Help!

I'm going to throw a super bowl party so I need to finally resolve my reception issues with Winktv, our local CBS station. I currently have two OTA antennas. One is a Terk clip-on antenna that was mounted on my Directv dish when Directv was installed. This antenna did not adequately pick up the digital UHF stations from the Fort Myers tower, so two years ago I mounted a directional radio shack Yagi antenna on my roof for HD reception. This antenna picks up NBC, ABC and Fox just fine as they are all on towers within 2 degrees of each other approximately 40 miles away (Flat Florida with no obstructions between me and the towers). At the time CBS was not broadcasting in HD.

Recently, CBS began broadcasting its HD signal on VHF channel 9. This signal comes in sometimes on the Yagi antenna, but is prone to breaking up. It comes in better on the terk antenna, but is still prone to occaisional break up. The Terk antenna is not hooked up to my main HDTV set. When I moved my main feed from the terk to the yagi, I left the Terk hooked up to a couple of sets I didn't use for OTA reception. That is how I found out the Terk actually gets the digital winktv feed on many occaisions when the yagi fails.

Anyway, I want to fix this problem so that I am sure to get a good signal on my main HDTV for the super bowl. These are my questions.

If I replace the yagi antenna with a combination VHF/UHF, is that likely to solve the problem? Would installing an amplifier solve the problem and avoid the need to replaces the antenna?

My zip is 34119. These are the antennaweb.org readings from my address. Interestingly, if you just type in the zip code and not the address the readings are two miles closer to the tower and antennaweb says a blue antenna will work.

Thanks to anyone who can help!


blue - vhf WTIG-LP 2 i NAPLES FL 324° 7.1 2
blue - vhf WINK 11 CBS FORT MYERS FL 0° 39.0 11
blue - uhf WGCU 30 PBS FORT MYERS FL 0° 40.0 30
blue - uhf WFTX 36 FOX CAPE CORAL FL 356° 38.9 36
* violet - uhf WFTX-DT 36.1 FOX CAPE CORAL FL 356° 38.9 35
* violet - vhf WINK-DT 11.1 CBS FORT MYERS FL 0° 39.0 9
violet - vhf WBSP-LP 9 MNT NAPLES FL 26° 13.7 9
* violet - uhf WRXY-DT 33.1 CTN TICE FL 357° 38.2 33

You didn't say, but i'm guessing your Yagi antenna from RS is a UHF only antenna. It should have some useful gain for channel 9 but perhaps not enough. I would get a Winegard high band VHF antenna (model# YA-1713) and a Channel Master 7777 preamp. The preamp has seperate inputs for VHF and UHF and combines both to one downlead. I have the same setup here in Sebring and WINK signal is 95+%.

You didn't say, but i'm guessing your Yagi antenna from RS is a UHF only antenna. It should have some useful gain for channel 9 but perhaps not enough. I would get a Winegard high band VHF antenna (model# YA-1713) and a Channel Master 7777 preamp. The preamp has seperate inputs for VHF and UHF and combines both to one downlead. I have the same setup here in Sebring and WINK signal is 95+%.

Your assumption was correct. The Yagi is UHF only. If I'm understanding you correctly, you would leave the Yagi in place, mount the Wineguard on the same mount and connect the two using a Chanell Master 777 preamp? Do you know where I could purchase the Wineguard locally?

Hi Evrglades,


Do you have a antenna preamp hookup now ? If yes is the preamp UHF/VHF set in place. if no go with Channel Master or Winegard pre-amp. I also take it that you don't have a rotor did you try to move the antenna one way or other you might be hitting a small dead spot if you do move it just make sure when move then step away from the antenna and recheck for siginal. I have the same problem with Chicago even they are on the same tower off the Sears building. You could try build a homemade DB2 antenna I have build one and I am able to pick up WGN-9 analog very good for 70 miles away that with the Channel Master preamp 7777 but you are about half of distance. Here the link to where I read on the DIY antenna http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9613 . I have pick up WGN- DT on the assign 19 with out the pre amp and that 70 miles away and indoor. They might laugh :rolleyes: at you and say that thing pick it up HD, then you can laugh :D at them when they see it for themselves with their jaws dropped :eek: . It easy to build and very cheap so if you can't find a antenna this would be a way to watch the Super Bowl. But if you want to go to better antenna I would recommend CM 4228 has very good gain on VHF-high (7-13) along with CM 7777 it UHF/ VHF pre-amp.

BTW send some heat up the midwest it 12 above 0 with wind chill about 1 above 0

Your assumption was correct. The Yagi is UHF only. If I'm understanding you correctly, you would leave the Yagi in place, mount the Wineguard on the same mount and connect the two using a Chanell Master 777 preamp? Do you know where I could purchase the Wineguard locally?

Yes, I would mount the UHF antenna on top of your mast and the Winegard 1713 about 3 ft under it. Put the preamp between the two and make two short runs of RG-6 from each antenna to the UHF and VHF inputs on the preamp. Use your existing coax that you are now using for your RS antenna and hook it to the preamp output. Call Dow Electronics in Ft. Myers, they are wholesale only but they should be able to give you the name of a dealer. I prefer this to a large combination VHF/UHF antenna since neither of us need the low band VHF channels.

Yes, I would mount the UHF antenna on top of your mast and the Winegard 1713 about 3 ft under it. Put the preamp between the two and make two short runs of RG-6 from each antenna to the UHF and VHF inputs on the preamp. Use your existing coax that you are now using for your RS antenna and hook it to the preamp output. Call Dow Electronics in Ft. Myers, they are wholesale only but they should be able to give you the name of a dealer. I prefer this to a large combination VHF/UHF antenna since neither of us need the low band VHF channels.

Thanks for the advice. One last question. Since I'm only 40 miles from the tower and the only frequency I'm trying to get is channel 9 which should be attainable from a UHF antenna. And since I get the station when wheather conditions are perfect, is there much chance that installing a preamp alone will improve the signal enough that I won't need the 1713 antenna?

Thanks for the advice. One last question. Since I'm only 40 miles from the tower and the only frequency I'm trying to get is channel 9 which should be attainable from a UHF antenna. And since I get the station when wheather conditions are perfect, is there much chance that installing a preamp alone will improve the signal enough that I won't need the 1713 antenna?
Rather than a pre-amp, I would replace the Radio Shack U-75R yagi with a better antenna. The U-75R is a UHF only antenna and is surprising that it picks VHF 9 at all. All seven digital stations that I see on your antennaweb list are in the same direction and around 38 miles. A common recommendation for your situation would be to get a Channel Master 4228 8 Bay or a VHF/UHF antenna.

But you don't have much time until the Superbowl. Have your tried a pair of rabbit ears for the VHF 9 station? Extend the rabbit ears about halfway to prime it for the shorter wavelength of VHF 9. Or if you want a do it yourself project, make a dipole antenna cut to the right length for VHF 9.

Thanks for the advice. One last question. Since I'm only 40 miles from the tower and the only frequency I'm trying to get is channel 9 which should be attainable from a UHF antenna. And since I get the station when wheather conditions are perfect, is there much chance that installing a preamp alone will improve the signal enough that I won't need the 1713 antenna?

Since your going to need it anyway, you can try it first to see if it helps. Just make sure you use the VHF/UHF input on the preamp. However, to be certain your Super Bowl party is a good one, i would add the 1713. Receiving channel 9 on your RS is only due to odd order harmonics and i would estimate that your net gain at that frequency is < 2dBd.

I purchased a $10 set of rabbit ears from radioshack. I hooked it up to the tv in the bedroom that had the terk antenna dish clip on. At the time I hooked it up, the terk was reading 60-64 in signal strength. The rabbit ears, hooked inside on top of the tv gave me a reading of 70-75% with no breakups. I'll watch it for the next couple of days, but it looks like the rabbit ears gets me all the signal I need.

Query? can one combine the rabbitt ear signal with the uhf antenna without losing signal strength needed to maintain the minimal but acceptable signal I have?

I purchased a $10 set of rabbit ears from radioshack. I hooked it up to the tv in the bedroom that had the terk antenna dish clip on. At the time I hooked it up, the terk was reading 60-64 in signal strength. The rabbit ears, hooked inside on top of the tv gave me a reading of 70-75% with no breakups. I'll watch it for the next couple of days, but it looks like the rabbit ears gets me all the signal I need.

Query? can one combine the rabbitt ear signal with the uhf antenna without losing signal strength needed to maintain the minimal but acceptable signal I have?
Rabbit ears at 39 miles! Not bad at all. You should try to tweak the rabbit ears for angle and length to see if you can pull the signal strength up a bit.

As for combining the antennas, all you need is a VHF/UHF antenna combiner. $5 to $15 at a Radio Shack or a electronics store.

Hi Evrglades,


Do you have a antenna preamp hookup now ? If yes is the preamp UHF/VHF set in place. if no go with Channel Master or Winegard pre-amp. I also take it that you don't have a rotor did you try to move the antenna one way or other you might be hitting a small dead spot if you do move it just make sure when move then step away from the antenna and recheck for siginal. I have the same problem with Chicago even they are on the same tower off the Sears building. You could try build a homemade DB2 antenna I have build one and I am able to pick up WGN-9 analog very good for 70 miles away that with the Channel Master preamp 7777 but you are about half of distance. Here the link to where I read on the DIY antenna http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9613 . I have pick up WGN- DT on the assign 19 with out the pre amp and that 70 miles away and indoor. They might laugh :rolleyes: at you and say that thing pick it up HD, then you can laugh :D at them when they see it for themselves with their jaws dropped :eek: . It easy to build and very cheap so if you can't find a antenna this would be a way to watch the Super Bowl. But if you want to go to better antenna I would recommend CM 4228 has very good gain on VHF-high (7-13) along with CM 7777 it UHF/ VHF pre-amp.

BTW send some heat up the midwest it 12 above 0 with wind chill about 1 above 0
i hear you brother. i`m in lower mi. and its cold today and will be getting colder this
weekend. i`m in the same boat as the only network station i can`t get in hd is cbs which
from me is 40-45 miles away. all the others are 20-25 miles away and all come in strong in
hd. i did order the cm 4228 yesterday for thursday delivery.(warren electronics by the way
has a great price on this with shipping) all my hd stations are from 10 to 28 degrees from the north so i think this should do the trick. i always love climbing up an antenna tower in this
kind of weather. the price we pay sometimes for hd. good luck to all!