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About to Purchase Antenna

post #1 of 4
8/11/07 at 2:14pm
Thread Starter 
So, I've been in my new house for about 3 months and have been using a Terk antenna on top of my entertainment center. I'm about to purchase an antenna to use in the attic to get better reception and make the living room prettier for the wife (a great win-win situation).

Here's my information from AntennaWeb (the paste didn't work too well, so I had to quickly line things up manually):

WBTV-DT3.1 CBSCHARLOTTE NC 275° 24.5 23
WCNC-DT36.1NBC CHARLOTTE NC 272° 23.722
WUNG-DT58.1PBSCONCORDNC 104° 8.0 44
WSOC-DT9.1ABC CHARLOTTE NC 177° 7.834
WCCB-DT18.1FOXCHARLOTTE NC 180° 7.427
WTVI-DT42.1PBSCHARLOTTE NC 159° 6.711
WAXN-DT64.1INDKANNAPOLIS NC 177° 7.850
WJZY-DT46.1CWBELMONTNC 275° 22.7 47
WMYT-DT55.1MNT ROCK HILSC 275° 22.7 39

I'm currently considering two antennas -- the DB8 from AntennasDirect or the Channel Master 4228A. Any advice on these two antennas for use in an attic?

Also, talk to me about amplifiers . . .

Short-term this antenna will only go to one TV. I will estimate the cable run at 30-35ft. Will I need an amplifier for this? I'm looking at the Channel Master 7777 if the answer to this is yes.

Long-term this antenna will feed a distribution panel in a closet and split out probably 5 directions. I am looking at the Electroline 2802 (http://www.electroline.com/en/produc..._ug/index.html) for this purpose -- I believe this would allow me to plug in both the antenna and cable line and distribute them around the house -- am I correct? Also, once I have this in place, would I still need a separate amplifier just for the antenna?
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post #2 of 4
8/12/07 at 5:19am

Re: About to Purchase Antenna

Quote:
Originally Posted by SethH
I'm currently considering two antennas -- the DB8 from AntennasDirect or the Channel Master 4228A. Any advice on these two antennas for use in an attic?
Those are great antennas for UHF channels. As you can see, WTVI is high frequency VHF. It may not be an issue since WUNG probably shows simlar programming. Second, your channels aren't broadcast from the same antenna farm. I think if you aim for the farthest channels, your others will probably come in without an issue. But I would try an antenna that you could return easily. I'm about the 25 miles from local transmitters and use this antenna with great results. I can even get an occaisional signal from a PBS station that's about 30 miles away in a different dirction. If you really want to find out what will work, go to AVS Forums, Local HDTV section and look up the thread on your DMA. You can find people in your area, town and even neighborhood that have already gone through the trial and error of choosing an antenna. I participate in the Memphis thread and we can give standard recommendations based on what part of town the poster is from.

Quote:
Originally Posted by SethH
Short-term this antenna will only go to one TV. I will estimate the cable run at 30-35ft. Will I need an amplifier for this?
Use quality RG-6 and you won't have a problem. My run of cable is close to 50 feet.

Quote:
Originally Posted by SethH
I believe this would allow me to plug in both the antenna and cable line and distribute them around the house -- am I correct? Also, once I have this in place, would I still need a separate amplifier just for the antenna?
It looks like you still won't need an amp based on the description. But it probably won't let you combine cable and OTA. They both use the same frequency bands and don't combine well. If you could block the OTA frequencies on the cable side (some of the analog channels), then you could combine them.

-Robert
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post #3 of 4
8/12/07 at 6:39am
Thread Starter 

Re: About to Purchase Antenna

Thanks for your help Robert. I will check out those threads at AVS.

I have already purchased some good quad-shield RG-6 cable from Lowes, so I will go ahead and try the antenna without an amplifier for now.

Regarding VHF and UHF, you are correct that those two PBS stations have similar (if not the same) programming. However, would it be possible to throw a simple pair of rabbit ears up in the attic next to the 4228 and use a VHF/UHF combiner so I could pick up analog stations and that one pesky PBS?

Regarding cable and OTA -- despite the way it sounded in my initial post, I actually do not plan to combine them. Instead I just plan to have a hub with 2 RG6 cables hanging there and attach whichever one I need. I really don't ever plan to have cable, but I would like to plan ahead in case: 1) I change my mind and get cable, or 2) I decide to sell the house at some point to someone who wants cable.
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post #4 of 4
8/13/07 at 1:16pm

Re: About to Purchase Antenna

Some rabbit ears my work. I'd test the antennas separately before spending money on a jointenna.

-Robert
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