[Keizer]

Hello, I live way up on a hill, but am surrounded by fir trees averaging around 50' tall. I would like to buy an HDTV antenna, but am worried about it being a total waste of time because of the trees on my property.


I went to "Antenna web" and typed in my address to see what staions were available. When it asked me "Are there any buildings, steeples, towers, or other structures taller than four stories within four blocks of your location, airports within two miles of your location, and/or many nearby trees over 30 feet tall?" I answered yes.


Anyway, it shows that I can get FOX (which is cool) and would need a Medium Directional Antenna. The other channel that it says I could get is TBN, and that I need a Medium Directional Antenna with pre-amp.


Does living on a hill work to my advantage even though I have trees? Or is it pretty much a wash?


Also, if it recommends a Medium Directional Antenna, would a large directional antenna be even better? What about climbing to the top of one of my trees, and installing the antenna up there?? Would that be too much cable to run?


Thanks!

 

[arxaw]

A much more accurate site than antennaweb is TVFool . Enter your complete address and post a link to the results page back in this thread. Your address will not display anywhere on the results page.

 

[kenglish]

According to theory, the very best site for a terrestrial receive antenna is just below the peak of a hill.


Trees probably won't preclude you from getting a signal, but might attenuate it enough that you'd need a bigger antenna. Try for a fairly clear path (between you and the transmitters), and avoid shooting through trees while having open space to the sides, which would lead to more severe multipath (due to the primary/direct signal being attenuated by the trees, with the off-axis reflected signals being less attenuated).

 

[Keizer]



Quote:
Originally Posted by arxaw /forum/post/18220736


A much more accurate site than antennaweb is TVFool . Enter your complete address and post a link to the results page back in this thread. Your address will not display anywhere on the results page.

Ok, done, but does this take into consideration trees on my property and surrounding property??
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...b7c8f6a1144828

 

[arxaw]

It looks like you have even taller hills between you and the transmitters. You will need an outdoor VHF +UHF antenna and probably a preamp to get any stations shown on that TVFool results.


Did you enter an estimated antenna height when you input your address?

 

[Keizer]



Quote:
Originally Posted by arxaw /forum/post/18221050


It looks like you have even taller hills between you and the transmitters. You will need an outdoor VHF +UHF antenna and probably a preamp to get any stations shown on that TVFool results.


Did you enter an estimated antenna height when you input your address?

Yes we have taller surrounding hills as well. And yes, I put down 10' as my antenna height since it would be mounted on the garage roof. I do know that years ago we could get FOX with a set of indoor rabbit ears up here. We then got satellite and never messed with antennas again.

 

[arxaw]

Since your terrain is very hilly, the mapping tool might be a more accurate predictor. With it, after entering your address, you can drag the red map indicator directly over your house (satellite view), then enter your antenna height below the map. Next, click "Make Radar Plot."


Play with the height settings, to see if a taller antenna mast would increase the numbers in the "NM" column.

 

[Keizer]

I tried the mapping tool, and typed in 50' for antenna height. Basically simulating having the antenna at the top of one of the trees. The only difference it made was changing channel 14 from red to green. Fox was already green with my 10' antenna height. All the other channels that were originally red, stayed red.

 

[arxaw]

If you did the elevation using the mapping option, the only stations of interest you may expect to reliably receive are probably FOX & PBS.


You would need a VHF+UHF antenna designed for fringe reception , and probably a low noise high gain VHF+UHF preamp .


Both the hills and trees may lower chances of reliable reception.

 

[jstarling82]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Keizer /forum/post/18221241


I tried the mapping tool, and typed in 50' for antenna height. Basically simulating having the antenna at the top of one of the trees. The only difference it made was changing channel 14 from red to green. Fox was already green with my 10' antenna height. All the other channels that were originally red, stayed red.

I wouldn't bother looking at a treetop mount for your antenna. The amount of swaying that takes place at the top of a pine tree is enough that you'd have a hard time locking onto a signal consistently, if you ever get a signal to begin with.

 

[MichaelJay]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jstarling82 /forum/post/18221989


I wouldn't bother looking at a treetop mount for your antenna. The amount of swaying that takes place at the top of a pine tree is enough that you'd have a hard time locking onto a signal consistently, if you ever get a signal to begin with.

I think Keizer meant his antenna would be roof or tower-mounted but even with the tops of the pines.

 

[Keizer]



Quote:
Originally Posted by arxaw /forum/post/18221630


If you did the elevation using the mapping option, the only stations of interest you may expect to reliably receive are probably FOX & PBS.


You would need a VHF+UHF antenna designed for fringe reception , and probably a low noise high gain VHF+UHF preamp .


Both the hills and trees may lower chances of reliable reception.

Even if I just got FOX, that would be great. We would like to at least get local news which we don't currently have right now.

 

[Keizer]



Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelJay /forum/post/18222477


I think Keizer meant his antenna would be roof or tower-mounted but even with the tops of the pines.

Actually no, I was considering climbing to the top of one of my trees and mounting it up there. jstarling82 makes a good point about not going this route.

 

[arxaw]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Keizer /forum/post/18222642


Even if I just got FOX, that would be great. We would like to at least get local news which we don't currently have right now.

If you're satisfied in just getting the two FOX channels (one is local weather), an inexpensive VHF highband antenna should suffice. Or this VHF-HI+UHF antenna that has more gain for channel 13, plus respectable UHF gain.

 

[Keizer]

Guys, I went out to my shop and built this DIY antenna just for a test to see if I could pick up anything.
http://www.tvantennaplans.com/


I didn't connect it to my new HDTV, but instead connected it to an old CRT TV that I had in my shop. I couldn't get a single channel to come in.

I was up in the loft of my shop doing the test, and even opened the window and put the antenna outside. It was basically about 16' off the ground but was blocked by the gable end of my shop.


Is this test any kind of indication of what I might expect if I get a better store bought antenna? I just wanted to experiment before forking out the cash.


Thanks!

 

[pamajestic]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Keizer /forum/post/18228545



I didn't connect it to my new HDTV, but instead connected it to an old CRT TV that I had in my shop.

Don't forget you will need a digital converter box for the CRT.

 

[Keizer]



Quote:
Originally Posted by pamajestic /forum/post/18228577


Don't forget you will need a digital converter box for the CRT.

Ok, well that explains the issue then. I guess I should just try it out on my new HDTV.


Thanks for the explanation!!

 

[Keizer]

Ok, I brought my home made antenna into the house and connected it to my HDTV. I had the TV do a scan for channels, and sure enough, it brought up the two HD channels that we discussed earlier. I had to move the antenna around a few times, but got a perfectly stable picture and sound.

And my rinky dink antenna!

I'm just wondering how many more channels I might get with a real antenna and preamp? It seems like if I was able to get these channels with the antenna in my house, then a real antenna outside properly installed should do better.

 

[Keizer]

Well, I moved the antenna over by one of the windows and re-scanned for channels. I picked up five more channels for a total of seven. I'm now getting channels 20.1 thru 20.5 along with the two FOX channels.

 

[jstarling82]

Consider linking the balun an equal distance between the middle two bays for added performance.