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Old 30-Jun-2013, 4:30 PM   #1
GeekasaurusRex
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1
Ditching satelite TV in Visalia CA - Need antenna recommendations

First of all, thank you for looking at this post to help get me started. Here is my plan:

I'm getting rid of my dish, and all the related equipment. I believe that my existing dish location will end up being sufficient
for an antenna location:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...05594ca5e0d775

It happens to be on the north east corner of the garage... so I guess it might work pretty well. I think it has a clear view of the north and east. I do have a 2 story home and the garage height is only at 1 story.

I did a few initial tests with a silly little antenna I built after watching this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDg5DR58dUQ. I know it isn't the best antenna or recommended antenna you can build but the idea an office supply antenna was just too entertaining to not try myself.

This silly little antenna when attached my upstairs allowed the tv to find 57 Channels, but more than half of them are shopping channels or in a lanugage I don't speak. The major network channels have better HD picutre than my hi-def dish gives me.

Of the analog channels, I've been able to determine that these channels are not important (shopping channels or not in english):
*KMCF-LP* 35* 28.0* LOS*
*KFAZ-CA* 8* 28.0* LOS*
*KFVD-LP* 15* 28.0* LOS*
*KHSC-LP* 16* 26.4* LOS*
*KSDI-LP* 33* 26.4* LOS*
*KCWB-LP* 13* 26.4* LOS*

Of the digital channels these are not in english or are shopping channels.
KGMC-DT* 43* -43.1 Ind 26.4*
*KTFF-DT* 48* -61.1 Tel 28.0*
*KFTV-DT* 20* -21.1 Uni 49.1*
*KNSO* 11* -51.1 TEL 49.0*
*KFVD-LP* 15* -15.1 28.0*
*KVVG-LD* 51* 28.0*
*KJEO-LD* 32* 49.2*
*KSDI-LD* 44* 26.4*
*KTFF-LD* 41* 49.1*
*KVHF-LD* 42* 49.2*
*KMCF-LP* 47* -35.1 26.4* LOS*
*KZMM-CD* 22* 49.0* LOS*
*KHSC-LP* 16* -16.1 26.4*
*KFAZ-CA* 18* -8.1 26.4*
*KJKZ-LP* 27* -6.1 26.4*
*KMSG-LD* --* 39* 26.4*



I've been suprised at the number of channels I can recive for my $5 antenna, but it's time to stop playing around.

I currently plan on conneting up 3 tvs. I'm going to build my own HTPC for DVR. I have already purchased a HDHomerun so I can start developing my soluton. I will likely add one more... bringing my expected maximum number of antenna connections to 5.

The house was wired with coax when it was built about 8 years ago. After removing existing dish equipment, I plan using the existing coax for my PCs and HDHomerun units.

I am good with tech and learning new tech but I have no real antenna experience. So this is what I need to know:

What antenna should I be getting? Is a roof antenna overkill based on the report?
Let's say I decide to try to get the bottom channel on the list - what's the best way to verify that it is a non-shopping english language channel before I spend a bunch of money? I worry that all the extra effort will just give me channels I do not care about unless I learn spanish.

It seems that all the unique stations in this list are less than 50 miles away. Does my NE corner location make this seem feasible in this case? Should I try this location first before going all the way up?

Should I wait to preamp until I see the results? It doesn't appear that my dish signal is preamped for 3 TVs, so i don't know if it is something obvious to the educated.

Thanks again for your advice.
GeekasaurusRex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 1-Jul-2013, 9:43 AM   #2
teleview
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Above the Peak Of The Roof install a Channel Master CM2016 antenna in such a manner that the roof and house are not blocking reception to the , north east , north , north west.

Installing the CM2016 antenna down low is not a good location , it is best to install the CM2016 Up High in the clear of obstructions to reception.

Up High is important for reliable reception.

Aim the CM2016 antenna at about 345 degree magnetic compass direction.

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

__________________

Install a Winegard LNA-100 'Boost' antenna system amplifier.

__________________

For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a simple common 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a simple common 3 way splitter.

___________________________________________________

Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. .

http://www.solidsignal.com.

http://www.amazon.com.

http://www.channelmasterstore.com.

http://www.winegarddirect.com.

__________________________________________________

As always , trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , have a Negative effect on Broadcast Tv reception and so do buildings including your own roof and house and other obstructions.

The Best Practice is to install the CM2016 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.
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The Tv's Must Channel scan for the , OTA=Over The Air , Digital Broadcast Tv stations/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'.

Scan for channels.

______________________________

Find the programing that is on the Tv stations channels buy typing variations Tv stations call sign in the , Google or Yahoo , search box.

Examples , kmph tv , kmph - tv , kmph-dt , kmph-dt 28 , kmph 28 , and etc. .

Some web sites that pop up that have Practical and Useful information are , wikipedia and rabbitears.info.

Example , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KMPH-TV.

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One tvguide Type web site is , http://www.zap2it.com

Last edited by teleview; 1-Jul-2013 at 8:02 PM. Reason: Clarify information and typos.
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