Antenna Options for My Home

bferrara03 · 8-Aug-2014, 4:27 PM

What options do I have for an antenna in my home? It will be mounted on the roof, with the cable being split to power two TVs in my house.

Here is my report:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...e1c65815837bfd

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Brian

stvcmty · 8-Aug-2014, 6:07 PM

You are north of me.

The WGAL on real 51 is not built. WGAL applied for a translator on RF51, but after a power boost on RF8, they decided they did not need it. If you search the FCC for WGAL, there are no entries for channel 51. http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?state=&call=wgal

WHTM RF 10 is going to be hard to get. Between you and the transmitter is hilly. It is multi-path hell.

The Philadelphia stations are probably out of reliable range because of the terrain between you and them. You could aim an all band antenna at Philly but don’t expect 24/7 perfect reception.

I suggest you focus on the 300ish True stations.

You are going to want separate VHF and UHF antennas.

WHTM (ABC, virtual 27, real 10) may be a bear to get. I would aim a Y10-7-13 at WHTM. To get the aim right, I would connect a balun from the Y10-7-13 to a coax directly to whichever TV has a better signal meter. Then fine tune the aim to get the best signal possible for WHTM.

WGAL on RF8 may be a problem, they have had issues with the terrain. Fortunately you have the option to use the translator on RF 49. Either the Y10-7-13 aimed for WHTM will get WGAL on 8, or you will get WGAL on RF 49. You might even get both, and have duplicate virtual channels 8.1 and 8.2. You can delete whichever is weaker.

WGCB on RF30, virtual 49 is MeTV with religious programing, infomercials, and ST:TNG added; they have MeTV in its full schedule on a sub channel. They also recently got a 3rd sub channel. So, you can either take or leave WGCB. It is a 2 edge path and it is away from the rest of your channels, if it comes in when you optimize your UHF aim for Fox, PBS, CBS, and CW, consider it a bonus.

WPMT and WLYH are your strongest channels, so them being the outliers on your UHF grouping is a bit of a blessing. I would aim a db8e half way between them which nicely corresponds to multiple stations at 310 True. None of your UHF 300ish-degree stations need extreme gain, so you can probably use any well-built 8 bay antenna instead of the db8e if you need something less expensive. An 8 bay is recommended in your case because there is some spread to your stations so a high gain yagi might be too directional, but multipath is a concern, so a 4 bay would not be directional enough.

TV fool predicts LOS paths for a bunch of stations, but the terrain around the Harrisburg, Lancaster and York transmitters seems to breed multipath which is why the big guns (db8e and Y10-7-13) are recommended.

I have used a RCA TVPRAMP1R with an 8 bay antenna and my strongest signal being -27.4 dBm without notable overload problems. For a 2 way split you probably don’t need a preamp except for WHTM. However since the TVPRAMP1R has a UHF VHF joiner built in and WHTM really makes your situation a separate antenna case, I think it is fair to recommend a TVPRAMP1R.

8-Aug-2014, 9:36 PM

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A Simple Reception Situation , that requires big antennas.

Above the Peak of the Roof in such a manner that reception is not , obstructed , impeded , blocked , by the , attic , roof , building.

Install a , Antennas Direct , DB8e , Current UHF channel 14 thru 51 antenna.

http://www.amazon.com.

Aim 1 panel at about 350 degree magnetic compass direction.

Aim the other panel at about 320 degree magnetic compass direction.

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Here is how to aim antennas.

http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Use a Real and Actual magnetic compass to aim antennas , do not trust a , cell phone , tablet or etc. compass.

As always , the antenna aim and antenna location can be adjusted for best reception.

Most Digital Tv's have a Signal Strength Meter and some Digital Tv's also have a Signal Quality Meter.

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Install a.

http://www.antennacraft.net.

Y10-7-13 , VHF high band channels 7 thru 13 antenna.

Aim the , Y10-7-13 VHF high band antenna at about 317 degree magnetic compass direction.

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Install a.

http://www.antennacraft.net.

10G221 preamplifier.

Connect the DB8e , UHF antenna to the UHF connection of the 10G221 preamplifier.

Connect the Y10-7-13 VHF antenna to the VHF connection of the 10G221 preamplifier.

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For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a , Holland Electronics , HFS-2D , 2 way splitter.

For 3 Tv's connected use a , Holland Electronics , HFS-3D , 3 way splitter.

By the , HFS-2D , HFS-3D , splitters at , http://www.hollandelectronics.com , or , http://www.amazon.com.

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Here are some above the roof antenna mounts.

http://www.ronard.com/909911.html. Use the , ronard(911) , 5 foot tripod antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html. Use the , ronard(4560) , eave antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html. Measure around the chimney and use a , ronard(2212) , ronard(2218) , ronard(2224) .

http://www.ronard.com.

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Home Depot has , 10 foot 6 inch length , 1 and 3/8 inch diameter , TOP RAIL , chain link fence , PIPE , that make good antenna mast/pipe , the price is low at about 12 dollars.

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Install the Y10-7-13 antenna about 3 feet below the DB8e antenna on the same antenna mast/pipe.

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Also know this.

As always , trees and tree leaves , plants and plant leaves , have a Negative Effect on Broadcast Tv Reception and so do buildings and other obstructions including your own , attic , roof , building in the directions of reception , West , North West , North.

Some and not all Negative Effects are.

Absorbing and Blocking Reception.

Multi-Path Reflecting Tv Signals Bouncing All Around.

The Best Practice for Reliable Reception is to install the antennas at a location that has the least amount to no amount of obstructions of any type or kind in the directions of reception including your own , attic , roof , building.

The directions of reception are , West , North West , North.

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The Tv/s Must Channel Scan for the , OTA=Over The Air , ATSC Digital Broadcast Tv Stations/Channels , often named the ~ Antenna Channels ~ ATSC Channels ~ DTV Channels ~ Air Channels ~ in the Tv Setup Menu because the Tv transmissions travel through the Air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.

DO NOT Channel Scan for Cable Tv Channels.