Antenna for NY

[hbro8]

My mother in Sidney (42.302493, -75.399343 from TVfool) used to get Binghamton, Syracuse and Utica analog stations with a rotor. The rotor no longer functions. The TV is now on a converter box with the antenna directed to Binghamton. Channels 7, 8, 34, and 42 show a signal but only 7 is strong enough too see and that breaks up often. The area is single story homes, many tall trees and hilly. The antenna is on a ground pole and is probably close to 40 years old.

I need a better antenna for Binghamton. But she also wants to get the Utica station for NBC. I could replace the rotor. But she is now in her late 80's and it might get messed up. I had to tape a cover over the remote so that just the on-off, volume and channel up-down buttons show to keep her from getting lost in "remote land". Maybe two antennas roof mounted would be useful. One pointing to Utica and the other pointing to Binghamton. Any suggestions?

Thanks

[tigerbangs]

Even though she is only 33 miles from the Binghamton transmitters, there are significant hills between her location and the transmitters. You really need to replace the current antenna with a combination VHF-high-band plus UHF antenna aimed at Binghamton. I would use a Winegard HD-7697P aimed at 250 degrees as measured by your compass, and replace all of the existing cable with new RG-6u coaxial cable. I would also use a high-gain preamplifier like a Winegard AP-8275 or a Channel Master Titan 7777. Binghamton has all of your major networks, so, if you aim at Binghamton, you'll see everything that she needs. Some of the Binghamton programs come in on digital sub channels, so be sure to scan your converter very carefully.

http://www.winegard.com/kbase/upload/HD7697P.pdf
http://www.winegard.com/kbase/upload/chart29.pdf
http://www.channelmaster.com/product-ov ... 4&catID=39

[hbro8]

Thanks,

I'll try that. Although handling a 10' antenna on a roof is going to be challenging. There is a 15' pole for a Ham radio antenna in the back. Maybe I'll try it there first.

[tigerbangs]

You can try it on the HAM mast, but be sure that the house or immediate hills are not between the antenna and the transmitters: you don't have any signal to spare in this installation.