The more I read on the forum the more I realize I do not know enough to make an inform choice.

Where I live I can't get cable(the guy across the street has it but Insight won't run it to my house)My wife and I are not home that much so I can't justify getting a dish. (I would get Insight if I could for the broadband internet)

So OTA makes the most since for my situation. When I bought my KURO from BB the guy sold me the TERK T5 antenna. I told him I lived in the country with a lot of tree's around and he said the TERK would be fine. Well it's not.

I can pick up maybe two HD channel's. I watch more analog stations than anything. They are fuzzy but at least I can see them.

This is what antenna web said:
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Stations.aspx

This is what TVfool said:
http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29

Antenna web said I need a medium range antenna w/ a preamp. I was looking at Antenna's Direct and these are listed as mediums.
http://www.antennasdirect.com/MR_tv_antennas.html

I would like to get as many stations as possible(obviously). At night the TERK can get some stations from Illinois. If that little antenna can get a "few" HD stations I would think a roof mounted setup would be great.

I have spent many nights lately reading on here and trying to figure out UHF/VHF, amps/preamps, should I get a rotator,etc...

If someone has a few minutes to look at the info listed from TV Fool and Antenna Web that could give me a few idea's I would really appreciate it. My wife would too, she hates it right now.

Jason

The links don't work. Yeah they each take me to the site, but since your zip code/etc data is not in a cookie/etc on my machine, I don't see what you see. Can you either post the actual data displayed and/or give us your zip code. Then we can see what you're up against.

Not surprising that the Best Buy salesman was wrong. Please post your zip code so we can look up your stations and the approximate distance. If you want to post your tvfool.com results, you will have to save the image to disk at the website and then upload the image via the Manage Attachments option on here.

Sorry about that. My zip is 47720. I will try to attach the TV Fool file.

My zip is 47720.

The trick is to get ABC and FOX without a rotator. I'd start with a 4221 aimed at about 120 degrees. If you want either WNIN or WSIL you will need a separate antenna for each of them. Does WNIN and WKOH carry the same PBS schedule?

Sorry about that. My zip is 47720. I will try to attach the TV Fool file.
For starters, you need to get an antenna setup that will pick up UHF and upper VHF (7 to 13). WEHT-DT ABC 25 is currently digitally broadcasting on UHF 59, but will move to VHF 7 next February. WNIN-DT PBS 9 will move from VHF 12 to VHF 9 next February as well. What is unusual is that WTVW-DT Fox 7 will stay on UHF 28.

Your closest local stations are only 14 to 24 miles, but are spread over 55 degrees in azimuth. WAZE-DT CW 19 at 45 miles away is your only CW station, but it is a to the south at 168 degrees. You will likely need to go with a attic or outdoor location for the antenna(s). I agree that the Channel Master 4221 4 Bay UHF antenna is a good bet for this year as it can pick up stations over a wide spread in azimuth and is ok for VHF 12. But it is questionable whether the CM 4221 will have the gain to get WEHT-DT on VHF 7 and WNIN-DT on VHF 9 after February 17; however WEHT-DT is shown as a LOS station at only 15 miles so it should have a strong signal.

Several options:
1) Get the CM 4221, mount it in the attic or on the roof aimed at the more distant stations. Leave room on the mast for adding a upper VHF antenna if needed after next February. But rabbit ears may suffice for your upper VHF antenna with a UHF/VHF combiner.
2) Get a Winegard short to medium range HD-7964P upper VHF and UHF antenna. But it may be too directional for your higher UHF stations.
3) There is a new Channel Master short-medium range antenna, the CM 2016 (http://www.channelmasterintl.com/2016.html) which combines a UHF yagi with upper VHF reflectors. This is a brand new antenna, I have not seen any reports on it.

Why is it important to get FOX and ABC w/o a rotator?

I will be going with a roof mounted setup.

The new CM2016 looks like it has everything I need, from what I understand so far.

Would I need a UHF/VHF combiner with that?

Why is it important to get FOX and ABC w/o a rotator?

It enables unattended recording of the two stations.

Why is it important to get FOX and ABC w/o a rotator?

I will be going with a roof mounted setup.

The new CM2016 looks like it has everything I need, from what I understand so far.

Would I need a UHF/VHF combiner with that?
You may want to install a rotator for a roof mounted antenna even if you don't rotate the antenna on a daily basis to tweak the antenna aim over the different seasons (leaves on trees can change propagation paths). But with digital, using a rotator to get different stations can be a pain if you have to re-scan to get the station. Rotator are also not convenient for Tivos or PCs recording setups.

The CM2016 is a joint upper VHF/UHF antenna. You would not need a VHF/UHF combiner with it. Taking a closer look at the specs, I think it may be too narrow in beamwidth for your situation. The CM 2016 has a beamwidth notch at UHF 35 with a 3 dB beamwidth of only 19 degrees compared with 41 degrees at UHF 43 or 68 degrees at UHF 19. The CM 2016 is a brand new antenna; I don't see it listed at solidsignal.com or warrenelectronics.com yet.

The CM 4221 is a proven performer for UHF reception over a wide spread in azimuth and can be gotten on-line for around $40 including shipping. I get stations in 5 different directions at distances of > 43 miles with a CM 4221 in my attic. The CM 4221 should work for the VHF 12 station; my CM 4221 can get a digital VHF 12 station at some distance. But not sure about the VHF 7 next year, although the range is so close, the odds are that the CM 4221 will pick it up.

Another option is the new Winegard HD-1080 2 bay bowtie and upper VHF antenna. Again, this is so new I have not read any performance reports on it. Also pricey at $60 plus shipping on-line

I would be more concerned to get ABC than WNIN(PBS) However my friend says that PBS HD is amazing.

It sounds like the CM 4221 is what I will try first. Are there any sponsor's that sell this?

Do you think that a preamp or amp is needed? I have heard of them but again, I don't know anything about them.

The antenna will probably be a good 50 ft. from the TV. I don't know if that makes a difference or not.

Thanks again for your input. I hate not knowing about something. But I'm not afraid to ask for help. :)

Use good quality RG-6 co-axial cable, not RG-59, to connect to the antenna. Since most of your locals are not that far away and with only a 50' cable run, you probably won't need a pre-amp. Winegard and Channel Master pre-amps run around $50 to $60, becomes another thing to plug in, and can always be added later. Put up the antenna without a pre-amp and see if you can get all your locals without one.

You can get the CM 4221 and other antenna gear on-line at solidsignal.com or warrenelectronics.com. If you have a Lowes in your area, they usually stock antenna mounting gear, RG-6, grounding blocks. You should check the OTA reception sticky in this forum in case you have not done so. A good website for antenna and mounting info is http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ISSUES/erecting_antenna.html. The beam pattern for the CM 4221 is at http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/cm4221.html.

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=DGCBLQ

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=DGCBL100

Is there a difference between the two? Which would be better.

Same product, one sold by the foot, the other in a 100' roll, both pre-terminated with F-connectors, so cheaper is better, and that depends on the length of your run.
Frank