Red Antenna medium uhf/vhf suggestions please?

pico · 21-Jul-2011, 9:31 PM

San Antonio-I have for several months researching TVFOOl and other resources to buy a medium directional Red outdoor uhf/vhf antenna. Years ago same address before the transition I had an OTA. It was great finding one was great. I've been with Directv for several years now but travel alot so I do not need all these services. It's been years since shopping locally here and I went to Sears, Best Buy, and Radio Shack. They all have them online not too many in stores. Walmart just recently had them online I don't see that anymore. It seems limited in store except maybe RS and trying to stay away from online buying. Any suggestions to this application and location (link). All suggestions are appreciated.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...03f3ce221cafe7

mtownsend · 22-Jul-2011, 5:04 PM

You seem to be pretty close to a lot of transmitters from all directions. The signals are rather strong, so I would recommend against any kind of antenna that includes an amp.

My initial recommendation would be the Winegard MS-1000. It's an omni-directional antenna that is non-amplified. It's still available from Solid Signal (www.solidsignal.com) for about $60.

pico · 22-Jul-2011, 5:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtownsend

You seem to be pretty close to a lot of transmitters from all directions. The signals are rather strong, so I would recommend against any kind of antenna that includes an amp.

My initial recommendation would be the Winegard MS-1000. It's an omni-directional antenna that is non-amplified. It's still available from Solid Signal (www.solidsignal.com) for about $60.

Thx for the reply. Just came back from RS and the HBU33 or 22 looked good in stock locally. It seem from my amateur research that a directional antenna is the way to go? I'll check that one out too.

mtownsend · 22-Jul-2011, 5:49 PM

A directional antenna will pick up less signal from the "sides" or the "back" of the antenna. Since you have stations coming from so many different directions, I'm not sure you'd be able to pick all of them up at the same time.

If you went with a directional antenna, you might need an antenna rotator so that you could turn the antenna as needed. A directional antenna plus rotator is fine, but it brings up its own special considerations like how do you point the antenna do deal with un-attended recording of shows, or who gets control of the antenna when different people in the house want to watch stations from different directions?

The HBU-22 and -33 are only mildly directional, so maybe you'll be lucky with them and still pick up enough signal from all sides of the antenna. However, expect to spend some time with trial and error. It's hard to tell what the optimum antenna aim will be until you try it.

Omni antennas like the MS-1000 are not recommended very often, but you seem to be in one of those rare situations where an omni antenna would actually work. Your signals come from many spread apart directions and they are all pretty strong.

pico · 22-Jul-2011, 6:06 PM

Mtsend I see where I may have not explained the desired channels. The main ones I would be happy with cbs, nbc, abc, pbs, and fox, and then whatever. They all seem to be due south towers 20 miles and less. I just got back from Lowes and in stock the had RCA Ant 751 $42 and the ant3036xr $89. I thought the ant751 might do the job and they do have a return policy. What do you think on that one. Appreciate your assistance.

John Candle · 22-Jul-2011, 6:48 PM

The ANT751 is a almost non directional antenna , the Tv transmissions are strong and the antenna will work very well at your location.

mtownsend · 22-Jul-2011, 6:53 PM

OK. If you only care about the channels from a single direction, then the ANT751 will work great. Thumbs up from me.

pico · 22-Jul-2011, 7:45 PM

MT n John thanks a million unless I get some more response ideas before tomorrow I'll go to Lowes and get it saturday. I've been checkin out the whole site and glad to be part of community.

pico · 26-Jul-2011, 4:33 PM

Well guys I installed the ANT 751 on roof and through the suggestions here on the forum I'm getting all the channels I had requested. Mostly to the south as my tvfool report link earlier showed. I;m also getting two from the northwest that are good too. Actually if I could only get those two north of me it would be perfect for all channels. I understand that it's mostly directional and being pointed south how could I ask for the two north of me (5 & 18). A rotator maybe but is it worth it or maybe just get on roof and turn it opposite north temporarily to see if it works for certain shows to view.

John Candle · 27-Jul-2011, 11:53 PM

Googling the Tv stations call signs shows that KNIC tv , channel 18 is Telefutura and tvfool in 'pending applications included' shows that KCWX 5 The CW is also KCWX 8 The CW at 136 magnetic compass. By turning the antenna from 130 magnetic compass to 191 magnetic compass a direction can be found that receives the channels of those two directions , and at the same time some tv stations of the other directions. The ANT751 is a almost nondirectional antenna.

John Candle · 28-Jul-2011, 12:34 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KCWX , Wikipedia is showing that KCWX is the MYNetwork not The CW network. Also KCWX 8 is pending so it might not be transmitting yet. You can google KCWX , get the phone number , ask to talk with the engineering department and find out the story about the channel 8 transmitter.

John Candle · 28-Jul-2011, 12:50 AM

Read and understand about , REAL Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Virtual Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Analog Broadcast Tv Channels , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=695 . Here are some but not all free tv guides , http://www.zap2it.com , http://television.aol.com , http://tv.yahoo.com , http://www.titantv.com , http://www.titantv.com , http://tv.entertainment.excite.com , http://www.tvzap.com

pico · 28-Jul-2011, 4:46 AM

So KCWX would be really great to get. I turned the ANT751 around to 191 degrees and received nothing. But i figured it transmitted with titantv.com tv guide it lists programs for this week on 2.1 and 2.2. But I'll take you up on the calling the station to get an update on this transmitter 8. It sounds like it will be closer and more powerful. By the way I got all but one channel lost when I turned it north and that was KSAT 12 ABC 136 deg. i ll check out those links thanks for the assistance.

John Candle · 28-Jul-2011, 8:36 AM

What you are saying indicates that you do not know what is the front and back of the antenna. The short metal receiving elements are the front of the antenna. The longer metal receiving elements are the back of the antenna. The front of the antenna is what is directed at the Tv transmitters.

pico · 28-Jul-2011, 1:06 PM

Sorry I'm not making myself clear but I do know which is the front. The front gets all but one channel as it's aimed towards the southeastern towers. Most of the major channels are there. The KCWX tower is northwest 191 degress as you say but I do not get this one. So I decided to experiment and moved the front end of antenna toward there. I still did not get any content. But as I did this I lost one of the southern towers station. So I put it back. I was just saying that KCWX is on titan tv broadcast guide and is also broadcasting on ch 2 on my directv but that may be because of a cable connection I'm not sure.