Recommendation for HDTV Antenna

[JHZR2]

Hello,

I posted over at AVS but didnt really get much info. Given all the knowledgable and experienced folks on here, I thought I might give it a go looking for thoughts.

My TVFool is http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...81a329c91e01d2

My home had cable TV when the PO lived there, and Comcast strung coax all over the outside and around the basement. We have coax in most every room...

What I'd like to do is use the coax up in the attic to do an indoor attic-mounted antenna, one lead split out to the TV up there, then through an amplifier through the network everywhere else. I may reduce down the system to minimize splitters, but figure Ill have at least two or three...

I'd really love to get channel 52, if possible. What I know is that we can generally get it and everything else clearly from the attic. From the second story, only at night on good nights. On the first story, we sometimes cannot even get in our main channels, which are 3,6,10,29. I currently have a terk with a log-periodic on the first story... second story will only receive most channels with the amplifier on (small RCA rabbit ears) and up to full - but then it is crystal clear.

Was considering originally a DB2 or DB4 with a 7778 amplifier right after a splitter in the attic that feeds the TV up there. However, Im leaning more now towards a twin-lead dipole I make myself, tuned for Ch 6 or 12, then a DIY UHF antenna like there are instrictions for on the internet. I could combine both through the 7778 amplifier. Would that be overkill? Certainly would love other recommendations.

Thanks!

 

[-Clayton-]

Your TV fool link isn't working.

 

[JHZR2]

whoops! Link pasting gone haywire.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d81a329c91e01d2

Should work... Said 29 feet up for the antenna since that is about where I think it would be in my attic.

 

[Papa Bear]

Almost all digital channels are UHF, even the ones displaying 6 or 12. Email the Ch 6 and 12 stations to verify their frequency.

 

[LS2JSTS]

I like the Winegard 769X series of antennas. They are tuned for channels 7-69, picking up the high VHF as well as the full UHF band.

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=HD7698P&d=Winegard-HD-7698P-High-Definition-VHFUHF-HD769-Series-TV-Antenna-(HD7698P)&c=TV%20Antennas&sku=

 

[crw]

I've got a DB4 in my attic and it's fantastic. No amplifier needed (in my case). But I'm driving only one TV with it.

 

[crw]

I should mention, I also made my own antenna, like the DB4, with a two-by-four, some coat hangers, some wire, and a (ballast?). It works... There is a good write-up on the web somewhere. If I get some time I'll look for it.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Papa Bear
Almost all digital channels are UHF, even the ones displaying 6 or 12. Email the Ch 6 and 12 stations to verify their frequency.


In our market, channel 6 (ABC) stayed on RF channel 6 (low VHF) and channel 12 (PBS) stayed on RF channel 12 (high VHF).

 

[Samilcar]

Originally Posted By: Papa Bear
Almost all digital channels are UHF, even the ones displaying 6 or 12. Email the Ch 6 and 12 stations to verify their frequency.


The TVfool link shows that his 6 and 12 are really broadcasting on VHF 6 and 12.

OP, what you're thinking of doing should work. The 6 and 12 stations are so close that a simple dipole should pick them up easily. A homemade UHF wire antenna should be adequate for the 52 channel.

 

[Papa Bear]

Ch 6 is VHF low and Ch 12 is VHF high. A large freq. jump.

You will probably need a VHF/UHF combo with a rotator (mounted outdoors) to get all your channels.

 

[LS2JSTS]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Papa Bear
Almost all digital channels are UHF, even the ones displaying 6 or 12. Email the Ch 6 and 12 stations to verify their frequency.


In our market, channel 6 (ABC) stayed on RF channel 6 (low VHF) and channel 12 (PBS) stayed on RF channel 12 (high VHF).


That is unfortunate...leaves my suggestion in the dust. Seems almost all of the former channel 6 broadcasters saw the benefit of leaving the interference prone 2-6 spectrum alone. Nationally, only 5 of the former channel 6 broadcasters went back to channel 6....

http://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/cdbs_docs/pa/dtvsearch/dtv_search.cfm

 

[PandaBear]

antennadirect db8

 

[Papa Bear]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
antennadirect db8


That's a UHF antenna only, no VHF

 

[JHZR2]

And given proximity to the towers for most main channels, I have to worry about too much gain on it... i have no problem combining a VHF dipole and using a DB8 for UHF only... Just the antenna needs to be right-sized...

 

[Papa Bear]

I found the way to tell what antenna worked best was to talk to the neighbors and see what worked for them. Ask to go in and check out their reception. You may meet some nice folks that way too.

 

[JHZR2]

Everyone has cable these days...

 

[97tbird]

Not us - OTA High-definition digital channels look a lot better than [censored] compressed cable channels, IMO.
We rely heavily on Netflix (streaming and delivery), and the few news channels we need to see, we get with a Zenith Silver Sensor, and the pic quality is amazing, and neighbor always says, "my cable sucks compared to this!"

 

[tonycarguy]

Use this to help select an OTA antenna:
http://antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

I wanted to do an attic installation too but it doesn't work if your house has a stucco or metal siding exterior. I went with a bowtie mounted outside. It's very inconspicuous and works pretty well

 

[tonycarguy]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Everyone has cable these days...


Is that so? There are 20-40MM households in the US who don't have cable TV, depending on who you believe.

 

[rshaw125]

Originally Posted By: tonycarguy
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Everyone has cable these days...


Is that so? There are 20-40MM households in the US who don't have cable TV, depending on who you believe.


When my contract is up in April I'll be joining them.