Antenna Recommendation

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Will62

SatelliteGuys Family
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May 20, 2011
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RabbitEars, where you can learn all about local, over-the-air TV channels.
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Need to know if a Antennacraft HD1850 (new in box) will be able to receive WISH TV real channel 9 with a good pre amp? The UHF stations I want to receive will not be an issue. This channel is the only question mark.

Currently not living at this address but I am likely buying it. Yard is clear of trees and also none on adjacent properties in the direction of the tower for WISH TV.
 
Will62 said:

RabbitEars.Info

RabbitEars, where you can learn all about local, over-the-air TV channels.
www.rabbitears.info www.rabbitears.info

Need to know if a Antennacraft HD1850 (new in box) will be able to receive WISH TV real channel 9 with a good pre amp? The UHF stations I want to receive will not be an issue. This channel is the only question mark.

Currently not living at this address but I am likely buying it. Yard is clear of trees and also none on adjacent properties in the direction of the tower for WISH TV.
Click to expand...
No, I don't think anything will get you that channel 24/7. That property is below the horizon, so the only way to get it is via Tropo propagation. Click on the "58.4" hyperlink, and you'll see what I'm talking about.
 
It's possible but the only way to know is to try. I am 77 miles from Philadelphia with the Blue Mountain ridge about 2 miles south of me directly in line. However, I can clearly receive all the Philly stations on my big RS antenna with a mast mounted pre-amp. Logic says I shouldn't be able to but reality always trumps logic. So if you're willing to spend the money and make the effort, but also willing to accept complete failure should it occur, go for it.
 
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RabbitEars is an excellent reference but the results are not set in stone. According to our report we should not be receiving WOLF, WSWB or WQPX which account for over half of our OTA channels. They show as Tropo but we receive them fine 99% of the time with our setup. The only way to know for sure is to try. :)
 
TV reception, especially Digital TV reception is more of an art than a science. You'll never know unless you try, and though the signal is fairly weak, it may be receivable, especially at night when background solar radiation is lower.
I have generally believed that signal margins below 0.0 are unreceivable, but have heard of reception below zero dB, your station is a 7+ @25 ft AGL and if you can raise the antenna to 35 ft agl, it goes to +11.
The Winegard HD7698P is only $175 from Solid Signal - VHF high/UHF antenna if you don't need channels 2-6.
GO FOR IT!
 
Don't need VHF low. Wondering if stacking a couple of those Stellar Labs VHF hi antennas might work? I do have a Antennacraft CS1100 as well but it appears to have about 1 DB less of gain on VHF hi compared to the HD 1850.
 
I would try the CS1100 first, since you already have it. 1dB is not a whole lot of signal gain and gain figures are generally guesses or computer generated anyway.

3dB is a doubling of signal since dB is measured on a logarithmic scale, 1db is probably more like 1/4, so perhaps the HD1850 gets you 125% of the signal that the CS1000 gets, but is the price of the HD 1850 worth it?

Stacking the Stellar labs antennas would give you about 3dB gain (double the signal).

First try the CS1100, if it fails - plan B.
 
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Here’s how to use the 7.69 NM value in your report to figure out if the HD 1850 will work on channel 9.

The gain of the antenna that you have on VHF high band is listed as 10.7 dB. https://manualzz.com/doc/20029134/engineering-specifications-antennacraft-model-hd1850-heav...
That gets added to the NM to get 18.39 dB.

If you use a preamp with a noise figure of 3db, and assume that the loss of the jumper and balun is 1 dB, you subtract that from 18.39 to obtain a net NM of 14.39.

A total calculated NM of more than 10 dB is usually sufficient to get good reception in VHF high.

That said, the big antenna that you have would not be my choice for your location. The biggest issue is that you would need an antenna rotator to make it work in multiple directions. If I lived in the house that you are looking at, I’d get a 4 bay UHF antenna, a Stellar Labs VHF only antenna, and a preamp with separate VHF and UHF inputs. I’ve heard good things about the Televes preamps. At least one of their preamps has split inputs.

Aim the UHF only antenna at Fort Wayne, and aim the VHF only antenna at channel 9.

Good luck
 
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Thanks. I use a rotor and still plan to use it after I relocate. I also DX and that is a real asset when trying to capture signals when skip is present.
 
Posting an update to the previous posts. I did buy the home mentioned and tried a couple of different VHF antennas on site. As luck would have it, I am able to receive Ch. 9 pretty reliably with only a rare breakup from time to time. Not even hourly though I have not spent hours on end watching. But it seems stable enough to watch. And I only have the antenna at five feet off the ground in the side of my yard right now until I can do a permanent install. Tried the Antennacraft Y10-7-13 and the Newark/Stellar Labs 30-2476 in the same spot and both receive it just fine. Signal is weak with the 2010 version of the Channel Master Titan 7777 pre amp.

Would adding a brand new pre amp help in this situation? I would like to add a few more DB to the signal strength if possible for inclement weather. Would any of the Kitztech work in this situation? Or perhaps something else that would be a bit better than the older CM?
 
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primestar31 said:
The Televes 560383 preamp would be your best choice, I have one, and they are stellar. Beats my old Kitztech Kt-200 preamp. However, nothing is better than putting the antenna higher in the air, for TRUE rf gain.

Click to expand...
Mike. Thanks. Will look into this. Didn't even know about this pre amp. Have heard good things about Televes pre amps and currently I am using one of their antennas in an urban location and it works well. But it does not have the VHF gain that I need at the new location.

Ness Electronics? I purchased two VIP 303SR antennas from them ten years ago. Closeout deal. Still have them in their boxes and waiting to see if I can use them in the future.

What about the new CM Titan 7778 line? Noted the pro model might work since it has two gain settings and also two inputs for VHF and UHF.
 
Will62 said:
What about the new CM Titan 7778 line? Noted the pro model might work since it has two gain settings and also two inputs for VHF and UHF.
Click to expand...
Flat-out, Televes is better. It has built in FM and LTE/5G filters (that LTE/5G starts at 608Mhz, just after channel 36), and it has AGC, so if you have a real strong station, it won't overpower the others. You won't be sorry to buy one, but it's your choice.
 
OK. Will probably buy this. Thanks. I like the Televes pre amp built with the current antenna but the VHF side only consists of a small element and will be useless in the new location.

BTW. I think by putting this install at 20 to 22 feet above ground, and by using a good, new pre amp, I will be able to split to one other TV, possibly two. Ulterior motive in this case. Won't have to set up another set of antennas.
 
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primestar31 said:
Flat-out, Televes is better. It has built in FM and LTE/5G filters (that LTE/5G starts at 608Mhz, just after channel 36), and it has AGC, so if you have a real strong station, it won't overpower the others. You won't be sorry to buy one, but it's your choice.
Click to expand...
Just found a potential issue with this Televes model. While researching the pre amp I found the following link to it and it states the temperature range is 23 degrees Fahrenheit to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. It apparently won't operate well or at all in single digits or below zero temperatures. I will be living in an area where temperatures get below the teens every winter and below zero some winters. What do you think?

http://www.skywalker.com/Products/Televes-Corporation-560483-Mast-Amplifier-with-BOSS-and-“F”-Power-Supply-Kit__TLV1005.aspx
 
http://www.skywalker.com/Products/Televes-Corporation-560483-Mast-Amplifier-with-BOSS-and-“F”-Power-Supply-Kit__TLV1005.aspx
 
Will62 said:
Just found a potential issue with this Televes model. While researching the pre amp I found the following link to it and it states the temperature range is 23 degrees Fahrenheit to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. It apparently won't operate well or at all in single digits or below zero temperatures. I will be living in an area where temperatures get below the teens every winter and below zero some winters. What do you think?

http://www.skywalker.com/Products/Televes-Corporation-560483-Mast-Amplifier-with-BOSS-and-“F”-Power-Supply-Kit__TLV1005.aspx
Click to expand...
That's because they way underrate the temps, because the above temps are the temps that ALL specs are guaranteed. They will still work fine at much higher or lower, but the rated specs may change slightly.

I'm using them just fine here in mid-Michigan since early last year, and we've had BELOW 20f temps for weeks now. NO change observed.
 
primestar31 said:
That's because they way underrate the temps, because the above temps are the temps that ALL specs are guaranteed. They will still work fine at much higher or lower, but the rated specs may change slightly.

I'm using them just fine here in mid-Michigan since early last year, and we've had BELOW 20f temps for weeks now. NO change observed.
Click to expand...
Mike. Good to know. I will be south of you in the Fort Wayne to Muncie, IN corridor. If it can withstand those temps, it should be fine. Are you in the UP?
 
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