What antenna or antennas should I buy?

Cotton · 3-Jul-2015, 3:58 AM

I plan to buy an antenna to go in the attic of my condo. The height of the antenna will probably be close to thirty feet. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what antenna would do well. This is the tvfool report:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...8e032f26101f22

Thanks in advance for any help!

rabbit73 · 5-Jul-2015, 11:38 PM

Welcome to the forum, Cotton:

The performance of an attic antic antenna is difficult to predict because the signal loss is unknown. Aluminum thermal barriers, aluminum siding, stucco wire mesh, trees, and other buildings can block signals. You will need to experiment with different locations in the attic. Fortunately your signals are strong on the TVFOOL report. I suggest you try a Winegard HD7694P, aimed at 110 degrees magnetic. You shouldn't need a preamp.

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...enna-(hd7694p)

You will need an FM filter because you have some strong local FM signals that might interfere with TV reception. See attachment.

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/produc...-FM-88-/33-341
https://www.antennasdirect.com/store...on_filter.html
http://comingsoon.radioshack.com/rad...l#.VZm6PDjbJLMslow link

Cotton · 5-Jul-2015, 11:59 PM

Rabbit: Thanks for your help and the recommendation. I will look at that antenna on Amazon.

The condo is on top of a hill but there is a mountain on the South side about half a mile away. The condo has asphalt shinges and vinyl siding on the second story with no aluminum barriers that I am aware of. I had thought a Winegard WGDHD8800, an Xtreme Signal HDB91X or maybe an Xtreme Signal HDB8X 8-Bay may do okay. I have also heard very good things about the Antennas Direct 91XG.

rabbit73 · 6-Jul-2015, 12:22 AM

Quote:

I had thought a Winegard WGDHD8800, an Xtreme Signal HDB91X or maybe an Xtreme Signal HDB8X 8-Bay may do okay. I have also heard very good things about the Antennas Direct 91XG.

Those antennas are for UHF. You also have some VHF signals. It is the real channel numbers that determine what antenna to use.
VHF-Low, real channels 2-6, antennas are VERY large
VHF-High, real channel numbers 7-13
UHF, real channel numbers 14-51

Yeah, I know they call the HDB8X a UHF/VHF antenna, but I have my doubts. You are welcome to try it if you have strong feelings about it.

Cotton · 6-Jul-2015, 12:58 AM

Well, I had a WGDHD8800 at another location but I had it combined with a Radio Shack VHF-UHF Antenna. I had an RCA Amplifier with a seperate UHF and VHF input.

Thanks for the advice.

Cotton · 6-Jul-2015, 9:53 PM

I have found a Channel Master 3671. Do you think this antenna would be any better than the Winegard HD7694P you recommended. I know the 3671 is a huge antenna.

rabbit73 · 7-Jul-2015, 12:08 AM

Quote:

I have found a Channel Master 3671. Do you think this antenna would be any better than the Winegard HD7694P you recommended.

Better in what way? It does have a little more gain than the 7694, but I'm not convinced you need it.

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

The 3671 is very large because it covers all three TV bands, VHF-Low, VHF-High, and UHF. You do have WCYB on real channel 5, but you have other NBC stations that don't require that large antenna. Do you really need WCYB?

How would you get it into the attic?

Is it now open or folded?

If you really want to put it in your attic, I'm not going to stop you. It's your antenna.

Cotton · 7-Jul-2015, 2:01 AM

Well, if I bought the CM3671 it would have to go outside. It is a huge antenna, about the length and width of my car. I see very few for sale and this one is really expensive at $220.00. I guess they are discontinuing this model since most channels are going to UHF. I would guess the one you recommended would do just as well. The Winegard HD7694P is not too expensive at around $57.00 including shipping.

I appreciate your help.

ADTech · 7-Jul-2015, 3:21 AM

Quote:

I guess they are discontinuing this model since most channels are going to UHF.

Wrong, there is no such movement. Currently, about 74% of US full power stations do operate on UHF allocations. There are only about 35-40 full power low-VHF stations in the US which is why the large, all-channel antennas don't have much of a market.

Quote:

You do have WCYB on real channel 5, but you have other NBC stations that don't require that large antenna. Do you really need WCYB?

WYCB operates a channel 29 translator (the channel 28 listing in the plot appears to be a CP to move the translator to 28 ). If you can pick up the channel 29 signal, you do not need a large, all-channel antenna

That model is still in production, anyway.