HDTV OTA antenna (outdoors) Need advice.

[neftv]

I am about 10 miles west of Center City Philadelphia, PA.
I went to Antennaweb.org and saw that at my location most of the Philly stations are with in a 15 degree width in one direction and I would need a local antenna Green I think. But on the Antenna web site there are a few stations in other directions that I could get if I went with a red or blue antenna. I really don't want to get carried away with getting a huge antenna for the chimmy. I have a +15 year old Radio Shack VU90 antenna that works so so because the antenna has some broken plastic pieces holding the elements in place and one UHF element is missing.
I tried a couple of self amplified outdoor Antenna's made in china and I didn't have any luck with those.
I do have a couple trees taller than my chimmy (next door neighbors)toward the Philly direction and mostly open in other directions.
Just looking for ideas and experiences. Thanks.
I saw the home made UTube antenna from the other thread was wondering if that was made with a grid element in back of it if it would work even better like the CM have the wide mesh in back of the antenna pieces. I was really hoping for a semi strong omni directional antenna since I don't see any overlapping channels but most of those I seen are only for 20 mile range and some of the stations that are in other directions are in the red zone or blue zone. Ideas, Please? Thank you.

 

[Voyager6]

Lots of good info about DIY antennas in this thread. Also a huge amount of info at Lumenlab.

 

[neftv]

Thanks for those sites. I already knew about the homemade one.
I went to TVfool.com and I see that most of my local stations are like 8-9miles away at 60degrees. The distant stations go 40miles and 60miles and beyond all over the place. I wish I could post the chart in here.
Anyone have lots of local stations like this and distant ones?

 

[boba]

Replace your VU90 with a new one aimed at Philly. Unless you want to play with a rotor to chase the more distant stations accept what you know works and is easy to use.

 

[bhelms]

My results - scattered

I'm much more rural than the OP. Here are my results from TV Fool. You can see they are clustered, but literally all over the map. My primary interest is the channels to the SW (24 ABC, 32 CBS) and the single channel (15 PBS) to the NW. Fortunately that one is strong and will come in even when my antenna (CM4228) is pointed to most other postions. I am also now getting translators of interest from the SE (42 NBC now, and 36/39 both ABC from another market and of interest when they convert to digital) 42 is strong enough from only 9.4 miles away that it will lock solidly even with my antenna pointed to the SW. I hope for similar results on 36/39 after they convert as they are co-located with 42. If I could at least get 32 consistently, or a repeater signal, I would have 4 of the OTA networks in HD fairly reliably. FOX is not available in HD in my area. My antenna is on a rotator and can be moved as needed, but right now I leave it pointed to the SW as those are the most difficult to get.

One strategy for the OP would be to use a simple fixed antenna like the VU-90 pointed at 60 deg. for the Phila stations he wants to get consistently, and have another, larger antenna on a rotator with perhaps with a preamp to get the rest of the fringe stations that are scattered.

 

[neftv]

I'm much more rural than the OP. Here are my results from TV Fool. You can see they are clustered, but literally all over the map. My primary interest is the channels to the SW (24 ABC, 32 CBS) and the single channel (15 PBS) to the NW. Fortunately that one is strong and will come in even when my antenna (CM4228) is pointed to most other postions. I am also now getting translators of interest from the SE (42 NBC now, and 36/39 both ABC from another market and of interest when they convert to digital) 42 is strong enough from only 9.4 miles away that it will lock solidly even with my antenna pointed to the SW. I hope for similar results on 36/39 after they convert as they are co-located with 42. If I could at least get 32 consistently, or a repeater signal, I would have 4 of the OTA networks in HD fairly reliably. FOX is not available in HD in my area. My antenna is on a rotator and can be moved as needed, but right now I leave it pointed to the SW as those are the most difficult to get.

One strategy for the OP would be to use a simple fixed antenna like the VU-90 pointed at 60 deg. for the Phila stations he wants to get consistently, and have another, larger antenna on a rotator with perhaps with a preamp to get the rest of the fringe stations that are scattered.

How did you get that image attached? It be nice if I could do the same so you could see the situation. Or just put in zip code 19008 and if you could do that. Thanks.

 

[bhelms]

On the TV Fool page with your information appearing, right click on the image then save it somewhere on your HDD. Then in the SatGuys forum (this one), don't do a "Quick Reply", but instead click on the "New Reply" button below the last post. The screen that appears will have the ability to attach images (the paperclip icon in the toolbar). When you click on that you get a pop-up with multiple Browse fields. Use the first to find the TV Fool image you saved and upload it to your post. Add any additional text and a title if you wish. Voila!

 

[neftv]

here is my chart

Look at what I get. Mostly the locals but any chance on the distants?

 

[No Static At All]

Neftv,

If you're not getting at least 14 stations now, dish the VU-90 and get this antenna. It's the best bang for the buck "full band" antenna for metropolitan areas.

Newegg.com - WINEGARD HD7210 PLATINUM SERIES High Definition VHF/UHF Antenna

Unless you are willing to go with a substatially larger antenna and rotor, I seriously doubt you will do any better. Any omni or amplified antenna is out of the question for you if you want improved reception.

Mount the antenna outside, pointed towards Philly, and it should pull in all 14 locals reliably, and possibly a few others.

Good Luck!!

 

[neftv]

Neftv,

If you're not getting at least 14 stations now, dish the VU-90 and get this antenna. It's the best bang for the buck "full band" antenna for metropolitan areas.

Newegg.com - WINEGARD HD7210 PLATINUM SERIES High Definition VHF/UHF Antenna

Unless you are willing to go with a substatially larger antenna and rotor, I seriously doubt you will do any better. Any omni or amplified antenna is out of the question for you if you want improved reception.

Mount the antenna outside, pointed towards Philly, and it should pull in all 14 locals reliably, and possibly a few others.

Good Luck!!

I'm going to order that antenna. Newegg has it as a good price and shipping is not outrages. Thanks.
I wonder if I should get the winegard high level input amp? Like the HDP-269 or something simuliar? I think I going to try without but if you think it might help with the distants please advise? Thanks.

 

[No Static At All]

I'm going to order that antenna. Newegg has it as a good price and shipping is not outrages. Thanks.
I wonder if I should get the winegard high level input amp? Like the HDP-269 or something simuliar? I think I going to try without but if you think it might help with the distants please advise? Thanks.

The Winegard HDP-269 pre-amp may or may not help at this time.(You are borderline for overloading) A rotor will help more than anything else. The 7210 is fairly directional. The pre-amp will help you out with distants after the strong analogs go off the air in February; but you'll still need a rotor to get them.

 

[neftv]

I got the antenna today and just replaced my 20 year old broken VU90 radio shack antenna.
I have an improvement on the analog stations. I get the Digital stations from Philly since I am pointed that way. But I dont have any chance of getting the other digital channels. I think I want to get a rotor, any recommendations? I have a dual 3 wire cable up to the chimmy.
BTW on the box of the HD7210P antenna, shows a rating of yellow, green and light green for those that where wondering. And the box that it comes in is a pretty long.
I should get a compass to make sure I am aimed correctly to Philly but I should be close.

 

[No Doubt]

Neftv, I used the signal meter on my Digital converter for max signal.

I got the antenna today and just replaced my 20 year old broken VU90 radio shack antenna.
I have an improvement on the analog stations. I get the Digital stations from Philly since I am pointed that way. But I dont have any chance of getting the other digital channels. I think I want to get a rotor, any recommendations? I have a dual 3 wire cable up to the chimmy.
BTW on the box of the HD7210P antenna, shows a rating of yellow, green and light green for those that where wondering. And the box that it comes in is a pretty long.
I should get a compass to make sure I am aimed correctly to Philly but I should be close.

 

[bhelms]

If your primary channels of interest are all coming from the same direction (60 deg.?) you can use the analog channels to help with tuning. Of course that will end soon! Tune in an analog channel from that direction and twist the antenna or mast for the clearest reception. That's the method I have used for the past several years to confirm that that my antenna is optimized for my "local" (~25 miles away) ABC DTV channel. This works in my case because the digital and analog antennas are co-located. Note that due to multipath propagation the best signal for some channels might not be the direct one! And unfortunately multipath is variable, so best tuning is rarely permanent in an environment with strong multipath influence. That's where a rotator is a real asset!

If you're using a compass, make sure you're accounting for the declination (magnetic variation). It should be about 12 deg. west in your area. The compass of course points to magnetic north, but some resources like TV Fool report results relative to True North so you have to make the correction manually.

I have a Channel Master CM9521A rotator, available on line from many sources. Works reliabily and only needs a 3-wire connection. It has a remote control and you can enter bearings in direct numeric form to the single degree. Once "calibrated" (compass aligned and corrected for declination) you can direct-enter bearing information from your resources like TV Fool and it will (re)turn to the exact bearing reliably.

 

[neftv]

Neftv, I used the signal meter on my Digital converter for max signal.

I was up on the roof moving the antenna 20 -+ degrees from the Philly stations and several trips up and down the ladder. For now I am pretty happy with what it's getting but I like to try out the distants at some point. For now I will leave it where its at its to cold to do anything and there is a storm coming on Saturday.

 

[bhelms]

Yeah - bad time of year to be on a roof! Just make sure your antenna/mast are firmly bolted so they can't change directions in the wind.

Good luck with the storm. I hear we're getting 6-10 in these parts, but I wasn't clear whether that's inches or feet! The way it was coming down earlier, I'd venture the latter...!

 

[No Static At All]

I have an improvement on the analog stations. I get the Digital stations from Philly since I am pointed that way. But I dont have any chance of getting the other digital channels. I think I want to get a rotor, any recommendations?

Exactly how many stations are you getting now? When I was using the 7210 I could get most of the stations even in the red zone reliably without an amp.

I also recommend the CM 9521A rotor. I am very pleased with mine, and like the remote control convenience.

 

[neftv]

I didnt count the stations up but most of everything I get is yellow zone from Philly. There some weak low power tv stations in greens along with the NJN. Only one station in Red zone from Atlantic City but its not in Atlantic City it only 40 miles away that is a DT and I get that too. Now I just pointed to Philly at about 72 degrees and no rotor. There are some LPs in blue as well as PBS stations in Allentown and Harrisburg also couple Independents and couple more stations in deep South Jersey in violet that I don't get at present time.
I will look at that rotor you guys like but I not going on the roof again till weather warms up little but again.

 

[bhelms]

CM9521A

Here's the owner's guide to get you started. I got mine from Warren Electronics for about $70 but that was 2 years ago...

 

[skipw]

I just bought the "[FONT=verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]Antennas Direct C4 ClearStream4 Outdoor Digital HD TV Antenna" from SolidSignal . com (good prices and very helpful) I threw it up in the attic and I'm getting 85% - 90%+ on most stations. Attic installation can cut the signal around 50% so I can't wait to see what it does once I mount it outside and tweak it. [/FONT][FONT=verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]Very small in size compared to the "traditional style" antenna, which makes it very easy to install. [/FONT][FONT=verdana,helvetica,sans-serif] I'm about 18 - 25 miles from most of the transmitters.
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