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Old 3-Jul-2015, 1:43 AM   #1
5Js
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Help choosing antenna

I am looking cut the cable and need help choosing an antenna. I have a budget up to $200, however, I must install in my attic. The antenna will feed a single tv with approximately 25 ft of coax needed.

Below is my tvfool report - I would like to receive ABC, PBS, FOX, CBS, and NBC (real channels 8, 10, 23, 38, 44)

Http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...8e0314bd0494ad

Any recommendations would be appreciated

My house is a single lvl ranch with an asphalt shingle roof (single layer) so I selected a 15 ft antenna height


Thanks - and let me know if I can provide any other info that will help

Last edited by 5Js; 3-Jul-2015 at 12:37 PM. Reason: Added house\roof details
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Old 4-Jul-2015, 11:52 PM   #2
rabbit73
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Welcome to the forum, 5Js:

What you want isn't going to be easy because your channels are in different directions, the signal loss in the attic is unknown, and some are 2Edge because of the rough terrain between the transmitter and your location. The best that I can figure is two VHF-High/UHF antennas, one aimed at 215 degrees magnetic and a second at 114 degrees magnetic.

I doubt that "aiming in between" will be good enough.

They are not easily combined without special custom filters, so you will need to use an A/B switch to choose which antenna is needed. Hopefully, your TV can add a channel after scan like a Sony, or you will need to rescan after every change of direction. An alternative would be to have a separate tuner for the second antenna and feed its output to the TV A/V input. The first antenna would go to the TV antenna input.

I suggest that you first buy one antenna and try it in your attic for both directions to see what is possible.

The antenna to consider would be the Winegard HD7694P. The 7697 would give a little more gain but might be too big for the attic.
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...enna-(hd7694p)
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=hd7697p

I don't think you wiil need a preamp for antenna number 1, but you might need one for antenna number 2 if the attic signal loss is excessive. Preamps to consider are the Antennas Direct Juice, Channel Master 7778, and RCA TVPRAMP1R. The RCA is the least expensive but its quality control isn't great.
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Last edited by rabbit73; 5-Jul-2015 at 1:52 AM.
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Old 5-Jul-2015, 7:22 PM   #3
rabbit73
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If your antenna tests in the attic don't work, you will have to try outside.

I hope there are no trees in the signal paths.

You have some strong local FM signals that might interfere with TV reception; you need an FM filter. See attachment.
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Old 6-Jul-2015, 6:48 PM   #4
5Js
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rabbit73 – thanks for the reply and the welcome to the forum.

I need to climb into the attic to see just how much room I have. The good news (I believe) is that the house is oriented North/South such that if I oriented an antenna down the length of the house it would be pointing 180 magnetic and out the gable end. So I should have plenty of room to point the HD7697P to 215 magnetic without issue. I do have a maple tree in front of the house, but I believe that is more at 240 magnetic depending on where I locate the antenna in the attic.

I think I’ll try that first as that should give me most of the desired channels. Then I can try 114 magnetic, but that may be a challenge considering the orientation of my house. It’s too bad I couldn’t pick up a filter for a reasonable price that would let me insert just channel 23 from a second antenna as I don’t have any other channels around that frequency. That would be preferred over an A/B switch.

I’ll see how that test goes then decide if I need a preamp or FM trap. Can I purchase just an FM trap for a reasonable price?

Thanks again for the advice.
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Old 6-Jul-2015, 7:37 PM   #5
rabbit73
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Quote:
Can I purchase just an FM trap for a reasonable price?
Yes
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/produc...-FM-88-/33-341

Quote:
It’s too bad I couldn’t pick up a filter for a reasonable price that would let me insert just channel 23 from a second antenna as I don’t have any other channels around that frequency.
Channel Master used to make a device called the Jointenna, but they are no longer available. A custom AC7 filter for real channel 23 from Tin Lee is over $100, and there would still be PBS missing. You would need to talk to one of their engineers and email your TVFOOL report to him.
http://www.tinlee.com/Matv_filters.php?active=3
http://www.tinlee.com/MATV_headend.p...IGNALINJECTORS
http://www.tinlee.com/PDF/AC7-custom...kup%20Info.pdf

Forum member mulliganman uses an AC7 to join Fox on real channel 49 from a 91XG with a VHF/UHF C2V antenna.
thread
question regarding overamplification
https://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=15025
my post
https://forum.tvfool.com/showpost.ph...6&postcount=33

But I think you are getting a little ahead of yourself; see what you can do in the attic.
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Last edited by rabbit73; 6-Jul-2015 at 8:36 PM.
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Old 6-Jul-2015, 7:46 PM   #6
5Js
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Well that is certainly a reasonable price - thx again rabbit73
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Old 6-Jul-2015, 8:33 PM   #7
rabbit73
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You could also use a HLSJ as an FM filter with the high and common ports; it blocks everything below channel 7 including the FM band.
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=zhlsj

http://www.hollandelectronics.com/ca...-Diplexers.pdf
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Last edited by rabbit73; 6-Jul-2015 at 8:37 PM.
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Old 9-Jul-2015, 4:54 PM   #8
5Js
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If I were to install 2 antenna's with one pointed toward 215 mag and one at 114 mag it looks like I could install Channel Plus NF-470 Notch Filter onto the HD7697P which would notch the 499.25 - 523.25mHz signals from the 215 mag antenna - but then I would need to figure out how to insert just the channel 23 signal from the antenna pointed at 114mag allowing me to pick up FOX.

However, I'm not sure how much attenuation the filter provides for the notch - nor how to insert just ch23 from the second antenna.
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Old 5-Nov-2015, 12:58 PM   #9
5Js
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So summer events got in the way and I never got around to installing an antenna. With summer and fall events done I need to get an antenna up.

Re-looking at my options and rabbit's advice above, I believe I may be better served by putting an antenna on the roof vice in the attic (gable mount).

Is the Winegard HD7697 still the best choice for me or would a 4bay or 8bay be preferred?
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Old 5-Nov-2015, 2:21 PM   #10
rabbit73
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Quote:
Is the Winegard HD7697 still the best choice for me or would a 4bay or 8bay be preferred?
Yes, the 7697 covers VHF-High (real channels 7-13) and UHF (real channels 14-51). The 4-bay and 8-bay antennas are for UHF only, so they wouldn't do well for 8 and 10.

An antenna designed for UHF can pick up VHF channels IF are very strong and LOS, but I don't consider ABC and PBS in that category.

If the antenna is outside, the coax shield should be grounded with a grounding block that is connected to the house electrical system ground with 10 gauge copper wire for electrical safety and to reject interference. For further compliance with the electrical code (NEC), the mast should also be grounded in a similar manner to drain any buildup of static charge, but the system will not survive a direct strike.

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Last edited by rabbit73; 5-Nov-2015 at 2:31 PM.
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