The Official AVS Antenna and Related Hardware Topic! - Page 441

Here is the way Winegard did it with the HD9095 UHF antenna. (I modified the YA-1713 VHF antenna mount.) My goal here was to keep the bird s... off my patio cover.

That's funny you should post that picture. I'm going to ask Santa for a high-VHF Yagi to go with my 9022, and here you have a very similar setup already. Your 9095 is a bit better than my 9022, but I need my rotor, so balanced booms are needed. I really like the 1713; how is the performance with this combination? And what is your vertical spacing?

The more I think about that old U-120, the less I like it. Going all the way to 83 means it would be crap from 14 to 40 compared to my 9022. And the plastic parts that get brittle are probably going to break as soon as I remove it. It's not like good antennas are outrageously expensive (91XG, 9032, 4228), so...maybe it's not worth the effort?
Unless someone else wants it? I would be willing to rescue it if it's rare and someone out there could benefit from it, or like to collect old ones.

I know nothing about antennas, but recently cancelled my overpriced but worthless cable service. My wife would like it if we could pick up some channels, though.
Could somebody help with an antenna recommendation, here is a Signal analysis for my location.

Thanks.

notanarborist,
This outdoor antenna should work for you. It is only this big and comes with a mounting bracket.

Using a compass, aim the antenna ~145° SE. Then, scan for local OverTheAir digital channels on your digital TV's channel menu. That should get all your major broadcast networks and whatever subchannels they offer.

Thanks for the quick reply. That setup is cheaper than 1 month of basic cable with slowspeed broadband through our only cable company.

I am using a Yaesu 450XL rotator on these antennas. They are very light (the 1713 is only 3 lbs) compared to the ham antennas I was using on this setup (over 80 lbs).

Vertical spacing is about 4 feet.

I am very pleased with the operation and reception.

The advantage of the HD9095 is that it has an input built into the antenna for a VHF antenna connection.

I am also using a WG 8275 preamp on these.

Oh Ok, that's a rotor in the picture- those must be pretty heavy-duty compared to my Phillips CM clone. But I use a double-mast setup with a bearing (one mast is for support, the other rotates).
The 9022 also has posts for a VHF antenna, but I would have to use twin-lead, which I'm not familiar with. I'll use a UVSJ, or the CM7777's separate inputs.

You could also try a plastic owl on the 1713, fairly effective.

I put this up some 15 years ago. Took the ham antenna down about 5 years ago.

The lower section of pipe is two inch heavy wall steel. This is where the ham antennas were mounted. The smaller diameter "extension" was put in so I could mount a TV antenna above the ham antenna.

The connections on the HD9095 are all F coax connectors.

I have had a plastic owl up for 15 years on the patio itself but I don't think it has helped much.

If it stays still in the same place, the birds get used to it. Tie a string to it and let the wind blow on it.
Rubber snakes are another option if moved frequently. Mylar strips work, as do old AOL or other cds dvds drilled and mounted with string. Nothing works 100%, but these methods have helped to save some of my berry crops, heh.

You could put the owl on a second rotator.

Or get a trained owl? You could teach it to go on the neighbor's patio.

Completely new to antennas, but have been on AVS for quite some time. I'll be closing on my new home in a week and I'm ditching Dish Network due to poor service and pinching pennies. Any recommendations on a antennas?

All of the major stations are located in a city 40-50 miles away. Most people in my city are able to pick up the major 4 stations with rabbit ears.

I would prefer to mount in the attic, but I can also install on my chimney.

TV Fool analysis: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...a36250884b512f

That depends on your desire to get WBRA via OTA. I can't imagine it will be on low-VHF for much longer.
That station aside, a Winegard 7694 or 7695 would be ideal.

With the Winegard 7694....would I be able to mount it in the attic? (Cedar siding)

Are there any other options I should be looking at?

Someone mentioned an RCA:http://www.amazon.com/RCA-ANT751-Out...6756551&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ef=oss_product

That at the Winegard seem to be pretty different to me...what am I missing? What are the benefits of one over the other? I read the descriptions on Amazon as well as the reviews. Both seem to be good, just trying to figure out what would be best in an attic environment.

I REALLY appreciate all the help guys! Can't wait to hear more opinions.

Just be aware that none of the antennas mentioned so far will pick up your PBS station.

He has a second PBS that's on RF11. And that other one on 3 probably won't be there for much longer- low-band's days are numbered.

That depends on the size of the attic, and the access to it. I've seen attics that could house a big all-band like a Winegard 8200. Others, like mine, are severely limited by the size of the hatch and the design of the structural framing.
The RCA 751/EZHD is a good antenna, but in an attic it might not be able to get those VHF-highs too well. The 7694 has 9-10 dB of gain from 7-13 and over 10 throughout UHF, which beats the 751 by several dBs. I've learned the hard way that if it must go in the attic, you need to go bigger to avoid annoying dropouts.

Don't count on that at all. WBRA doesn't have the money to toss around like that.

I would recommend the Winegard HD 7082P mounted on the chimney. Aim it at 252°.

If you have many TV sets or find that NBC is unreliable, use a preamp such as the HDP-269.

I'm absolutely blown away by the kindness of people on the forums.

I move in the house in a few weeks and will make the decision then. You guys are the best!

Let me know if there is anything else I should be considering.

Is WBRA an absolutely must-have station? If not, it can greatly affect antenna selection.

Any station still using channel 3 is ridiculous.

For those curious, here is a listing of VHF-Lo stations from W9WI. Not sure how current it is since it says last update Oct 2006. Anyone have a more up to date list?

Cheers

http://www.w9wi.com/newweb/articles/lowbanddtv.html

Go to Trip's website - rabbitears.info - and download Falcon_77's spreadsheet. You can then sort by real RF channel. Last time I checked, it was around 38 full-power stations that were on low VHF.

Here's the most recent list, sans formatting:

7/15/2010

ST Area City of License (if other) Call Sign Netw. (Primary) Vir. CH RF CH
NV LAS VEGAS KSNV NBC 3.1 2
ME BANGOR WLBZ NBC 2.1 2
CO GRAND JUNCTION KREX CBS 5.1 2
SD RAPID CITY KOTA ABC 3.1 2
NE NORTH PLATTE KNOP NBC 2.1 2
WY JACKSON KJWY NBC 2.1 2
UT SALT LAKE CITY PRICE KCBU day 3.1 3
VA ROANOKE WBRA PBS 15.1 3
MT MILES CITY KYUS NBC 3.1 3
SD NORTHEAST SD FLORENCE KDLO CBS 3.1 3
CA EUREKA KIEM NBC 3.1 3
FL KEY WEST WSBS ind. 22.1 3
NV CENTRAL NV ELY KVNV NBC 3.1 3
IL DAVENPORT ROCK ISLAND WHBF CBS 4.1 4
NE LINCOLN SUPERIOR KSNB FOX 4.1 4
TX SAN ANTONIO FREDERICKSBURG KCWX CW 2.1 5
TN NASHVILLE WTVF CBS 5.1 5
MI GRAND RAPIDS KALAMAZOO WGVK PBS 52.1 5
TN MEMPHIS WMC NBC 5.1 5
OH TOLEDO WLMB rlg 40.1 5
IA DES MOINES AMES WOI ABC 5.1 5
VA JOHNSON CITY BRISTOL WCYB NBC 5.1 5
WV CLARKSBURG WESTON WDTV CBS 5.1 5
NE LINCOLN HASTINGS KHAS NBC 5.1 5
OR MEDFORD KOBI NBC 5.1 5
MI MARQUETTE CALUMET WBKP CW 5.1 5
SD RAPID CITY LEAD KIVV FOX 5.1 5
MT BUTTE KXLF CBS 4.1 5
MT GLENDIVE KXGN CBS 5.1 5
PA PHILADELPHIA WPVI ABC 6.1 6
CT HARTFORD NEW HAVEN WEDY PBS 65.1 6
NY ALBANY SCHENECTADY WRGB CBS 6.1 6
AL BIRMINGHAM TUSCALOOSA WUOA a-one 23.1 6
GA AUGUSTA WRENS WCES PBS 20.1 6
GA ALBANY PELHAM WABW PBS 14.1 6
KS GARDEN CITY ENSIGN KBSD CBS 6.1 6
NE NORTH PLATTE HAYES CENTER KWNB ABC 6.1 6
MT BUTTE KTVM NBC 6.1 6

Nope...all I really care about is NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX. Don't care about WBRA...

The Winegard HD7694P should work for you, unless you have:
Metal or tile roof.
Foil-backed radiant barrier on the underside of the roof decking (faces the attic and easily visible).
Foil backed wall insulation.
If you have any of the above, you'll probably have to put the antenna outside for reliable reception.

Sounds good! I'll probably give the Winegard HD7694P a try when I move into the house November 1.

Thanks everyone!