Please help me decide what to buy...

[Math4728]

Hello! My family and I are looking in to dropping our satellite TV subscription in favor of free over the air TV. Unfortunately, we really don't know exactly what to do. We have an ancient antenna and really old coax cables and haven't been able to get any TV in a couple of years through the antenna.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...21939b3abdd7f7

The roof of our house is about 15 ft. above ground and the house itself is on a hill. With our current setup, the coax cable comes down from the roof, goes into our basement, and then comes up through the floor. Because of the long distance, I was thinking maybe this would need to be added in the basement, but I'm not sure:
http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Signa...301737&sr=1-20

I don't know what antenna to get, what angle the antenna should be at, whether that device is really needed for our basement, or anything really. Any and all advice would be welcome. Thanks!

[John Candle]

Post 3 more radar plots , 50 and 75 and 125 feet antenna heights. So you are saying that 4 Tv's will be connected??

[Tower Guy]

Originally Posted by Math4728

We have an ancient antenna and really old coax cables and haven't been able to get any TV in a couple of years through the antenna.

I'd get a new 7-69 antenna, aim it at 333 degrees, and connect it to a preamp at the antenna (not in the basement).

An appropriate antenna is the Winegard HD 7698P. Good preamps are the Channel Master 7777 or Winegard AP-8700.

[Math4728]

Originally Posted by John Candle

Post 3 more radar plots , 50 and 75 and 125 feet antenna heights. So you are saying that 4 Tv's will be connected??

Thank you for replying! Our reception has always been spotty, and I'd read that a device like the one I linked to would be helpful. We'll be hooking 2 to 3 things up to the antenna.

50 feet:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...2193e60db14442

75 feet:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...21939ecd8dc7e1

125 feet:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...219347e7782d5d

[Math4728]

Originally Posted by Tower Guy

I'd get a new 7-69 antenna, aim it at 333 degrees, and connect it to a preamp at the antenna (not in the basement).

An appropriate antenna is the Winegard HD 7698P. Good preamps are the Channel Master 7777 or Winegard AP-8700.

Thank you for the recommendations. So, I need a preamplifier and not the kind of thing I posted originally? I don't need both? I apologize if that is a silly question but this is all new to me.

[John Candle]

The signal strengths of the stations KBJR-DT , KDLH-DT , WDIO-DT , KQDS-DT , WDSE-DT at 50 feet antenna height are at 12 to 10 NM(dB) and thats good. The signal strengths at 17 feet (your first information) are in the negative -3.0's thats bad. The signal strengths at 75 feet and 125 feet are are from 13 to 9 NM(dB) so there is no advantage to putting the antenna at 75 to 125 feet. You can go to the >Start MAPS< part of tvfool and put in antenna heights from 17 to 50 feet and find a height that gives signal strengths of about 12 to 8 NM(dB) and put the HD7698P antenna and AP8700 preamp at that height. Do not use the distribution amplifier , the preamp will supply signal to the Tv's.

[Math4728]

Originally Posted by John Candle

The signal strengths of the stations KBJR-DT , KDLH-DT , WDIO-DT , KQDS-DT , WDSE-DT at 50 feet antenna height are at 12 to 10 NM(dB) and thats good. The signal strengths at 17 feet (your first posting) are in the -3.0's thats bad. The signal strengths at 75 feet and 125 feet are are from 13 to 9 NM(dB). You can go to the >START Maps< part of tvfool and put in antenna heights of 17 to 50 feet and find a height that gives signal strengths of about 12 to 10 NM(dB) or a little better and put the HD7698P antenna and AP8700 preamp at that height. Do not use the distribution amplifier.

Thank you very much! If the distribution amplifier is not a good idea, what would be the proper way of splitting the output from the antenna? And, what should the antenna be mounted to to attain such high heights? Should it just be a really long pole on our roof? Thanks again!

[John Candle]

The proper way of splitting is to use a 'common simple passive' 2 or 3 way splitter. A one story house with the antenna on the roof will put the antenna about 20 to 25 feet high. A 2 story house will put the antenna at about 30 maybe even 40 feet high. For your location the antenna height is a balancing act , height verses signal strength. Go to the >Start MAPS< part of Tvfool and enter heights from 17 feet to 50 feet. You are searching for a antenna height that has signal strengths of at least 10 to 8 NM(dB) of the stations I listed , 335 degree magnetic compass reading.

[John Candle]

Here are places to buy Tv antennas and etc. , http://www.3starinc.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.amazon.com

[Tower Guy]

Originally Posted by Math4728

Thank you for the recommendations. So, I need a preamplifier and not the kind of thing I posted originally? I don't need both? I apologize if that is a silly question but this is all new to me.

Using both a preamp and a distribution amplifier increases the chances of overload.

There is loss between the antenna and distribution amplifier that can never be recovered.

[GroundUrMast]

Originally Posted by Math4728

...what should the antenna be mounted to to attain such high heights? Should it just be a really long pole on our roof? Thanks again!

Telescoping masts are far less expensive than Self Supporting masts. Telescoping masts will require guy wires. In either case, safety needs to govern.

[John Candle]

I am thinking that a Tv antenna mounted 6 or 7 feet above the roof on a , 5 foot tripod mount , chimney mount , peak of the roof eave/gable mount will receive Ok.