Please help me select antenna

[Dinesh]

I am a newbie here and hope you guys can help me.

Colonial house. Open access to all directions.

Which antenna should I buy?
Which direction should I point to?

I am worried that I will not get WFSB CBS (8th one from top) as it is listed as CO CHANNEL as well as 2 EDGE.

Thanks,
Dinesh.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...c84f8865d6b33a

Here is the report @ 25 feet

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...c84f4a3cdbc308

[elmo]

I don't think there's an issue with the co-channel warning on WFSB. They're in opposite directions and the one you want is about 20 miles out while the other is approaching 70 miles.

I'd aim an HD7000R at about 30 deg magnetic, NorthEast. That would get you CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS & a couple others. It leaves out ABC, which is southeast of you. But you may be able to pull in an acceptable signal from it anyway. If it doesn't, you can add an additional antenna just for ABC. Since ABC is VHF, it would require an additional VHF antenna pointed at 132 magnetic. I'd suggest an AntennaCraft Y5-7-13. Join the two antennas using a "UVSJ combiner" (google that for sources). That way, you are pulling the UHF from the HD7000R and the VHF from the AntennaCraft.

[Dinesh]

I currently have Comcast TV/Internet. While I will get rid of TV, I have to keep internet & hence I cannot use the existing wiring. I used to have Dish as well and I see additional wires outside coming into my home.

All the above wires come to my basement in a central place. There I see that Comcast is using a 3-way splitter and I am currently using one of them for internet/tv/phone. I also see another 3-way splitter presumably from Dish (unused). There are lines coming to almost all my rooms.

Now I am confused which one goes where. What tools do you recommend I get so I can track? Would I also need any more tools? Cable cutters and strippers? I am also concerned about grounding. While I know nothing about these, I am willing to learn from experts like you and give it a try. Please guide me on installation.

Thanks,
Dinesh.

Above the roof in such a manner that the roof or house are not blocking reception in the directions of , south , south east , north east , install a Winegard HD7696P antenna with a Antennas Direct CPA-19 preamp aimed at about 70 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

Here are some above the roof antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html if using a eave mount use the #4560 . , http://www.ronard.com.

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box.

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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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.

Buy the HFS splitters at , http://www.solidsignal.com or http://www.hollandelectronics.com.
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These Digital TV stations should be received.

WZME Real UHF Digital channel 42 , virtual number (x) Me-Tv and IND. and RTV.

WEDW REAL UHF Digital channel 49 , virtual number (x) PBS.

WTNH-DT REAL VHF Digital channel 10 , virtual number (8.1) ABC.

WCCT-TV REAL UHF Digital channel 20 , virtual number (x) The CW and This Tv.

WVIT-DT REAL UHF Digital channel 35 , virtual number (30.1-2) NBC and COZi Tv.

WFSB REAL UHF Digital channel 33 , virtual number (x) CBS.

WTIC-TV REAL UHF Digital channel 31 , virtual number (61.1) FOX and Antenna Tv.

WEDH-DT REAL UHF Digital channel 45 , virtual number (x) PBS.

WFTY-DT REAL UHF Digital channel 23 , virtual number (x) Tel.

WCTX-DT REAL UHF Digital channel 39 , virtual number (59.1) MyNetwork.

WUVN-DT REAL UHF Digital channel 46 , virtual number (18.1) Univision.

WTNH , WCTX , WZME , WEDW , will be received at front angles and back angles to the HD7696P antenna.

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As always , trees and tree leaves do a real good job of , reflecting , reducing , blocking , Digital Tv reception and so do buildings and other obstructions including your own roof and house.

It is best to locate the HD7696P 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 house.

The Tv/s Must Channel Scan For the Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , often named the 'Air Channels' or 'Antenna Channels' in the Tv setup menu because the Tv transmissions travel through the air from the transmitting 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'.

Digital tuners can develop - Digital Glitches - that are not cleared out with a simple channel scan.

Do a Double Channels scan.
http://www.dtv.gov/rescan.html.

_______________________________________

The antenna system Must Not be connected to any live pay cable service such as and not limited to , pay cable tv , pay cable internet , pay cable phone.

If you are continuing with pay cable internet , the pay cable internet must be on a Separate coax that is not part of the antenna system.

Yes the coaxes that are in or on the house can be used for the antenna system. However No active pay cable services can be on the the coaxes that are used for the antenna system.

You can find out and label the coax wires buy using the antenna as a Test signal.

Use a small or large Digital Tv , connect the antenna coax to a coax , and then go around with the Tv to find the other end of the coax and the label the coax at the starting place where the antenna coax is connected.

[Dinesh]

Thanks Teleview & Elmo for your responses.

Unfortunately, I only have one 55 inch TV which I cannot move up and down the basement for testing purpose.

Would you be able to recommend any tools which would help me test the cable wires?

Thanks,
Dinesh.

[elmo]

I have no idea on how to trace wires, other than making an end to end connection and testing for signal. Obviously the cable lines are in use, but the sat lines should be available. You can pick up coax couplers for cheap if you need to make one-one connections. Avoid the splitters that have unused connections. My way is cheap, but time consuming. You can get an assistant on the phone to tell you what is coming in on TV, or you get good exercise back and forth.

[Dinesh]

Thanks Elmo. That is a good idea. I will let you know how it goes.

Regards,
Dinesh.

[Dinesh]

Folks at Antenna Direct advised that CV2 is a good match for me, and I bought a CV2. However, I am having problems getting WFSB 33 (CBS). I can get good reception from NBC, ABC & FOX. However, without CBS (NFL), I would not be able to cut the cable.

I have installed CV2 on the roof @ 90 Magnetic. I even tried at 56 magnetic. I do not understand why I cannot get WFSB (only 25.9 miles) as it is very close to WVIT which I get it crystal clear. I also get WXTV which is 67.9 miles away.

I am thinking of returning CV2 & getting Winegard 7698P. I would really like to stick with CV2 as I like the looks.

Please advise.

Thanks,
Dinesh.

[elmo]

So you've rescanned for antenna channels on the TV, right? Also ensure the least # of splitters/connections/etc. If you can, make the most direct run to the TV as possible. Each is a point of signal loss. As for the other channels, does your TV have a signal strength indicator, and if so, how do some of the others fare?

[ADTech]

I can see several things that might be factors.

WFSB and WCBS are known to be short-spaced without sufficient distance between them for the signal to naturally fade out of distance. This can be a problem for locations between NYC and Hartford.

If you're getting WXTV off the back of the C2V, you can bet that WCBS is also coming in much stronger than the TVFool forecast would suggest. As your signal path to WFSB is blocked and you're getting a diffracted signal, the C2V likely in a "cold" layer for WFSB's signal while getting plenty of signal from WCBS.

Before resorting to a larger antenna, here are several suggestions:

1) Try to locate a mounting site that offers a clear line of sight back towards Hartford while using the bulk of your home or some other physical object to block signals from NYC.

2) Use a longer mast to raise and lower the antenna in 6-12" increments to see if you can find a better layer for the UHF signals. Please note that these layers often change with the seasons.

3) Upgrade to a more directional UHF antenna with a steeper front-to-back rejection ratio. I'd try the first two options first as this may open yet another can of worms. You'd also likely end up even more hardware.

4). Go to the ultra-large 7-51 antenna with a rotor and good pre-amp. You can probably get decent reception out of NYC for most of the channels most of the time.

I do not understand why I cannot get WFSB (only 25.9 miles) as it is very close to WVIT which I get it crystal clear

A better comparison would be to check WUVN whose tower is adjacent to WFSB's tower. WVIT's tower is 5 miles closer.

[Dinesh]

You guys are the best!!!

I temporarily put the antenna on Hartford side of roof while blocking NYC side and directly connected to TV (instead of going using existing old DISH connection from roof to basement & up) and VIOLA, I got CBS!!! As well as NBC, ABC & FOX!!

I have not yet tried the top of the roof as we just had snow (hopefully in a few days it will be gone). Do you think I should try the top of the roof (interference with NYC?)

Should I use a preamp even if I get the channels without it as an insurance for signal reliability?

Thanks,
Dinesh.

[ADTech]

I'd let it run for a few days before deciding whether to do anything besides making a permanent mount.

[Dinesh]

Antenna is now permanently mounted. After a total of approx 100 feet of cable & 10 coax couplers Following are the readings from the signal strength.

Total bars : 10

WTIC FOX: 4 bars
WFSB CBS: 1 bar
WTNH ABC: 8 bars
WCCT CW: 8 bars
WVIT NBC: 7 bars

For now, I am getting all above crystal clear HD. Should I be concerned about CBS? Unfortunately snow has stopped and I do not know how it will perform in bad weather. Should I continue to fine tune angles? What should trigger any decision to buy preamp?

More importantly, when should I declare victory over cable, open champagne & start celebrating? Is now too soon or should I wait till Superbowl just to be sure?

Thank you all for all the encouragement.

Dinesh.