recommendation

[hef]

Hello,
I am purchasing a home in the 14544 zipcode area of NY -
What would be the logical choice for a outdoor antenna?
By the way this is a great website!
Thanks,
Hef

[tigerbangs]

Based on a TVFool.com scan of your zip code; you are about 30 miles from Rochester and about 55 miles from Syracuse: both cities should be available with a good antenna and rotator. If you will kindly send your street address via private message, I can home in on what is needed specifically, as that part of Upstate is pretty mountainous, and I want to be sure that I am giving you the correct advice. Also, please let me know how many TV sets you plan to use with the antenna system.

[tigerbangs]

I'm glad that I asked for your address: the signals are a LOT weaker than the generic zip-code predicted: you are clearly behind some big hills at your new house. You are going to need a deepest-fringe antenna in order to see any TV at all where you are. I would use a separate VHF and UHF antenna, because you need the most powerful antennas that you can get, and separate antennas are more powerful than he best of the combined antennas. Use a Winegard HD-1713 VHF-high-band yagi for channels 10 and 13. Use an AntennasDirect XG-91 UHF antenna mounted above the VHF antenna on the same mast. Combine the signals from the two antennas using a Channel Master Titan 7777 preamplifier run in the separate input mode, and aim both antennas at 345 degrees as measured by your compass.

HDfringeantenna.jpg (231.02 KB) Viewed 1444 times

http://www.channelmaster.com
http://www.winegard.com
http://www.antennasdirect.com
http://manuals.solidsignal.com/AntInstallGuide.pdf

[hef]

Thanks - Do you think I will get acceptable reception if I do what you recommend, or is it still iffy due to the region?

[tigerbangs]

With some altitude,you should be OK for everything except MAYBE FOX

[hef]

Fox being UHF and not as strong a signal?

[hef]

To provide proper separation from the VHF and UHF antennas would a 6 foot mast be adequate?

[tigerbangs]

FOX 31's signal isn't as strong as the other stations in town, it's not simp;ly becasue of it being on a UHF channel. As for separation of the 2 antennas, the antennas should be 4' apart on the same mast with the UHF antenna on top. If you can accomplish that with a 6' mast, and still clear the roof, it will work, but remember that higher is always better.

[hef]

Hello again,
I was reviewing the YA-1713 spec sheet http://manuals.solidsignal.com/ya1713.pdf and it lists the channels received as 7,9,11,13.

I need channel 10 also - would the antenna pick up this channel?

Also, is the YA-1713 the same as the HD-1713?

I think I am going to go with a chimmney mount and 18 to 24 ft mast set up. That should provide the 4 ft separation for the two antenna's.

One other factor about my location that is a "negative". The house is situated down a slope below the road access. My concern is line of sight. There are trees all around, including in between the directon of the towers. ( I guess I wont know until I try it on the roof?

Regards,
Hef

[tigerbangs]

Yes, the YA-1713 picks up channels 7-13: It sounds as if you are on the right track.