Inexpensive OTA Solution

[NutFlush920]

Is there a OTA antenna I can get that will mount off of the Slimeline pole jjust below the dish? All my local channels are UHF. I don't want to put more holes in the roof and would like a solution where I can just mount it off the current Slimlline pole without paying a lot.

Now that I have the SWM LNB I am going to use one of the dual feeds to run OTA from outside and elimiate the other dual feed. Any sugestions?

 

[charper1]

How far away are you from the towers and what is the "spread or width" of those towers relative to your location?

You could look into a Channel Master CM 4228 and a kit that will allow you to attach it to the same mast your dish is on.

How is your DBS mounted now; can you post a HQ image?

 

[Peter Parker]

Can you give us any info onwhere you are? Perhaps zip cide? The 4228 isreat but it has limitations and might not be best in your application.

 

[NutFlush920]

I am 13-14 miles away from the towers. All digital towers are SE from my home. My zip code is 54304.

Here is a picture of my dish setup.

 

[charper1]

Well at less than 15 miles, all UHF and all in one direction, you should be able to use damn near anything even an indoor (maybe the Silver Sensor). The 4228 may actually be overkill. Based on your photo, if you go with an outdoor model, you should be able to easily add a OTA to that mast with an additional mast for the OTA via a u-bolt setup.

 

[NutFlush920]

Just checking Antennaweb.org I guess my FOX affiliate will be going back to VHF after the analog shut off. I should take this into consideration now.

I tried indoor but I have aluminum siding and the signal doesn't penetrate well at all.

The mast is the standard mast that comes with he slimline.

 

[charper1]

what freq will that VHF be on? If VHF-Hi then a CM4228 will receive that very well in my experience.

 

[NutFlush920]

what freq will that VHF be on? If VHF-Hi then a CM4228 will receive that very well in my experience.

11 WLUK FOX which is LIN owned.

 

[charper1]

VHF-HI so I can't see you going wrong with the CM4228; I would ask around about th3 smaller CM 4221a's (aka CM3021 ) VHF-HI ability.

Channel Master CM 4221A

Channel Master CM 4228

 

[mlb]

I have a CM4228 on my roof (not on the dish, however). I love it, gets great reception for the Dayton area locals (luckily I can reach all towers by pointing in 1 direction). I don't think you can go wrong with it.

 

[Mike500]

Have you considered an eaves mount? It can be mounted on the rake boards at the peak. I install a lot of these for my customers, who do not want to screw a mount to the roof.

They can be had at any local Radio Shack store;

RadioShack.com - Home Entertainment: Accessories: Antennas: Antenna accessories: Eaves Mount for Hanging Rafters or Trim Boards

 

[vurbano]

Just checking Antennaweb.org I guess my FOX affiliate will be going back to VHF after the analog shut off. I should take this into consideration now.

I tried indoor but I have aluminum siding and the signal doesn't penetrate well at all.

The mast is the standard mast that comes with he slimline.

Put an antenna CM4228 in your attic. It should work very well at 15 miles and no aesthetic issues or wife acceptance factor. If you lay one finger on that Dish you will knock it out of alignment and be paying 70 bucks for a service call.

 

[NutFlush920]

How will the CM4228 work in the attic though with aluminum siding? Will that be an issue? Indoor antennas don't seem to work well indoors.

 

[Mike500]

How will the CM4228 work in the attic though with aluminum siding? Will that be an issue? Indoor antennas don't seem to work well indoors.

That has been my experience, too. I've installed OTA for over 40 years. It's true that size really matters when it comes to antenna performance. Radio waves are attenuated or refracted by solids.

 

[Bob Nielsen]

With aluminum siding, you will be much better off with it outside. A CM-4228 or 4221 might be a bit large to mount on your dish mast. A smaller antenna, such as the DB2 might be a better fit.

 

[Mike500]

My favorite......

I've tried many many antennas.......

The Winegard Model HD7210P "Ghostkiller" is my favorite.

Winegard --- HD7210P

Winegard HD 7210P Ghost Killer VHF/UHF Yagi Style HDTV Antenna (HD7210P) | HD-7210P [Winegard] | HD7210P HD 7210P HD 7210 HD-7210

I've got a Channel Master Amp on it, and it gets everything. Most of the stations are about 90 degrees apart to the North. It even gets the an ABC affiliate station to the South, not listed on antennaweb.org, because the signal is so strong from that station and overcomes the extremely high front/back ratio of this antenna. I even get the weak ABC affiliate HD station some 45 miles away.

The antenna is very low, without the usual UHF corner refector array, so I can mount it on a standard Dish 300/500 pole.

On analog, it got everything with a fantastic, almost ghost free picture, that is better than my neighbors get on cable or Dish LIL locals.

I am sold on this antenna with amp, when my customers want all the stations in my area.

In your case, I'd mount it on an eaves mount at the peak of the gable that you currently have the dish closed to. The mast can be as short as 2 feet for stability. Nothing beats the wide end reflector element for a great picture.

 

[vurbano]

How will the CM4228 work in the attic though with aluminum siding? Will that be an issue? Indoor antennas don't seem to work well indoors.

crap, you have aluminum siding like I do. Put it outside Like I had too, but I still wouldnt lay a finger on that dish. I used a Yagi with a rotor and an amp. The CM 4228 will look like a giant fly swatter in the air above your home.

 

[NutFlush920]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I have few options out there. Perhaps I will have to break down and mount it on the roof next to the Slimline.

 

[Mike500]

Antenna installation after feb 17, 2009, will become a lot more difficult, when analog shuts off after that date.

The definitive predictor of possible dropoffs is ghosting in analog. Unfortunately, that will be gone after Feb. 17, 2009. If you eliminate or reduce ghosting, you are also eliminating the possiblity of dropoffs in digital. This will be very problematic for adjusting rotors after Feb. 17, 2009.

Likely, there will be a lot more scammers after Feb. 17, 2009, who will sell antennas. No longer, will it be easy to judge an analog image by just looking at it.

 

[Mike500]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I have few options out there. Perhaps I will have to break down and mount it on the roof next to the Slimline.

Just remember;

Outside is best......

Higher is better.............

Stay away from metal, if possible....

Mounting next to the dish, is NOT good, unless you go at least 18-14 inches above the dish. In the US, sigbals are horizontally polarized. Metal above and bellow makes less difference than in back of, in front of or adjacent to the antenna.