Is there a better choice???

[ssharnick]

Hi all.
I currently have an XTreme Signal 8 bay bow tie antenna mounted at I'd say about 30'.

Now, we live in the north end of Stratford, CT in a big "hole". To get to our area you need to come down large hills in just about all directions.

We get around 40ish channels depending on conditions. Many of them are things we don't watch. It'd be a homerun if we were able to get any CBS and FOX affiliates in our area. Actually, the local ABC affiliate (WTNH) pixelates quite badly at times also.

I've been thinking about getting rid of Optimum altogether and switching out the XTreme signal and putting up either an HD Stacker or one of Danny Hodges Ultimate antennas. Could anyone please let me know their thoughts on these antennas and if either would give me a better shot of getting the stations I mentioned?

Thank you for any insight you can offer!!

[rabbit73]

Originally Posted by ssharnick

I've been thinking about getting rid of Optimum altogether and switching out the XTreme signal and putting up either an HD Stacker or one of Danny Hodges Ultimate antennas. Could anyone please let me know their thoughts on these antennas and if either would give me a better shot of getting the stations I mentioned?

Hello, ssharnick; welcome to the forum.

Please post a TVFool report, using exact address (which will not show), so that we can see what the signals look like at your location.
http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?opti...pper&Itemid=29

What is Optimum?

[ssharnick]

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...9038295354f982

[ssharnick]

Also, Optimum is our cable provider.

[rabbit73]

Thank you for the report. WTNH ABC is on real channel 10, which is a VHF-High channel. Your antenna is primarily designed for UHF, so it doesn't perform well on WTNH.

The TVFool reports have a few errors because of a defective database. I'll try another type of report and post it soon.

[ssharnick]

A long while back I was looking into the HD Stacker antenna and Denny from Denny's Antenna said I'd get all the Connecticut stations with that antenna along with a booster. In your opinion would that be the case??

[rabbit73]

This is an image of your report:



This is a link to a report by rabbitears.info which should have a more accurate list of channels:
https://www.rabbitears.info/searchma...&study_id=6125

Originally Posted by ssharnick

Could anyone please let me know their thoughts on these antennas and if either would give me a better shot of getting the stations I mentioned?

You can use the Stacker for UHF and VHF or you can add a VHF antenna to your present UHF antenna and combine the two with a UVSJ UHF-VHF Separator-Joiner.
https://www.newark.com/stellar-labs/...vhf/dp/48Y8141

https://store.antennasdirect.com/antenna-combiner.html

[rabbit73]

Originally Posted by ssharnick

Now, we live in the north end of Stratford, CT in a big "hole". To get to our area you need to come down large hills in just about all directions.

If you click on the Transmitter Distances in the rabbitears.info report, you will see terrain profiles that show you are indeed in a hole, which makes reception more difficult.



WVIT NBC:



WFSB will be more difficult:



Using other software for the WFSB terrain profile:



This is the WFSB Longley-Rice coverage map for your area. Red is the weakest listed color; no color is weaker.

[ssharnick]

I apologize that I keep coming back!!

If I were to go to the Stacker, do you think an a pre-amp or amplifier along with a rotor would help receive more stations?

I don't mind spending a little if it'll help, but I'd rather not spend if it there's a snowball's chance in hell of getting additional stations.

Thanks for all of your help!!

[rabbit73]

Originally Posted by ssharnick

I apologize that I keep coming back!!

If I were to go to the Stacker, do you think an a pre-amp or amplifier along with a rotor would help receive more stations?

I don't mind spending a little if it'll help, but I'd rather not spend if it there's a snowball's chance in hell of getting additional stations.

Thanks for all of your help!!

I suggest you aim your antenna at about 30 degrees true and be happy with what you get. More effort will not get you much more.

Try it without a preamp first on just one TV. How many TVs are you feeding?

[ssharnick]

3 or 4 TVs...but it would be 2 simultaneously max

[rabbit73]

Originally Posted by ssharnick

3 or 4 TVs...but it would be 2 simultaneously max

It doesn't matter if they are off or on, the splitter loss stays the same.

If the signals are OK with one TV (with preamp if needed), add a 4-way splitter.
If the signals are then too weak, replace the splitter with a CM 3414 which is a distribution amp.

You have two strong local FM transmitters that might interfere with the reception of WTNH, but they are in a different direction.

http://www.fmfool.com/modeling/tmp/1...6/Radar-FM.png

Please be aware that trees will block TV signals, especially UHF.
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/siting.html
scroll down to Trees and UHF

[JoeAZ]

I am using a different methodology to see what is possible for
your reception. I am unable to find any "hole" in North Stratford,
CT you speak of. Can you provide some street names within the
"hole?" That would be helpful in answering your questions.

[Tower Guy]

The stacker is a good antenna, but it is not optimum for you. Yes, you need to add VHF ability to your existing UHF antenna, but you need your VHF and UHF antennas aimed in different directions. Consider adding a ANT 751 to your existing antenna using a UVSJ. Aim the VHF at WTNH. You’d ignore the UHF ability if the ‘751. Then you can optimize the aiming of your UHF antenna for the other stations you want.

[bobsgarage]

I agree with the group here that you don't need a UHF / VHF antenna combo which would rule out the Denny's Stacker.

Since you only need to enhance your VHF High, I recommend the Stellar labs 30 - 2476. It's a great antenna and has a lot of value. Not expensive and very durable. And I'd be willing to place a bet that it's VHF reception is better than the Denny's Stacker.

Get the UVSJ, combine them and see what you get. Another nice feature about the 30 - 2476 is that you can angle it and point it at the transmitter. You can get a lot of angle if you need it.

[ssharnick]

Originally Posted by JoeAZ

I am using a different methodology to see what is possible for
your reception. I am unable to find any "hole" in North Stratford,
CT you speak of. Can you provide some street names within the
"hole?" That would be helpful in answering your questions.

The streets near me are Cutspring Road and Chapel Street

[ssharnick]

Originally Posted by Tower Guy

The stacker is a good antenna, but it is not optimum for you. Yes, you need to add VHF ability to your existing UHF antenna, but you need your VHF and UHF antennas aimed in different directions. Consider adding a ANT 751 to your existing antenna using a UVSJ. Aim the VHF at WTNH. You’d ignore the UHF ability if the ‘751. Then you can optimize the aiming of your UHF antenna for the other stations you want.

Funny...I had had a 751 at one time but got very few stations with it...I'm assuming I did get WTNH, but can't remember. It's before I had any idea of different antennas for UHF and VHF. It's when I first started "playing" with going over to an antenna. Do you see any way I'll be able to pick up the CBS affiliate WFSB? At one time I actually picked up WCBS out of NY which is in the opposite direction of the antenna, but they raised some power lines up higher in the direction of NY and that did away with WCBS.

[JoeAZ]

Greetings,
From the area of Cutspring Rd and Chapel St I show the
following at 50' AGL.

Callsign Chan Network Dist
(mi) Path NM
(dB)
WZME 42 (43.1) 8.9 LOS 64.5
WFTY-DT 23 Tel 25.4 LOS 54.9
WTNH-DT 10 (8.1) ABC 16.0 2Edge 40.3
WLNY-DT 47 (55.1) Ind 25.7 LOS 35.1
WCBS-TV 22 CBS 25.7 LOS 34.3
WCTX-DT 39 (59.1) MyN 16.0 2Edge 24.9
WEDY 41 13.3 2Edge 23.0
WTXX-LD -- 34 16.8 2Edge 13.9
W26CE 25 (26.1) 32.1 LOS 12.6
WABC-TV 7 ABC 58.5 2Edge 11.9
WJLP 3 (33.1) 55.6 2Edge 11.0
WVIT-DT 35 (30.1) NBC 35.7 2Edge 5.8
WPIX 11 (11.1) CW 58.6 2Edge 2.0
WXTV-DT 40 (41.1) Uni 55.9 2Edge 0.4
WTIC-TV 34 Fox 35.9 2Edge -0.5
WCBS-DT 33 (2.1) CBS 55.9 2Edge -0.5
WFSB -- 36 CBS 41.0 2Edge -0.8

There is a translator for WCBS currently on Rf 22 that you should
have no issue receiving. For starters, I would rotate your current
antenna toward the WCBS Long Island translator and see what you
get. If you get a decent signal, then you need to understand you
will need two antennas or a rotor to get all your stations. If you
do not get a decent signal, then I would try raising the antenna
above the tree line or about 50' AGL. If that works, then you know
you'll need to raise the antenna and will still need either two antennas
or a rotor. You will need to experiment with the height and location
of the antenna. Try avoid any nearby trees or obstacles which will
reduce your chances for success. When aiming, remember that
dead on to the transmitter doesn't always give the best reception.
Let us know how things work out.

[ssharnick]

Originally Posted by JoeAZ

Greetings,
From the area of Cutspring Rd and Chapel St I show the
following at 50' AGL.

Callsign Chan Network Dist
(mi) Path NM
(dB)
WZME 42 (43.1) 8.9 LOS 64.5
WFTY-DT 23 Tel 25.4 LOS 54.9
WTNH-DT 10 (8.1) ABC 16.0 2Edge 40.3
WLNY-DT 47 (55.1) Ind 25.7 LOS 35.1
WCBS-TV 22 CBS 25.7 LOS 34.3
WCTX-DT 39 (59.1) MyN 16.0 2Edge 24.9
WEDY 41 13.3 2Edge 23.0
WTXX-LD -- 34 16.8 2Edge 13.9
W26CE 25 (26.1) 32.1 LOS 12.6
WABC-TV 7 ABC 58.5 2Edge 11.9
WJLP 3 (33.1) 55.6 2Edge 11.0
WVIT-DT 35 (30.1) NBC 35.7 2Edge 5.8
WPIX 11 (11.1) CW 58.6 2Edge 2.0
WXTV-DT 40 (41.1) Uni 55.9 2Edge 0.4
WTIC-TV 34 Fox 35.9 2Edge -0.5
WCBS-DT 33 (2.1) CBS 55.9 2Edge -0.5
WFSB -- 36 CBS 41.0 2Edge -0.8

There is a translator for WCBS currently on Rf 22 that you should
have no issue receiving. For starters, I would rotate your current
antenna toward the WCBS Long Island translator and see what you
get. If you get a decent signal, then you need to understand you
will need two antennas or a rotor to get all your stations. If you
do not get a decent signal, then I would try raising the antenna
above the tree line or about 50' AGL. If that works, then you know
you'll need to raise the antenna and will still need either two antennas
or a rotor. You will need to experiment with the height and location
of the antenna. Try avoid any nearby trees or obstacles which will
reduce your chances for success. When aiming, remember that
dead on to the transmitter doesn't always give the best reception.
Let us know how things work out.

Thank you JoeAZ and everyone else!! I appreciate all of your input. Unfortunately I have a fear of gravity and will more than likely be hiring someone to do any modifications or additions. I will let you know what I wind up doing when I have it done. Thanks again!! The knowledge you all have blows my mind!!

[ssharnick]

Is this what you're referring to when you said 751??
https://www.amazon.com/Antenna-Satel...gateway&sr=8-1