended for it's ability to have a wide beamwith of reception. Orientate antenna to about magnetic 270 to perform initial tests. Look for "sweetspot" where all desired signals are reliable. Your trickiest signals I would estimate will be FOX and the retransmission of NBC due to weaker signal strength. Patience and testing, and I think you'll get them.

Don't forget once you get the system hooked up for tests to do a over the air scan for broadcasts on your tv. Further, when testing system run single coax from antenna unsplit to one tv and perform scan. This sets base line for system performance. If system is fine off one coax and starts having problems once you start splitting, it gives you a starting point for fixing the problem.

I don't recommend a preamp due to signal strengths of WLOS and WNTV.

You ought to be able to split the antenna signal twice and not have too much problem unless you have a very long run of coax. I use an eagle aspen splitter that has worked nicely for me. http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...1000-2ap-gx%29

Any other questions, please ask!

Last edited by StephanieS; 8-Feb-2014 at 9:49 AM.
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