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5-Sep-2011, 1:12 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Posts: 3
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Antenna help in SoCal, Costa Mesa, 92626
Hi all,
I currently have an antenna in my attic, originally purchased for FM reception. It is now shared with a TiVo, via a cable splitter, and seems to do an OK job with many TV channels. However, some (like NBC 4.1) are very choppy to the point of being unwatchable. I'd like to improve my situation.
Here's my signal analysis:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...8387f0004576ba
Is it reasonable to use the same antenna also for FM reception?
Thank you!
Andrew
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5-Sep-2011, 1:32 AM
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#2
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TV Reception Maven
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Springfield, MA
Posts: 339
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Broadband VHF-UHF antennas do allow some Fm reception, but, without knowing which antenna you have, it's almost impossible to know how much help your antenna is on FM: some antennas are designed to trap out most FM signals to avoid TV interference, and we have no way of knowing if yours is such an antenna. The LA stations are fairly strong in your area, but, attic mounting always causes some attenuation of TV and FM signals. If your house has a concrete tile or a metal roof, aluminum siding, concrete block and stucco construction, or foil-backed insulation in the attic, expect those factors to severely diminish the quality of your reception. FM reception is likely to be less affected, but UHF channels, like KNBC, and likely to be almost un-watchable.
The solution is twofold: buy a good all-channel TV antenna and mount it on your roof, away from the interference you'll face in the attic. Aim your new antenna at Mount Wilson, which lies at a compass heading of 333 degrees. Use a small distribution amplifier like a Channel Master CM3414, which will eliminate the losses associated with splitting your signal.
Good choices for an all-channel antenna for your location include the Winegard HD-7082P, the Channel Master Crossfire 3679 and the AntennaCraft HD-1200. Any of these antennas will give excellent TV and FM reception in your location, and the amplifier will allow you to feed 4 devices from the one antenna without any signal loss. Good Luck.
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5-Sep-2011, 8:25 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Posts: 3
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Hmmm. Suppose I kept the existing antenna just for FM, and added on just for VHF/UHF? What should I look at then?
Thank you,
Andrew
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5-Sep-2011, 8:37 PM
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#4
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TV Reception Maven
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Springfield, MA
Posts: 339
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I would just get rid of the existing antenna and install one of the recommended antennas. Run an additional coaxial cable from the distribution amplifier: the CM3414 will power up to 4 outlets, so you should be all set: Your FM AND TV reception should be excellent
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5-Sep-2011, 8:45 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,697
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Tv Antennas and Reception
Yes use the FM antenna for the FM radio , use a coax from the Fm antenna to the FM radio , do not connect the FM the Tv antenna on to the same coax. Separate coax will be used with the Tv antenna. How Many Tv's are/will be connected?? Here are places to buy antennas and ect. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.3starinc.com , How Many Tv's are/will be connected??
Last edited by John Candle; 5-Sep-2011 at 8:52 PM.
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5-Sep-2011, 8:55 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Posts: 3
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Just one TV. More precisely, a TiVo Premier XL.
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5-Sep-2011, 9:04 PM
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#8
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TV Reception Maven
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Springfield, MA
Posts: 339
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If you are using only one TV set, you don't need the distribution amplifier: you can substitute a simple 2-way coax splitter , but use my suggestion of the fringe-area antennas: the quality of reception that you will get from one of those antennas will equal or exceed that of your existing FM antenna.
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