Which antenna? How to choose?

[jobu]

Hi, I've been reading up on OTA and know I want to cut the cable, but I live in a Los Angeles suburban area that is notorious for bad reception- In the santa monica mountains , 11 miles from the ocean on one side, lots of trees and Burbank Airport between me and the towers. To be honest, all the science is a little beyond me and I have been struggling to figure it out. I have been on several web sites like antennaweb.com and have learned most of the stations are broadcast from about the same place, 35 miles away. Anntenaweb reccomends either a medium or large directional with a pre amp.

But how do I know which will be best for me? What basis should evaluate and compare them?

We watch the network channels and my kids watch fox and sports, and hbo and some of the cable shows, so we will have to download them I guess. We do not need any of the foreign language or religious channels.

Any advice, information is greatly appreciated. Our home is 2 story, I guesstimate the antenna will be 25 to 30 feet above ground. Iere is a link to the map/report http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...7fcfd9575e8927

Thanks so much

[Electron]

Many of the receivable digital Tv stations/channels are weak to very weak. Install a Winegard HD7084P antenna with a Winegard AP8275 preamp , Or better yet a Winegard HD8200U antenna with a Winegard AP8275 Preamp. Aimed at about 50 degree magnetic compass , here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. Mount antenna above the roof. 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 buy from ronard. Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.amazon.com ,http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.3starinc.com , http://www.warrenelectronics.com

[Electron]

The Tv/s Must Scan for the Digital Broadcast Tv Channels sometimes named the 'Antenna Channels' or 'Air Channels in the Tv setup menu because the television transmissions travel through the air from the transmitting antenna to your receiving antenna. DO NOT scan for cable tv channels. . How many Tv/s are/will be connected??

[Electron]

Here is a list of the English language channels. I am not listing the other languages and religion channels. NBC , California Non Stop , CoLours Tv , ABC , Live Well Network , Fox , MyNetwork , Bounce Tv , IND. CBS , Retro Tv Network , Tuff Tv , Ind. , Classic Tv , The CW , Antenna tv , This Tv , PBJ , Movies , PBS , AMG Tv Network , America One.

[Dave Loudin]

If you're willing to learn a little, read the Signal Analysis FAQ that's linked to at the top of your report. It's an easy read, and is very comprehensive.

As you might guess, reception in LA is a matter of having a clear view of Mt. Wilson. Those with a clear view can get over 100 channels while those without my get 5, and may not get all the major networks. One feature that makes this site unique is the ability to determine the path TV signals will need to take to get to you. Based on your report, you don't have a clear view, and the predicted signal strengths have been downgraded accordingly. (Read the FAQ to understand which numbers to pay attention to.) CBS may be the hardest of the networks to catch.

Electron has recommended a large antenna that is designed to receive all TV channels from 2 to 51 (the REAL channels in your report.) I offer a second choice, the Winegard HD7698P, which is not sensitive to RF (Real) channels 2-6. There's only one weak low-power station in that band for you which probably is not worth the extra effort. You can determine what all the channels and subchannels carry with this page. You have to click on the call sign or choose "expand all" to see the details.

Your report is a bit discouraging because the prediction model used here does not expect enough scattering over the hill to provide strong signals. I know that one person in the Inland Empire we helped ended up with much better resultes than predicted, as the prediction model underestimated how much scattering would bend down to fill in the shadowed area. Good Luck!

[GroundUrMast]

Reverse engineering the approximate location of your neighborhood, I'm left wondering if you might find dramatically different signal conditions by moving the proposed antenna location. You can use the Interactive Map tool to experiment with antenna location and height. But it may be even more useful and informative to 'survey' the signal conditions with an inexpensive indoor rabbit-ears style antenna extended outdoors with a section of coax. By 'walking the roof' or 'walking the lot' with a test antenna, you may be pleasantly surprised by the difference between predicted and actual signal conditions.

[jobu]

Hi again and thanks for all the info. It was cool to wake up and see answers to my questions. Gotta love the internet!and the people who take the time to help a stranger. I am going to read through it all with my husband over the weekend and will probably have some more questions. again I really appreciate it.

[Electron]

A Terk HDTVi Non amplified indoor type antenna will be a excellent antenna for a survey of indoor reception and outside reception. Here is how to aim indoor type antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. I suggest start with the HDTVi in a second story window that you can look out and see to the north east and , Scan for the digital broadcast tv channels , that way a larger number of channels will be in the tuner , making it easyer to select channels and see how well the tv station/channel is being received at different locations. Also at any location you can do a new scan and see what is received at that location. Get a Looong length of coax and coax couplers to connect it all to geather.