Clueless! What antenna would be best?

[buckeye1953]

I am so tired of paying $30 a month just to receive my local channels in Austin, Texas. Time to cut the cord!

But - I am clueless. I have no idea what all that antenna lingo (gain, noise margin, multipath, etc.) means, and I really don't want to have to learn. I just want to buy an antenna that will work for our family.

Here is our home's report: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...990005d3aabda1
The only stations we truly MUST receive are the top six, which all transmit from the same general area on an Austin hilltop about 7 miles away. We really, really do want to receive the one VHF channel - that's important to us.

We have a one-story ranch home with brick facing on three sides; the remaining side, which faces the Austin antenna farm, is wood siding.

There is a large tree in our neighbor's yard directly in the path of the transmitters. It's about 50 feet tall and about 150 feet away. There are other smaller trees scattered about in the area, but not so tall, and not directly in the way.

Other info: We don't mind having an outdoor, attic, or indoor installation. Our TV cannot be placed near the window or near the side of the house that is in line with the transmitters. Our attic is not lined with radiant barrier, and there is one layer of asphalt shingles on the roof.

Could you recommend a good antenna for our situation?

Thanks!

[GroundUrMast]

Best results come with an outdoor mount. Considering the tree, a Winegard HD7694P would be a good choice. You should expect to see far more than the top six...

http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-HD769...ywords=hd7694p

http://www.amazon.com/1GHz-Single-F-...gronding+block

3starinc.com and solidsignal.com carry a variety of mounting hardware... eave and chimney mounting avoid the need to put holes in the roof.

Yes I agree , I do enjoy the few times I can make a recommendation for Tv reception with out having to prove this point or that point.

Looks like KCWX , MyNetwork and This Tv , is transmitting on channel 5 and not channel 8.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KCWX.

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=KCWX.

Install a Winegard HD7082P All channel antenna aimed at about 232 degree magnetic compass.

Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Here are some Above the roof antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , http://www.ronard.com.

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box.

Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.amazon.com.

[buckeye1953]

Thanks to both of you for your expert advice! I will be ordering a Winegard antenna and will attempt to install it on our chimney when it arrives. I'm glad you reminded me to ground it - I'm afraid I had forgotten about that!

Goodbye, Time-Warner!

Are you ordering the HD7082P antenna?? The HD7082P antenna is designed to receive channel 5 , HD7694P antenna is not designed to receive channel 5.

[buckeye1953]

In this channel lineup, it lists TWO stations as KCWX. One appears to be broadcasting on channel 8 from the Austin antenna farm about 7 miles from here.

The other KCWX appears to be broadcasting on channel 5, but from San Antonio, about 57 miles from here.

Are these both the same stations? The KCWX website lists it as a San Antonio channel only.

Another question: If I get an antenna capable of picking up the station 57 miles away, would that be a bad antenna for picking up our local stations just 7 miles away?

AND - if one station I absolutely MUST be able to get is 7 miles from here at 227 degrees, but the one 57 miles from here is at 253 degrees, would these antennas be able to pick up BOTH?

Thanks for your advice.

Yes the Tv stations/channels to the south west will be received by the HD7082P antenna.

Yes KTBC at , 227 true , 223 magnetic compass , will be received.

And

Yes KCWX at , 253 true , 249 magnetic compass , will be received.

All the information that you and I have both provide shows that KCWX is transmitting on Real VHF low band channel 5.

The correct antenna to use is the HD7082P antenna because it is designed to receive all 3 Tv bands , VHF low Tv band channels 2 thru 6 , VHF high Tv band channels 7 thru 13 and UHF Tv band 14 thru 51.

The HD7694P antenna is designed to receive , VHF high Tv band channels 7 thru 13 and UHF Tv band channels 14 thru 51.

You can call the Tv station , ask for the engineering department , ask what the actual channels are being transmitted.

[GroundUrMast]

If the antenna has yet to be ordered, and reception of real channel 5 is important, (I enjoy the programming on "THIS" network) the Winegard HD7084P offers just a bit more gain in the low-VHF band.

When I run the numbers, it looks like reception of real channel five is going to be very close... Every bit of gain that can be had will be needed to make this one channel reliable.

It looks as if a good, high-input low-noise preamp may be needed. An Antennas Direct CPA-19 has a fraction of a dB better noise performance than similar options.

If a call to the station's engineer confirms that they have a fill-in transmitter up and running on real CH-8, then this is easier, the HD7694P would get the job done with no preamp.

The reason for the continued communication about the VHF Tv low band channels of 2 thru 6 is because of higher incidence of interference from natural earth interference such as atmospheric static and lightning and the sun and human made interference electric and electronic.

It is All Known as RF noise , Radio Frequency noise.

RF noise is all around us and through us , as a matter of fact , natural noise/radiation from the sun and the earth is a part of life , with out it there would be no life , Non.

Add to that the human made noise/radiation and the noise can disrupt Tv low band channels 2 thru 6 digital transmission and reception.

GUM likes to error on the side of a stronger signal strength and a larger antenna and a better amplifier if required for low band Tv transmission and reception to over come be stronger then the noise.

And I agree.

In the old days of Analog Tv transmission and reception on the low band channels of 2 thru 6 , the - noise - showed up in the picture , it looked like snow and wavy lines and when lightning flashed the picture would flash also.

This noise can cause the Digital picture and sound to blank out for a brief period. Very annoying.

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The Pomeranian that lives with me likes to swim in the lake and chase lizards.