Antenna Suggestion Complete Setup

Hickorync · 8-Aug-2014, 4:34 PM

We just cut the cord and are looking to purchase a antenna for our house. I plan on mounting a 7 foot mast to our brick chimney stack which should give a total height of 25 ft above ground level. I was hoping to be able to tie the antenna into our main cable line which would feed to 5 TV's. We already have spliter's setup to run to the connections from our previous cable connection to the TV's.

My problem is... I have no idea what type of setup I need. I was looking at the DB8 but I am not sure if that will be sufficient for our needs. I like the ease of operation and the need to not have a rotor but that may be wishful thinking.

Any help on Antenna recommendation, amplifier's needed, etc, would be greatly appreciated. Basically a complete setup from scratch. Football is around the corner and live sports is the main need for the antenna.

Link to TVFool Report: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...e1c6a16d69eb9f

Thanks!

stvcmty · 8-Aug-2014, 5:33 PM

You have stations all over the compass.

Starting with a warning. Chimneys are not the best place to put antennas. What comes out of the chimney may attack the antenna. The wind load of an antenna and/or the lever arm of the mast and/or the chimney mount can damage the chimney. If I had to put an antenna on a chimney mount, I would not put an 8 bay antenna on it.

According to rabbit ears, CW is on W20DD and ABC is on W42DR. So, if you want ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW, you need stations from 161-165 True and 253 True. At least things are simple for VHF, there are no VHF stations (2-13) you need to get a major network. A split aim 8 bay antenna may work for you, but some of the 161-165 stations are 1 edge paths, so multi path may be a problem.

Between 136 and 176 true all the major networks are available down into the red reception range. Aiming a db8e around 156 true may get you all the networks, and some of the LOS signals from other directions may come in.

If I lived at the reception location you posted, I would have 3 8-bay UHF antennas, one pointed southwest, one pointed northwest, and one pointed southeast-ish. I would then use switches or external tuners to choose between what I was receiving. I would probably have a Y10-7-13 pointed at WLOS. I may have a Y5-2-6 pointed at YCYB; the 2 edge path and the low NM make success on a VHF low station questionable.

Do you have cable internet? The coax in your house can probably be reused for TV, but it cannot be connected to the cable company’s system. Do you know where all the splitters are, and any splices, amplifiers, or anything else is?

Hickorync · 8-Aug-2014, 8:48 PM

I do still have cable internet. They ran a separate cable directly to the cable modem. I then have another cable run in to the house. From there it hits spilter and goes to the various wall hookups through out the house. I also noticed that we have a drop amp (eda 2100) located by the spliter but it was disconnected when got charter cable, by the technician. I imagine it was used by the previous homeowner.(We Purchased this house 1 year ago)

Also the chimney I was planning on using to secure the mast to is not active in use. I could purchase another type of mount but I would assume the 25ft height would drop down to 20 or less feet if I mounted at the tallest point on the roof.

8-Aug-2014, 10:34 PM

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Above the Peak of the Roof in such a manner that reception is not , obstructed , impeded , blocked , by the , attic , roof , building , in the directions of , South East , South , South West , West , North West.

Install a , Antennas Direct , DB8e , current UHF channels 14 thru 51 antenna.

http://www.amazon.com.

Aim 1 panel of the DB8e antenna at about 170 degree magnetic compass direction.

Aim the other panel at about 280 degree magnetic compass direction.

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Here ia how to aim antenna/s , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Use a Real and Actual magnetic compass to aim antenna/s , do not trust a , cell phone , tablet , etc. compass.

As always , a Tv antennas aim direction can be adjusted and the antenna location can be adjusted for best reception.

Most Digital Tv's have a Signal Strength Meter and some Digital Tv's also have a Signal Quality Meter.

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Install a.

http://www.antennacraft.net.

10G201 preamplifier.

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For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a , Holland Electronics , HFS-2D , 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a , Holland Electronics , HFS-3D , 3 way splitter.

For 4 Tv's connected use a , Holland Electronics , HFS-4D , 4 way splitter.

Buy the , HFS-2D , HFS-3D , HFS-4D , splitter at , http://www.hollandelectronics.com, or , http://www.amazon.com.

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The antenna system Must Not Be Connected to Internet Cable Coax in any way shape or form.

The antenna system Must Not Be Connected to Active Cable Coax in any way shape or form.

Yes , coaxes that are in or on the house can be used for the antenna system.

The coaxes that are used for the antenna system must not be connected to internet or cable service.

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Do not connect the (eda2100) drop/distribution amplifier.

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Here are some above the roof antenna mounts.

http://www.ronard.com/909911.html. Use the , ronard(911) , 5 foot tripod antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html . Use the , ronard(4560) , eave antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html. Measure around the chimney and use a , ronard(2212) , ronard(2218) , ronard(2224).

http://www.ronard.com.

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Home Depot has , 10 foot 6 inch length , 1 and 3/8 inch diameter , TOP RAIL , chain link fence , PIPE , that makes good antenna mast/pipe , the price is low at about 12 dollars.

Hickorync · 9-Aug-2014, 1:44 AM

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your help and guidance!