Two OTA antenna's into VipXXX ????

[jaj1701]

I currently have a "deepest fringe" antenna on my roof here is Rochester, MN that has a rotator and is currently pointed at Minneapolis. I use it on the rotator so I can turn it to also pick up LaCrosse for the Packers on Fox when the Vikings are on here and in Minneapolis. Loved it when I had VOOM!

My mother is moving in April 4th, and she's from LaCrosse and would love to keep up with her former local news.

My question is (about time I get to the point) can I put up a 2nd antenna....Point one at Minneapolis, one at LaCrosse and combine the signal and feed it into a VipXXX with OTA tuner, and have channels for both antenna's tune and show up in the guide??

thanks!

Jason

 

[wkomorow]

You can certainly combine 2 antennas in different directions, but only under certain conditions. If your VHF stations and UHF stations are in different directions, separate the antennas by 3 feet or so and you can cobmine them using an amp which has separate VHF and UHF inputs - the 7777 will do this well. If the stations you are combining are either both UHF or VHF - then you need a jointenna or else you are likely to introduce multipath interference. If their frequencies are close, you can not use a jointenna, because it will kill all signals within a few RF frequencies of ts value. But your best bet is to use a rotor. With wind, your antenna is most likely to move a bit (at least that is my experience) and it is nice to adjust the antenna wihtout going back unto the roof in the middle of winter.

 

[cditty]

It is possible, if you have no real multipath issues and each antenna is HIGHLY directional.

You can run them into a splitter in reverse and run that cable into your receiver.

With that said, the Dish OTA tuner is VERY sensitive to multipath, so you may have to do some careful aiming. Any signal strength above 70 OTA is fine as long as you avoid multipath.

 

[navychop]

And keep those short coax runs to the combiner as close as possible to being the same length. Also, I think vertical separation works as well as mounting them side by side.

 

[yaz96]

What I want to know is, where can I get one of those XXX VIP's? All adult, all the time in HD!

 

[mike123abc]

The problem you run into is if 2 antennas point the opposite way they will cancel each other out. You can get narrow range antennas such as http://www.wade-antenna.com/Wade/jseriesuhf.pdf if the stations are far enough apart in the UHF band. They also make filters you can get that only let certain channels through, so you can combine 2 wide band antennas.

Glossary G to Q - This whole page is useful antenna information. I used to use a jointenna when I had 2 low VHF channels in different directions and I needed 2 antennas.

The problem with all this old antenna stuff is that it was all discontinued when cable came to town, now no one makes the stuff needed for the same problems now that everyone wants an antenna for HDTV.

 

[jaj1701]

What I want to know is, where can I get one of those XXX VIP's? All adult, all the time in HD!

I'd be all over that too!


Thanks for all the antenna replies. I was afraid it wasn't going to be that easy. time to do some research I guess. My current antenna is direction, but I don't know that it's "HIGHLY" directional.

Keep the tidbits of info coming. It all helps!

 

[cditty]

I'd be all over that too!


Thanks for all the antenna replies. I was afraid it wasn't going to be that easy. time to do some research I guess. My current antenna is direction, but I don't know that it's "HIGHLY" directional.

Keep the tidbits of info coming. It all helps!

Look at your specs for front to back rejection.

 

[ronjohn]

If you don't mind rotating the antenna when changing cities, you can put all of the channels in the guide. Instead of using "Scan Local", I think there is an "Add Local" option. Scan for channels on one side, then rotate the antenna and manually add the channels from the other city. They will all show up in the program guide, but you will have to rotate the antenna if you change channels to the other city.

 

[wkomorow]

Dish OTA is additive, so when you rotate your antenna and rescan - the previously scanned channels remain (unless you delete them) and the new one are added. I have both Albany and Springfield channels showing in my guide. Make sure that when you receiver is set to record that you have it set to the strongest OTA channel you can. Dish receivers flake out if you have a weak OTA signal and a recording set at the same time

 

[jaj1701]

If you don't mind rotating the antenna when changing cities, you can put all of the channels in the guide. Instead of using "Scan Local", I think there is an "Add Local" option. Scan for channels on one side, then rotate the antenna and manually add the channels from the other city. They will all show up in the program guide, but you will have to rotate the antenna if you change channels to the other city.

OHHHHH, that's VERY VERY good to know that that is a possiblity

 

[ralfyguy]

I have three antennas covering a 15 degree angle. Antennas Direct 91XG UHF, a Winegard YA1713 for VHF and a Channelmaster UHF, forgot the Model. The 91XG and the YA1713 are on a CM7777 amp, and the Channelmaster is on a CM7775 amp. They are combined by a common splitter. But I have to say the 91XG and the YA1713 are on the roof on the south end of the house, and the Channelmaster is on the north wall of the house with no LOS to each other.I'm 75 miles form the Towers and 95% of the time I have a picture. Weather plays a significant role at that distance. Especially since the terrain in between is plastered with hills and valleys and there's a mansion in between me and the towers about 200yards in front of the house.

 

[whatchel1]

What so you have in the area

I'd be all over that too!


Thanks for all the antenna replies. I was afraid it wasn't going to be that easy. time to do some research I guess. My current antenna is direction, but I don't know that it's "HIGHLY" directional.

Keep the tidbits of info coming. It all helps!

I know that you are trying to pickup from to different set of locals but do you know what channels they really broadcast on? Have your run the scan on TV Fool and AntennaWeb . Once you have done this you will know antenna & or antennas (plus combiners) that you will need. It will also give us an idea if it will be possible.

 

[gopherscot]

Looks like locals will be up in HD for Rochester "soon". Why not aim the antenna at LaCrosse and then have the Rochester for Dish HD? From what I hear you will still get guide information for both.