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#1
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Outside TV Antenna in High Wind Area
Our house is on a ridge and we get quite a bit of wind. We are wanting
an outside t.v. antenna since we are tired of dealing with Dish Network and the chronic problems with local t.v. channels. We just received a letter today saying that CBS & NBC will not be available to us within two weeks. For some unexplainable reason we are not "allowed" to have the second dish installed for some local channels even though we pay the same amount each month for fewer channels. Our house has the foam/metal panels under the siding and that keeps an attic antenna from property working. The signals can't come through the metal - or at least that is how it was explained to us. So we are looking for ideas on a good sturdy antenna and how to properly mount it. Nancy |
#2
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"Nancy" wrote in message
... Our house is on a ridge and we get quite a bit of wind. We are wanting an outside t.v. antenna since we are tired of dealing with Dish Network and the chronic problems with local t.v. channels. We just received a letter today saying that CBS & NBC will not be available to us within two weeks. For some unexplainable reason we are not "allowed" to have the second dish installed for some local channels even though we pay the same amount each month for fewer channels. Our house has the foam/metal panels under the siding and that keeps an attic antenna from property working. The signals can't come through the metal - or at least that is how it was explained to us. So we are looking for ideas on a good sturdy antenna and how to properly mount it. There are 3 basic roof top mounts. 1) Attach it to a masonry chimney. Two brackets attached with stainless steel bands 2) Attach it to the gable end. Two brackets lag-screwed into studs or end rafters 3) Tripod stand on top of roof. Requires guy wires. For options 1) and 2) you can also add guy wires. This is dependent on the length of the antenna pole and the size of the antenna. You should determine if you need UHF and VHF. Distance and terrain to the TV station transmitter determines how big an antenna you need. Don't forget that you should install a grounding block for the antenna leads(coax cable) and run a wire to a ground rod (3 or 4 ft solid copper rod driven into the ground). -al sung Rapid Realm Technology, Inc. Hopkinton, MA |
#3
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In addition to the other response you have received, you might want to
check out www.antennaweb.org to help determine what your actual tv antenna requirements are. No point putting up more antenna than you need, and if you go through the hassle of putting one up at all, at least make sure it has enough performance to give you good reception. Antennas are pretty cheap, but the labor is a pain in the @#%! Using the smallest antenna that provides good reception will reduce the wind loading area and therefore tend to simplify the antenna mounting -- no matter what mounting type you select. Using an electric rotor to allow you to turn the antenna might save you the hassle of having to climb back on the roof to 'tweak' the antenna pointing after a windstorm subsides (unless you have better luck keeping TV antennas from twirling a little after high winds than I do.) A rotor also will allow you to optimize reception when stations are transmitting from different locations. The antennaweb site has info on what the compass heading should be from your location to the local TV transmitters -- a LIFE SAVER when it comes to aiming your new antenna. Got Compass? Consider using a 'beam' type antenna because this will give you the best antenna performance (gain) and help to reject noise and multipath signals that cause 'ghosts' and 'sparklies'. I know that salespeople will try to sell you some 'whizz-bang' electronic antenna but I do not recommend these units if locating a conventional 'yagi style' antenna outside is possible. There is no substitute for having 'metal in the air'. Go ahead and try one, but make sure you can return it for a full refund first And if you want to view HD over the air channels, remember that these are transmitted in the UHF band, and select your antenna so that it has enough UHF gain (as well as having enough VHF gain for channels 2-13) As for not being able to use two dishes, there are single satellite dishes that can receive from different satellites simultaneously. I have one that pulls in signals from three different satellites at the same time, and still falls within the 1m diameter size limit that allows you to thumb your nose at HOA's. Antennas under 1m in diameter fall under the FCC's OTARD rules, and HOAs (etc.) typically cannot restrict your putting up such an antenna as long as it is located on your own property. A good reference can be found at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html Many HOAs dont have a clue about these rules. Steve Nancy wrote: Our house is on a ridge and we get quite a bit of wind. We are wanting an outside t.v. antenna since we are tired of dealing with Dish Network and the chronic problems with local t.v. channels. We just received a letter today saying that CBS & NBC will not be available to us within two weeks. For some unexplainable reason we are not "allowed" to have the second dish installed for some local channels even though we pay the same amount each month for fewer channels. Our house has the foam/metal panels under the siding and that keeps an attic antenna from property working. The signals can't come through the metal - or at least that is how it was explained to us. So we are looking for ideas on a good sturdy antenna and how to properly mount it. Nancy |
#4
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"Alan Sung" wrote in message news:OrMrd.502414$D%.294317@attbi_s51... Don't forget that you should install a grounding block for the antenna leads(coax cable) and run a wire to a ground rod (3 or 4 ft solid copper rod driven into the ground). Every ground rod I've ever seen was 8 feet long. A 3-4 foot rod is not going to do a very good job. Bob |
#5
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On Thu, 02 Dec 2004 22:13:02 GMT, someone wrote:
3) Tripod stand on top of roof. Requires guy wires. A tripod stand for a residential TV antennae does not normally require guy wires. Maybe for their high wind location. However, I wonder if their winds are really all that much higher than what a normal product is intended to withstand - maybe more frequent, but are they really that much higher than the max rating? I had mine furnished and installed, local guy, said he hasn't had one of his go down from wind in many years. -v. Reply to NG only - this e.mail address goes to a kill file. |
#6
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Nancy wrote in message ...
Our house is on a ridge and we get quite a bit of wind. We are wanting an outside t.v. antenna since we are tired of dealing with Dish Network and the chronic problems with local t.v. channels. We just received a letter today saying that CBS & NBC will not be available to us within two weeks. For some unexplainable reason we are not "allowed" to have the second dish installed for some local channels even though we pay the same amount each month for fewer channels. Our house has the foam/metal panels under the siding and that keeps an attic antenna from property working. The signals can't come through the metal - or at least that is how it was explained to us. So we are looking for ideas on a good sturdy antenna and how to properly mount it. Nancy You might want to check on DirectTV. I just upgraded mine to get the local channels. Just one dish (pulls from more than one satellite) and gets the locals. My outside antenna is still on a high pole and has withstood wind to 50/60 mph in gusts. The problem was deteriorting twin lead and I didn't want to go to the trouble of replacing it. Upgrading my DirectTV system was one of my better decisions - no contest as to picture quality. Harry K |
#7
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You are correct about how RF cable deteriorates over time.
Also correct about DirecTV being able to use a single dish to pull in multiple satellite signals -- I have that set-up myself. As I recall the FCC is mandating that satellite TV providers place local channels on the SAME SATELLITE if they offer locals in a particular area. I think Dish is behind the curve on this. This may be why the op is losing his locals. As for DirecTV quality, it looks fantastic on a TV with screens 32" and smaller in my experience. However due to the compression utilized on the DTV signal there is significant degradation in picture quality when I compare DTV network HD signals, and DTV local (non HD) channels to what I receive using a roof-top mounted antenna here in Southern California when viewing on a large screen (55") high-end HD TV. Granted, I live in an area where excellent off the air reception is possible, but the degradation is very very noticeable. This image degradation issue has also been observed by others with different equipment so I am 100% confident that this is a DTV issue and not a problem with a particular TV, set top box, or antenna. Essentially, DTV (and Dish as well) will compress the signals to allow more channels to be carried by the satellites. (To them it makes business sense.) Until the majority of people notice the degradation and complain about it (or vote with their wallets and cancel their subscriptions) the compression will still be high enough to cause noticeable degradation. DTV also requested some kind of ruling from the FCC to 'Down-Res' HD content transmitted through their satellites. Down-Res means that they intentionally reduce the resolution -- supposedly this somehow reduces the chances that customers will record the HD content. But when you consider that reducing the resolution allows them to transmit more channels (and make more money unless people cancel their subscriptions) it makes sense from a business perspective. But if you like crisp video, and have a large format TV it is enough to make you scream! Gosh it sounds like I am really bagging on DTV. Truth be known our family has had (and continues to have) a subscription for over 10 years and we like the channel line-up available. I own stock in DTV and used to work for Hughes for many many years designing satellite hardware, much of which is still in orbit. I am still in the aerospace business. It was only 2 or so years ago when we purchased a HD large screen TV that I noticed the image degradation issue and did testing to determine the cause. So its a mixed bag, but if you live in an area where local reception is poor or impossible, its either satellite or cable -- or pick up a good book I am hopeful that the launch of additional satellites in the next year or so will allow DTV to increase their channel line-up, improve image quality, and provide locals to more areas. But it all comes down to the business model. DTV's green-visor wearing accountants will probably argue against improving image quality in favor of carrying more channels that they can charge extra for. I will jump ship from DTV as soon as a high-image quality alternative exists that has a similar channel lineup. As for their stock..... man has that been a mistake. But I still believe in the idea of satellite TV. Steve |
#8
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"steve" wrote in message ... In addition to the other response you have received, you might want to check out www.antennaweb.org Neat site! Thanks for the link. aem sends.... |
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