Best UHF unidirectional antenna

[paulk124]

We currently subscribe to Comcast basic service (local channels in analog and ClearQAM). We recently received a letter from them indicating that they will be switching our signal from unencrypted analog/digital to encrypted digital on January 8. They offered up to three free unencryption devices but that would make our DVR equipment obsolete. Plus, I don't want to have to use one of their devices and yet another remote for each of our TVs. So I want to try switching to OTA broadcasts using an outdoor antenna. To increase our chances of making an antenna work, what is the best outdoor antenna I should try?

Based on the info I got from TV Fool, it appears we are in a fringe area (hills block line of site to broadcast antennas). Here are my TV Fool results:

TV Fool report

I am only interested in the cluster of stations around 306 degrees so it seems I should be able to use a unidirectional antenna. In addition, I am only interested in the UHF digital channels (no VHF or analog). Based on the recommendations from HDTV Primer, it appears my best choices would be one of these two:

Antennas Direct 91XG
Winegard PR-8800

Am I on the right track with either of these two antennas? Or is there a better choice for my location? Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide that will help us ditch Comcast for good.

[GroundUrMast]

You're on the right track. I own both antennas and my experience leaves me recommending the 91XG over the HD-8800 with no hesitation. The path profile of the stations on the 306° azimuth appear to be blocked by a significant terrain 'feature' about 4 to 5 miles from your location. As a result, you may find a slight benefit to the tilt adjustment in the 91XG's clamp mechanism. If you can see the obstructing terrain, aim the boom at the peak, and of course, experiment with aim to the left and right a few degrees.

Looking at you TVFR, I'm inclined to suggest the addition of an Antennas Direct PA-18 preamplifier as well.

[paulk124]

GroundUrMast, thanks for your reply. I went ahead and ordered the 91XG. I also ordered a Channel Master 7777 preamp. I went with the 7777 instead of the PA-18 because I read somewhere that the 7777 has slightly less noise ratio.

[GroundUrMast]

I'm sure the CM-7777 will do well. However the published noise specs of the PA-18 are lower (less noise is better) than the CM-7777. We're talking about 1 dB difference, not worth getting in a snit over.

http://www.channelmasterstore.com/TV..._p/cm-7777.htm
http://www.antennasdirect.com/store/...e_amp_kit.html

[paulk124]

I finished my antenna setup and thought I would report on my results.

I ordered the Antennas Direct 91XG and CM-7777 pre-amp. After assembling the antenna, I did an initial test by connecting it directly to my TV and staking it in our front yard about 10 feet high. I didn't connect the pre-amp for this test. I aimed the antenna in the direction of the transmitters and at the horizon of the nearby foothills. Even without doing any fine tuning of the antenna direction, the TV was able to find all the digital channels except virtual channel 45.1. This was fine since channel 30.1 (CW) was the weakest channel I was interested in.

I had bought all the materials to mount the antenna on the roof. However, I was surprised by how easy it was to tune the channels so even though I'd read that an antenna in the attic has a hard time getting a signal, especially with us in a fringe area, I decided to give it a go anyway. In addition, we have stone coated steel shingles which I had assumed would completely block out any signal. I placed the antenna in the attic and roughly aimed it towards the transmitters. To my surprise, the TV was still able to tune the digital channels up to 30.1. Again, this was direct connection to the one TV over about 100 feet of RG-6 and without a pre-amp. My wife was not looking forward to having this big antenna on our roof so this was really good news. So with my wife's help down at the TV, I fine-tuned the antenna's direction, hooked up the pre-amp, and added a 4-way splitter on the line. With this setup, my Samsung TV was reporting about 25.5 dB SNR on channel 30.1. This is the channel that my tvfool report listed as -5.0 dB (NM). I'm still a little stunned that I was able to pick up this channel through my steel roof.

Anyway, I returned all my other hardware that I was going to use to mount the antenna on the roof. I'll monitor my signal throughout the year, especially during snow and rain storms. I can move the antenna to the roof if needed but as it looks now, I should be able to keep it inside the attic.

I've ordered an AVerMedia A188 HD Duet (Amazon has them on special for $50 right now) to be able to record two programs at once to my media center computer. I'll be calling Comcast tomorrow to tell them the good news (bad news for them). Thanks for all your help.

Interesting.

There are Many question askers that have much stronger signals and can not receive stations even with a 91XG mounted for clear line of sight to the transmitters.
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So is the 91XG aimed at about 306 degree to the north west , or , at about 70 to 90 degree to the east , there are some close mountains to the east that can reflect Tv transmissions to the antenna.

[paulk124]

Originally Posted by teleview

Interesting.

There are Many question askers that have much stronger signals and can not receive stations even with a 91XG mounted for clear line of sight to the transmitters.
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So is the 91XG aimed at about 306 degree to the north west , or , at about 70 to 90 degree to the east , there are some close mountains to the east that can reflect Tv transmissions to the antenna.

The antenna is aimed directly towards the transmitters (306 degrees). I had never thought of trying to receive the signal reflected off of the mountains to the east.

It is odd that others with stronger signals and LOS are having trouble. I'm just glad I lucked out being able to keep the antenna inside the attic.