Thread: lost station

Splicer,



Yes, we picked up on your first post about this. It was a good point to make !
I've been retired for just about 10 years now, and I've installed several of the Winegard 796 Series, but, I just can't remember if one can optionally select 75 or 300.
I haven't even considered the use of 300 Ohm since the mid 1980's.

When one starts a Tread like this, it's hard to know just how much he knows already.
Apparently acamus has done his homework, has some parts, and realizes the value of the KISS principal to TV Antenna Installations.

acamus,

The only other thing that we haven't mentioned so far is...
Your chart is repleat with "2 Edge" stations. Usually, the only way to get those closer to LOS (Line of Sight) is to increase the height of the Antenna.
You're already at 50' or so, any chance you can increase that ?

Have a good Day !
S.W.

Houston, the output type of the antenna really isn't the concern here with what I am talking about. If he wants to keep the 7 added channels (and really, why wouldn't he ) he needs the pre-amp, which combines a balun and a UVSJ into 1 package. Keeping the connection points to a minimum without unneccessary adapters and added connections to possibly fail during the most inopportune times. I am trying to keep acamus to the KISS principle, which is why I am saying these things in my posts.

acamus, thats fine. The only thing is, I have to wonder, why? Not that there is anything wrong with houstons suggestion, it's just that you already know that without the pre-amp and your existing antenna, you get CH28. With the pre-amp, you gained 7 more stations but lost CH28. And we know why you lost CH28 because CH28 is VHF 11. And you said how difficult and time consuming taking the mast down is. So, if you don't care about the 7 additional channels, and just want CH28, then you don't need a $90 antenna or the amp. Save yourself some money and return the new antenna (and the amp if possible) and be done with it.

But if you do want the added 7 channels, as well as CH28, then all you need to do is jumper the UHF & VHF inputs, from the antenna you already have. So far I really don't see the need for the new antenna.

Splicer,

All your points are well made, and I ALWAYS read your posts carefully, as I highly recommend that acamus should also !!!

One thing though...
IF acamus has a CM 4221 (which I think he has), it is not rated for VHF. Wouldn't it be a good idea to go ahead and get the 7696 ?
Having the VHF ability should include the Ch 11/28.1.

Yes, I have suggested trying not using the amp, but seriously, I do think one is going to be necessary to pull the other stations in, as do you.
I just don't think that going with that Blonder is the best way to go.
It's complicating things, has a quite high noise level, as I finally found in the...

Blonder-Tongue Pre-Amps Spec. Sheet

and after seeing that, I'd offer the...

Winegard HDP269

as a better choice, 75 Ohm in and out, a little less gain, but with much lower noise.
Your thoughts ?

Have a good Day !
S.W.

acamus already has an antenna that appears to do everything he desires, so I just don't see the need for a massive, wind sock like the 7696 in his situation. A $30 5-element VHF antenna will put alot less stress on the mast/guy wires, even with the CM he already is using, and the stress is what seems to be of concern. I am in complete agreement that if a combo antenna is to be used, the wrong pre-amp is being used. But it is the correct unit for seperate (more accurate and stable) antennas.

Again, trying to adhere to the KISS principle, I am working with what he has vs. getting him to spend money on something not needed, so the suggestion to jumper the UHF and VHF inputs. There is the chance that may not work, but I think it is a small enough chance to risk attempting it, before unpacking and setting up an antenna. Now if his existing antenna needs to be replaced anyway, this is all moot. But I don't recall him saying the existing antenna as needing replacement.

Now for the choice in pre-amps. Yes, a single 75ohm input is the ideal method (as far as I am concerned) to be able to stick to the KISS principle. However, I myself am not to crazy with mast mounted equipment. Personally, on my antenna system, I mast mounted a UVSJ passive. But I mounted my pre-amp (the NexxTech in my signature) in the house, behind the component rack. Should there be a failure, it is very easy to get to and correct, instead of getting on the roof in the wind, rain, sleet, snow or ice, which is when things usually go wrong, always at the most in-opertune time. While there is nothing wrong with the mast mount units, beyond my paranoia (I was in the CATV business for over 27 years and I was called out on many a-night for repairs in the air that could have been on the ground, but thats another topic for another time), what you suggested Houston is a good pre-amp with a good track record.

Splicer,
I have the mast which is 30 feet of 1 1/2 rigid conduit attached to a 45 foot pine tree . At the point of contact I have a heavy hinge arrangement which allows me to lower the mast with a pulley. I however must climb up to about 4o feet to the safety latch I have installed to prevent the mast from falling if one of the guy wires breaks. At 62 my wife gets cranky when I do something a bit dangerous. Our town is at an elevation of 1100 feet approximately. And as I mentioned b-4, we had channel 28 before I installed the preamp. Of course if it wasn't for the loss of CH 28 and "Days of Our Lives" fan living here I wouldn't be doing any of this>>>>>>>

I would LUV to see a picture of that acamus.

acamus,

Wow, I know 62 &+ !
You mentioned you had some difficulty in accessing the Antenna, I see now !
Please excuse us for referring to you in third person so much, but one thing for sure is, that Splicer and I agree on the 7696 being a rather large Antenna.
If you remember, I refereed to it when suggesting a Rotator for your system, and would have chosen a 7694/5 given, you are just asking it to range out to 30 mi.

Splicer,

Each point you've stated, again is excellent. And I think that we may consider...
That acamus is going to use the 7696, just by it's self at first, then...
At some point, he's going to connect it to the Blonder Amp, and see how that works.

Now...
I noticed some "hesitation" from you on how it (the single 7696) would be connected, assuming that the 300 Ohm can be accessed. And ask...

1) Do you think there may be a Polarity problem between the VHF and UHF, where one may have to twist the Twin Lead to attach/bridge the two ?
&
2) Do you think there may be an Impedance issue, where he may need to use a 300 ohm Resistor across the VHF, having connected the Antenna to the UHF ?

Have a good Day !
S.W.

PS: YES, I agree with Splicer, take some Picks of it for us !!!

I'm in the doghouse already and if I keep spending money on all these suggestions and don't get Days of Our Lives I'll be heading for divorce court. You guys will probably like a picture of that too.......

Houston,

1] No

2] No

Acamus, quit spending money brother. But one question. Isn't at least one of the added 7 channels you now get, the same network (what network shows that soap, CBS?) that she could watch instead of 28, at least in the interim?