Need help trying to get ABC and CBS in hills of California

[Brian50]

Hello all. Need some help getting major networks like Abc and Cbs. I'm located in the hills of Morgan Hill, California with lots of trees. I've tried a db8e with limited success. Picked up channel 8 nbc good and 13 fox ok at times. I had the antenna pointed 137. A friend thinks a larger antenna would help. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I'm trying to load tv fool report. My zip is 95037

[Brian50]

This is my report. http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...e2cbab90882ce4

[ADTech]

If your plot is accurate, your prospects can only be described as "very bleak". I do not see anything that makes me optimistic that you're going to get a full set of local networks, no matter what you do.

The question then comes down to "what is the minimum needed to be called a success"?

The stations from Monterrey come from two locations. The two VHF stations you picked up (with a UHF antenna, even) are on the easternmost side of the valley. The rest of the network broadcasters are on the western side of the valley and you have a 1900' ASL peak dead in your signal path. Since the UHF stations are all modestly powered, their signals are insufficient to diffract over those terrain obstructions with enough signal power to make the trip to your lower elevation, estimated at around 800'.

[rabbit73]

I agree with ADTech, it doesn't look good.

I suggest an MCM 30-2476 VHF-High antenna aimed at 137 degrees magnetic for
KSBW 8 NBC and ABC
http://www.rabbitears.info/market.ph...&callsign=ksbw
and
KCBA 13 Fox

KION CBS 32, NM -18.8 dB, is too weak for reliable reception

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/produc...-2476-/30-2476

The 30-2476 is inexpensive, has poor assembly instructions, but usually performs well.

It looks like this up in the air:







Try it without a preamp first.

[rabbit73]

This is the tvfool terrain profile for KSBW. The transmitter is at the left; your location is at the right.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...dALLTV%26n%3d2

This is the KCBA profile. Note that only about 10% of the 19.750 kW of the transmitted ERP reaches your location because of the directional pattern of the transmitting antenna.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...dALLTV%26n%3d6

KCBA terrain profile using different software:



The MCM 30-2476 has a tilt feature. It might be helpful to tilt the front of the antenna up to catch the signals from the mountain peak.