I'm looking to cut the cord in the coming months and want to see what you guys recommend for the best OTA setup.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...2c153c42e937a0
Currently I have a set of rabbit ear with the UHF loop that picks up channels 6.1/6.2/15.1/23.1-4 just fine. I cannot pick up 33 since it is low power the indoor antenna just won't quite it in my den. Funny but in my bedroom I have a cheap single collapsible antenna that came with a tv many years ago(like half a set of rabbit ears) and it will pick up 33.
What I would like to do is get my antennas outside. I have a 58' tower that my wireless internet radio is on, i can go on it but prefer NOT to go out the top so i don't have to pay someone to climb it. i can easily go about 30' up since the tower has a house bracket at my ridgeline.
So what i would like to do is a 2 part setup. UHF pointing north/northeast to improve the signal on the existing stations i get and hopefully pull in 33. Then either another UHF or a UHF and a VHF pointing southeast to pick up any of those channels. I'm mainly wanting to pick up the channels in the 150-156 degree range, though i may eventually want to add an antenna to get those over around 256. I am not really interested in any of the tropo stations, though if i get them i won't mind.
These would need to combine inside my attic and split out to between 2 and 5 tvs. Not real sure if i need OTA in the kids rooms as they seem to live off Netflix now. It would be easy to do though, as right now all the Directv boxes go to a SWM splitter right by where the OTA cables would come in.
Any ideas on what to look for equipment wise? I've got plenty of experience in RF, been in commercial 2 way business for over 20 years now. i just have no knowledge of what particular items are decent and what are crap in the OTA world. I would prefer to use dedicated band antennas and not combo UHF/VHF as they should have better reception/rejection characteristics.
As far as internal cable runs will go from antennas to the distro point will be maybe 20 feet. from distro to the tvs varies from 20-50 feet. all inside cables are quad shield RG6 already in place. Would a distro amp be recommended, or just a simple splitter? I don't want to run into using an amp to improve the distant stations and then it be overloaded by the closer ones.
Also, if i end up with 3 antennas what combiner setup would be recommended? I do NOT plan on any outside preamps at this time. I don't know if it would even be worth using one or not, but would like the flexibility for later if i want one.
Sorry if i rambled a little much, just trying to give as much detail as i can.