[xtal01]


I have been reading posts for a week now and am more confused than ever.

I live in Jericho, VT. Actually, we are living in a motor home in front of a home we are building. In the motor home with the standard Windgard amplified antenna (1999) we receive via a digital converter the main channels (3, 5, 22, 33, 44 and 57).

Money is tight so we don't want to pay for cable.

We are about to move into the house. I went to Home Depot and purchased a cheap antenna (Windgard FVHD30H). I ran it through a cheap 10 db Recoton amp I had in my junk box. I get the same channels I did in the RV.

I would like to get the Canadian channels from Montreal (about 75 miles away according to TV Fool map .... -129 db with 2 Edge). 57 that I am getting right now is -100 with 2 edge ( but only 46 miles ).

Not to offend my fellow countrymen but when it comes to things like the Olympics, Canadian TV is much better. They cover many more events and show a wider range of athletes, not just ours. My wife is paralyzed and likes to watch the paralympics ... US tv does not cover this at all but the Canadian channels do ( or at least did last time .... when we were renting in VT, basic cable included two Canadian channels CBC and CTV if I remember).

So, what should I do?

I looked at buying a new antenna but with all the reviews, I am totally confused as to which one.

I looked at building one ... great option since we are about broke from building the house ... but again, which one? Most people seem to look toward the single bay Gray-Hoverman but I see so many designs and variations that I don't know which one to use. Lifehacker.com had one listed as "Build a Massive HDTV Antenna for Long Distance Gains".

My final problem is how to combine antennas. Even with the one I am using, I loose channels is I change direction. Both my TV's in the house ( newer so they don't need a converter) have only a single pass scan to add channels. This does not allow you to move the antenna and "add channels". They simply re-scan wiping out the first channels ( checked with a few people who have rotor antennas and they all had the same problem).

I was going to use a simple splitter in reverse but then I started reading about one antenna cancelling out the other. I did seem somewhere there is an amplifier that can take two inputs ... is this correct? Do I need this or will a simple splitter do? An I connect several antennas (3, 4 or even 5)?

Anyway, you can see that after days of reading, I am more confused than ever. Can someone set me straight?

Below is the TV Fool map of my area.

Thanks so much ..... Mike

PS..... if anyone is "down south" send warmth up here .... motor homes are not meant for VT winters!

 

[mikepier]

Your Canadian channels look very weak from where you are. I would not be too optimistic about getting them. And they are both VHF and UHF channels. So you need a huge VHF/UHF antenna on your roof to even attempt to see if you can get them. Probably need a pre-amp as well.

What stinks is if you go to buy all this stuff, then realize it does not work. That's why I suggest buying from place that has a good return policy, like maybe Radio Shack or some place online.

I honestly never tried building an antenna, but it sounds as if people have had success doing it.

To join 2 antennas,you can use an antenna joiner. I've seen people use a 2-way splitter reversed.