OTA Antenna Assistance

ttpete · 23-Apr-2012, 9:34 PM

First of all thanks to everyone on this site; great resource for OTA information! I talked my wife into the "Cut the Cord" lifestyle about 1.5 years ago and have loved it since. I built a HTPC and am currently setup with an indoor antenna that has worked fine to date with meh results during bad weather and such. The antenna feeds direct from my office on the first floor to the basement where it is connected to an HDHomerun

http://www.silicondust.com/products/hdhomerun/atsc/

Then carries over through ethernet to my HTPC, using WMC I then basically tune in and watch TV OTA, movies etc.

The indoor antenna is a ClearStream Micron Indoor Long-Range Digital TV Antenna from Newegg and i pickup the basics CBS/NBC/etc.

Here is my TV Report:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...6a85e4fhttp://

The one channel i can't connect with my indoor is Channel 10 (ABC) at the 20 mile mark. I assume its due to the first floor indoor setup i am using and now that i have saved for the year with OTA viewing want to upgrade and install either an Attic or Roof mount.

I have read a bunch and really there are just too many to choose from. Seeing recommendations for other folks it would appear that this is the place to come for a true recommendation for a setup.

So in a nutshell, based on my TV report, what would be my best approach to receive yellow and green channels at about 150 degrees with the highest quality?

Thanks in advance.

signals unlimited · 23-Apr-2012, 10:23 PM

The RCA ANT 751 would be a good choice to receive the stations at 150 magnetic. No amplifier should be used due to the probability of over load from the strong near by stations. The ANT 751 may also receive some of the stations at 34 degrees magnetic due to the bi-directional characteristics of the antenna. Outside with a clear line of site towards the stations, keeping away from power lines and trees would be best, however the attic would yield the same results at 150 degrees (probably not the ones at 34 degrees), provided your roof is not metal, or tile. Use a splitter with if you need to hook up multipul sets. Also you need to ground your coax with a ground block in your coax run. This needs to connect to your home ground rod or somewhere that leads back to your service panel. This provides critical lightning protection and can help eliminate some potential sources of interferrence. You can purchase the antenna, mount, and ground block at www.solidsignals.com

Electron · 23-Apr-2012, 11:10 PM

Install a Winegard HD7696P antenna above the roof aimed at about 185 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. The larger HD7696P antenna will also receive WSAH-DT UHF channel 42 http://metvnetwork.com and http://myretrotv.com , that will not be received with the smaller ANT751. Here are some Strong and Sturdy antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com. Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box or by from ronard. Here are places to buy antennas , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.amazon.com. How many tv's are/will be connected??

Electron · 23-Apr-2012, 11:44 PM

With a larger second antenna installed and pointed north/east , HD7698P , this what will be received to the north/east. WWLP-DT 11 NBC and The Cool Tv , WGGB-TV 40 ABC and Fox , WGBY-DT 22 PBS , WDMR-LP 51 Telemundo , WTXX-LP 34 RTV , WSHM-LD 21 CBS. The Cool Tv is being received to the south , Fox is being received to the south. And with HD7696P installed , Me-Tv and RTV are received to the south. That leaves , NBC , ABC , CBS , PBS , to the north/east that you might like to receive for the local news up that way. The South direction has all the major networks and more that the North direction does not have.

signals unlimited · 24-Apr-2012, 12:49 AM

The Winegard antenna 7698P is very directional (a good thing). If you use this antenna you will obtain best results with a rotor. I recomend the Aspen Eagel. Easy to install. Uses the signal coax to operate. Very accurate and reliable. buy at www.solidsignals.com

signals unlimited · 24-Apr-2012, 1:05 AM

If you use the Aspen Eagel use solid copper RG6. Also if you have any splitters in your system you need to replace with one that has a DC pass port. Use that to feed the control box. If you use the optional one cable hook up, you will pick up the signal at the output of the control box.

signals unlimited · 24-Apr-2012, 1:09 AM

OPS! If you use the one run rotor hook up, the only amplifier that would work is the Winegard 8700. As mentioned earlier any amplifier may overload your system anyway.

GroundUrMast · 24-Apr-2012, 3:02 AM

If you already own and operate an HDHomeRun you have the option to avoid the use of a rotator. http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=820

For the price of a rotator, you can add a second HDHR. The larger Winegard aimed NNW would feed one tuner. An ANT-751 aimed SSW would drive a second HDHR... WMC can support four tuners. So you have a great deal of flexibility to build a powerful OTA HTPC system using multiple antennas (if you choose).

ttpete · 24-Apr-2012, 1:19 PM

Wow some excellent information on here.

I like the HTPC idea from Ground, buying a second HDHR downt the road in place of a rotor is a great idea. Plus i will be able to record 3 shows and watch 1 or hookup a second TV through the HTPC.

Eectron - initial hookup with be to my HTPC so 1 TV off of that. Would i be able to split and run the Winegard HD769P antenna prior to entering the basement to a second bedroom antenna without an amplifier? The house is a standard 2-floor colonial approximately 2K square feet.

Signals - will hit up the solidsignals website for a look at the RCA Ant751, was actually on my short list using that website based on zip code.

I am leaning to using the Wineguard HD769P aimed at 185 and using those main channels which will include what i receive now plus the ABC lineup that currently i can not reach with the indoor setup. (Go big of go home right). Thinking the Windguard on the roof will increase the range and seems a bit more powerful compared to the RCA.

Will forgo the second antenna for now, but will likely add that to the north to pickup the networks from Springfield area. And will add the second HDHomerun for that.

All in all much appreciated on the quick response.

Electron · 24-Apr-2012, 3:20 PM

WFSB is very strong at 76.9 NM(dB) and 3 more channels after WFSB are Very Strong . WSAH is very weak at 4.8 NM(dB). My concern is the first 4 channels being so strong will over load a preamplifier that is used to increase the signal strength of WSAH so I do not recommend a preamplifier. I recommend try receiving WASH on two Tv's with a 2 way splitter , If the WASH signal is too weak with a 2 way split , then install a Channel Master CM3412 distribution amplifier. http://www.channelmasterstore.com