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Help choosing a low vhf antenna

post #1 of 24
5/31/10 at 1:42pm
Thread Starter 
We live in an area where the PBS stations broadcasts on channel 3. I am trying to find an antenna that would work to pick up PBS along with the UHF channels. We live in the mountains, but the tower is only 10 miles away. During the winter months my husband built the "coat-hanger" antenna just to see what we could pick up, and it worked fine, except could not get pbs. Now that it is spring the antenna is not picking up the signal as well through the trees, so terrain is an issue. We picked up the RCA ANT751, worked well for the UHF but not the VHF. We're hoping to be able to dump our satellite and go for free tv. Any suggestions?
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post #2 of 24
5/31/10 at 2:12pm
Add a VHF antenna. Connect the two antennas with this:
http://www.markertek.com/CATV-Headen...Inc/UVSJ.xhtml
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post #3 of 24
5/31/10 at 4:50pm
You may want to try this one as the Low-VHF antenna:

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...u=716079000949

WSET could be tricky with a UVSJ, however. If you are getting it on your current antenna, a HLSJ might be a better choice to combine a Y5-2-6, etc.

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...Splitters&sku=
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post #4 of 24
5/31/10 at 4:56pm
Thread Starter 
Looks like buying separete UHF and VHF antenna would cost twice as much. Is there a good antenna that will pick up both?
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post #5 of 24
5/31/10 at 5:28pm
Is your channel 3 the "real channel number" or the "virtual channel number"? We can check by reviewing the data from tvfool. Can you post the link to your results from www.tvfool.com? For best results, please use your correct address and actual antenna mount height above ground level. We will not see your actual address in the results.

Assuming you have a real channel three, you might want to consider a Winegard 7015. See: http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...u=615798398149
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post #6 of 24
5/31/10 at 5:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by IDRick View Post

Is your channel 3 the "real channel number" or the "virtual channel number"?

Indeed.
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post #7 of 24
5/31/10 at 6:48pm
Is the station in question, WBRA in Roanoke, VA? A search of the FCC database indicates that this is the only full-power public broadcasting station that uses (actual) channel 3.
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post #8 of 24
5/31/10 at 6:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jtbell View Post

Is the station in question, WBRA in Roanoke, VA? A search of the FCC database indicates that this is the only full-power public broadcasting station that uses (actual) channel 3.

Yup
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post #9 of 24
5/31/10 at 6:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommytomyboys View Post

I am trying to find an antenna that would work to pick up PBS along with the UHF channels.

I'd try an Antennacraft CS-600 with the coat hanger antenna. Use a UVSJ to add them together.
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post #10 of 24
5/31/10 at 7:49pm
I live 79 miles from WBRA, way out at the eastern edge of the Roanoke market. I use a Y5-2-6 to pull in WBRA and it's usually usable. There's nothing you can do about the lightning and electrical interference, but outside of that, the antenna works well.

Plus it gets me WSET on 13 without issue, though without knowing exactly where you are, I don't know if you'll receive WSET anyway.

- Trip
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post #11 of 24
5/31/10 at 8:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratman View Post

Add a VHF antenna. Connect the two antennas with this:
http://www.markertek.com/CATV-Headen...Inc/UVSJ.xhtml

What does one use when you need the power pass on the UHF side? Personally I have a VHF-Low and 2 VHF-Hi stations. I need powerpass on the UHF side, whether that's UHF only or both UHF and VHF. I use a pre-amp on the UHF antenna not the VHF one.
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post #12 of 24
6/1/10 at 4:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BCF68 View Post

What does one use when you need the power pass on the UHF side? Personally I have a VHF-Low and 2 VHF-Hi stations. I need powerpass on the UHF side, whether that's UHF only or both UHF and VHF. I use a pre-amp on the UHF antenna not the VHF one.

So far, I have identified and tested the Radio Shack 15-2586 and the Antennas Direct EU385CF to have DC-Pass on the UHF side rather than the VHF side.
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post #13 of 24
6/1/10 at 5:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ProjectSHO89 View Post

So far, I have identified and tested the Radio Shack 15-2586 and the Antennas Direct EU385CF to have DC-Pass on the UHF side rather than the VHF side.

A) neither mentions dB loss.

B) both around $20-$25 with shipping VS $5 or less for the pico.

it seems I'd just be better off using a splitter with a single side power pass like this, but I'm not sure.

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...3222)&c=Signal
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post #14 of 24
6/1/10 at 10:05am
Thread Starter 
Yep, that's the station we are trying to get. Where we are located channel 13 is the farthest tower, yet for some reason that channel comes in with the clearest signal.
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post #15 of 24
6/1/10 at 10:20am
Thread Starter 
Here's my tv fool results. I am leaning to trying an antenna where I could return it without losing any money. Anyone have experience with this one, or any from radioshack?
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=3808570

Analog Digital
Callsign Chan Network Dist
(mi) Path NM
(dB)
W05AA 5 11.2 2Edge 9.9
WEDD-LP 25 10.2 2Edge -8.7
WYAT-LP 40 28.0 2Edge -15.7
WRKV-LP 43 9.6 2Edge -19.5
Callsign Chan Network Dist
(mi) Path NM
(dB)
WBRA-DT 3 (15.1) PBS 10.3 2Edge 49.1
WSET-DT 13 (13.1) ABC 28.6 2Edge 17.8
WFXR-DT 17 (27.1) Fox 10.3 2Edge 13.1
WDBJ 18 CBS 10.3 2Edge 12.7
WSLS-TV 30 (10.1) NBC 10.4 2Edge 10.5
WDRL-DT 24 (24.1) Ind 26.9 2Edge 9.8
W05AA 5 (5.1) 11.2 2Edge 4.4
WWCW-DT 20 Fox 29.0 2Edge 2.2
WGPX 14 (16.1) ION 61.0 1Edge -4.1
WPXR-DT 36 (38.1) ION 10.2 2Edge -5.4
WCWG-DT 19 (20.1) CW 84.3 2Edge -9.5
WXLV-DT 29 (45.1) ABC 84.3 2Edge -11.6
WMYV 33 (48.1) MyN 84.3 2Edge -12.2
WFMY-DT 51 (2.1) CBS 84.0 2Edge -14.1
WXII-DT 31 (12.1) NBC 51.3 2Edge -17.3
WGHP 35 (8.1) Fox 87.9 2Edge -18.3
W44CL 44 (44.1) 22.1 1Edge -18.6
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post #16 of 24
6/1/10 at 2:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BCF68 View Post

A) neither mentions dB loss.

B) both around $20-$25 with shipping VS $5 or less for the pico.

it seems I'd just be better off using a splitter with a single side power pass like this, but I'm not sure.

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...3222)&c=Signal

The "pico" doesn't pass power on the UHF port. It passes power on the VHF port.

The "splitter" will suffer a minimum of 3.5 dB loss per port. Either of the two devices I mentioned will have the typical insertion loss for a diplexer of 0.5 to 1.5 dB (max) depending on frequency.

If you use a "common splitter", any signal picked up by other than the desired antenna (out of band) will be passed through the splitter and will leave the opportunity open for phase cancellation, resulting in further losses.

Using the "correct" device is most efficient and least likely to cause problems.

Those are the pluses and minuses. Your choice.
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post #17 of 24
6/1/10 at 4:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommytomyboys View Post

Here's my tv fool results.

The azimuth directions are missing. Without those facts it's hard to know if an all in one antenna is a good idea.

In many cases a CS600 for $17 and a U4000 for $23 will be more convenient and cheaper than the antenna that you are considering.
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post #18 of 24
6/1/10 at 5:21pm
That RS antenna is too expensive for what you get. If you want to take a gamble on a low-cost combo antenna, here is another to consider:

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...u=615798398149

If you can post the link to your TV Fool results, it would be helpful. TV Fool shows a link above the output.

"If you would like to share these results with others, this page can be referenced as:"

I still think separates would be the better way to go. However, WSET's signal is reportedly quite easy to grab, so you might get it with combo antenna at an off-angle. Be prepared to experiment with the direction if you don't want to use a rotor.
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post #19 of 24
6/1/10 at 5:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ProjectSHO89 View Post

The "pico" doesn't pass power on the UHF port. It passes power on the VHF port.

Yes I know hence why asked about one that does. The Pico is less than $5 those other are $25. A bit of discrepancy don't you think?

Quote:


The "splitter" will suffer a minimum of 3.5 dB loss per port. Either of the two devices I mentioned will have the typical insertion loss for a diplexer of 0.5 to 1.5 dB (max) depending on frequency.

One the side with the pre-amp that loss won't happen. I have to figure out if I can get by with the loss of 3.5 dB on the VHF side.

Quote:


If you use a "common splitter", any signal picked up by other than the desired antenna (out of band) will be passed through the splitter and will leave the opportunity open for phase cancellation, resulting in further losses.

Sure but one is a low-VHF/Hi-VHF antenna the other is UHF antenna. Most stations aren't close enough to be able to come in on the other antenna unless there is some trop.

Quote:


Using the "correct" device is most efficient and least likely to cause problems.

$25 for a combiner is a bit of a reach. I might as well go all out and get a channel master 7777
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post #20 of 24
6/1/10 at 5:56pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you so much for all the advice. Here's the link for tvfool, think I got it right this time.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...9fbeddda4df47e
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post #21 of 24
6/1/10 at 6:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommytomyboys View Post

Here's the link for tvfool, think I got it right this time.

That looks fine.

I agree with Falcon_77, the Winegard HD7015 is a good choice. I have that antenna myself.

Yet you have three more things to consider:
1. WSET is not in line with the other network stations. Add an Antennacraft Y5-7-13 aimed at 54° to pick it up. Next get a Channel 13 Jointenna from Amazon.com.
2. You'll need a preamp to get WSLS reliably.
3. WROV-FM on 96.3 is extremely strong. Opt for the Winegard AP-8700 preamp. Before you install the preamp at the antenna, connect the HD7015 to the preamp and then tune the variable FM trap for 96.3 by using an FM receiver with a signal strength meter. Tune for the weakest signal. One that is done you can mount the preamp, second antenna, and Jointenna on the roof.
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post #22 of 24
6/1/10 at 7:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BCF68 View Post

Yes I know hence why asked about one that does. The Pico is less than $5 those other are $25. A bit of discrepancy don't you think?

The $5 one doesn't do what you want which makes the price comparison irrelevant.
Quote:

One the side with the pre-amp that loss won't happen. I have to figure out if I can get by with the loss of 3.5 dB on the VHF side.

You bear the 3.5 dB power loss on both sides regardless. It's just that the amplified side is much less relevant.
Quote:

Sure but one is a low-VHF/Hi-VHF antenna the other is UHF antenna. Most stations aren't close enough to be able to come in on the other antenna unless there is some trop.



$25 for a combiner is a bit of a reach. I might as well go all out and get a channel master 7777

Then go do what makes the most sense.
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post #23 of 24
6/1/10 at 7:22pm
It's possible a separate upper-VHF antenna may not be needed. It's a stretch, but W05AA-D is on the air and repeating WSET-13's programming. If the upgraded antenna is, by some chance, able to see that signal, then it may make the main 13 unnecessary.

Of course, it's really unlikely, but just mentioning it.

- Trip
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post #24 of 24
6/2/10 at 12:41pm
Thread Starter 
So is the best option one of the large antennas? I was hoping for something smaller, but with needing to get a vhf station looks like that's the best option
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