New ota system

skyguyb27 · 18-Jan-2011, 1:24 AM

Hello I am new to the website (just found it earlier today) have been reading on other sites for awhile about what I should get at my house. Basically there is a dish sat on top of the house and old cables with splices everywhere. I plan to use a antenna (if I can) and will need basically everything new. So starting from scratch I would love advice on anything you can help with. I would like to set up the antenna mast on the east side of the house due to not being able to see it as well coming down the road, but my house is surrounded from the west clockwise to the southeast with trees. East to southeast are tall thin Pines upwards of 50-70 feet. First off, here is my report: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...3cf4d90c4e41e7 I like to get as many channels as possible. Any questions please ask, and thanks in advance for the help.

John Candle · 18-Jan-2011, 6:21 AM

How many Tv's will be connected?? I suggest All New Coax Wiring. Do the coax wiring this way , At a easy to get to place will be the central point that All coax wiring goes out from , from the central point a single coax wire will go out to each Tv location and a single coax wire will go to the antenna. At the central point will be the splitter and at the central point needs to be AC power for distribution or antenna preamp.. If you were to install one antenna , what city do you identify with Indianapolis or Cincinnati/Dayton?? . . If you were to install 2 antennas one pointed at Indianapolis and one pointed at Cincinnati/Dayton then you will need to install double of every thing. You will have 2 separate systems. Do Not connect the 2 antennas into one coax. With the 2 separate systems you will have a Remote Control A/B antenna coax switch at each Tv location. Radio Shack has remote control A/B switches. Before we go any further , How many Tv's will be connected??

skyguyb27 · 18-Jan-2011, 6:24 AM

I will have 2 tvs for sure. Would like 3 but can live with 2. I would like to be able to watch both Cincy and Indy channels, but not sure budget wise what it would cost for 2 systems.

John Candle · 19-Jan-2011, 1:38 AM

Ok I suggest start off with one antenna pointed at WKOI-TV 39 at 109 degrees magnetic compass and you will receive the Cincinnati and Dayton channels. The antenna is the Winegard HD7695P and the preamp is a Winegard AP8700. Mount the antenna on the roof , with a Tripod mount or a Chimney mount or a peak of the roof Eave mount. With this one antenna system you will receive all the Networks except for ION Television that is in the opposite direction. You can then add a second antenna system at a later date. The second antenna system that points in the other direction for Indianapolis stations will also use a HD7695P and a AP8700. Here are places to buy antennas and etc.. http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.3starinc.com , http://www.amazon.com

skyguyb27 · 19-Jan-2011, 4:16 PM

Thanks. Much appreciated. Will the mast hold both antennas? Which splitter/cables do you prefer? Which switch do you prefer to switch between antennas? Will I need a box or can I. Trust the new flat screen to do its job? Thanks in advance!

John Candle · 19-Jan-2011, 6:58 PM

The mast will hold both antennas , mount the antennas 5 feet apart , one above the other , think in terms of strong and sturdy , not what can I get by with. The coax cables are RG-6. The splitters are passive splitters , passive means the splitters pass the signal through , active splitters amplify the signal. You are using passive splitters. You can find the remote control A/B antenna switches radio shack has them and you can find them at the links that I gave and you can type -- remote control a/b tv antenna switch -- in the google search box. All new Tv's have broadcast Tv digital tuners. If you have a older Analog tv then you will need a converter box. It will be helpful if you have some idea of how to install and connect it all up. Or if you know some one that -- truthfully -- knows what to do.

John Candle · 19-Jan-2011, 10:01 PM

Central location means a place where all of the coax goes to and out from. Central location does not mean in the middle of the house. However if the middle of the house is a good location then thats OK.

skyguyb27 · 21-Jan-2011, 5:01 PM

Thanks. I appreciate all the help. Just got a fresh 6 inches of snow so might be a little bit before I can get to work but looking foward to not paying the ransom of the cable company.

skyguyb27 · 21-Jan-2011, 8:12 PM

OK, thought I was getting a nice used tower for really cheap and that fell through. I am looking at eve mounts for this and thinking of going ahead and oredering the 2nd system now as well. First question issue, to get the first antenna off the roof into the air and then have 5 feet seperation I am looking at 10 feet of pole. Will I need guy wires or can I mount these 2 antennas on a 10 foot eve mount safely without? Secondly, would it be just as resourceful to get a rotor and have 1 system? Finally, which magnetic heading would you reccomend to get the Indy Channels.

Thanks again for all your time.

John Candle · 24-Jan-2011, 11:37 PM

If using a peak of the roof STRONG eave mount then the bottom antenna can be a foot or so on the mast pole above the peak of the roof and the top antenna can be at the top of the mast pole about 5 foot above the bottom antenna. And it is Ok for antennas to be mounted on different masts. It seams like some cash outlay at first , however think about it this way. What about that 100 dollar pay cable / pay satellite bill every month ?? When the antenna system is installed you are watching Free Digital Tv. And antennas last 5 / 10 years and longer. So with your case if you went all out and spent 500 dollars for the 2 antenna system then thats 14 cents a day through 10 years to pay for it. And if you went all out and installed a 1 antenna system how much would that be per day ?? And let's say that you found out about the thousands of movies and Tv shows with ROKU/NETFLIX for 10 dollars a month.

skyguyb27 · 22-Jul-2012, 5:55 AM

Hello, it's been awhile.I have first system all set up and works ok. I'm ready too add the 2ND antenna now, which magnetic heading should I use?

22-Jul-2012, 7:01 AM

What direction is the 1st. antenna aimed now??

Cincinnati at about 109 degree magnetic compass??

Indianapolis at about 270 degree magnetic compass??

Here are remote control A/B antenna switches , http://www.radioshack.com , # 15-1968 , or , http://www.mcmelectronics.com , # 32-4425.

GroundUrMast · 22-Jul-2012, 7:04 AM

Is your goal reception of WIPX-ION? If so, then aim at 261° compass.

If you're trying to add reliable reception of the Indianapolis stations, I have some concern about the HD7695P. Depending on what you want to accomplish, you might consider using an HD7698P mounted on a rotator. A second antenna such as the HD7698P with it's additional gain and directivity, would maximize your ability to 'chase down' weaker signals all around the compass while leaving your original antenna to serve the general viewing needs.

22-Jul-2012, 7:44 AM

Before laying out cash for a HD7698P and a antenna rotator.

As a test , aim the HD7695P antenna that you have now at the Indianapolis group at about 270 to 275 degree magnetic compass.

Scan for Channels. Are these Tv stations channels received??

WIPB-DT Real channel 23 , Virtual channel (49.1) PBS.

WTTV Real channel 48 , Virtual channel ( ? ) The CW.

WCLJ-DT Real channel 42 , Virtual channel (42.1) Trinity Broadcasting Network.

WRTV-DT Real channel 25 , Virtual channel (6.1) ABC.

WTHR Real channel 13 , Virtual channel (13.1) NBC.

WISH-TV Real channel 9 , Virtual channel (8.1) CBS.

WTTK Real channel 29 , Virtual channel (29.1) The CW.

WHMB-TV Real channel 20 , Virtual channel (40.1) LeSEA Broadcast Network , Religion.

WNDY-DT Real channel 32 , Virtual channel (23.1) MyNetwork.

WPIX-DT Real channel 27 , Virtual channel (63.1) ION.

.WXIN Real channel 45 , Virtual channel ( ? ) FOX.