Help Choosing Antenna and Location - OTTAWA

[LSTSB-ottawa]

Hello,

I would like to put an antenna in my attic and am looking for a little help choosing one. I plan to have a splitter so I can watch on 2 TVs.

Here is the link to my report:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...dfaf9431f552bc

I don't know much about this stuff and have made the following assumptions.

1. Because the signals come from 2 directions I should buy an antenna that can be pointed in 2 directions?

2. I have a rather large maple tree in my backyard, at approx 330deg True relative to the antenna...I should place the antenna as far away from it as possible?

I have looked at the following, but if anyone has better suggestions let me know.

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/...8f739fd3d0en02

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/...cbfc17d9c7en02

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/...7264aaa7f8en02

http://ottawacomputech.com/catalog/p...8419b8a67a4f4c

Thank you!

[bobsgarage]

I don't know if your links are in Canadian dollars, but here's some American suppliers, with similar antennas:

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/browse...nas/0000000768

http://www.solidsignal.com/c.asp?c=3869&d=TV-Antennas

[LSTSB-ottawa]

Thank you for the reply bobsgarage, the links were in $CAN. Any advice on which antenna would be best for my application? were my assumptions correct?

Thanks Again!

[bobsgarage]

Originally Posted by LSTSB-ottawa

Thank you for the reply bobsgarage, the links were in $CAN. Any advice on which antenna would be best for my application? were my assumptions correct?

Thanks Again!

LSTSB,

Well, I have received more help here at TV Fool than I have given and I owe a lot to Rabbit 73, Groundurmast and others. I hope one of those talented and knowledgeable guys chimes into help you.

I know enough to be dangerous . The one thing that stands out to me is the tree issue. It may be that you cannot go high enough with a practical mast or tower.

Personally, I also have a black maple directly inline with my main mast, but built an unorthodox 10' tripod (think mini tower) with 35' of mast above it on top of my roof. 8 guy wires help support it. I was able to "shoot the gap" between the top of the maple and a an adjacent oak tree, it barely makes it.



From 400 feet away up my street (gradual upgrade) hill. It looks hopeless...


I have always tried to get a pic from behind the antenna but taking a pic at ground level doesn't show what the antenna "sees".



If you are behind a large maple what you get set up now may not work in spring. Being in Canada, I assume your maple has shed it's leaves by now. You may need a temporary set up for testing and have to revamp in the spring. My neighbor who is blocked by the trees in my yard uses a bay type antenna at about 15' AGL. His only hope was to get some wayward signals above/around my trees. He uses a CM 4228 HD. He has just enough signal strength to get most channels...And of course the CM 4228 really isn't a VHF antenna either, so for VHF you would need a MCM 30-2476 or 30-2475. Best antenna value out there in a day and age when most antenna companies have dropped their VHF only antennas:

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/produc...-2476-/30-2476

I think from behind your trees you will absolutely need a "bay type" antenna as they are best at diffraction reception:

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/glossaryR.html#n8bay

Read here:

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

Good info here too:

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

Extreme measure, read at the bottom about overlapping fields etc... very interesting:

Can you post a photo of your property showing your roof and trees?

[bobsgarage]

P.S. whatever antenna you buy an adjustable tipping type can point the antenna up (think less horizontal) to catch signals that may be coming from above. I tilt mine, luckily my antennas XG 91, 30-2476 (I have 2) and the HDB91X all have a tilt adjustment but I am not sure about the bay types.



No problem, I know a way to tip an antenna with no adjustment, my tiny avatar shows it (an accident that worked out).

You may have to "walk the roof" with a signal meter to find the ideal spot, but when the maple come back in full leaf, you may have to start over!

I hope some other members can offer you advice, I can't say that I know what would work the first time.