Repost from the antenna thread:

Noob questions
Hey, I'm new to OTA HDTV. I've been doing some reading and have a couple questions.

1. My zip code is 08246 (it's a tiny, tiny zip, so I live right in the center of the zip). When I put this into antennaweb, it only gives me info about ABC/FOX/CW from Philadelphia, PA and NBC from Atlantic City. I am fine with NBC Atlantic City, but I am shooting for ABC/CBS/FOX from New York, NY. According to antennaweb, the transmitter for those NY stations is 54.1 miles from Toms River, NJ. I live 63 miles due South of Toms River, so I figure I'm about 127 miles from the NY transmitters. it seems like there is some success getting stations from this far, especially since there isn't a single area that is even above sea level between myself, Toms River, and NY. It is flat as can be. Can anyone recommend any antenna/amp setup where I might be able to get the stations? Maybe one of these parabolic antennas? I understand this would have to be a pretty serious setup if feasible.

2. I think I already know the answer to this second question. If the antenna setup works, is there any way to diplex it into my cable line and view the channels on my Motorola 6200 digital cable box? I assume the answer to this is no and I have to get a separate ATSC tuner for OTA, and use the digital cable box for the cable channels. I of course do get local channels from Comcast on the 6200, but although we used to get some locals from NY and Philadelphia, Comcast has been taking away the NY stations (Comcast owns Philadelphia sports teams, and they ram them down our throats). Hence why I'm interested in an antenna solution.

I would be very surprised if you were able to reliably pick up a signal at 120+ miles. 60 miles is usually considered borderline for reception, and you're twice that distance.

Ross

Repost from the antenna thread:

Noob questions
Hey, I'm new to OTA HDTV. I've been doing some reading and have a couple questions.

1. My zip code is 08246 (it's a tiny, tiny zip, so I live right in the center of the zip). When I put this into antennaweb, it only gives me info about ABC/FOX/CW from Philadelphia, PA and NBC from Atlantic City. I am fine with NBC Atlantic City, but I am shooting for ABC/CBS/FOX from New York, NY. According to antennaweb, the transmitter for those NY stations is 54.1 miles from Toms River, NJ. I live 63 miles due South of Toms River, so I figure I'm about 127 miles from the NY transmitters. it seems like there is some success getting stations from this far, especially since there isn't a single area that is even above sea level between myself, Toms River, and NY. It is flat as can be. Can anyone recommend any antenna/amp setup where I might be able to get the stations? Maybe one of these parabolic antennas? I understand this would have to be a pretty serious setup if feasible.


Not going to happen - especially in the crowded Northeast corridor.

Sea level actually hurts you in your instance. The curvature of the earth blocks you from the source.

If you were 122 Miles away in the mountains at 5k feet with an unobstructed view towards NY and the mountains blocking the same frequencies in the other directions, you might have a prayer.

This is a huge bummer. I thought if I got a big enough, expensive enough antenna I could make this happen. Especially since the Philly channels are not on the same channel as the NY ones, so I thought they wouldn't interfere (some poeople who live in central NJ can get both Philly and NY stations OTA). The Philly stations are over 60 miles away, and people seem to be able to get those with rooftop antennas. Any other ideas for NY TV? Would a "big ugly dish" system work? Or how about getting directv and putting my billing address as a friend's house in Toms River?

What Television DMA are you in?

What Television DMA are you in?

I am in the Philadelphia DMA, but I am only about 30 miles outside of the NYC DMA, at least according to this DMA map: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/63/Tvmarkets.gif

Toms River that I was talking about is in the NYC DMA.

I guess even with something like this I'd be out of luck?:
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/32bay.html

prefer to stack 2 antennas direct 91 xg's with a cm7777 and rotor.

philly might be a possibility but nyc will be SOL.

From zipcode 08246 to WNBC-DT, a 625 meter antenna tower would give you line of sight clearance.

My personal experience tells me jeff is right on the money with his numbers. Anything less and chances for success would be slim to none and slim's already left town.

I doubt the FAA will give you clearance on a 2,000 foot tower - and the neighbors might have something to say...besides the fact that the line loss from antenna to your TV would be rather severe :D

1. My zip code is 08246 (it's a tiny, tiny zip, so I live right in the center of the zip). When I put this into antennaweb, it only gives me info about ABC/FOX/CW from Philadelphia, PA and NBC from Atlantic City.
The antennaweb results for your zip code along with a high antenna height to get a more complete list of digital stations shows that you are around 65 miles from the Philadelphia stations and 70 miles from several stations in Salisbury, MD. The Baltimore stations at 100+ miles and NYC are out of reach OTA unless you put up a 1500' or 2000' tower.

All of the stations nearby and in Philly are currently digitally broadcasting on UHF. At 65 miles over somewhat level terrain, you have a good shot at getting the Philly stations with a AntennasDirect 91XG or Channel Master 4228 8 Bay on the roof with a rotator. You could gang antennas, but that may not be needed. Even with hills in the way, people get stations at 60 to 65 miles with a single antenna setup. WPVI-DT ABC 6 in Philly has selected to return to VHF 6 after the analog shutdown in 2009, but there is a another round of channel selections still open for some Low VHF stations, so one would think they would want to get a UHF channel instead.

2. I think I already know the answer to this second question. If the antenna setup works, is there any way to diplex it into my cable line and view the channels on my Motorola 6200 digital cable box? I assume the answer to this is no and I have to get a separate ATSC tuner for OTA, and use the digital cable box for the cable channels.
No, you can not share a co-axial run with cable and a OTA antenna. Cable channels and OTA broadcasting share many of the same frequencies. If your HD TV has a ATSC tuner, you can connect the antenna to that for OTA reception. If not, the Samsung DTB-H260F ATSC receiver STB currently lists for $180.

I'm coming off a 24 rush, so don't worry if it feels like I'm talking like Jack Bauer in the heat of the moment :D

Anyway, we can hope that WPVI can secure some VHF-HI or UHF channel, but that area's pretty crowded for space. You're going to have to assume that WPVI will stay with channel 6, and if that happens, or even if it gets a VHF-HI channel, then you'll have to be prepared if you want ABC. This means preparing to buy a Winegard HD7084P. It's VERY big, at over ten feet long, and it's $130 at Solidsignal.com, but at your distance, that's about the best antenna you can find for your money.