Antenna suggestions

[DWS]

Hello all,,,,I've been out of the antenna bussiness for some time,,, what I need is help in recommedations on what would be good in my area,,,what I have is a 40' tower and I use a rotor,,, my zip is 49272(so. Mich.)I need a strong antenna w/pre amp,,,,curently have a Winguard,,,can't remember the model but, is 18+ years old,,,,any opinions or suggestions would be most appreciated,,,,thanks,Dan

[DWS]

I've been looking at a HD8200U....maybe this would be a choice,,,,don't know if there is anything else that would compare or "do better",,,,,,,,,,,thanks,

[tigerbangs]

The issue with the HD8200U is that it's very good on VHF, but only fair on UHF. I would suggest separate UHF and VHF antennas. If you are going digital, you will have at least 2 low-band VHF stations after Feb 17, 2009, so consider using an Antennas Direct XG-91 UHF antenna and a Wade-delhi VIP-306SR VHF antenna on the same mast. Join the two of them using a Channel Master Titan 7777 preamplifier, and use new RG-6u or, even better, RG-11 cable from the preamplifier forward and backwards. Your UHF reception will improve considerably and you will retain the excellent VHF reception that you used to experience with your previous Winegard installation when it was new!

[DWS]

The issue with the HD8200U is that it's very good on VHF, but only fair on UHF. I would suggest separate UHF and VHF antennas. If you are going digital, you will have at least 2 low-band VHF stations after Feb 17, 2009, so consider using an Antennas Direct XG-91 UHF antenna and a Wade-delhi VIP-306SR VHF antenna on the same mast. Join the two of them using a Channel Master Titan 7777 preamplifier, and use new RG-6u or, even better, RG-11 cable from the preamplifier forward and backwards. Your UHF reception will improve considerably and you will retain the excellent VHF reception that you used to experience with your previous Winegard installation when it was new!

TB,, thank you for your time/suggestions,,, I will investigate,,,,thanks,Dan

[TV Tech]

The Winegard HD-8200 is a VERY good antenna for VHF/UHF use
And no VHF/UHF antenna on the market will outperform it.
And the AP-8700 preamp at only $35 dollars is a fantastic product.
If you check out the REAL gain over a DIPOLE posted on the Winegard site you will see that it works VERY well on UHF as well as VHF.

BOOM length is the ONLY predictor of yagi gain and the longer the better.

These gimmick antennas with a bazillion elements on a short boom are simply marketing hype.

Many companies are quoting db over isotropic reference which CAN'T be duplicated in the real world while others give no reference at all!

Winegard makes a VERY heavy duty series of antennas that I have been installing since 1980. and many of them are still being used.

[tigerbangs]

The hard-to-find Wade-Delhi VU-937SR is a larger and more powerful antenna than the Winegard HD-8200U. The HD-8200U was recently subtly redesigned to allow it to be shipped UPS, something that the older HD-8200P could not do: The Wade-Delhi is a MONSTER antenna, but it is unmatched in it's gain and construction quality

[DWS]

First I'd like to give thanks for all the info I have received,,,since I live in Michigan, is there any recommendations on a good place to purchase?? in regards to the Winegard/Wade-Dehi systems,,,thank you,,,,,,,,