Need help on antenna selection

amigd23 · 13-Apr-2010, 7:03 PM

Here's my graph: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...9c6bb4f85b37ec

I am trying to get stations at NYC, which are at about 260 degrees. They are about 60 miles away. I think I need a powerful antenna for upper VHF and UHF signal. The problem is all that I found in the internet were very big, especially long. I understand for weak VHF signal, this might not be avoidable, but I want to listen to you guys if there is any good compact antenna? My friend has suggested Winegard HD 7698P (http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_disp...p?PROD=HD7698P). I found something like this: HD Stacker Antenna VHF/UHF/FM/digital/HD (http://estore.websitepros.com/112973...-HD/Detail.bok), which is much shorter, but is it better than the Winegard HD 7698P or at least at the same level?

Finally, a totally unrelated question, can I combine the internet signal from cable company with the OTA signal? The cable here only has internet signal, no TV signal or anything else.

Tigerbangs · 13-Apr-2010, 8:58 PM

Actually, I don't believe that either of your choices is the best one for you: Your signals from NYC are very weak, and in such situations, the best combination antennas do not do as well on UHF as a separate VHF and UHF antenna.

Complicating the situation considerably is the fact that you have two VERY strong UHF stations within 2 miles of your house. Oddly enough, the Hartford-New Haven stations are stronger at your house than the NYC stations are. We are going to have to design a very high-gain and very directional antenna array to get you NYC, and will probably employ a rotator so you can turn the antenna to see the CT stations as an alternative.

I would use two antennas on the same mast: a Winegard YA-1713 VHF high-band yagi for channels 7-13, and an AntennasDirect XG-91 UHF antenna for channels 14-51. NYC has WABC, WPIX and WNET on VHF, and the other stations are on UHF. CT has WTNH (ABC) on VHF, and the other stations are on UHF. Mount the AntennasDirect XG-91 at the top of the mast, and use a slight upward tilt of the front of the antenna to help the antenna see signals coming from over the horizon. Mount the YA-1713 4' lower on the same mast, aimed in the same direction. I would use a Channel MAster 9521a automatic rotator to mount the two antennas, and then mount the rotator to a solid mast attached on your house as high as if practical. Combine the two antennas using a Pico-Macom UVSJ antenna joiner.

Since you are SO close to the local TV transmitters, I am leery about trying to use a preamplifier, as I am very concerned that whatever preamp we try that it will overload on the local stations. If we find that we need to distribute signals to multiple TV sets, I believe that we may need to use a distribution amplifier and splitter to accomplish that task.

I have used this combination successfully in a number of fringe-area locations with great success, and believe that you will pick up everything that you are looking for using this array. Many people in your area complain of difficulty getting WNBC, but, if you DO have trouble, WVIT from Hartford puts a fairly strong signal into your area, and you should be able to see it for NBC programming. below, please find the links to the equipment, and a good installation guide to help you.

http://www.winegard.com/kbase/upload/ya-1713.pdf
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...u=853748001910
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...Splitters&sku=
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...0Rotators&sku=
http://manuals.solidsignal.com/AntInstallGuide.pdf

amigd23 · 18-Apr-2010, 5:10 PM

Thank you very much, Tigerbangs!

In your link about the joiner, you probably means http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...Combiners&sku=

I wonder if I still want to try the pre-amp, should I use two for both antennas or just one after the joiner? What will be the difference?

Thanks again!

Tigerbangs · 18-Apr-2010, 10:22 PM

I would try it without a preamp first. but with the UVSJ": you have so much signal coming from the two local transmitters that I honestly believe that you are going to have some real preamp-overloading issues. If you insist on using a preamp, use a Winegard HDP-269. which is the most overload-resistant preamp currently available. You only need one preamp, in any event. It's very easy to overestimate a preamp's worth based on analog experience, and unless you have very long coaxial cable runs (> 75' ), or plan to run multiple TV sets, a preamp is likely to do more harm than good.