Will PreAmp Work

[wilma92010]

I live >50 miles from LA Stations (Mt Wilson), but it is a straight shot mostly over the ocean. When I got DirctTV with HD, I noticed it had an antenna input so I bought a big Yagi style antenna (don't remember the brand or model, but it is looonnnng) and mounted and pointed it to Mt Wilson. I worked and I got over-the-air HD local LA channels. Not 100% reliable, but very serviceable.

I just got rid of DirecTV because they wanted a 24 month commitment to fix my receiver, but I would like to have my over-the-air HD TV back.

My Sony is only "HD Ready" so I bought a Winegard Digital HD Receiver RC-1010, but although it senses some channels (and two at 100%), it cannot lock on any one of them and so I don't have any channels.

Will adding a pre-amp improve the signal enough for the Winegard? Should I buy different kind of antenna? For example, I could use my DirecTV antenna mounting for some bow tie style antennas with built-in pre-amplifiers, but I wonder whether there would be an overall improvement in the signal.

Or, is the Winegard just a POS?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

WIlma

[tigerbangs]

It would help I knew WHERE you are, since 50 miles from any transmitter would be considered fringe-area reception. I can't tell whether you had an inadaquate antenna, or bad wiring, or blocked signal. The transmitters on Mt. Wilson are some of the most powerful in the USA, but there are parts of the SF valley and Orange County that live in a shadow area, and have issues with over-the-air reception. Many of the issues that you were having with reception can probably be conquored with the right antenna installation. Aldso, you should know that 4 of the LA channels will return to VHF after June 12, so your antenna neesds will change. Please read "Tips for getting good antenna advice" at the beginning of this forum, and give me all the information requested, and I can make some good suggestions.

[wilma92010]

Thanks.

I live in Carlsbad, CA 92010 and I have 1 TV, a Sony KP46WT500. I have a Yagi type antenna, as I said, I don't know the model, but I have attached a picture. Since the Sony TV does not have a tuner, I used the tuner in the original DirecTV receiver and it worked very well. Some stations, mostly ABC, would black out occasionally, but overall I was satisfied with the reception and that is not my current concern.

As a substitute for the DirecTV reciever, I just purchased a winegard rc-1010 receiver. I just plugged in the Antenna into the back and connect the winegard to my tv and stereo. Although the Winegard shows some signal to most channels and 100% to some, it can't lock into any channel.

So, my question is whether a preamp would make it more likely for the winegard to lock into the stations. I don't know anything about this, but am willing to try installing a preamp there is a chance that this will work.

I believe that my antenna is a pretty good one, but maybe there is something better.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Wilma'

[tigerbangs]

When I looked at your zip code, and ran a TVfool.com scan, I realized that you are less than 40 miles from the San Diego Transmitters, but over 80 miles to Mt. Wilson. If your antenna is aimed at Mt. Wilson, I would think that your reception would be spotty, at best. Additionally, after June 12, 4 LA channels will go back to VHF,channels 7,9,11, and 13, so your antenna won't pick them up anyway. If you shoot for San Diego, you will have better luck, but you will have to tirn your antenna to see those stations, and channels 8 and 10 will return to VHF in SD after June 12, too.

Here's what I would do: you need three things; a Winegard YA-1713 VHF high-band yagi, a Channel Master 9521a rotator, so you can turn your antenna between LA and SD, and a high-input preamplifier, like a Winegard HDP-269, which won-t overload in the face of strong signals.

[wilma92010]

Thanks for the input!

SD stations are a no go for most of Carlsbad, and in fact much of North San DIego County. Zero reception, we are in some kind of broadcast hole.

My experience with LA stations, as I said, even though it seems like it wouldn't work, did work well enough and I am just trying to get back to that (minus DirecTV receiver!).

I will try the WInegard amp.

WIlma

[wilma92010]

I did the following:

1) Returned the Winegard RC-1010

2) Bought a Winegard AP-4800 and connected it

3) Bought a Grand Air Vision by Grandtec (also called a Grantec TUN5000) and connected

I get great HD from LA Stations.

[tigerbangs]

Good Job! Remenber though, that, after June 12, your antenna will no longer receive KABC, KCAL, KTTV and KCOP: You will need a VHF antenna in addition to what you have to get those stations.