New to OTA - and not sure what to get. Advice needed.

[malachi]

Hello everyone,

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...d2434a726f949c



Just finished looking at my TVFOOL report, and I’m kind of stumbled. Looks like I have three directions I can point at, and pretty far away.
1. This will be an “in-attic” install. HOA and other things. I “could” put it outside, but it would be on the back side of the house, but not above the roof line. At least in the attic it’s out of the weather.
2. Would I need more than one antenna/
3. Could I use a pre-amp?
4. This is a new house. 6 months old. Never got cable, and trying to stay away from it.
Thanks,


I was looking at getting this antenna.


http://www.parts-express.com/antop-v...tenna--210-512

[Stereocraig]

(1) HOA rules regarding antennas, are generally silly and unenforceable.

http://www.fcc.gov/guides/over-air-r...n-devices-rule

HOAs are perfectly aware of this and are just hoping that you aren't.

Signals do not like to travel through building materials and any borderline signals will almost certainly be blocked.
Aiming through the roof from outside, will be even worse.

(2) Yes, multiple antennas or a rotor, depending on whether there will be multiple TVs, or if you're recording.

(3) That depends on the length of cable run, and/ or number of TVs.


(4) P.E.is a great place to do business with, but for antennas, you want to deal w/ a company that specializes in antennas.

[Tower Guy]

Point north. The other directions are low power stations. Get a combo UHF/VHF antenna. The PE antenna is not known to me. I'd be looking at an HBU 44 or HD 7694P.

[ADTech]

That PE antenna is a Chinese import also sold by MCM.

http://www.qiaohua.com/products/v-uhf-272.htm

[Stereocraig]

Originally Posted by ADTech

That PE antenna is a Chinese import also sold by MCM.

http://www.qiaohua.com/products/v-uhf-272.htm

I forget if it was P.E., or MCM that sold these under the Stellar Labs brand.
I found two of them at a yard sale, unassembled for 5.00 each. I assembled them, but haven't mounted them yet. Probably never will.


The directors are squashed in the center and then tapped into the holes in the beams. They can also work themselves loose.
I guess it would've been too costly to knurl them.

[malachi]

Thanks for the help guys,


Anyone recommend any other antennas?


I forgot to mention, I have a splitter in the attic that would go to two TV's.

[ADTech]

Stellar is MCM's house brand.

Go with TG's advice. Pick a location that offers the clearest available line of sight to the north. You likely don't need a pre-amp, I'd suggest trying without first. If you run into problems, detail them and someone can make recommendations.

[malachi]

Sweet info guys! Really learning a lot, quickly now.

I’m looking at these two.

Reason is, it looks like I could get a good bit of 7-13 channels.


http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/30-2440

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/30-2415

And I don’t want to have to buy another antenna, but the one TG recommended does not have the range as these two.


One last thing, what about a double bow-tie type, that I can point at different direction at the same time?

[Tower Guy]

The first PE antenna has a wider beam width on VHF than the two that I suggested. That means that the gain of the PE is lower, even though the spec says otherwise. I don't believe the PE spec.

Your second choice is a UHF only antenna.

[ADTech]

I also find it hard to believe those gain numbers from an antenna that short.