OTA Reception in Central Wisconsin

[robk]

I've realized that the only TV i've been watching on my cable subscription is network TV, so i'm trying to cut the cord and pickup networks via an antenna. I'm able to get ABC,CBS,PBS and FOX, but i'm missing NBC.

Here is my TV Fool report:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...cc49c4e7a56f83

I'm trying to get W27AU-D, but i'm currently unable to.

I currently have a RCA ANT751R with a RCA TVPRAMP1R preamp. I've tried this antenna on my roof pointed north west, but it wont pickup NBC.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what i can try, to get NBC?

Thanks in advance!

[GroundUrMast]

There are several ways to go...

If you want a simple single antenna installation, a Winegard HD7696P paired with an Antennas Direct CPA-19 preamp would be my choice.

If you want to keep the ANT-751, it can serve as a High-VHF antenna when connected to the a UVSJ. An Antennas Direct DB4e would be a good option as a UHF only antenna. The two antennas would offer aiming flexibility, allowing you to optimize a few more weak channels. Again, I would opt for an Antennas direct CPA-19 at the output of the UVSJ, which should be close to the UHF antenna.

[robk]

Originally Posted by GroundUrMast

There are several ways to go...

If you want a simple single antenna installation, a Winegard HD7696P paired with an Antennas Direct CPA-19 preamp would be my choice.

If you want to keep the ANT-751, it can serve as a High-VHF antenna when connected to the a UVSJ. An Antennas Direct DB4e would be a good option as a UHF only antenna. The two antennas would offer aiming flexibility, allowing you to optimize a few more weak channels. Again, I would opt for an Antennas direct CPA-19 at the output of the UVSJ, which should be close to the UHF antenna.

Thanks! I'm going to order the DB4e and CPA-19 and see if that helps things. I'd also like to put both of these in my attic. Do you see any issues with this? I like the idea that both of the antennas are small. I dont have a mast outside to mount either of them on, so i've been trying to stay with smaller antennas.

Also are you at all surprised the ANT-751 wont pickup that station? I thought with a preamp it shouldn't have any issue.

Thanks again for your help!

Both , W27AU-D and WFXS-DT are Weak signal strength in the Red Reception Zone at your location.

The Weaker the signal strength the Bigger the antenna/s are Required to be to receive More signal.

Amplifiers do not receive signal , if there is not enough signal or no signal from the antenna to amplify then even a - 5 billion power super blaster amplifier - will not produce a signal to watch.

Antennas job is to receive the signal not the amplifier.

As always , attics are not a reception friendly environment and never will be a reception friendly environment.

As always , trees and tree leaves do a real fine job of reducing or blocking reception and so do buildings and other obstructions.

It is best to install antenna/s at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind in the directions of reception.

[GroundUrMast]

You can try in the attic. You'll be starting with a disadvantage though. I expect you'll need to keep the outdoor mounting option open.

Amplifiers are only able to overcome losses on the output side, cables, splitter & poor tuner noise figure. As teleview has already said, amplifiers do not and can not make a small antenna perform like a large antenna.

I'm not surprised that the ANT-751 is performing as you describe. It's a good antenna for strong signals but is definitely not a 'deep fringe' or weak signal option.

[robk]

Thanks again guys.

I'm going to order the UHF antenna and pre-amp and see what i get. If i have to mount it outside i will. I've tried the ANT-751 in my house and it picks up PBS,FOX,ABC, and CBS, so i'm not worried about that. If the DB4e picks up NBC i'll mount it anywhere that works.

This is really a great site and i've learned a ton about OTA TV. Thanks for all the work you put into it.

The UVSJ = UHF/VHF Separator/Joiner.

Buy the UVSJ at http://www.solidsignal.com , by typing the letters , uvsj , in the solidsignal search box.

The ANT751 is connected to the VHF connection of the UVSJ and the DB4e is connected to the UHF connection of the UVSJ , the third connection of the UVSJ is connected to the CPA-19 preamp.

-->DO NOT use a common simple splitter in reverse to combine the DB4e and ANT751.<--

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.

The HFS splitters pass power from the amplifier power supply and power injector to the actual preamplifier that is mounted close to the antenna/s.


Buy the HFS splitters at http://www.hollandelectronics.com , or , http://www.solidsignal.com.

A common splitter , that also passes power , named a , power passing splitter , will also work.

Or can place the preamp power supply and preamp power injector , ahead of the splitter , before the splitter , on the input side of the splitter.

Here are some above the roof antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com.

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at http://www.solidsignal.com by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box.

[robk]

Originally Posted by teleview

The UVSJ = UHF/VHF Separator/Joiner.

Buy the UVSJ at http://www.solidsignal.com , by typing the letters , uvsj , in the solidsignal search box.

The ANT751 is connected to the VHF connection of the UVSJ and the DB4e is connected to the UHF connection of the UVSJ , the third connection of the UVSJ is connected to the CPA-19 preamp.

-->DO NOT use a common simple splitter in reverse to combine the DB4e and ANT751.<--

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.

The HFS splitters pass power from the amplifier power supply and power injector to the actual preamplifier that is mounted close to the antenna/s.


Buy the HFS splitters at http://www.hollandelectronics.com , or , http://www.solidsignal.com.

A common splitter , that also passes power , named a , power passing splitter , will also work.

Or can place the preamp power supply and preamp power injector , ahead of the splitter , before the splitter , on the input side of the splitter.

Here are some above the roof antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com.

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at http://www.solidsignal.com by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box.

This has me a little confused. I'm planing on using two antennas, one for UHF one for VHF. Because i have two antennas, how do i hook up the pre-amps?

Is this how it would look? TV -> Power supply -> Preamp -> UVSJ -> (UHF to DB5e) (VHF to ANT-751)?

[GroundUrMast]

I would use only one preamp, the CPA-19. It has better noise and overload performance.

ANT-751 connects to the VHF port of the UVSJ. The DB4e connects to the UHF port of the UVSJ. If the two antennas are not close to each other, the UVSJ would be best placed near the UHF antenna. The output of the UVSJ connects to the input of the CPA-19. The power insertion block can be close to the TV... but if you add a splitter that does not have power passing on any ports, you'll need to place the power insertion block between the preamp and splitter.

There is only -->1 preamp<-- and it is connected to output of the UVSJ.

THE ANT751 is connected the VHF connection of the UVSJ and the DB4e is connected to the UHF connection of the UVSJ.

That leaves 1 more connection on the UVSJ the third connection/is the output connection of the UVSJ and the -->1 preamp<-- is connected to that.

Use only a UVSJ to connect the ANT751 and DB4e antennas together , DO NOT use a common simple splitter in reverse to connect the ANT751 and DB4e antennas together.

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The CPA-19 preamp has 3 parts , the actual preamp that is mounted close the the antennas.

The power supply and power injector.

Power from the power supply and power injector flows through the coax to the preamp so the preamp has power to do it's job and amplify.

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If more then one Tv is connected,

If the power supply and power injector is connected to one of the outputs of a splitter then the splitter must be the type and kind of splitter that will pass power through the splitter to the preamp.

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Or can put the power supply and power injector on the input side of a splitter , in this case the power is not going through the splitter. And because the power is not going through a splitter then the power flows through the coax that the preamp is connected to.

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If 1 Tv is connected then no splitter is required. And the power supply and power injector and preamp will all be on the same coax so nothing will interupt the power to the preamp.

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-->The Point Is<-> power needs to get from the power supply/power injector to the preamp so the preamp will have power and can do it's job of amplifying the signal.

[robk]

Ok, i fully understand now.

Thanks again for all your help! I'll report back when i get the antenna and pre-amp and let you know how it goes.