Help choosing the right equipment

[doublea082]

Ok, here goes. My tv fool report:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1dda55341bc8ad

DirecTV installed their dish on the west side of the house, facing south/southwest. I am hoping to use some of their mounting equipment because the roof just received a nice bath of larger-than-golf-ball-size hail, and it's literally covered in soft spots awaiting replacement. I'm pretty sure the satellite dish is about 15 feet in the air. If I had a good roof, I could probably get the antenna as high as 20 or so feet at the apex, but obstructing trees are not really an issue on the west side of the house so I'd rather not risk it. LOS appears to be ok overall.

Our problem in a nutshell is that the networks we want to watch the most (Kids - PBS, Wife - ABC, Myself - CBS) are all on the Hi-VHF band, and the amplified indoor antennas we've tried (RCA and Terk) have only been able to pick up these signals at 50% or less strength, unless we're willing to walk around the room holding the antenna in the magic spot (not really cutting the cord if you end up running a cord directly to the center of your living room, with dipoles blocking the kitchen and hallway). Pretty crummy considering all of the calculators show that these are green signals and shouldn't require more than a good indoor antenna to pick up). UHF signals have not been a problem, and I think if we didn't have a built-in ATSC tuner, we might be able to get a weak signal on most of those without an antenna at all!

All channels desired come from the 295-297 degree heading, magnetic north. I am hopeful that you guys can recommend a good UHF/Hi-VHF antenna stationary setup for us (antenna, amplifier, and mount).

Thank you in advance and I look forward to your responses.

A ->Simple<- Reception Situation.

Many , many , many , many , many , many , ATSC - Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels will be received.

The current Tv stations channels transmitted 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 Tv stations channels in All 3 Tv channel bands.

Recommend install a All Channel Antenna.

Install a Winegard HD7000R , All Channel Antenna , aimed at about 310 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

I Strongly recommend install the antenna UP HIGH.

Here is a antenna mount that installs on the eave of the house , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html. use the #4560 eave antenna mount.

Here is a chimney antenna mount , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html.

Buy the ronard antenna mount at solidsignal buy typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box or buy from ronard.

Here is a , J pole type antenna mount. Winegard DS3000. UP HIGH on the eave.

Or relocate the dish antenna mount UP HIGH on the eave.

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The ATSC - Digital Broadcast Tv Reception is Strong Signal Strength at your location.

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Do Not use any type or kind of antenna system amplifier.

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For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a simple common 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a simple common 3 way splitter.

For 4 tv's connected use a simple common 4 way splitter.

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Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. .

http://www.solidsignal.com.

http://www.amazon.com.

http://www.winegarddirect.com.

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As always <- , trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , do a good job of , absorbing , multi-path/reflecting , blocking , OTA=Over The Air , ATSC - Digital Broadcast Tv Reception and so do buildings and other obstructions including your own roof and house.

It is best to install the HD7000R antenna at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind in the directions of reception including you own roof and house.

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The Tv/s Must Channel Scan for the ATSC - Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels , often named the , 'Air Channels' or 'Antenna Channels' in the Tv Setup Menu because the Tv Transmissions travel through the Air from the transmittinmg 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 , 'Air Channels' ~ 'Antenna Channels'.

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Some satellite systems will except a broadcast Tv antenna connected to the system and distribute the antenna reception to the Tv's , and some satellite systems Will Not.

If you have discontinued satellite Tv service.

Then to ->Avoid<- reception and distribution problems , Disconnect and Remove ALL satellite distribution hardware , multi-swithches , multi-plexers , special couplers , amplifiers , power injectors , power supplies , and etc. .

Yes you can use the coaxes that are in or on the house for the Broadcast Tv antenna system.

[doublea082]

Thanks, this helps a little, but I have some questions.

The current Tv stations channels transmitted 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 Tv stations channels in All 3 Tv channel bands.

Ok, first let me ask this: Aren't antennas that are designed to receive VHF low band larger in size and more awkward to move than those that are VHF high band + UHF only? Also, let me emphasize that we don't have any desire in watching the channels we receive on VHF low band (and they are both extremely low power stations often classified as 'silent,' one is for certain in a language we don't speak, the other I am unsure of any programming whatsoever). I am unsure that an ALL channel antenna is best suited to meet our needs if we don't want a VHF low band antenna. I was thinking about purchasing this one which is in stock at my local RS or ordering this one. Thoughts?

Here is a antenna mount that installs on the eave of the house, http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html. use the #4560 eave antenna mount.
Here is a chimney antenna mount , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html.
Buy the ronard antenna mount at solidsignal buy typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box or buy from ronard.
Here is a , J pole type antenna mount. Winegard DS3000. UP HIGH on the eave. Or relocate the dish antenna mount UP HIGH on the eave.

Ok, in regard to this, here's what I have:
I have a flat roof on the edges of the house that climbs to the apex near/around the center of the roof. The Dish was installed two years ago on a very nice J mount, on the roof, very near the edge of the western side of the house.

Here is what I do not have:
There are no eaves to speak of on the edges, it's completely flat (which is a real pain to move around in the attic as you get closer to the edge of the framework and it becomes way less of an "attic" and much more of a "crawlspace;" also, I'm 6'5" tall so you can imagine that adds even more frustration to the equation when I'm working in my attic.

There is no chimney. I live in the coastal plains of South Texas. If you want a fireplace in your home here, it's a special order. Most houses here don't have them.

Last question...

I Strongly recommend install the antenna UP HIGH.

Every building that is built new and existing buildings that include any exterior additions in this area of South Texas must be windstorm certified to 150 MPH winds. This is most definitely major hurricane territory, I am twenty miles from Galveston Island. Just an example, this weekend we're supposed to be getting thunderstorms with winds gusting to 30 MPH. Gale force winds (39-54 MPH) are fairly common for this area, at least once a year. I know that I won't be able to make this install hurricane proof, but my basic question is: if I know 15 feet is a likely achievable stable height, shouldn't I test those signals before deciding that I need the extra 5 to 10 feet? Any higher than 25 feet would be an extreme long shot, and I would worry that at this height, I'd be replacing antennas after bad thunderstorms instead of only after hurricanes.

Thanks in advance for your help. I apologize for not having eaves or a chimney, if I had designed the house, it likely would have been designed with eaves.

[ADTech]

This is far easier than was suggested.

All you need is a small high-VHF/UHF antenna aimed at Missouri City to get the major local stations. The antenna you suggested should work fine. If you're not going to be using the dish and it's location allows a good line of sight back towards Missouri City, its location should work well enough to get started. Existing coax can usually be used but you will need to replace any multi-switches or sat splitters with hardware that's appropriate for antenna signals.

The area around Houston offers some of the easiest TV antenna reception in the country so long as the correct antenna is used and it's properly placed and aimed. I used a C2V last year in when I was in Galveston on vacation and it worked fine, even indoors. Your reports of indoor difficulties is common, especially in areas where stucco and radiant barrier are common.

Good luck and don't let this seem more complicated than it needs to be.

Well Ok then.

No low band channels.

Hurricane/Gale winds. So install antenna lower.

And require a smaller structurally stronger antenna.

The Tv signal strengths are Strong at your location , the following antennas will work Ok.

Yes the , Antenna Craft / Radio Shack , HBU-33 or HBU-22 or HBU-11.
http://www.antennacraft.net.

Winegard HD7694P.
http://www.winegarddirect.com.

Or even a Antennas Direct C5 , the C5 receives VHF high band and UHF band channels and is a Very Strong and Sturdy antenna.
http://www.antennasdirect.com.
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Remove and discard any coax connections weather boots.

To keep water out of outside , coax , connections , use the coax that has the Compression type connectors on the ends of the coax , not the Old crimp type connectors.

For outside coax ~ connections even the matching transformer (balun).

Wrap with , http://www.coaxseal.com.

Or.

At , http://www.amazon.com , scotch 2228 mastic tape 1 inch buy 10 feet.

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http://www.solidsignal.com.

http://www.amazon.com.