Help with antenna selection - New Haven, CT

[bennor]

Looking for suggestions on antennas to improve reception. This TV Fool report shows that most major broadcast channels (CBS, NBC, and Fox) are in the red. My problem is I cannot at this time, due to living location, mount an antenna outdoor or on the roof. And I have a large hill (called West Rock) about a half mile away almost directly in line with the Hartford station antenna locations.

Currently using an indoor Terk HDTVa antenna (pointed to about 20 degrees magnetic per a compass) and can only receive the following channels with a Zenith DTT900. Some of these stations tend to drop in and out from time to time as well.
8.1 WTNH-DT (ABC)
8.2 (No Signal)
43.1 WSAH-DT (Independent)
43.2 WSAH-2 (RTV)
55.1 WLNY TV
59.1 WCTX-DT (MyNetworkTV)
59.2 Cool TV
61.1 WEDY-1 (PBS)
61.2 WEDY-2
61.3 WEDY-3
61.4 WEDY-4

Looking for suggestions on antennas (if any) to improve reception. Elsewhere suggestions have been to try using an Antennas Direct DB8 antenna + Winegard ANWI8700 amplifier or using an Channel Master 4228HD antenna + Channel Master CM7777 amplifier. Would either of these antennas/amplifiers (or others antenna/amplifier models) help in bringing in the more distant channels indicated in the above TV Fool link report?

[Electron]

Is this a , house , condo , apt. , mobile home , motor home or etc. . The best for indoor reception is wood with wood or vinyl siding?? Any type or kind of metal siding or stucko with stucko Wire will reduce or block tv reception , Concrete / concrete block / cinder block walls will reduce or block reception , Metal backed insulation will reduce or block reception , A metal roof or metal backed insulation in the attic will reduce or block reception , Solar panels will reduce or block reception , Rocks on the outside or inside of walls will reduce or block reception , Bricks from ground to roof will block or reduce reception.

[bennor]

Thanks for the quick reply. The building is an older style multi family home with wood siding (and as far as I can tell wood construction through out). No metal duct work or the like for heating. The antenna would be used on the third floor. The roof was constructed so part of it is angled such that it slopes down on the North side of the dwelling to create a small storage area facing north where an antenna, depending on it's size, could be placed in the third floor unit. Roof is basic asphalt shingles, don't know how many layers. No attic to speak of. Don't know what kind of insulation, if any, is used between ceiling and the roof. No windows facing north towards the antennas for the Hartford stations unfortunately.

[Electron]

Install a http://www.antennacraft.net U8000 In that space. Aim the U8000 at about 335 or 60 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. So that the U8000 will receive the tv stations of different directions , remove the reflector rods by drilling out the rivits that hold the flat metal clips that hold the reflector rods in place. Now the >< shaped metal reception elements will receive two directions , the front and back of the antenna. The antenna can hang from the ceiling or can put on a tripod mount , standing on the floor , the tripod need not be screwed to the floor , as it is just a stand for the antenna. http://www.ronard.com/909911.html.

[Electron]

For 2 tv's connected use a ChannelMaster CM3412 distribution amplifier. For 3 or 4 tv's connected use a CM3414 distribution amplifier. http://www.channelmasterstore.com , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.3starinc.com.

[bennor]

The U8000 appears to be UHF only, there are two stations that are VHF (both appear to be under 10 miles away). Will both of these stations also be received by the U8000?

Is the use of an amplifier (or preamplifier) needed with the U8000?

I ask about the amplifier because, if I can get the antenna to pull in the longer range stations, I was planning to have the antenna mounted close to one TV (within 10 feet), split the antenna cable to run one line to the TV, then run the second line 30 feet or so to another room where it will be split three, possibly four ways, to four tuners in the second room (a TV, and a PC with three digital OTA/Cable QAM tuners). I assume that mounting an amplifier before the first split is advisable.

[Electron]

If you own or are buying the house then here is the Federal Law that says Yes you can install a antenna on the roof. http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html. If you are renting or leasing and the owners agrees to roof top placement , then you can put the antenna on the roof. The best place is at the High point of the roof. Here are two more antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html. http://www.ronard.com

[bennor]

Originally Posted by Electron

If you own or are buying the house then here is the Federal Law that says Yes you can install a antenna on the roof. http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html. If you are renting or leasing and the owners agrees to roof top placement , then you can put the antenna on the roof. The best place is at the High point of the roof. Here are two more antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html. http://www.ronard.com

I knew about the federal OTARD rules, and am currently renting in a multi family building. The landlord said no to a request to mount an antenna on the roof/side of the building many years ago. There is no balcony, only a metal fire escape, and that fire escape is on the south side of the building . Don't know if there are town ordinances about mounting anything to a building's fire escape, but figured it probably wasn't a wise idea since I'd have to put up a 15+ foot pole and then the antenna to clear the roof line if mounted to the metal fire escape.

Any particular reason the U8000 is recommened over others like the Channel Master 4228 or Antenna's Direct DB8?

Also can these types of "bay" style antenna rest on the floor or should it be elevated off the floor? There isn't space for a 3 foot tripod style mount with the antenna attached, nor are there open rafters (the small attic type space is finish with drywall) where I was planing to put the antenna.

[Electron]

Yes the U8000 can rest on the floor. ( "to create a small storage area facing north where an antenna , depending on it's size , could be placed in the third floor unit"). One antenna and not another -> Because the construction and design of the U8000 it is easyer to remove the rods/screen then the 4228HD and the U8000 will do a better job of receiving the VHF high channels of 7 thru 13 then the DB8.

[Electron]

For the set up you are doing , you can try it with no amplifier at all. If the weak tv signals are to low of signal strength then connect a 2 way splitter to the coax from the antenna , one output of the 2 way splitter will go to the tv 10 foot away , the other output of the 2 way splitter will have a CM3410 distribution amplifier connected and the output of the CM3410 distribution amplifier will have the other splitters connected.

[Electron]

There is a Federal Law that says , Do Not mount antennas to fire escapes.

[Electron]

You can also try a http://www.antennasdirect.com , C2V = ClearStream 2 Complete , antenna. Remove the the reflector screen.

[Electron]

There are REAL Digital Tv Channels and Virtual Digital Tv channels. Tvfool shows both the REAL Digital Tv Channels and the Virtual Digital Tv Channels. The Real Digital Tv Channels are the real and actual tv channels that are transmitted and received. The Virtual digital tv channels are Not real , the virtual channels are in most cases a Legacy Tv Channel number from the Analog time of tv transmission , the Legacy channel number is displayed on the tv because that is the channel number you have always identified with.

[bennor]

Electron, thanks for the additional replies. Where is a good place to buy the U8000 from? In doing a quick look online the going rate is in the $75 range, with shipping and handling fees upwards of $20 to $30 dollars. Are there places to get this antenna cheaper or without the expensive shipping rates?

On the mounting an antenna to a fire escape, apparently it is the local fire codes that usually prohibit mounting anything to the fire escape. Seen people do it anyhow though.

[Electron]

http://www.summitsource.com

[bennor]

Originally Posted by Electron

http://www.summitsource.com

Thanks for the suggestion on a place to buy. I had previously looked at Summitsource, however the shipping fee (FedEx Ground) is almost half the cost of the antenna - $32.25. Plus they tack on an $8 for Oversized Package Special Handling Fee.

Anyone buy an Antennacraft U8000 from a website called Electotronics? They have the U8000 for $57.15 with a shipping fee, to my location, of $17.70. However it appears they may be one of those sites that claim something is in stock but isn't.

Radioshack is a possibility if they have the antenna, for $79.99 + tax, in stock (didn't yesterday, but apparently do today). They have free FedEx ground shipping (expires 1/31/12) on the antenna.

[bennor]

Update to this thread. Setup a U8000 antenna (indoors at the highest point) and oriented it towards the the north (Hartford, CT), about 60 degrees magnetic. Using a Zenith DTT900 the antenna pulls in the following channels, a bit stronger than the Terk HDTVa.

Note the antenna is not amplified.
8.1 WTNH-DT - ABC (Real Channel 10)
8.2 Bounce
43.1 WSAH-DT (Real Channel 42)
43.2 WSAH-2
59.1 WCTX-DT - MyNetworkTV (Real Channel 39)
59.2 Cool-TV
65.1 WEDY-1 - PBS (Real Channel 6)
65.2 WEDY-2
65.3 WEDY-3
65.4 WEDY-4

It would appear I would need to use some sort of an amplifier to possibly pull in the channels further away, in the Hartford area. Would a pre-amplifier like a Channel Master CM7777 or a Winegard AP8700 help pull in the distance stations/channels? Or is using a distribution amplifier like the ChannelMaster CM3412 distribution amplifier or CM3414 distribution amplifier be a better solution than the pre-amplifier?

[MisterMe]

Originally Posted by bennor

Update to this thread. Setup a U8000 antenna (indoors at the highest point) and oriented it towards the the north (Hartford, CT), about 60 degrees magnetic. Using a Zenith DTT900 the antenna pulls in the following channels, a bit stronger than the Terk HDTVa.

Note the antenna is not amplified.
8.1 WTNH-DT - ABC (Real Channel 10)
8.2 Bounce
43.1 WSAH-DT (Real Channel 42)
43.2 WSAH-2
59.1 WCTX-DT - MyNetworkTV (Real Channel 39)
59.2 Cool-TV
65.1 WEDY-1 - PBS (Real Channel 6)
65.2 WEDY-2
65.3 WEDY-3
65.4 WEDY-4

It would appear I would need to use some sort of an amplifier to possibly pull in the channels further away, in the Hartford area. Would a pre-amplifier like a Channel Master CM7777 or a Winegard AP8700 help pull in the distance stations/channels? Or is using a distribution amplifier like the ChannelMaster CM3412 distribution amplifier or CM3414 distribution amplifier be a better solution than the pre-amplifier?

When you started this thread, you were receiving five channels. Now you are receiving four. That is not progress.

[bennor]

Originally Posted by MisterMe

When you started this thread, you were receiving five channels. Now you are receiving four. That is not progress.

Its sort of a trade off with the new antenna, while the channel 55.1 WLNY TV comes in irregularly on the Terk, the 8.2 Bounce channel now comes in where as before with the Terk it shows a black screen. Its possible because the Terk is amplified that it was able to pull in the WLNY TV channel where as the new antenna cannot because it's not amplified at this time.

WLNY TV is an independent station out of NY, I'm not really concerned if I don't receive that station, I'm trying to pull in the Fox, NBC, CBS stations that are 25+ miles away from me at the moment. And it appears that I will need some sort of amplifier to possibly receive those channels.

[bennor]

Bump. Anyone have any suggestions about a pre-amp for my TVFool location and a U8000 antenna to bring in the distant stations 30 or so miles away?

Is there a good alternative to the CM-7777 preamp? The CM-7777 appears to be out of stock at Amazon and Solid Signal with no indication of when they'd be back in stock.