antenna for zip 15301 Park Ave 1600 block

[john3359]

Hey - I have been without tv reception since the changeover and want to get an outdoor antennae for our two tv sets (could use only one if that is want will work best). We will use a converter box (older tvs)and will install outdoor antenna on roof of single story home. The house has a brick chimney that could easily accommodate an antenna. I am clueless when it comes to this stuff about selecting an antenna. I went to a few home improvement places around here - one sells most all I would need (65 mile radius RCA antenna/ coax cable /pipe etc) but not exactly sure what will work best.

We live somewhat in a small valley - have a few large trees near us and have several houses across the road that are 2 stories.

Should I buy quad shield coaxial cable or just plain single shield coax cable?
Should I buy a different antenna (someone suggested to me an DB8)? What is recommended?
Do I need a preamp? If so, which one (I am clueless)?
How about a rotator?

I would certainly appreciate you help.

Thanks!
john

[tigerbangs]

WHOA! before you do anything else, please go to http://www.tvfool.com and post the results of the inquiry. I would never recommend either any RCA antenna nor a DB-8, especially without knowing the exact circumstances.

[john3359]

here's the information from tv fool that you requested. Thank you for your help.

John

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapp ... edee467108

[tigerbangs]

Yeah, although you aren't too far from Pittsburgh, your stations are definitely hard to get because of the hills in your area: you reeally DO need a deep-fringe antenna along with a rotator and a preamplifier to see everything that you are missing. You have 4 VHF digital TV stations in your area, so we need to look at a combination VHF-high-band plus UHF antenna like a Winegard HD-7697P and a high-input preamplifier like a Winegard HDP-269, which won't overload on the local-low-power station in your area. Since your Pittsburgh stations lie in several directions, and you also have access to several West Virginia stations, I suggest using a rotator,as well. I have had good luck over the years using the Channel Master 9521a rotator, which is operated by a remote control, and is very easy to program and use. Id you plan to run multiple TV sets in your house, we will also need to address a distribution system, so we can make sure that all of the TV sets get enough signal to do their jobs.

Quad shield cable is definitely unnecessary when installing a regular TV antenna: a high-quality satellite-grade dual-shield cable will do just fine for you.