Antenna Advice (83402)

[Mallard]

My zip code is: 83402
My coordinates are: 43.501,-112.068
I am mainly interested in ABC, CBS, CW, NBC, FOX, and PBS
I will have three 2-way splitters and ~150 ft of rg-6 in the distribution system
I will be using two HDTV's with internal tuners
There are a few trees in the area, but definitely not a forest!
Thanks!

Here are my tvfool results. http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapp ... 0fef92d8fc

[tigerbangs]

Your TV stations come from two groups of transmitters that lie approx. 70 degrees apart, and present a couple of challenges in trying to capture all of your available stations. You have UHF stations coming from 2 different directions, and a VHF station coming from due west of your location. I doubt that you will want to use a rotator, since it sounds as if you are running a number of TV sets. Here's what I would do. Use a small AntennaCraft Y5-7-13 VHF yagi for KIFI pointed at 270 degrees, and mount a Channel Master 4221HD 4 bay UHF antenna on the same mast at least 3 1/2 feet above the VHF yagi. Aim the 4221HD at an in-between position of 235 degrees between the two transmitter locations. The 4221HD has a wide angle of acceptance (called beamwidth), and should see the UHF stations from both sets of transmitters. Join the two antennas together using a Pico-Macom UVSJ antenna joiner, then run the output of the joiner into a Winegard HDP-269 preamplifier, which will then run coax cable to the first splitter in your antenna system. Mount the [preamplifier power injector in the line BEFORE any splitters in the line. This system should provide a good signal on all of the major TV stations in your area without resorting to turning the antenna system.

[Mallard]

Thank you Tigerbangs! Looks like a good workable solution! Yes, you were correct in your assumption about not using a rotator. Fixed aim antenna will prevent future conflicts between tv watchers.

thanks again!

[Mallard]

Would it be possible to use the Winegard 7694 antenna instead of a two antenna solution? The Winegard has higher VHF gain then antennacraft y5-7-13. It has slightly higher UHF gain than the channel master 4221 HD and also has 45 degrees or higher beam width. Total cost is less for a Winegard 7694 antenna ($60) than the two antenna solution ($74) using prices from solid signal.

[tigerbangs]

The Winegard HD-7694P is a fine ntenna, bu doesn't have the beamwidth that my solution does, and I believe that some of your UHF stations will go missing if you use it.

[Mallard]

I'm not from Missouri but I like their state motto ("Show me"). I can find beam width specs for the winegard 7694. Half power beam widths are: ch 14, 61 degrees; ch 32, 54 degrees; and ch 50, 46 degrees. I can't find similar data for the 4221HD. Several marketers credit the 4221 as having 45 degree beam width but don't show specs by channel. In my case, all my important UHF locals are between ch14 and ch 36. The specs for the winegard 7694 suggest a wider beam width in my "must have" channel range. I must be missing something here... I'm just trying to understand beam width specs...

[Mallard]

Rainy Sunday morning here so spent some time searching. Data are available for the old channel master 4221 at: http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/cm4221.html The procedure for estimating half power beamwidth is discussed here: http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/glossaryA.html#beam Based on this info and procedure, I would estimate the half power beamwidth of the 4221 to be: 65 degrees on ch 20; 60 degrees for ch 30, and 50 degrees for ch 40. Are there data for the 4221 HD?

[tigerbangs]

I don't have any data for the current 4221HD, but I expect it to perform in about the same manner as the old 4221 in the beamwidth department. At only 35 degrees off-axis for your channels, it should work just fine.

[Mallard]

I sent an e-mail to tech support at Winegard. Hopefully, they can send me polar plots for the 7694P. Based on plots for other Winegard combos, it appears that these antennas become more directional with increasing UHF frequency. This may indicate a problem for our two favorite stations (ch 31 and 36) which are located 70 degrees apart. I'll post back when/if I hear anything from tech support.

Thanks Tiger!

[tigerbangs]

Paralysis by analysis.