My future suburb convenants limit size of antennas on the roof. Does anyone no the source as to what size an antenna the government indicates that can be used?

Any suggestions for a small sized antenna I could use?

Preamp necessary?

The attic will have aluminum faced techshielding...so an antic antenna is out...right?

The Houston broadcast antennas are 35 miles from my home and all are due south at about 35miles.

Thanks

Doug...wanting to avoid paying for broadcast that is free

Here's the FCC page:

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

I don't know what they mean by "small", but the only reason you'd need a really huge antenna is to pick up VHF-L (channels 2-6). Even the 8-bay UHF bowties and the long UHF Yagis aren't all that enormous.

What's your future zip code? How far from the towers, etc?

Such restrictions are generally null and void, as the poster above indicates.

Attic antenna - out - aluminum siding will kill you. Not too mention 35 miles.

Don't worry about the HOA and their antenna restrictions - it's whatever it takes to receive. BTW - you can also mount whatever DBS dishes you need (up to a max size of 1 meter for each dish) as well. While they can ask you to hide them the best you can - your ability to receive doesn't have to be impaired to comply. Research for what antenna you will need AFTER Febuary 17, 2009 - when all stations should be on their final selection of channel.

ibddoug,

As you've read, FCC guarantees placement on your reception, and there are size limits on Sat Dishes at 1 Mtr.

I too live in a HOA, and even if I have the FCC behind me, one still has to "live" there, and deal with the other members of the HOA.

I have a Rad Shack VU-90XR, mounted in the Attic of my house, and am able to receive very good signal strength/pic, even though I have the Foil covered plyboard under the Shingles.

I do live a bit closer than you, am about 7 miles from the MoCity Farm, and have my Antenna focused on the two Towers at that location. Get ALL the locals on NTSC, and over 30 HD/SD's on the NTSC/ATSC tuners.

Be sure to check antennaweb, and check out the other five Towers that are in our area, though they have fewer channels, you may be interested in them too.

Best of luck.

Have a good Day ! :)

What's your future zip code? How far from the towers, etc?
35 miles at 178 -175degrees from where I am at

77379

NBC is Channel 2

Thanks

35 miles at 178 -175degrees from where I am at

77379

NBC is Channel 2
Your NBC station is digitally broadcasting on UHF channel 35. Plugging your zip and a antenna height of 100' into antennaweb, the edited list of your digital stations is:

* yellow - uhf KAZH-DT 57.1 AZA BAYTOWN TX 173° 31.9 41
* yellow - uhf KXLN-DT 45.1 UNI ROSENBERG TX 173° 32.6 46
* yellow - uhf KFTH-DT 67.1 TFA ALVIN TX 173° 31.9 36
* yellow - uhf KETH-DT 24.1 TBN HOUSTON TX 173° 32.6 24
* yellow - vhf KPXB-DT 49.1 ION CONROE TX 173° 31.9 5
* yellow - uhf KTMD-DT 47.1 TEL GALVESTON TX 173° 31.9 47
* yellow - uhf KTRK-DT 13.1 ABC HOUSTON TX 171° 31.8 32
* yellow - uhf KTBU-DT 55.1 IND CONROE TX 173° 32.6 42
* yellow - uhf KRIV-DT 26.1 FOX HOUSTON TX 171° 31.8 27
* yellow - vhf KUHT-DT 8.1 PBS HOUSTON TX 171° 31.8 9
* yellow - uhf KTXH-DT 20.1 MNT HOUSTON TX 173° 32.6 19
* red - uhf KHOU-DT 11.1 CBS HOUSTON TX 172° 32.7 31
* red - uhf KHCW-DT 39.1 CW HOUSTON TX 172° 32.2 38
* red - uhf KPRC-DT 2.1 NBC HOUSTON TX 172° 32.2 35

You currently have one low VHF station, KPXB-DT 49 Ion/Pax on VHF 5 and one upper VHF station, KUHT-DT PBS 8 on VHF 9. The rest are currently on UHF. If you don't care about the Ion (formerly Pax) network station, you need a antenna setup for upper VHF (7 to 13) and UHF. Looking at the FCC info, you have two stations which will be switching their digital broadcast to VHF 11 and 13 in 2009.

Depending on how your house is oriented with respect to the stations, you could place a Channel Master 4228 8 Bay bowtie on the side of the house or below the roofline. Or try a Channel Master 4221 4 Bay and add a simple dipole antenna for the PBS station if the CM 4221 does not pick it up. The stations are around 32 miles in fairly flat country, so there should be any number of medium range antennas that will do the job.

[QUOTE=SWHouston]ibddoug,


I do live a bit closer than you, am about 7 miles from the MoCity Farm, and have my Antenna focused on the two Towers at that location. Get ALL the locals on HTSC, and over 30 HD/SD's on the ATSC tuners.

...

What is HTSC ??

Thanks

take your chances with a cm4228 and cm7777 amp. only issue will be ION. and who watches that?

you may receive pbs with the cm4228. tough to call before install. the cm4228 is about 1 meter square. (36"x39.5", close enough).

install the cm4228 outside. doubt anyone will go to the roof and measure it!

*blue - uhf KTBU-DT 55.1 IND CONROE TX 173° 32.6 42
* blue - vhf KUHT-DT 8.1 PBS HOUSTON TX 171° 31.8 9
* blue - uhf KTXH-DT 20.1 MNT HOUSTON TX 173° 32.6 19
* blue - uhf KETH-DT 24.1 TBN HOUSTON TX 173° 32.6 24
* blue - vhf KPXB-DT 49.1 ION CONROE TX 173° 31.9 5
* blue - uhf KTMD-DT 47.1 TEL GALVESTON TX 173° 31.9 47
* blue - uhf KTRK-DT 13.1 ABC HOUSTON TX 171° 31.8 32
* violet - uhf KXLN-DT 45.1 UNI ROSENBERG TX 173° 32.6 46
* violet - uhf KFTH-DT 67.1 TFA ALVIN TX 173° 31.9 36
* violet - uhf KHCW-DT 39.1 CW HOUSTON TX 172° 32.2 38
* violet - uhf KAZH-DT 57.1 AZA BAYTOWN TX 173° 31.9 41
* violet - uhf KPRC-DT 2.1 NBC HOUSTON TX 172° 32.2 35
* violet - uhf KRIV-DT 26.1 FOX HOUSTON TX 171° 31.8 27

would not use the cm4221 there. it generally is used up to 25 miles or so.

A mistake :) -

That should have been NTSC (for analog TV/ analog cable) and ATSC (for digital OTA).

A mistake :) -

That should have been NTSC (for analog TV/ analog cable) and ATSC (for digital OTA).

What is the converter for...and when is it going to be ready to send out?

...still figuring out the dif about antennas...digital and analog stations and reception of signals

Thanks

the antennas used for both digital and analog are the same.

the antennas are then broken down into type/band received

for example
vhf only HD4053P
uhf only cm 4228
combination vhf/uhf cm3020, etc
multidirectional

the convertor=digital atsc tuner. either stand alone or built in the device used to receive a atsc digital signal. the old analog format found in the older sets is ntsc.

you will need a tv tuner capable of receiving the digital atsc signal off air. You can use your old antenna to receive the signal. you just need to know what you need to receive, vhf, uhf, or both.

QAM is the format distributed over cable tv. this format is not related to off air reception.

Your NBC station is digitally broadcasting on UHF channel 35. Plugging your zip and a antenna height of 100' into antennaweb, the edited list of your digital stations is:




Depending on how your house is oriented with respect to the stations, you could place a Channel Master 4228 8 Bay bowtie on the side of the house or below the roofline. Or try a Channel Master 4221 4 Bay and add a simple dipole antenna for the PBS station if the CM 4221 does not pick it up. The stations are around 32 miles in fairly flat country, so there should be any number of medium range antennas that will do the job.

The back of my house faces to the SSE. Here in the Houston area we are subject to strong winds...so I would like to keep the Antenna's height down. Do you thing mounting from the ground to about the facia 'rain gutter' height would be sufficient...as the ground is fairly flat in this neck of the woods? (Using the CM 4228)

PS ...any good ground mounting ideas...also I have a covered back porch with two 4x4 poles

Thanks

Again

Thanks again

the only thing you can do is try it. the antenna needs to face the towers and you need to be mindful of what is behind it .

you can mount the cm 4228 with a 12"-18" or so wall mount with 5' or longer heavyduty mast cut to size. this will be more sturdy and allow you some leeway to aim the antenna in the appropriate direction. I would not just "hang" it onto the home. this will not give you much flexibility in turning your antenna to suit your needs.

Do you thing mounting from the ground to about the facia 'rain gutter' height would be sufficient...

you do not need to mount the antenna high off the roof. just clear the antenna from the roof line so you can aim it without touching the house or roof. it can be low profile and mounted to the side of the home like you are thinking.

off the patio mounts are generally for plant/flower pot holders not antennas. you need to get the antenna higher up actually. you can try mounting to the side of your sun room maybe off that shorter roof. you need to try to get the antenna aimed with as little blockage as possible. this saves you headaches after.

the cm 4228 is like a sail and is relatively heavy (15lbs of metal) and presents windload so you need to be careful how you mount it especially if you are prone to strong winds.

Attic antenna - out - aluminum siding will kill you. Not too mention 35 miles.

Would aluminum siding really be an issue for an attic antenna? Most attics that I've seen are right under the roof, which is generally covered with asphalt shingles. From what I've read, the shingles won't really be a problem.

Overall, they estimate losing about 30% to 50% of the incomining signal.

Ibddoug, I'm looking forward to hearing your results. I live about the same distance from the towers, but I'm in the Humble area (zip code 77346). I hope to get my antenna mounted this weekend, weather permitting. I chose a Winegard combo antenna that I hope will be big enough. But, I've been 2nd guessing myself lately, thinking that I should have gone a size or two larger. I just hope it pulls in most of the locals.

Would aluminum siding really be an issue for an attic antenna? Most attics that I've seen are right under the roof, which is generally covered with asphalt shingles. From what I've read, the shingles won't really be a problem.

Overall, they estimate losing about 30% to 50% of the incomining signal.

At 35 miles - the OP needs all the signal he can get - these antennas are DESIGNED FOR USE IN OPEN AIR. 'nuff said about the best place to put an antenna. Get it outdoors, in a sturdy mount (Houston is subject to hurricanes - so keep that in mind). Putting an antenna in an attic also makes the multipath problems worse.

At 35 miles - the OP needs all the signal he can get -
Huh? 35 miles is not far at all for OTA reception. He lives in rather flat country and I assume does not have dense woods with tall trees to contend with. Any number of medium range antennas will do. The advantage of the CM4228 is that is can be mounted close to the outside of the house (or in an attic, but his foil lining makes the attic a questionable option) where it won't be that obvious. I think the smaller CM 4221 will do the job just fine for the UHF stations, but at 33 miles, it is iffy for the upper VHF station(s).

Ok - so 35 miles may not be on the outer reaches - but an attic with aluminum siding is not good for reception. :)

Huh? 35 miles is not far at all for OTA reception. He lives in rather flat country and I assume does not have dense woods with tall trees to contend with.

Spring is in the Piney Woods, so yes, he probably does have trees to deal with. Flat, treeless country is North Texas/Dallas-Fort Worth.

And for the record, ibddoug, Houston area winds have nothing on the gales we get up here in DFW.

/Former Spring/Humble area resident. :)

My attic has thermo shielding...so it is MFD with an aluminum side to it, so in essence the whole inside of my attic is aluminum, not siding...the outside of my house will be brick...on all four sides.

Ibddoug, I'm looking forward to hearing your results. I live about the same distance from the towers, but I'm in the Humble area (zip code 77346). I hope to get my antenna mounted this weekend, weather permitting. I chose a Winegard combo antenna that I hope will be big enough. But, I've been 2nd guessing myself lately, thinking that I should have gone a size or two larger. I just hope it pulls in most of the locals.


Mloot,

I am preparing NOW. You need to send me YOUR results, my house will not be completed until mid June. If you like I will let you come over and help me move :)

What is funny...I like in an Apt now (house didn't sell for 6 mo. in WA) so I live .8 miles from where I will be living...half of my stuff is here...and the other half is at my wife's son's house...a mile the other side of the house. So I lucked out in finding a spot equidistant to the two sites.

Doug..sorry I digressed

And for the record, ibddoug, Houston area winds have nothing on the gales we get up here in DFW.

/Former Spring/Humble area resident. :)

:rolleyes: Yes... I know you DFWer's have your own weather trials up north, more ice, more cold...and strong winds...but sometimes I think the Hurricane winds down here make the headlines that your gales don't....
but thank goodness we don't get them like you do :)

ibddoug,

Though I get very good reception with my Attic Mount VU-90, these types of Antenna, are definitely designed to be outside. I admit I capitulated to HOA pressure in putting mine in the Attic, but, if you can, get it mounted outside, and sturdy, that is a better choice. I do have a two story house, putting my Antenna at about 24’ above Grade, and, am about 75’ above Sea, according to GPS. That (near 100’ elevation) may explain why I’m getting the reception I am, through the Foil Backing.

An additional tip:
I don’t have any “Signal Strength” meters on my equipment so far, so, I took a small portable color TV up with me, set it on a known (weak) channel from the MoCity Towers, then set the Azimuth according to how well the reception was on the little TV. Worked like a charm ! ;)

I’d tell you which channel I used, but, I’m having another “Grey Hair” day today, I forgot which one it was! :D

However, after using antennaweb.com to find which channels were Xmitted from MoCity, I went to radiostationworld.com, and looked up the lowest power channel, which was on one of those two Towers, and used it. They’re so close to each other, it really isn’t an issue if you’re a little off center.

I admit that having a Compass with you, knowing your Magnetic Declination and exact location of the Tower is good info, and may give you some indication about the reason for poor reception on a specific channel. But using a little TV like I did, puts it all on the screen, and picture quality IS the final word.

Hope this helps !

Have a good Day ! :)

VU-90 Specs:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103085&cp=2032057.2032187.2032189.2032205&parentPage=family

Thanks to all of you for all the help that you have given me!


I so much appreciate it!

Doug

Ibddoug, I finally got around to installing my antenna today. My zip code is 77346, and I am 35 1/2 miles from the towers, as the crow flies. Because I knew I was going to want PBS, which broadcasts its digital channel on VHF 9, I decided to go with a combo antenna instead of a UHF-only version. I bought a Winegard HD7080p and paired it with n Winegard AP8700 pre-amp. I have a two story house, but I chose to use the 20ft mast that was already attached to the side of the house. I hate heights, so there was no way I was going to mount anything on top of my roof.

I currently have the antenna running into a Dvico Fusion 5 HD tuner card that is inside my computer. I seem to be getting just about all the local digital channels with signal strengths between 85-100%. The only ones I am having trouble with are channel 55 (The Tube) and channel 14 (KETH, with all its subchannels). I think that might be due to the fact that I rushed to finish the job because of the threat of bad weather this afternoon. When I got down, I noticed that my antenna was leaning slightly to the left (not perpendicular to the ground). Also, since I haven't gotten a compass yet, I roughly guesstimated the angle that I needed to aim my antenna toward the towers. When I have some spare time in the next week or two, I plan on fine tuning the aiming and straightening out the antenna horizontally. I hope that will clear up any complications with those two stations. All in all, I'm pretty happy with the results so far.

I'll try to post a picture of the setup in the next couple of days or so, if you are interested.