What antenna- analysis attached

[vongiese]

I live in the mountains in NW Montana (59935) and would like to get an antenna for TV and FM. My neighbor does get TV reception - he lives about 1/8 mile north and about 80 feet in elevation higher. I ran a signal analysis on TVfool and got these results.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapp ... 5de4a1f142

However - I have doubts to the accuracy of using my address so here are more location info
48 degrees 20' 12.26" N 115 degrees 50' 17.74" W

I realize i'll have to get some elevation with my antenna for success and am researching best method.
Don't have a HDTV yet - plan to purchase one with Tuner. Proly only hook up one TV
thanks for any help !
vg

[tigerbangs]

Well, the good news is that all of your stations are on VHF, and that VHF signals follow the earth's curve better than UHF stations. You have weak, but usable signals on the translators out of Troy. My best suggestion would be to use a VHF high-band yagi like a Winegard YA-1713 mounted as high as you can possibly manage, and aim it at 355 degrees, as measured by your compass. You may want to add a low-noise preamplifier like a Winegard Ap-8275 or a Channel Master Titan 7777 if your cable lengtsh will exceed 75'. Remember that higher is usually better, but mountainous areas can be tricky, and you may have to walk the antenna around in a few places to find best signal.

[vongiese]

Thanks Tigerbangs for the help - I'll take a close look at those recommended products.

Now i need to do some research on getting that antenna up in the air! Including how much cable I can run and mast/tower options? Been searching this site but not coming up with much. I should proly start another post with that question.

vg

[tigerbangs]

Have a look at this antenna installation guide:
http://manuals.solidsignal.com/AntInstallGuide.pdf

[vongiese]

Awesome - great info!! I'm afraid I'm going to have to go a long way from the house - up the hill and inslall a tall mast. I haven't seen anything on length limitations of coax....suppose it would vary with the strength of the pre amp?
I'm gonna need a Field Strength meter to dial in my best location....might have to get ahold of the local TV club that runs the TV transmitter - I never thought to ask them (as this document suggests) - it only makes sense that they would want to help get more "customers" - and hopefully more donations to the club!
Thanks sooo much for your advice Tigerbangs - this is what i ahve been looking for - now i can get rolling.
vg

[tigerbangs]

If you need to run several hundred feet from the antenna to the house, i recommend that you use RG-11 cable instead of RG-6. RG-11 has lower loss than RG-6, and can be buried in the ground without conduit. if you use RG-11, you can run up to 500' of cable with the Channel Master Titan 7777 preamp and still not lose signal. Good Luck

[vongiese]

Great advice -- I owe you a couple beers....or lots more! Let me know the next time you're in NW montana.....
In looking closer at the YA-1713 - it says it's only good for channels 7-13... wouldn't I want one that gets low and hign band VHF? i.e. get more channels? ALthough loks like chanel 3 is the only one down there that i might havea chance at....
Am i missing something
thanks alot

vg

[tigerbangs]

Channel 3 is an analog station from Canada that you really have no chance of seeing: I believe that you will get everything off the mountain in Troy that you are looking for. For your purposes, you are looking for channels 8-13 off the mountain

[vongiese]

If you need to run several hundred feet from the antenna to the house, i recommend that you use RG-11 cable instead of RG-6. RG-11 has lower loss than RG-6, and can be buried in the ground without conduit. if you use RG-11, you can run up to 500' of cable with the Channel Master Titan 7777 preamp and still not lose signal. Good Luck

What amp do you recommend if I need to go over 500 feet of RG-11??
I've got a local guy with a field strength meter who will come out and help figure where the best loation for the antenna is ....
thanks
vg

[ProjectSHO89]

RG11 typically exhibits around 3.25-3.5 dB of loss per 100' at 700 MHZ. 500' would then represent around 17.5 dB loss at 700 MHZ with about half that loss on the VHF band. The 7777 that was suggested is a pretty good selection although a VHF-only amp with around 18-22 dB of gain would also do well, since, as noted, you're all high-VHF, a relatively rare occurrence.