OTA Antenna

[jazzman]

Here's the situation: my ex wants to install an OTA antenna with a rotor in her large attic. The nearest Tv transmitting stations are from 70 to 100+ miles away. Also she has an old analog TV and I wonder if I can use a DN receiver or an fta box as an anolog to digital converter. She has one picked out for around $70 that claims it will pick up stations from 100 miles away and she does sit on a hill (highest spot in town). I know nothing of this VHF high, VHF low or UHF and nothing about db gain. And ofcourse she wants me to install it lol. Any suggestions?

PS She wants to be able to run 3 TVs from the antenna.

[torpainter]

I cant help you with the distance issue but the only fta receivers you can use to convert to digital are hd units with the astc tuner .No issues running 3 tvs here with my antenna

[jazzman]

Thanks Tor, what about a DN receiver for the conversion? It has a coax hook up in the back for an OTA antenna.

[abouttosnap]

I've got one of those converter boxes that the gov. was giving out coupons for a while back hooked up to my old antenna that works real good. I live out in the sticks and have a city type antenna with out the motor and still get a real good signal. I would get my motor going again if I could find my box that works the motor.

[Night Prowler]

Thanks Tor, what about a DN receiver for the conversion? It has a coax hook up in the back for an OTA antenna.

that might be just a pass through......need to have the digital tuner in it.....try googling the receiver for the specs?

[daryl1964]

Try to get a good amplifier, I am only half the distance away that you are and am only hooked up to two tv's, but I do not have clear view of the tower, but I still receive loads of hd and analog channels using a splitter and amp.

[Terryl]

The roof and shingles will attenuate the signal quite a bit, (the UHF channels especially) if she can get a good signal with a set top antenna and goes with a big one up in the attic then she should be OK, TVfool.com should tell what is around and how strong it will be at her location.

Some of the newer DN receivers need an add on TV receiver to get the locals, my VIP 722 has an ATSC input, but the newer ones need the extra module.

They will have to be able to receive ATSC signals, check on Dishes web site for info on her receivers.

[Terryl]

And a good distribution amp will help out quite a bit.

[Gold]

70 - 100 miles away for an attic mount is quite a distance, as I'm sure you are aware. It's going to be a challenge to find a small powerful antenna. The last antenna I bought was from Solidsignal. They seem more interested in getting me the right equipment then making a sale...I got the impression they wanted me back as a customer, which when I bought my amp, I went knocking on their door again so to speak.

[jazzman]

So from what I gather so far she would be better off with the antenna on top of the roof and an amp may be requried. Terryl I'm not sure what you mean by a set top antenna in addition to the attic mount. I will do some digging on the DN boxes to find out about the tuner, I must have about 6 of them lying around, thanks all.

[Terryl]

Well if she is up on a hill then 75 to 100 miles is not that far for a good antenna, what I ment about the set top antenna is if she gets anything at all with one of those hummers then she wont have any problems with the antenna in the attic, but....If she can mount it outside it will be oh so very much better.

Most of the time its the curvature of the Earth that limits the reception, the higher the antenna the better and further you can go from the transmitters, look on TVfool.com and enter her address and how high the antenna will be (or house elevation) it will help with what she would need.

[Pollypurabred]

Just remember the further away from an antenna, the more noise you will amplify. So if an amp is needed, position it as close to source as possible but you may be okay as you are on a hill. Appears a trial -N-error may be the best resort: power to amp, heat in attic; me I'd be pissed if your over my ....nevermind.

[jazzman]

Just remember the further away from an antenna, the more noise you will amplify. So if an amp is needed, position it as close to source as possible but you may be okay as you are on a hill. Appears a trial -N-error may be the best resort: power to amp, heat in attic; me I'd be pissed if your over my ....nevermind.

Nevermind what lol? Anyway, I checked tvfool and it didn't look good for reception from her address plus I didn't understand most of it....

[Terryl]

You can PM me her general address and I will take a look see.

[jazzman]

Done, thanks Terryl.

[abouttosnap]

Here is another idea blues. You could make an antenna out of coat hangers that works fairly good:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWQhlmJTMzw

I made one of them to hook up to my converter box for an analog tv. It worked good in the house but seem to work a little better out side. Even inside seem like I got around 15 channels or so. The one I made is below but the pic is not real good. Don't know about others but in my area I get a few more channels over the air as far as locals than with the dish.

http://www.satfix.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=11253&d=1313996068