Need a recommendation for an OTA antenna

[Neutron]

I want to get OTA set up since both TV's have built in digital tuners, and I would like to get OTA so that when it storms we still have local channels.

I'm approx 47-50 miles from the towers, all to the SW. Most of the channels according to antennaweb need a green spec while 2 of them need a red spec.

What would you recommend that isnt too expensive? I'm resorting to mounting it to the outside of the house since I figure the inside of my attic won't do. I will have this connected to our Directv SWM switch and diplexed to the two TVs.

 

[CowboyDren]

I really like 4 bay bowties like the Antennas Direct db4. They're light, durable, cheap, and typically outperform their ratings by a significant margin. We're entertaining an emergency only scenario, so the fact that they don't work (actually aren't rated; they do work) for VHF doesn't matter. There are also 8 and 16 bay versions, but they're more expensive than log periodics in most cases.

 

[boba]

If I remember correctly you moved to Plano, so I will recommend a Winegard SensarIII GS2200 amplified "bat wing" antenna. I've set up the GS1100 unamplified in McKinney Custer and Virginia Parkway area getting all the Dallas channels and Channel 12 from Sherman off the back side.

 

[Tower Guy]

I really like 4 bay bowties like the Antennas Direct db4. The fact that they don't work (actually aren't rated; they do work) for VHF

I wouldn't trust a UHF only antenna for VHF reception at 47-50 miles.

Smaller and preamped gimmick antennas that far away are another bad idea.

Get a full sized channel 7-69 antenna such as one of the Winegard HD-769XP series. If you want the LPTV stations on channels 2, 3, and 6, then consider a HD708XP series.

 

[CowboyDren]

"Trust," no, but having VHF reception in foul weather is typically not critical. All you need is a weather report, and I'm sure there's a lot of that in UHF near Plano. I read a guy with a TWO-bay bowtie claiming that he was picking up a UHF station 60 miles away...on the back side.

Living in Kansas City, where we've been pommeled by 35 MPH straighline winds with 45-plus MPH gusts in the last 36 hours (last Spring we had a storm with winds over 80 MPH), having a low wind profile and being durable is really important to me. Nothing's going to survive a tornado, but I don't want to replace the antenna every year, either. That's why I like bowties.

 

[Neutron]

If I remember correctly you moved to Plano, so I will recommend a Winegard SensarIII GS2200 amplified "bat wing" antenna. I've set up the GS1100 unamplified in McKinney Custer and Virginia Parkway area getting all the Dallas channels and Channel 12 from Sherman off the back side.

Actually I'm in Princeton now. Would the SensarIII GS2200 amplified work for me?

 

[digiblur]

Are you trying to get UHF and VHF channels? Check TVFool to see if any of yours are moving from UHF to VHF after the transition... if there is one this time.

 

[Paradox-SJ]

Get yourself the CM 4228 and you prob wont even need a pre amp.....

It is the GOLD STD for OTA...and yes its a UHF but perform extreamly well on VHF 7-13

http://www.channelmasterintl.com/terr/EXTREMEtenna.html


If you need a pre-amp....which I highly doubt then you can get one.

 

[boba]

Actually I'm in Princeton now. Would the SensarIII GS2200 amplified work for me?

The GS2200 is used quite a bit in the RV industry I think they usually rate it for 50 miles. Your a little farther east of McKinney off 380 with pretty flat land so I would make an educated guess that it will work well. Channels 8/11 &52 will transition to VHF the rest will stay on UHF and CH12 from Sherman has already transitioned to VHF. I don't know if you will pickup anything out of Greenville but with good front and back reception on the Sensar it maybe quite surprising. 75407 according to TV fool is right at 50 miles, I have a neighbor in 75058 about 10 miles further out that is getting most of the Dallas channels on one using an old Samsung HDTV tuner.

 

[CowboyDren]

(The CM 4228 is a 4 bay bowtie, just like the db4.) Use Google Shopper to find the best prices on any antenna before you fork over a credit card number.

 

[Neutron]

The GS2200 is used quite a bit in the RV industry I think they usually rate it for 50 miles. Your a little farther east of McKinney off 380 with pretty flat land so I would make an educated guess that it will work well. Channels 8/11 &52 will transition to VHF the rest will stay on UHF and CH12 from Sherman has already transitioned to VHF. I don't know if you will pickup anything out of Greenville but with good front and back reception on the Sensar it maybe quite surprising. 75407 according to TV fool is right at 50 miles, I have a neighbor in 75058 about 10 miles further out that is getting most of the Dallas channels on one using an old Samsung HDTV tuner.

Can I attic mount or do I have no choice but to mount it to the roof?

 

[Tower Guy]

Get yourself the CM 4228 and you prob wont even need a pre amp.....

It is the GOLD STD for OTA...and yes its a UHF but perform extreamly well on VHF 7-13

I disagree.

A 4228 works OK on some VHF channels, but not others.

 

[No Static At All]

I disagree.

A 4228 works OK on some VHF channels, but not others.

Tower Guy is 100% right. I wouldn't count on the 4228 for VHF-HI stations that far away. I also prefer the suggested Winegard antennas when "reliable" VHF reception is needed.

 

[Paradox-SJ]

I disagree.

A 4228 works OK on some VHF channels, but not others.

IYO which VHF channel does it work for and which one does it not?

 

[Don_M]

(The CM 4228 is a 4 bay bowtie, just like the db4.)

No, it's an 8-bay. Channel Master 4221 is the 4-bay competitor to the DB4.

 

[boba]

Can I attic mount or do I have no choice but to mount it to the roof?

Best reception will always be outside, roof underlayment is going to cause some signal loss just having to pass through it. If you have "cool deck" aluminum foil underlayment it will block radio waves from passing through. With the small footprint of the Sensar I would mount it outside your satellite dish maybe more visible than the TV antenna.

 

[Backwoods Montana]

Be careful of the size and height...

I installed a Winegard HD 7082P that has been up for two winters now, and it's not doing too well. We get a fair amount of snow, and it has pretty much destroyed it. I guess that it's just too large of an antenna to handle the weight of the snow on it. Several of the elements have been snapped off.

When it was at it's best, it didn't improve by TV reception any, although it did help with FM radio at the same tower transmission location. I'm only about 30 miles (crow fly miles) from the towers, but there's a couple mountains in the way too. I figure that I wasted a couple hundred dollars on a learning experience.

-Doug

 

[CowboyDren]

Can I attic mount or do I have no choice but to mount it to the roof?

The Sensar's not that big, is it? Light weight, at least? If you have a Slimline or a Superdish, and the installer mounted it properly with support struts, could you use one of these?

Satellite Dish Universal and Roof Mounts

The PerfectVision minimounts and brackets may be adequate. Also allows for ultra-short cable runs between the LNB, the OTA, and the Diplexer.

PS - What the heck is this?

Winegard GS-WING Wingman Sensar Antenna Upgrade (GS-WING)

[EDIT]Nevermind.[/EDIT]

 

[CowboyDren]

I disagree.

A 4228 works OK on some VHF channels, but not others.

From the center of Princeton, TX, WFAA is the only full-power VHF station in earshot (about 50 miles), broadcasting on channel 8. It's also the only ABC affiliate, and in Kansas City, NBC and ABC are the only channels that have 24-hour weather subchannels. NBC has already announced that the "Action Weather" branded subchannel is being deep-sixed as soon as they can find a replacement (probably sports), so I have to pick up ABC (channel 9 here).

According to TVFool.com, though, WFAA is the same general direction (~215°) as most of the local stations, with another cluster a bit farther out and off-axis (~330°). If you're focusing a single UHF rig like a CM-4228, DB8, or even a four-bay at Fort Worth, I'd be willing to bet that you can pick up channel 8.

I think the Sensar is a mistake, as it's mostly VHF focused, and requires a $25 add-on kit to make it as useful for the OTHER 94% of TV waves reaching the OP's house.

Do you want to spend $100 on an antenna that might work on channel 8, or do you want to spend $100 on an antenna that will probably work on the other 16 channels?

Then again, my father-in-law uses a $40 4' combo antenna from Rad Shack, on a 20' pole from Rad Shack, that isn't even straight or properly tensioned, with a $20 amplifier from Rad Shack, looking across over 50 miles of meadows and ridges, and gets perfectly acceptable signals from most stations. Go figure.

 

[No Static At All]

I installed a Winegard HD 7082P that has been up for two winters now, and it's not doing too well. We get a fair amount of snow, and it has pretty much destroyed it. I guess that it's just too large of an antenna to handle the weight of the snow on it. Several of the elements have been snapped off.

When it was at it's best, it didn't improve by TV reception any, although it did help with FM radio at the same tower transmission location. I'm only about 30 miles (crow fly miles) from the towers, but there's a couple mountains in the way too. I figure that I wasted a couple hundred dollars on a learning experience.

-Doug

I had a 7082 and thought it was pretty well made. I was a bit disappointed in it's UHF performance though. Maybe it's a good thing I didn't keep it.