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Old 30-Aug-2016, 4:39 AM   #1
wado66
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: White House TN
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How do I read the topo map

We have a station, WSMV that most around here struggle to get. It is our NBC affiliate.
At 20ft it is 1 edge and at 30ft it is LOS.
That tells me I need my antenna at least at 30ft, correct?
Secondly, how do I read the image below?
Is my house on the left or right of the screenshot? What does the red, yellow and green mean?
Just confusing to me.
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Old 30-Aug-2016, 10:53 AM   #2
ADTech
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Quote:
That tells me I need my antenna at least at 30ft, correct?
No, the vast majority of antenna users have signal paths that are not LOS.

Quote:
Secondly, how do I read the image below?
Is my house on the left or right of the screenshot? What does the red, yellow and green mean?

Signal Analysis FAQs: http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?opti...d=57&Itemid=89

Your location is represented as the point in the lower right where the gray (ground) meets the color. The broadcast antenna is represented by the white point near the upper left of the image.
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Last edited by ADTech; 30-Aug-2016 at 11:02 AM.
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Old 30-Aug-2016, 1:25 PM   #3
rickbb
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Also note that the elevation profile, (not topo), is exaggerated to highlight the various hills, (terrain), between you and the tower. It will not show buildings and houses or any man made obstacle.

The colors indicate the signal strength, white being the strongest, blue/purple the weakest.
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Old 30-Aug-2016, 3:03 PM   #4
rabbit73
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Quote:
We have a station, WSMV that most around here struggle to get.
I'm wondering why that is true. If the profile you show is for your location, then a tvfool report would look something like this:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...e2cbe6419c71d1

Does your tvfool report look like that?
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Old 30-Aug-2016, 4:44 PM   #5
rabbit73
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This is a topo map for White House, TN:
https://www.topoquest.com/map-detail..._cell_id=48695
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Old 30-Aug-2016, 6:45 PM   #6
rabbit73
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It looks like the WSMV signal grazes the terrain just before reaching your antenna. Any trees or buildings would affect it; the tvfool report doesn't take them into consideration.



That hill doesn't do any good for the signal:



The WSMV transmitter is in a different location than the other channels listed in green.

I wonder how many people are trying to use a UHF antenna for NBC.

There is a strong local FM transmitter that might interfere with reception of VHF-High channels.

http://www.fmfool.com/modeling/tmp/3...a/Radar-FM.png

If anyone is trying to use a preamp to receive NBC, the tuner will probably be overloaded by the first four channels on the tvfool report.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg wado66TVFp2WSMV.jpg (99.8 KB, 1464 views)
File Type: jpg wado66TVFp2WSMVcu2.JPG (90.2 KB, 1439 views)
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Last edited by rabbit73; 30-Aug-2016 at 8:30 PM.
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Old 30-Aug-2016, 8:30 PM   #7
wado66
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rabbit73 View Post
I'm wondering why that is true. If the profile you show is for your location, then a tvfool report would look something like this:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...e2cbe6419c71d1

Does your tvfool report look like that?
My report looks similar.
I set it at 30ft.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...e2cbd4dffce5f3
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Old 31-Aug-2016, 1:00 AM   #8
rabbit73
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Thanks for the report. I did mine again at 30 feet, so I'm close enough that my profiles are valid.
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Old 31-Aug-2016, 2:23 AM   #9
wado66
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Location: White House TN
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Now that I have figured out my height for my antenna, found a mount bracket and mast, all I need is my antenna.
I like the Channel Master antennas. (says the noob)
How do I determine which one would suit my needs? I think I have narrowed it down to a directional but it still leaves quite a few options.
Of all shown below which one would be my best choice? Or is there another ot there that would be better?
I was also thinking I should not get an amplifier from reading some posts.?
But go ahead and get an FM trap.
Thoughts on the above setup?
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Old 31-Aug-2016, 11:15 AM   #10
wizwor
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The difference between the Masterpiece and the Advantage antennas is construction quality. The number is range. So, for any given range, you choose based on construction quality vs cost. I would get the Masterpiece 100.
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