Help with antenna selection

otawannabe · 22-Jul-2012, 1:41 AM

I would greatly appreciate any advice I can get on antenna selection and placement and what stations I can realistically expect to get. We are sort of in a no man's land on MD upper Eastern Shore - almost equidistant from Baltimore, DC, and Philly, but no stations any closer. We have quite a few trees around us, which has sometimes been a problem with satellite reception. We currently have Dish, but local channels (they only provide Baltimore) are sometimes there and sometimes not. We'd like to find a way to work around that. Following is the link to my signal analysis:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...99001cbe6dec04

Any advice welcome.

Thanks

22-Jul-2012, 2:13 AM

Signal strengths at the default antenna height of 10 feet , the tvfool radar plot and channel list are Very Good , in the Yellow reception zone.

With the antennas mounted at about 25 feet above ground , about the height of above the roof of the house , the signal strengths will be even better.

As always trees and tree leaves are very good at reducing and blocking Tv reception.

As always it is a good idea to get the antenna above the trees or shoot around or through a opening through the trees.

How close are the trees ( pictures will help) in the directions of Philadelphia to the north east at about 55 degree magnetic compass and Baltimore to the south west at about 260 degree magnetic compass ??

Getting a good shot , with little trees in the way , Many , many , many , many , Tv stations/channels will be received.

22-Jul-2012, 2:20 AM

How many Tv's are/will be connected??

22-Jul-2012, 2:31 AM

For reception of the Philadelphia Tv stations channels install a Winegard HD7084P antenna with a Winegard AP8700 preamp above the roof aimed at about 55 degree magnetic compass.

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

Here are some Strong and Sturdy antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com.

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box.

Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.amazon.com.

22-Jul-2012, 2:42 AM

For reception of the Baltimore area Tv stations/channels install a Winegard HD7084P antenna with a Winegard AP8700 preamp aimed at about 260 degree magnetic compass.

These will be 2 Separate antenna systems and will not be connected together on to one coax.

The 2 Separate antenna systems coaxes will go to the Tv location and connect to a remote control A/B antenna switch and the output of the A/B switch will connect to the Tv. http://www.radioshack.com , # 15-1968 , or , http://www.mcmelectronics.com , # 32-4425.

As always the starting aim direction of a antenna is the --> Starting aim direction. The antenna is then turned to the left and right to find the one direction that provides the best reception.

Very often that one best direction is the starting aim direction.

22-Jul-2012, 2:45 AM

Both Tv antenna systems do not have to be installed now.

One or the other can be installed and receive Many Tv stations channels.

No static at all · 22-Jul-2012, 3:03 AM

I would go for the Baltimore stations since Fox from Philly will likely be problematic. Fox 29 shares the same frequency as Maryland Public Television in Annapolis. A huge oversight by the FCC.

22-Jul-2012, 3:45 AM

Yes one antenna with a antenna rotator can be used , however this is not channel surfing friendly , must wait for antenna the antenna to rotate.

And not every one will agree on the direction the antenna is aimed , the result will be domestic issues.

How many Tv's are/will be connected??

22-Jul-2012, 4:33 AM

Concerning FOX and PBS.
FOX ,
http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WTXF-TV.
And
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WTXF-TV.
Are showing FOX on Real UHF Channel 42 and virtual channel (29.1).

PBS , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland_Public_Television ,
on Real UHF channel 29 , Virtual channel (67.1).

FOX on Real UHF channel 42.

PBS on Real UHF channel 29.

No conflict.

GroundUrMast · 22-Jul-2012, 7:19 AM

Quote:

No conflict.

Sorry, I'll have to disagree.

As I scan the TVFR, there are quite a few co-channel flags.

WMPT-PBS real 42 @ 228° true, power in the air, -64.1 dBm
WTXF-Fox real 42 @ 43° true, power in the air, -70.1 dBm

You'll need a F/B ratio of 30 dB to make WTXF reliable.

Then there's:
WMPB real 29
WUVP real 29

and several more...

Depending on how many TV's are going to be connected, this is a case that argues for a rotator... or a second antenna and accessory tuner: http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=2882 (OP's choice)

22-Jul-2012, 8:58 AM

I suspect that these (same channel) (co-channel) conflicts are not 100% the fault of the FCC Federal Communications Commission .

The FCC does Not , like a Super Being , hand out channel assingments and then make the Tv stations live with it.

The Tv stations choose a channel , and then are supposed to play nice.

To make a point , I know that there is at least one Tv station here in the USA that can not get along with any other Tv stations and will not give an inch on their channel assignment and has law suites on other Tv stations.

And in this area of the USA it looks like there is more then one Tv station playing hard ball.

22-Jul-2012, 9:18 AM

otawannabe:

Even so there are many and Many , Tv stations/channels to receive.

And most of the channels that have "possible" same channel/co-channel interference issues will be received , no problem.

I recommended the large directional antennas to address the issues.

Large Directional antenna receives the best in the forward direction and rejects interference from other directions.

signals unlimited · 22-Jul-2012, 10:49 AM

The rotor is the key to receiving many stations from many directions.

Use a Winegard HD7696 antenna with a Winegard AP8700 amplifier and you will receive so many channels from any selected locations that you should not have any network conflicts. "Not surfing freindly", "domestic fights". These are talking points. Use a Channel Master 9215 and enjoy many, many, many more channels.

I install in this area and always use a rotor to receive:

Baltimore, Washington, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, York, Lancaster,

22-Jul-2012, 2:38 PM

The HD7084P antenna is large directional antenna that will do a better job of rejecting interfering signals from other directions then the HD7696P antenna.

The HD7084P antenna is a All Channel antenna , channels 2 thru 51.

All the Tv channels are.

VHF low band channels 2 thru 6.

VHF high band channels 7 thru 13.

UHF band channels 14 thru 51.

The receivable channels at this location are in All 3 Tv bands.

Here are Examples , but not the only examples.

WPVI-DT - VHF low band Real channel 6 , Virtual channel (6.1) ABC.

WBPH-TV - VHF high band Real channel 9 , Virtual channel (60.1) IND.

KYW-TV - UHF band Real channel 26 , Virtual channel (3.1) CBS.

The HD7696P is designed to receive , VHF high band channels 7 thru 13 and UHF band channels 14 thru 51.

And the HD7696P antenna does not do as good of job rejecting interfering signals from other directions as the HD7084P antenna.

No static at all · 22-Jul-2012, 3:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teleview

The Tv stations choose a channel , and then are supposed to play nice.

Not true, stations must first apply for a channel assignment. Then the FCC must approve it & address any potential interference issues.

Not sure what happened with RF 42, but it is a problem for many wishing to recieve Fox 29 from Philly who are well within it's service area.

Billiam · 22-Jul-2012, 5:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teleview

I suspect that these (same channel) (co-channel) conflicts are not 100% the fault of the FCC Federal Communications Commission .

The FCC does Not , like a Super Being , hand out channel assingments and then make the Tv stations live with it.

The Tv stations choose a channel , and then are supposed to play nice.

To make a point , I know that there is at least one Tv station here in the USA that can not get along with any other Tv stations and will not give an inch on their channel assignment and has law suites on other Tv stations.

And in this area of the USA it looks like there is more then one Tv station playing hard ball.

Most likely they are the fault of the FCC. Read the portion about Short Spaced Stations.

http://www.newamerica.net/files/Wire...Innovation.pdf

They've done it in the past for FM stations which has led to interference on the FM band and I suspect it has also been done with TV especially now that we can't use the channels above 51. More channels being shoe horned into a smaller spectrum increases the risk of potential interference on the TV bands.

otawannabe · 22-Jul-2012, 6:31 PM

Many, many thanks to everyone for the help and advice. It was way more than I expected to get and I so appreciate the time you took to answer my post. I think we're ready to get started.

Thanks again.

GroundUrMast · 23-Jul-2012, 12:34 AM

Good to hear that. I was starting worry we had put you off with our 'drive in the weeds' conversation.

Best regards