01841 antenna / installation advice

[flycat]

I'm guessing I'd be looking to install an antenna on my chimney. This will put it approx 20' off the ground and aside from a few trees it will have a somewhat unobstructed view of the skyline toward most of the transmitting towers (SW of me).

The stations I'm most interested in are CVB, HDH, LVI, FXT, and SBK. Some are VHF, others are UHF. Attached is the digital screenshot.

Right now I'm interested in only 1 TV, possibly a second at some point. My TV is a 55" Vizio HDTV

I'm looking for advice on an antenna and whether or not they are easy to put up or if I should hire someone to do it correctly.

Thanks

[tigerbangs]

Actually, with the new digital assignments, everything that you are looking for is on UHF,even though they still identify themselves at CBS4, WCVB-5 etc. The Boston signals are fairly strong in your area, and using a small UHF antenna mounted on the roof, aimed at roughly 200 degrees by your compass will get everything that you are looking for. Good choices include the Winegard HD-4400, the Channel Master 4221HD and the AntennasDirect DB-4 or the XG-42. Be sure to use all high-quality RG-6u coaxial cable, and be sure to ground the coax cable where it enters the house. Good Luck!

[flycat]

Thanks for your help.

I noticed while looking into the recommendations you made that many of them mention that they are suitable for an attic installation. I'm figuring on trying that first before climbing on the roof. With that in mind, would that narrow down the list of antennas? The Winegard is half the price of the others. Otherwise, judging by comments I've seen in various reviews I'd probably lean toward the DB-4.

Thanks again!

[tigerbangs]

I am usually opposed to attic installations because they are unpredictable in the amount of signal loss that an attic installation will induce, and further, attic installations usually are subject to more multipath distortion, which is the bane of digital TV reception. If there is any way that you can mount the antenna on your roof, or strapped to your chimney, you will be MUCH happier with your reception.

[flycat]

My Wineguard 4400 showed up today and I couldn't help but set it up in my livingroom, and I was literally blown away at the quality of the picture I'm getting. The antenna probably isn't even pointed ideally and I still pick up all but 1 of the local stations perfectly, along with a number of other stations I never knew existed.

I'm still on the fence about outside mounted to my chimney or in the attic. I'll likely try the attic and if the quality is as good as it is now I may just leave it there. I've got a 4 flue chimney, so it's pretty wide. We'll see though.

Now I need to find a good dvr solution and I'll be cancelling my fios tv and saving a bundle. I'm still under contract for about 9 months or so, with the amount ticking down $15 every month so I'm not in a big hurry. Regardless, the cancellation fee will be recovered in less than 1 month.

Thanks for your help!

[tigerbangs]

OK, which stations are you NOT getting from Boston?

[flycat]

Again, I'm not sure I have it aimed ideally, but here's what I get with the antenna in my livingroom window. It's also quite stormy tonight.

I know you asked what I don't get, but it's easier this way

2-1 ch2 HD - great
2-2 ch2 SD - great
4-1 ch4 HD - great *
5-1 ch5 HD - great *
7-1 ch7 HD - great *
7-2 This TV (never heard of it) SD - great
25-1 ch25 HD - great *
27-1 ch27 HD - great
27-1 LATV (never heard of it, latino station) SD - great
38-1 ch38 - sketchy
44-1 ch44 HD - great
44-2 WGBH World SD - great
44-3 WGBH Create SD - great
44-4 WGBH SD - great
48-1 WYDN - in and out, out now
50-1 WBIN HD - great
50-2 WBIN2? SD - great
56-1 ch56 HD - great now, but has been sketchy
56-2 TCN? SD - great now
62-1 WMFP SD - great
62-2 WMFP (same) SD - great
66-1 WUTF SD - sketchy

I define sketchy as watchable, but it pauses and gets blotchy (sorta like pixelated?) occasionally.

Some of these stations I'd never heard of before. The channels I primarily watch are marked with an asterisk. I'm sure if aimed in the proper direction and up on my roof it would probably clear up all the marginal signals.

Another thing worth noting is that everyone I talk to sounds very surprised to hear they can get free over the air TV in HD. One guy I work with is even buying an antenna for himself. For $21 (wingard) it's not much of a gamble to try it. However, anyone that wants to shut down cable will miss out on a lot of sports that are typically available on basic cable. I'll miss not being able to watch the Sox or a Bruins game, and I know for certain that will be a deal breaker for a lot of folks.

[tigerbangs]

Getting that antenna out on the roof should clear up channels 38 and 48 for you...

[flycat]

I had it pointing around 50° in the wrong direction

I have a suggestion for those of you that are directionally challenged as I am. Fire up Google earth, zoom in tight on your house and put a pushpin on it. Then click the "show ruler" command, and draw a line from where your antenna is going and draw a straight line to where the towers are. Google earth will even tell you with degrees you're headed. TV fool has a Google Earth .kmz file that shows all the nearby towers.

Using that I was able to see that I was pointing way in the wrong direction. I still have it in my attic, all of the stations above come in great and I picked up ch 68 as well.

[tigerbangs]

I'm glad that it all worked out for you!