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Pls help me choose an antenna

post #1 of 11
6/29/10 at 10:07am
Thread Starter 
I need help selecting an antenna for a two story home located in a rural area of upstate NY on the northeast shore of Lake George.

Results from tvfool.com:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d9fbee2b02a0ebf

The cluster of stations to the north-east and south-west are the ones I am trying to receive.

Thanks!
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post #2 of 11
6/29/10 at 11:06am
Based on a quick look at your results, you're going to need a big UHF/VHF combo antenna, a rotator, and perhaps a tower and preamp.

Have you considered cable or satellite? It may less expensive and labor intensive.
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post #3 of 11
6/29/10 at 12:27pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for responding. Unfortunately as far as I know there is really no other option at this location.

Satellite installer came out, walked around with a meter for a bit and concluded that due to the property being covered by very tall evergreen trees typical of upstate New York we aren't able to get a signal. No cable TV service either.

The antenna would be mounted ~30 ft off the ground at the peak of the house (A-frame) so I think I would be good on height.

Can you suggest an appropriate antenna - rotor combo?
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post #4 of 11
6/29/10 at 1:03pm
Honestly I don't see any hope of you getting anything in except that PBS station. Remember the TVfool results are even taking those trees into account. Even without trees those signals are just too low. For the hell of it re-do your Tvfool with a 100 foot height.
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post #5 of 11
6/29/10 at 1:10pm
Some of the distances aren't too bad...are you way down in a valley?
Large combination antenna (Winegard or Channel master) rotator and a channel master or winegard preamp. Pines will be a problem
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post #6 of 11
6/29/10 at 1:13pm
Do you have a budget limit?
Have you spoken with neighbors in that area for some ideas/suggestions?
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post #7 of 11
6/29/10 at 1:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tshaff09 View Post

Some of the distances aren't too bad...are you way down in a valley?
Large combination antenna (Winegard or Channel master) rotator and a channel master or winegard preamp. Pines will be a problem

Actually it is. Lots of hills around his area.
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post #8 of 11
6/29/10 at 3:44pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all the replies. This is my parents place serveral hours from my home. I dont have a sense of what their neighbors are doing.

I'd like to keep the antenna, rotor and pre-amp to around $200 if I can, but willing to spend more to be able to have a more reliable setup for my folks.

Would the Winegard HD8200U or Channel Master CM-3671 work at this location? Thoughts on the pre-amp?
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post #9 of 11
6/29/10 at 4:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mutant_chow View Post

Thanks for all the replies. This is my parents place serveral hours from my home. I dont have a sense of what their neighbors are doing.

I'd like to keep the antenna, rotor and pre-amp to around $200 if I can, but willing to spend more to be able to have a more reliable setup for my folks.

Would the Winegard HD8200U or Channel Master CM-3671 work at this location? Thoughts on the pre-amp?

Honestly I don't think it's even worth the bother. You're going to spend all that time and money and not get anything in other than PBS. Maybe CBS( and probably only at night ) If you had a 250 foot tower, sure.
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post #10 of 11
6/29/10 at 4:38pm
I'd use that $200 to cut down the trees to get LOS to the sats.

Seriously... unless you speak with other antenna users in the area, it could be a very expensive and frustrating lesson. Worst case, you could invest well over $200 and only get 3 channels reliably.

Make a few phone calls to folks in the area.
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post #11 of 11
6/29/10 at 6:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratman View Post

I'd use that $200 to cut down the trees to get LOS to the sats.

Seriously... unless you speak with other antenna users in the area, it could be a very expensive and frustrating lesson. Worst case, you could invest well over $200 and only get 3 channels reliably.

Make a few phone calls to folks in the area.

trust none me of that will matter. Go look at his area. Hs neighbor could be getting in prefectly good singals. Doesn't mean he'll get anything. Fricken hills everywhere.

Also $200 might get you ONE tree cut down. That won't matter when there's hills 200 feet higher than your house less than 1/4 mile away.
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