Antenna and trees?

[Pixilox]

I am looking to drop cable and am hoping to be able to put up an antenna. My TVFool report looks like this:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...46ae1ff020bc38

My house is one level on a very slight hill, but the big issue is trees. I don't have big ones but my neighbors do and they are very tall (well over 20 feet) and very leafy. I also live right next to an airport. I would love to be able to get as many channels as possible but the big ones are NBC, CBS and PBS. Any help you folks can give me would be much appreciated .

[Mike38261]

I haven't been around the forum long, but after looking at your report I would think you would have no problem getting any of the major networks, as they are all Line of Sight and within roughly 40 miles. Of course, getting above those trees would be better, they can wreak havoc on a signal (multipath issues, signal fluctuations, etc). I am currently dealing with that myself. A 30 foot mast might be your key, depending on the exact height of the trees.

I can't speak for the airport, but I do know planes can cause intermediate signal loss, and I have witnessed it here also, but my dropouts only last for a second or two at best. Not sure how the airport transmission towers would affect your signal, perhaps someone else here can comment on that. Could be an issue.

Do you plan on running multiple TV's? If so, splitting the signal will reduce it as well.

If I were in your shoes I would definitely go for it. Feels great to cut the cord to the big cable/satellite companies.

Hope that helped, I'm sure some of the senior members of the board will chime in before long.

[Pixilox]

Thanks for the input Mike . The trees seem to be the biggest obstacle right now but I think if I can position it just so I can aim where I need to in order to be tree-free. I'll just be using the antenna on one TV so I won't need a splitter. Do you think an amp will help or hinder reception?

The Main group of Digital Broadcast Tv stations/transmitters are to the , North West.

Above the Peak Of The Roof in such a manner that roof and house are not impeding and blocking reception to the , North West , South West.

Install a Channel Master CM4228HD antenna aimed at about 312 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

The signal strengths in the Green reception zone of the tvfool report are medium strong.

A antenna system amplifier will most likely not be required.

A antenna rotator will not be required.

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For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected uae a simple common 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a simple common 3 way splitter.

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Here are some above the roof antenna mounts.

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

http://www.ronard.com/Tripods%200703/4712.html.
10 foot antenna mount.

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

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

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal or buy from ronard.

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Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. .

http://www.solidsignal.com.

http://www.amazon.com.

http://www.channelmasterstore.com.

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You did not indacate the directions of the trees.

As always , trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , have a Negative effect on , OTA=Over The Air , Broadcast Tv reception with an Tv antenna and so do buildings including your own roof and building and other obstructions.

The Best Practice is to install the CM4228HD antenna at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind in the directions of reception including your own roof and house.

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The Tv/s Must Channel Scan for the , OTA=Over The Air , Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels , often named the 'Air Channels' or 'Antenna Channels' in the Tv Setup Menu because the Tv transmissions travel through the Air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.

Some digital tv's will Automatic channel scan for cable tv channels.

DO NOT channel scan for cable tv channels.

Go into the Tv Setup Menu and select , 'Air Channels' ~ 'Antenna Channels'.

Scan for channels.

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The Cable Tv System , be it , cable tv , cable internet , cable phone , or any any other type or kind of cable service Can Not be connected to the antenna system.

Yes the coaxes that are in/on the building can be used for the antenna system.

Any type or kind of cale service Must Be on Seperate Coax.

Do Not connected antenna system and cable system on to same coax/s.

[GroundUrMast]

Though the CM-4228 has some H-VHF capability, my preference would be a Winegard HD7694P. (This is a case where there are several other good choices.)

I agree, an amplifier should not be needed.

[Pixilox]

Thank you for all the help. I ordered the Winegard HD7694P and I'll be putting it up this weekend .