ABC-can I get it?

[k man]

hello everyone, I'm new to the forum and this is my first post. We are going deep into the college tuition hole and i am looking to cut expenses. Cable t.v is next on the chopping block. I get very good reception from an indoor antenna connected behind the first floor t.v. from all stations except ABC. My question is this- can i get away with installing an antenna of some kind in the attic, or do i need an outdoor roof mounted one to add ABC to my OTA lineup.

thanks for your help
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1ddab1cdafb269

[GroundUrMast]

I believe I have successfully repaired your TV Fool report link but please double check to be sure the link points to your report.

If the TVFR is correct, WGGB and WTNH are your ABC affiliate options. In either case a single antenna indoors or in the attic is going to have a difficult time providing reliable reception of signals to the SE if its turned toward either ABC option.

I would opt for an Antennacraft Y10713 or Winegard YA1713 pointed at WTNH (196° compass) and an Antennas Direct DB4e facing about 145° compass. Combine the two antennas with an UHF/VHF combiner such as the Antennas Direct EU385CF.

Reception of the UHF signals from the SE would likely do quite well with the DB4e in the attic, but I would opt for roof mounting given the signal conditions faced by the High-VHF antenna aimed at WTNH.

[k man]

Thanks for the input and TVFR repair Groundmast. After looking at the two antennas you suggest, I see there are also some combination units available (i.e AntennaCraft 55 Element UHF / High-Band VHF Outdoor HDTV Antenna (HBU55). I'm assuming this isn't ideal for me because my location requires UHF and VHF reception from different directions? I've never installed an outdoor antenna, but I'm thinking two separate units is a tougher task than one- any thoughts here?

[GroundUrMast]

Installation of a single antenna would be easier... if only because there are fewer steps. But two antennas can be mounted on the same mast, so the task is still manageable in most cases.

Finding 10' mast section sold as 'TV antenna mast' can be a challenge but for the size antennas I've suggested, you can use chain-link fence 'top rail'. Example, http://www.homedepot.com/p/YARDGARD-...2#.UWBJBDd49Ss

Gable/Eve, Wall, Chimney and Tripod mounts are all excellent choices for supporting the mast without guy wires. I tend to favor the chimney and eve options, you can usually see the underlying material that you are attaching to, so you can be sure you're connecting to something solid.
http://www.3starinc.com/antenna_mounts_and_masts.html
http://www.solidsignal.com/cview.asp...ing%20Supplies

In this case, the H-VHF signals are weaker so I would place the H-VHF antenna at the top of the mast, the UHF antenna would mount about 4' lower on the mast. The combiner can mount on the mast as well, so you only have one cable to run from the mast to the TV (or splitter).

Here are some links to generic installation guides and related information, http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=901

[k man]

after experimenting with some smaller antenna's from local retailers and playing with location both inside and outside the house, I still cant pull reception from abc affiliate wtnh. The vhf antenna reccomendation from groundurmast is HUGE. Even if my wife and neighbor green light the mounting of the massive 10' boom model reccomended by groundurmast- How can I be sure I'll pull reception? I'd hate to do the leg work only to find out reception is weak, or intermittant.

also, what kind of amplification would i need to run for a length of coax running all the way from the roof, down to the first floor?

thanks, K man

[GroundUrMast]

Amplification is fairly easy to engineer. RG-6 coax has 6 dB or less loss per 100'. 2-way splitters should be given a loss budget of 4 dB, 4-way splitters 8 dB and 8-way splitters 12 dB. Take a look at these examples of using the NM value on your TVFR: http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=109

If the antennas you've used to test with were UHF only designs, as many small antennas are, you've not necessarily proven as much as you may think you have. What make and model antennas have you tested with?

As I look at the path profile for the two ABC options, http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...ALLTV%26n%3d12 & http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...ALLTV%26n%3d14, I have to be honest, both present rather steep obstructing terrain fairly close to your location. While my personal choice would be to whole-heartedly 'go for it', I know I would be taking some risk. My enthusiasm to 'go-for-it' would be less if I was forced to aim through trees.

[k man]

Groundurmast,
the test used an antennas direct clear stream 2v, running about 75' of coax onto the lower roof of the house (about 15' off the ground) without any splitters. I wasn't able to play with direction too much since i was alone and had no mount, but i feel like the general direction was 196 compass- the other test was a terk indoor omni directional unit with built in amplifier.

the terk pulled in more channels with better signal, but neither found abc.

Regarding trees in my neighborhood- fairly tall trees are obstructive at either direction, but they are a distance from the house in both abc option directions (196, or 42 compass) i'd estimate the tree distance from a future outdoor vhf antenna mount to be 450' away at 42 degrees, and 200' away at 196 degrees.

btw, thanks for all you help.

[ADTech]

The vhf antenna reccomendation from groundurmast is HUGE.

The hill that you're behind is even bigger. Not much signal is going to make it around that hill.

Your best bet for that stations is the large high-VHF antenna plus a VHF-only pre-amp one or more FM filters before the amp. You have local FM stations that are probably clobbering the weak channel 10 signal.

WBBG from Springfield has similarly impaired signal path due to terrain. You're probably going to need an amplified directional UHF antenna for that one as well as patience and persistence.