Need some suggestions on antenna

[CpTChucky]

Here is my TV Signal Analysis Results. I am trying to cut the cable. There are no tress around my house so there isn't much to block the signal.

Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...5b94669e30f15b

[StephanieS]

Greetings CpTChucky,

You have a very doable TVfool plot. You are served by a cluster of translators at magnetic 249/250 that provide you the Salt Lake broadcasts.

Translators are basically low powered repeaters of full power signals. They are a double edged sword however. While you have access to the Salt Lake broadcasts the low powered nature (some running 140 watts) of these translators mean an attic mounted antenna or an indoor antenna isn't going to be a good choice. The reason being that with such a low broadcast power these signals will not have a lot of "punch" through solid materials.

Thus, it is suggested you mount an antenna outdoors above your roof either via a tripod, eave or chimney mount. Mounting supplies: http://www.solidsignal.com/cview.asp...ing%20Supplies

Further, all the translators at magnetic 249/250 are of the UHF frequency band (real channels 14 and up) which makes this a single antenna solution. As such, I recommend a Winegard PR8800 8-Bay UHF antenna orientated to magnetic 250. http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...a-%28HD8800%29. The reasoning for this recommendation is twofold: first, as a stronger, higher gain UHF design it ought to give you plenty of signal to send feeds to two TVs. Second, it's excellent pricepoint.

You do have some other signals available at magnetic 200 and 196, one of them being high-VHF (real channel 12). For the purposes of this recommendation, I haven't included the magnetic 200 and 196 signals. I wasn't able to find much info about either of the non-translator stations. If you want these signals, a second antenna would be my suggestion. There are also a bunch of translators at this heading repeating the Salt Lake broadcasts, but they are in the very weak category. I won't say too much more unless you want to discuss the 200/196 signals more.

How many TVs do you intend to feed off the antenna? How long do you imaging your coax runs being?

Overall, the Winegard PR8800 ought to serve you nicely and provide reliable service of all the signals from magnetic 249/250.

Cheers.

[CpTChucky]

Thanks for the quick response. I will look at your suggestions. I will be hooking up 2-3 tvs. My house is wired for coax but I am not sure how they are all hooked up. I will need to look. So I am not sure how far the runs will be. when you say above the roof do you mean that the antenna needs to be higher than the roof?

Thanks

[StephanieS]

I mean mounted above the roof, ideally between 3 to 5 feet. Most masts are sold in 5 foot lengths. With an eave, chimney or tripod mount, that height is easily achieved.

If you are going to feed to 3 TVs. You will get into a distribution amp situation. The channel master 3414 is an effective way to split a over the air signal into different rooms. They are available 2, 4 or 8 way models and keep signal losses down.http://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master.../dp/B001PI09SE On long runs and/or several splits, you lose quite a bit of signal. The distribution amp helps keep that from getting out of hand.

Cheers.

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Their are better antennas then the Winegard 8800 antenna.

Find antenna comparisons at , www.antennahacks.com .

For better reception install a , www.channelmasterstore.com , CM4228HD antenna aimed at about 200 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

Use a Real and Actual magnetic compass to aim antenna.

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Install a , RCA , TVPRAMP1R , preamplifier.

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For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

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

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

Buy the , HFS-2D and HFS-3D , splitters at , www.hollandrctronics.com , or , www.amazon.com .

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Here are some Above The Peak Of The Roof Antenna Mounts.

www.ronard.com/909911.html
Use the , ronard(2212) , 5 foot tripod antenna mounts.

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

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

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at , www.ronard.com , or , www.amazon.com .

[CpTChucky]

But I will not need that for just one tv right? At first I will be just hooking it up to one tv. Also for mounting I would need a tripod and mast. I am guessing that the antenna will come with mounting hardware. Is there anything else that i would need.

Thanks

[StephanieS]

For one TV, no. You'll just have a straight interrupted run of coax from the antenna to the TV. Generally the way I approach it is if you have two splits, with a good gain antenna and a reasonable run of coax, you'll not need the distribution amplifier. A splitter will suffice. Getting into three or more splits though, that's where I start to want to offset signal losses with the distribution amp.

Antennas generally come with U bolts and the mounting supplies to attach to the mast.

I would suggest a high quality run of RG-6 coax. Solid Signal has custom lengths with high quality connectors. http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...nal-connectors

Don't forget to ground your system. http://www.dennysantennaservice.com/1171010.html

Regards.