Yup, Another antenna question...

westcoaster · 18-Mar-2012, 3:01 AM

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...0b869c60ea83e1

Right, I'm a refugee from a FTA satellite service that recently went in the toilet. Sadly this means I have been watching a blank screen lately. The good thing is I have prewired a coax cable up into the attic and out to the roof.
Cable run is ~100 feet long.
edit: might be 75 feet... just long enough for the dish to operate off the receiver without an amplifier....

I was busy checking out antennas in a local store and stumbled across this RCA Outdoor Yagi TV Antenna ANT751R

Was also looking at some sort of a Terk indoor/outdoor pizza box type antenna to stick up on the roof

Would that work for what I can get? I realize bigger is better but at the same time don't want this huge pigeon roost up on my roof.

Was thinking of installing it in the attic as well...

What say you?

Thanks,

Electron · 18-Mar-2012, 4:46 AM

This recommendation is based on the Current Plus Pending Application Included UHF Digital Tv Stations/Channels tvfool radar report for 03-17-2012. The Canada Tv Stations Channels and USA , KVOS-DT 35 IND , KBCB-DT 19 IND. , K24IC-D 24 PBS , Stations Channels are very strong signal strength. If the building is wood with wood or vinyl siding then install a Antenna Craft U4000 antenna indoors or in the attic or above the roof. The metal reflector rods of the U4000 will be turned from the horizontal position by lifting the metal clips and turned to the vertical position , this will get the metal reflector rods out of the way so the , >< , shaped metal reception elements can receive at the front and back of the antenna. The U4000 will be aimed at about 315 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. Here are some places but not the only places to buy the U4000 antenna. http://www.saveandreplay.com , http://www.trentondistributors.com , http://antennacraft.net

Electron · 18-Mar-2012, 4:55 AM

If the building is/has , concrete walls , concrete blocks , cinder blocks , bricks from ground to roof , big rocks for walls , metal framing construction , stucko WIRE , metal siding , metal roof , solar panels , metal backed insulation , then reception will be reduced and the U4000 antenna might need to be mounted above the roof.

westcoaster · 18-Mar-2012, 5:41 AM

Thanks for the prompt reply Electron,

On the hunt for an Antennacraft U4000.

House is typical single story wood frame with vinyl siding....

edit: I do have a monster two story stucko house directly to the east of me....

Electron · 18-Mar-2012, 6:42 AM

Can also use a , http://www.antennasdirect.com , Clear Stream 4 , CS4 antenna , remove the reflector screens.

Electron · 18-Mar-2012, 6:51 AM

Here are some examples of above the roof antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html. I do not think that Ronard antenna mounts are available in Canada , but other brands are like , Winegard or Channel Master.

Electron · 18-Mar-2012, 7:00 AM

How many tv's are/will be connected??

rickcain · 18-Mar-2012, 8:08 AM

Just wondering but what happened to your FTA?

westcoaster · 18-Mar-2012, 3:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electron

How many tv's are/will be connected??

Just one Samsung model LN-R268W S TV will be connected.

As for the FTA
The server went down March 1 over in Japan and no one has seen or heard from their representative since... meh, I sort of got my money's worth and was meaning to do the antenna for the local channel service since what I was getting was so unreliable (freezing, service outages)

Electron · 18-Mar-2012, 4:39 PM

Define what you are calling FTA.

westcoaster · 18-Mar-2012, 5:01 PM

sonicview satellite receiver and an internet connection...?

Electron · 18-Mar-2012, 5:49 PM

http://www.ftalist.com . Free to Air Satellite Tv. Does the receiver also stream tv channels over the internet. I am trying to get you to tell every one more. Not just a seven word answer. Many people read these forums and many are just learning. Clearly defined information is helpful. Elaboration of the information is helpful.

westcoaster · 18-Mar-2012, 7:44 PM

I can't say exactly how that scheme worked. It may have had some streaming as I got odd things that displayed once or twice but I did have a dish on the roof. If either the internet connection or the satellite dish was unplugged I got no service.
This was not an above board deal (couldn't have been as I had Dish network wide open) Yes, I have had all sorts of offers to "fix" my problem for $25 a year but still don't think that is any more legitimate...

At this point I am not really interested in investing any more money in this thing nor giving them any advertising. As a result I have shoved the receiver in a box and am on to the idea of an antenna for the local channels.

Electron · 18-Mar-2012, 8:29 PM

Thank you for the explaination. There was a time many years ago when I thought that getting HBO with out paying would be great. So I did it , I got HBO with out paying for it , Turned out to be a real drag , same movies over and over again. And how many movies can a person watch ?? , movie after movie after movie after movie after movie until finally , go crazy or explode. And all those commercials on the pay cable channels and pay satellite channels , what a drag!!. The pay services are always changing the encryption codes and shutting down the servers that keep the illegal boxes active. And the pay services also buy the illegal receivers to study them and then disable the illegal receivers. What a stupid game to play!!. Now days there is much to watch for free , Digital Broadcast Tv with a Tv Antenna or at very low cost like Roku/Netflix and other internet streaming services. And the Real Free To Air Satellite Tv Channels that are free to watch at no charge.

westcoaster · 19-Mar-2012, 12:44 AM

It wasn't bad when it was working, frustrating when it wasn't. It made me realize how pathetic the overpriced satellite offering is here in Canada.

On the plus side, I have got quite a bit done around the house since the tv packed it in.

westcoaster · 24-Mar-2012, 8:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electron

Can also use a , http://www.antennasdirect.com , Clear Stream 4 , CS4 antenna , remove the reflector screens.

How about an antenna direct DB4 antenna?
Seems to be the same as the antenna craft u4000 or did I miss something?

http://www.incrediblefta.com/product...irect-db4.html

Electron · 24-Mar-2012, 8:37 PM

If it is the older discontinued DB4 that looks similer the U4000 then yes can use the older DB4 , remove the reflector screen. If is the newer DB4e then no , the newer DB4e is a highly 'tuned' antenna that works the best with the reflector and will not receive well at the back of the antenna with the reflector on the antenna.

Electron · 24-Mar-2012, 10:56 PM

Scan for digital channels from time to time. New digital channels can begin transmission with no advance notice.