Need some advice with antennas in San Diego

sandvinsd · 5-Jan-2014, 1:24 PM

Planning on getting rid of our satellite and am looking for the best antenna for OTA reception. My TV fool profile is: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...46aeb5272d0327

I can pick up the following channels from the south facing balcony using a 6-inch dipole antenna attached to a winTV tuner on my computer:
8, 10, 69, 15, 49, 51, 39
From the north facing balcony, I can get these channels:
38, 57,6, 15, 33. Some of these are coming from Tj to the south which is surprising. The signal may be bouncing off a hill to the north of the house.

One more thing is that we live in an HOA with a very nasty board when it comes to approving things. I know the FCC requires that they allow reasonable antennas so it comes down to the definition of reasonable. Anything that is too large will be problamatic with the association.

Any suggestions on antennas from the experts out there?

GroundUrMast · 5-Jan-2014, 4:25 PM

As I read the OTARD rule, I understand that the HOA has the burden of proof, not you.

Satellite antennas have a size limit, OTA TV antennas are mentioned separately with no size limit. I would suppose that if you can achieve reliable reception of all the local market signals using a single small antenna, but chose to install a very large group of antennas, you may have a hard time defending against a claim by the HOA. However, if reliable reception in your specific setting can not be achieved by any lesser means, the use of an enormous deep space telescope array could be employed provided it was "... designed to receive local television broadcast signals." and the HOA would have to just sit on a pin. The local government may be able to require a permit if the project rises more than 12' above your roof peak, otherwise they have to sit on the same pin.

see: http://www.fcc.gov/guides/over-air-r...n-devices-rule
re. the question, "Q: What types of antennas are covered by the rule?", do not apply answer #1 or #2 to your situation, only answer #3 applies to OTA television.

Much of the San Diego market is a 'two-antenna' market. In your case I'd suggest using an Antennas Direct DB8e facing 125° (compass) and an Antennacraft Y5713 pointed at 181° (compass). I would also be prepared to mast mount if required to clear obstructions.

5-Jan-2014, 4:37 PM

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As points of Reference.

The NM(dB) signal strengths of Tv stations / channels are very weak signal strength.

And have 2 Edge Path obstructions.

XETV-DT REAL UHF Channel 23 , The CW.

XHDTV-DT REAL UHF Channel 49 , MyNetwork.

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A Reference antenna height above ground is 25 feet.

25 antenna height above ground provides a good evaluation of what is receivable.

For more information.

Please make and post a tvfool report with the antenna height of 25 feet above ground.

DO NOT Delete the First Tvfool Report of 13.1 feet antenna height above ground.

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The Current Tv Channels that are being Transmitted and Received in the , USA , Canada , Mexico , are.

VHF low band channels 2 thru 6.

VHF high band channels 7 thru 13.

UHF band channels 14 thru 51.

Your location has receivable channels in the , VHF high band and UHF band.

Tvfool channel list colunms show the , REAL Channels that are Transmitted and Received.

And the , virtual numbers.

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As to the Federal Antenna Law.

The Federal Antenna Law , was and is , written to provide legal rights to protect you and millions of other people from over bearing Hoa's and etc. .

You are Not Required to seek the permission of the people of the Hoa board to install a Tv antenna at your location.

My evaluation so far is that a Tv antenna above the roof of the house will , Easy Be With In , the guide lines of the Federal Antenna Law.

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html.

sandvinsd · 6-Jan-2014, 6:06 PM

Here is the tvfool report at 25 feet.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...5b94f816fe405b

7-Jan-2014, 3:42 PM

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The 25 foot antenna height does not show that much improvement in signal strengths of the Tv stations/channels to the , South , South East.

So somewhere between 13 feet and 25 feet antenna height above ground.

The Tv stations you are after are to the , South , South East.

Install a Antennas Direct DB8e UHF Channels antenna aimed at about 148 degree magnetic compass direction.

(The UHF Channels are 14 thru 51.)

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

Use a Real and Actual magnetic compass to aim antenna.

The starting antenna aim direction is the -->starting antenna aim direction.

Most Digital Tv's have a , Signal Strength Meter , and some Digital Tv's also have a , Signal Quality Meter.

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Install a , Antenna Craft , Y5-7-13 , VHF high band channels 7 thru 13 antenna.

Aim the , Y5-7-13 antenna at about 181 degree magnetic compass direction.

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Install a , RCA , TVPRAMP1R , preamp.

The preamp has separate inputs for the , UHF antenna and VHF antenna.

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For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a , Holland Electronics , HFS-2D , 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a , Holland Electronics , HFS-3D , 3 way splitter.

Buy the , HFS-2D and HFS-3D , splitters at , http://www.solidsignal.com , or , http://www.hollandelectronics.com.

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Here are some roof top antenna mounts.

http://www.ronard.com/909911.html.
Use the , ronard(911) , 5 foot tripod antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html.
Use the , ronard(4560) , eave antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html.
Measure around the chimney and use a , ronard(2212) , ronard(2218) , ronard(2224) .

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at , http://www.solidsignal.com , buy typing , ronard(x) , in the solidsignal search box or buy from , http://www.ronard.com.

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Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. .

http://www.amazon.com.

http://www.solidsignal.com.

http://www.ronard.com.

http://www.hollandelectronics.com.

http://www.antennacraft.net.

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As always trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , have a Negative Effect on Broadcast Tv Reception and so do buildings and other obstructions including your own roof and building.

Some and not all Negative Effects are.

Absorbing and Blocking Reception.

Multi-Path Reflecting Tv Signals Bouncing All Around.

The Best Practice is to install the antenna/s at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind in the directions of reception including your own roof and house.

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The Tv/s Must Channel Scan for the , OTA=Over The Air , ATSC-Digital Broadcast Tv Stations/Channels , often named the ~ DTV Channels ~ Antenna Channels ~ Air Channels ~ in the TV SETUP MENU because the Tv transmissions travel through the Air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.

Some digital tv's will Automatic channel scan for cable tv channels.

DO NOT channel scan for cable tv channels.

Go into the TV SETUP MENU and select ~ DTV Channels ~ Antenna Channels ~ Air Channels ~.

Scan for , ATSC-Digital Broadcast Tv Stations/Channels.