Directional antenna, poor signal?

Hi, I'm surrounded by weak signals either due to being in a valley or sheer distance, perhaps.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...46aecf76b4b1a6

I'd like to receive access to basic channels 2-11. It looks like they're almost all to the east in a perfect line from my location (the few that aren't can be sacrificed).

I've been browsing around a little and see there are some directional antennas available that may do the trick. It also looks like the channels I want are VHF, but I really don't know anything about this beyond what I've researched today. If a VHF/UHF combo will get me more channels than a simple UHF or simple VHF, great. The more channels the better! I don't know what kind of quality/range sacrifices might be made either way, if any, though.

Given the poor signal strength this might be asking too much, but I'd like to put the antenna in my attic (there's a good amount of space up there for a bigger antenna). On the plus side, there aren't any trees around it. The down side: my roof has concrete shingles. Possible?

Budget isn't really an issue. It makes sense to pay a few hundred for an antenna and be done than pay thousands to a cable company over the course of a lifetime.

Given my roof's concrete shingles and the poor signal in my area, is there any attic setup that could work? While an attic setup is much much preferred, if there's no way to do it I'd love to hear rooftop antenna recommendations as well (no snow, little rain, mostly sun — it doesn't need to withstand much).

Thanks in advance!

[GroundUrMast]

The hills/mountains between your location and Mt Wilson are the problem, not the distance. The strongest signals at your location are VHF, largely due to the effect that the obstructing terrain has on the UHF signals. UHF signals are more 'line of sight' than VHF and lower frequencies.

I can't offer much encouragement for an attic installation, even if there were no concrete tiles involved. The signal levels are simply too low.

I would try a Winegard HD7084P, Channel Master CM-3671 or Antennacraft HD1850. I would also include an Antennas Direct PA-18 preamplifier. Mount outdoors, clear of obstructions to increase your chances of success with the weaker signals.

I agree with GUM's evaluations and recommendations for a large all channel antenna.

The Main groups of Tv transmitters are to the , North East , East.

Aim the antenna at about 51 degree magnetic compass direction , a in between aim direction of the 2 main groups of Tv transmitters.

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

Use a Real and Actual magnetic compass to aim antenna.

As always , the starting antenna aim direction is the --> starting antenna aim direction.

The antenna aim direction can be adjusted for best reception.

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

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Here is a antenna mount that mounts to the Eave.

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

Buy ronard antenna mounts at , http://www.solidsignal.com , or , buy from http://www.ronard.com.

Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. .

http://www.solidsignal.com.

http://www.amazon.com.

http://www.winegarddirect.com.

http://www.channelmasterstore.com.

http://www.antennacraft.net.

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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 splitters at solidsignal.

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[ADTech]

Unless there's actually something on low-VHF of interest, there's no use to dealing with the bulky size of an all-channel antenna.

[GroundUrMast]

Originally Posted by ADTech

Unless there's actually something on low-VHF of interest, there's no use to dealing with the bulky size of an all-channel antenna.

I'd have to agree... I have interest in RTV and TUFF programming, which, per rabbitears.info, is carried by K02RB-D. If that and the other sub-channels are of no interest to the OP, there's little hope of any other reliable L-VHF reception.

If the interest is in a system that focuses on H-VHF and UHF, I'd go with separate cut for band antennas. For UHF, an Antennas Direct 91XG. for H-VHF, an Antennacraft Y10713.

[ADTech]

K02RB is a translator for KFLA-LD which should be receivable with a high-Band VHF antenna.

Thank you all for the information and suggestions. Really appreciate the links and instruction!

I can forego both channels 2 (K02RB) and 3 on L-VHF. I'm not exactly sure what kind of content RTV and TUFF programming is (tried to look it up, something about manly content? haha) but I take it I won't be losing any on 2 because:

K02RB is a translator for KFLA-LD which should be receivable with a high-Band VHF antenna.

Even if I do lose it, it's one channel (so it looks like I can forego the low-VHF if that makes things easier).

A few questions:

1. If I get separate H-VHF and UHF antennas, can I place them next to one another or will that mess with signal?

3. Will I get better signal if I have separate H-VHF and UHF antennas? (Sounds like it from your previous comment GroundUrMast, but I'd just like to confirm. If the signal difference is slim, I would go with one unit not only because of aesthetics, but I'm not even sure how to connect the cable to the antenna so every splitter and extra step required is a potential hurdle, not that I don't enjoy a little bit of a challenge, though— I'm here after all chasing OTA!).

2. Just for my own knowledge, what is the difference between a H-VHF/UHF antenna and a L-VHF/H-VHF/UHF antenna? Smaller size?

The Current Broadcast Tv stations/channels 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.

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Wikipedia is showing K02RB-D VHF low band channel 2 as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K02RB-D.

[GroundUrMast]

Originally Posted by tvrick

Thank you all for the information and suggestions. Really appreciate the links and instruction!

I can forego both channels 2 (K02RB) and 3 on L-VHF. I'm not exactly sure what kind of content RTV and TUFF programming is (tried to look it up, something about manly content? haha) but I take it I won't be losing any on 2 because:



Even if I do lose it, it's one channel (so it looks like I can forego the low-VHF if that makes things easier).

A few questions:

1. If I get separate H-VHF and UHF antennas, can I place them next to one another or will that mess with signal?

3. Will I get better signal if I have separate H-VHF and UHF antennas? (Sounds like it from your previous comment GroundUrMast, but I'd just like to confirm. If the signal difference is slim, I would go with one unit not only because of aesthetics, but I'm not even sure how to connect the cable to the antenna so every splitter and extra step required is a potential hurdle, not that I don't enjoy a little bit of a challenge, though— I'm here after all chasing OTA!).

2. Just for my own knowledge, what is the difference between a H-VHF/UHF antenna and a L-VHF/H-VHF/UHF antenna? Smaller size?

1. A common solution for mounting two antennas is to use a taller mast. Mount the UHF at the top and the VHF 3' or more below. You can mount side by side, but that requires separate masts. You would also want at least 3' of separation in a side by side situation.

3. I believe you'll beat the performance of a single combination antenna, but only slightly. Combining the two antennas is easy if you use an RCA TVPRAMP1R preamplifier, which has separate inputs for the UHF and VHF antennas.

2. Low-VHF is a range of frequencies lower than H-VHF & UHF. The elements of a L-VHF antenna are longer so that they will resonate at the lower frequencies.

If you want to get close to the performance of the two antenna solution, consider a Winegard HD7698P and an Antennas Direct PA-18 preamplifier. You may or may not need an FM trap (filter) between the antenna and preamplifier.

Thank you all for the help, great forum. I just ordered a Winegard HD7698P and an Antennas Direct PA-18 preamplifier. Can't wait to check them out!