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Old 14-Dec-2013, 4:20 AM   #1
Pablo
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Join Date: Dec 2013
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Cutting the cable cord...

Hi,
I am looking to free myself of the burdens of cable tv with a combination of over the air and hulu plus... Ive been reading quite a few posts, and have learned that there are no "one size fits all" systems. So, I beg of the experts to help point me in the correct direction as i prepare to take the plunge into ota bliss.

My TV Fool report... http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...46ae51dfa97c28

My main focus would be, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and possibly PBS..but the more, the better...

I plan to do an outside eve mount. there are some trees between my antenna location and the towers i desire, but I am near the top of the hill. I have a central media box that's about 60' from the antenna location, from there it will split to 4 tv's up to 30' away. I want to avoid rotators, as they won't work well with the autoscan on the tv's. Short of adding a tower, I'm not concerned about initial costs as I would quickly recoup from cutting out cable.
If I can also request.... As part of the recommendations, could you provide the "why" as well as the what...I'd love to learn the process.

I thank you for taking the time to educate me

Paul
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Old 14-Dec-2013, 8:56 AM   #2
teleview
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Above the Peak of the Roof in such a manner that reception is not , obstructed , impeded , blocked , by the roof and building in the directions of reception , South East , South , West , North West.

Install a , http://www.antennacraft.net , HBU44 antenna aimed at about 147 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

Use a Real and Actual magnetic compass to aim antenna.

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Install a , http://www.channelmasterstore.com , CM7778 preamp.

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For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

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

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

For 4 Tv's connected use a , HFS-4D , 4 way splitter.

Buy the , HFS-2D , and , HFS-3D , HFS-4D , splitters at , http://www.solidsignal.com , or , http://www.hollandelectronics.com.

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Here are some strong and sturdy 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 , by 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.antennacraft.net.,

http://www.amazon.com.

http://www.solidsignal.com.

http://www.ronard.com.

http://www.channelmasterstore.com.

http://www.hollandelectronics.com.

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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 Effect are

Absorbing , Blocking , Reception

Multi-Path Reflecting Tv Signals Bouncing All Around.

The Best Practice is the install the HBU44 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 your own roof and building.

Last edited by teleview; 15-Dec-2013 at 5:18 PM. Reason: Clarify information and typos.
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Old 15-Dec-2013, 5:04 PM   #3
Pablo
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 5
Thank you for your reply Teleview!
Is there a formula that's used when determining what antenna to choose? obviously VHF channels dictate some of the choice, but is it based on the dB of the signal? In an outer area like mine, would an HBU55 get "overpowered", or is it just that there is little benefit compared to the extra cost? And is the choice of the pre-amp based on the calculated loss of the cable and splitter?
Lets see if Ive put the pieces together correctly...

Weakest network signal 12.8 db + 8.2 dB antenna gain + 16 dB preamp gain - 6dB cable loss - 8 dB splitter loss = Theoretical 23 dB at the TV

Does it actually work out like that?
If so, what would be the ideal dB range at the TV?

Sorry for the twenty questions, Just hoping to learn.

After I learn how to get myself sorted, I plan to tackle a much more difficult one for my Mom....http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...46aebf6873333a
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Old 15-Dec-2013, 6:02 PM   #4
teleview
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The bigger a Directional antenna is the more directional the antenna becomes and the better the reception is in the forward direction.

The smaller the directional antenna is the less reception it has in the forward direction , and better reception at angles to the antenna.

Directional antennas such as and not limited to HBU44 antenna receive the best in the forward direction , a little less at front angles to the antenna , less at back angles to the antenna and less at the back of the antenna.

Directional antennas receive the least amount of signal directly on the sides of the antenna.

I choose the HBU44 because it is a little less directional then the HBU55.

Your location has receivable Tv stations of more then one direction.

The situation of antenna aiming is receive in the forward and also have some reception of other directions with the antenna.

The situation is to try and have the other directions of reception other then the forward direction , at angles to the directional antenna , not directly on the sides of the antenna.

It is a trade off situation , more or less reception at the front of the antenna , and have the stronger or weaker signal strength Tv stations of other directions at front angles and back angles and back of the antenna.

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Yes your flow of adding and subtracting calculations are Ok.

As to the Best signal strengths for the Tv tuner , 10 NM(dB) up to in the high 60's , low 70's , NM (dB) is good for reception.

My evaluation is that Tv tuners do well with signal strengths in the range of 40's to low 70's NM (dB).

A target figure of in the high 50's through 60's NM (dB) is good for Tv tuner reception.

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However Do Not Latch On to a number such as 55 NM (dB) as an example or some other number and try to get all signal strength to the as an example 55 NM (dB) in the antenna system by adding and subtracting antenna and amplifiers and coax lengths and splitters and etc.

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I am not really that hot on explaining any of this , the reason is , some one will latch on to a piece of information and run over a cliff with it.

The spreading of misinformation is rampant all across the internet and through out society.

Last edited by teleview; 22-Dec-2013 at 7:30 PM. Reason: Clarify information and typos.
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Old 17-Dec-2013, 3:19 PM   #5
teleview
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For your Moms house , the reception is , Yes , Difficult.

To see if reception improves at higher antenna heights above ground please make and post Tv fool reports of antenna heights at , 40 , 60 , 80 , 100 , feet.
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Old 22-Dec-2013, 2:13 AM   #6
Pablo
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 5
Thanks again for your help and info teleview.
Its people like you that make sites like this work.

The antenna showed up from Amazon/Solid Signal today, and I wanted to give an update to my progress. Perhaps it will help someone else.

First thing I did was made a 50' RG6 test lead with some extra coax i had. Put the antenna together, hooked it up direct to the TV with no amps or splitters, and set it on the deck table on the west side of the house. Scanned 23 channels right off the start. Not to bad for starters, however I noticed half were from Canada... As I was getting ready to take it up to the roof, it dawned on me that in my rush to get it set up, I put it 180* out. lol
Rechecked it in the proper direction, brought in more of the big hitters, ABC, FOX, PBS.. I then hiked it up onto the roof moving it about 20' east and 16' up higher... rescanned, dropped down to 16 channels only getting FOX, and PBS.
That worries me about my desired antenna location and the type of antenna mount I ordered (eve mount) may not work... Moving the antenna west along my upper roof ridge line, made a drastic difference in the channels i could pull in. Where its at now, I pull in all the big hitters (ABC,NBC,CBS,FOX)....except PBS, and it got dark and wet before I could experiment further.
I think the trees are the biggest factor for my situation. But its looking extremely promising that my cable TV days are coming to an end very soon

I'll update again once I put it up on the eve mount and raise it even higher. Ill try to document the process for others benefit.

Thanks again!

Last edited by Pablo; 22-Dec-2013 at 2:14 AM. Reason: typo
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Old 22-Dec-2013, 4:05 AM   #7
teleview
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Yes thank you for the report.

And Yes this is why I consistently and repeatedly go into detail about the Importance of Avoiding Obstructions of All Types and Kinds in and of the directions of receptions for the Best Reception.

And here is a Truth ,

Most question askers that come to Tvfool seeking reception information place little importance to no importance on avoiding obstructions of all types and kinds , even though I provide detailed information about avoiding obstructions of all types and kinds.

And to make point ,

Many question askers will spend Big Bucks on trying to find the Magic Antenna and Magic Amplifier that will receive reliable signal through 10 feet of Lead.

And here is a Truth ,

Many antenna sellers will tell the biggest lies about reception to separate people from their money.
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Old 22-Dec-2013, 4:06 AM   #8
Pablo
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 5
Quick question...

Will my house wide cell repeater interfere with reception? The outdoor antenna for the cell repeater is in the same spot as where I plan to place the TV antenna....(was going to put it on the same pole)

Thanks
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Old 22-Dec-2013, 4:35 PM   #9
teleview
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It is good practice to separate antennas by at least 3 feet , and 6 feet and 12 feet separation is better , to reduce antenna interaction.

It is good practice to not put Tv antennas close to other electronic and electric devices.
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Old 22-Dec-2013, 7:40 PM   #10
Pablo
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 5
Good to know... I'll Make sure to keep the distance and disable it during testing. If I suddenly have issues after turning it back on, I'll know why...

It's too nasty out today to be on the roof 30+ feet up, so I set the antenna on a 10' pole and put it back on the deck in an umbrella mount of our picnic table. lol

I am extremely happy to announce that your antenna recommendation was spot on and I can pull in every major network with the antenna pointed in one direction. Once the weather gets better, my next trick will be to get the same result on the roof, because the wife is not impressed with it on the deck. lol
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Old 23-Dec-2013, 5:12 PM   #11
teleview
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Looking at the , Digital Current Plus Pending Applications Included Tvfool Radar Report and Channel List.

How far down the channel list in the Red/Pink reception zone , USA Digital Tv stations to the , South South East , are being received??

Here is how I find Practical and Useful information about Tv stations and what Networks are being broadcast.

In the , google or yahoo , search box I type in variations of the Tv stations Call Sign.

As examples ,

kuse , kuse tv , kuse-tv , kuse ld , kuse-ld , kuse dt , kuse-dt , and so forth.

Two web sites and not the only web sites that will be found that provide a lot of Practical and Useful Information are , wikipedia and http://www.rabbitears.info.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KUSE-LD
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