Confused by so many options - please help clarify

[redtiger]

This is my TVFool link:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...9900946a5ab1d8

I was pretty sure I wanted to use an omnidirectional antenna so I wouldn't have to deal with a rotor or multiple antennas. I'd settled on the Winegard MS 2002 until I started reading in this forum and now I'm just confused about what my best option is.

I would truly appreciate some help in understanding how to best get tv reception at my location.

Thank you.

[Billiam]

Do you want to receive WFVX, the Fox affiliates channel? Or do they still get carried on a sub channel of one of the other Bangor stations?

[signals unlimited]

The omni will not be enough antenna to do the channels out of your main group of stations.

Use an Antennas Direct CS2 Complete aimed to around 40 degrees magnetic, It will receive the group of channels to your Northeast including real channel 2, since it is a strong signal, and the High VHF real 7 and 13 at 2 degrees magnetic. Real channel 10 should also be received from the Southwest, but Fox 23 will not be received.


With one antenna and no rotor as requested, that is as good as it can be.

[Electron]

Your location has receivable Tv stations/channels in ALL 3 Tv bands , VHF low band channels 2 thru 6 , VHF high band channels 7 thru 13 and UHF band channels 14 thru 51.

Install a Antenna Craft CS600 , VHF channels 2 thru 13 antenna , aimed at about 45 degree magnetic compass.

And install a Antennas Direct DB4e , UHF channels 14 thru 51 , antenna aimed at about 74 degree magnetic compass.

Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Connect the CS600 and DB4e together with a UVSJ = UHF/VHF/Separator/Joiner , Combiner , in a weather protected plastic housing sold by Antennas Direct.

Connect a Antennas Direct PA-18 preamp to the output of the UVSJ.

For one Tv connected use no splitter.

For more then one Tv connected use Holland Electronics Splitters , http://www.hollandelectronics.com , also available at , http://www.solidsignal.com.

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

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

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

The tvfool radar plot is showing the antenna height at 30 feet , how will the antenna be mounted at 30 feet??


Here are some antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com/Tripods%200703/4712.html.
Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box.

http://www.palcoelectronics.com/pe300.aspx.

Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.antennacraft.net , http://www.antennasdirect.com , http://www.amazon.com.

[Electron]

The Tv/s Must scan for the Broadcast Tv Channels sometimes named the 'Air Channel' or 'Antenna Channels in the Tv setup menu because the Tv transmissions travel through the air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.

DO NOT scan for cable tv channels.

I STRONGLY Recommend 2 Tv antennas.

[Billiam]

If you only want to use one antenna this is going to be a challenging situation since you have some pretty strong signals in green and one weak signal on UHF. I just checked and WFVX TV is still piggybacked on WVII's sub channel. That being the case, you could get by with just the Antennacraft CS 600 pointed at 58 degrees and still likely obtain WMEB and WABI off the side since both signals are quite strong and only ten miles away. The only drawback to this is that potential for multipath exists. I am familiar with the topography of the Bangor area and the hills and trees could present an issue for WMEB and WABI. No pre amp will be needed.

[signals unlimited]

Originally Posted by redtiger

This is my TVFool link:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...9900946a5ab1d8

I was pretty sure I wanted to use an omnidirectional antenna so I wouldn't have to deal with a rotor or multiple antennas. I'd settled on the Winegard MS 2002 until I started reading in this forum and now I'm just confused about what my best option is.

I would truly appreciate some help in understanding how to best get tv reception at my location.

Thank you.

My recommendation is based on the request for a single antenna solution and should work quite well, provided Fox 23 is not needed.

[redtiger]

@ Billiam: The FOX channel is carried as a sub channel on WVII (7) Bangor so I don't really need WFVX. But, out of curiosity, I'd be interested in knowing what I'd have to do to get it.

@ signals unlimited: Thanks for your analysis and diagnosis. I'll check into the equipment you mentioned. Again, that curiosity thing: would I gain anything by utilizing two antennas? Having read a few of the threads in this forum I guess the multiple antenna thing wouldn't be too bad if I'd get more stations or just have an easier time tuning in what I can get.

Thanks so much for the input. Less than an hour after I posted the thread I had responses. Awesome.

[Electron]

I STRONGLY Recommend 2 Tv antennas.

Here are the Tv stations/channels that will be received.

Digital Tv stations/channels:

WMEB-DT Real channel 9 Virtual channel (12.1) PBS.
WMEB-TV channel 25 Virtual channel (25.1) PBS.

WABI-TV Real channel 13 Virtual channel (5.1) CBS and The CW.

WLBZ Real channel 2 Virtual channel (2.1) NBC and Local Weather.

WVII-DT Real channel 7 Virtual channel (7.1) ABC and FOX and My Network.

WFVX-LP Real channel 22 Virtual channel (22.1) FOX and My Network.


And also 2 Analog Tv stations/channels:

WCKD-LP Real channel 30 TBN Trinity Broadcasting Network.

W31CX Real channel 31 EICBN Excellence In Chirstain Broadcasting

[redtiger]

@ Electron: I will certainly consider your suggestions as well. Thanks. The antenna height breaks down like this: ground level to my roof peak is 25 feet; I have a 3 foot tripod roof mount containing an 8 foot mast. I just rounded that situation to 30 feet.

Generally speaking, lots of trees and hilly terrain. We aren't the lowest point in the area but we're pretty close to it. Neighbors are slightly higher and have much better reception (tv and wireless internet). WABI has always been our strongest signal.

[Electron]

Very good , I suggested some other antenna mounts if required.

The CS600 is aimed in between the VHF Tv stations to receive , WMEB-DT channel 9 , WABI-TV channel 13 and WLBZ channel 2 , WMBE-TV channel 7.

NO antenna rotor is required.

[Electron]

WCKD-LP channel 30 at +5.1NM(dB) signal strength.
And W31CX channel 31 at minus -3.2 signal strength are both Very Weak Tv station/channels.

Also WMEB-TV channel 25 at +9.2NM(dB) signal strength and WFVX-LP at +8.4NM(dB) signal strength are Weak Tv stations/channels.

Use the DB4e antenna aimed at the all the UHF Tv stations to receive them at about 74 degrees magnetic compass.

[Billiam]

WMEB TV 25 is a repeater of the VHF station. It is used to shore up the weak signal areas of the VHF signal. Since he is right on top of the VHF station, no need to obtain this one. The two translators programming may not interest him.

Redtiger. The best way to obtain the WFVX TV 22 or WMEB TV 25 would be to use the following antenna pointed at 58 degrees. The wider reflector has superior gain for channels below 30. I own one of these and tested it directly against the Antennas Direct 91XG and Antennacraft MXU 59. The Channel Master 3023 (carbon copy of the old CM 4248) is the best Yagi for the lower UHF channels. You may not even need a pre amp if you use this antenna for TV 22 or TV 25.

http://www.summitsource.com/channel-...le-p-6678.html

[Electron]

WMEB-TV 25 will be received any way.

And that preamp is required if connecting more then one Tv.

[Billiam]

No mention was made by the OP about the intent to connect more than one TV to this system. But yes, a pre amp would be required if he does decide to use more than one TV.

[Electron]

The CM4248 and CM3020 are not the same.

http://www.affordablehdtv.com/channe...na-p-6464.html.

The CM3020 is - way far too directional - for your Widely spaced Tv stations.

http://www.amazon.com/PCT-Internatio.../dp/B000BSGCSA.

[Billiam]

Originally Posted by Electron

The CM4248 and CM3020 are not the same.

http://www.affordablehdtv.com/channe...na-p-6464.html.

The CM3020 is - way far too directional - for your Widely spaced Tv stations.

http://www.amazon.com/PCT-Internatio.../dp/B000BSGCSA.

Actually they are the same antenna.

http://www.summitsource.com/channel-...le-p-6679.html

Channel Master simply renamed the antenna for some reason around 2001. Yes, it is no longer in production but Summit Source still has several in stock. It's the best low channel UHF antenna I've tried outside of the 4251 7 foot parabolic dish.

[Billiam]

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/cm4248.html

[GroundUrMast]

Originally Posted by Electron

The CM4248 and CM3020 are not the same.

http://www.affordablehdtv.com/channe...na-p-6464.html.

The CM3020 is - way far too directional - for your Widely spaced Tv stations.

http://www.amazon.com/PCT-Internatio.../dp/B000BSGCSA.

True, but the CM-3020 was not mentioned... the discontinued 3023 was.

I have to double check numbers to be sure I don't jumble them up.

[Electron]

I turned some numbers around.

Here is the CM3023 , http://www.channelmasterstore.com/Ma..._p/CM-3023.htm

The CM4248 and CM3023 are the same in that they are both UHF antennas.

My recommendation still stands. The CS600 and DB4e.