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TV Antenna Selection for Virginia
Alexandria 22301
Denny,
I have been reviewing your site and would be interested in your company looking into my purchase choice and installation. We live in Alexandria, Virginia 22301 and are very close to Washington DC. I have looked at the AntennaWeb.org site and see that we have a wide variety of signals HD and Standard Def Channels available to us from DC all within a range of 7-10 miles. I believe the non-amplified Metrostar MS-1000 would work well. The question I have, could we use the Metrostar MS-2000 amplified and put us in range of the Manasis VA (15miles), Baltimore MD (35-40 miles)and Annapolis MD. (27 miles) stations or am I going to overload the preamp as the installation instructions warn from those stations that are within the 10 mile range. Or should we look into a different antenna (such as the Winegard PR 7000 or HD 7078P).
If we went with one of the metrostars could I also add a Model:PR 6010 FM Omnidirectional on the same mast with a separate down lead?
I have attached a pdf of my antennaweb research to this email to help you help me. Any assistance would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Robert
Greetings Robert,
I reviewed your channels and believe that neither the MS 2000 or 1000 would be a good choice. With the number of channels and the close proximity of the transmitters I have to believe some of them would incur multi path interference. Multi path is when a strong signal bounces off a nearby object and is reflected back to the antenna. The MS series antennas are more susceptible to multi path because of their omnidirectional reception. Any signal that bounces back to the antenna can cause double imaging on analog signal and signal break-up and drop out on digital reception. Your best choice for quality reception at your location would be the Winegard HD 7078Pp analog/digital TV antenna. The HD 7078 has a much better front to back ratio than the PR 7000, which means less chance of multi path interference. If you have a cable run from the antenna to the TV of more than fifty feet or a signal splitter will be used I recommend the Winegard HDP 269 antenna preamplifier. This preamplifier offers an extremely high input capability of 350,000 microvolts. A preamplifier with a 100,000 microvolt input capability is considered very good.
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| HDP-269 Preamp
Best suited for digital reception. Used in high input suburban areas to overcome cable loss, etc.
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| Specifications for HDP-269
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Input
(82 ch)
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Output
(82 ch)
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Avg. Gain
(82 ch)
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Power Requirement
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Avg. Noise
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Total Input
UHF/VHF
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75 ohm
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75 ohm
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12 db
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60 mA @ + 12VDC
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3 db
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350,000 μV |
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If I can assist you further please don't hesitate to contact me.
Best Regards,
Blacksburg 24060
Denny,
Thanks so much for your service. You are really helping a lot of people. I live at 24060. I have a large Pin Oak tree directly in the path of most of my channels (110 degrees). Please, what antenna do you recommend for a roof antenna? What would you recommend for attic? If I install on the chimney (30 feet from the tree), the path will be right through the tree (the tree is 50 feet taller than my house). If worthwhile, I could install at the far end of my house (80 feet from the tree) in a more difficult and unsightly location and avoid most of the tree. How much interference do trees normally cause?
Thanks Bill
Greetings Bill,
Your channels have a maximum spread from 89 to 106 degrees, most at the 106 With this in mind I don't think you will need to rotate the antenna. Normally with the channels at the distance they are I would recommend the MS 2000 omnidirectional. With the tree you mention I am a little hesitant to do so. Because of its size I am a little concerned with the reception it may provide. For best results I recommend the Winegard HD 7082P TV antenna along with an AP 8700 antenna preamplifier (booster). This antenna is larger than needed at your location but I am considering the tree in my recommendation. You are very welcome to try the MS 2000 omni directional TV antenna and if it doesn't work out you can return it for a full refund or credit towards other product.
Sounds like a big tree! I have an idea why don't you just cut it down, just kidding 
If I can assist you further please don't hesitate to contact me.
Best Regards,
Denny
Bluefield 24605
Wow, thanks! I'll get right on it. I appreciate your getting back to me so quickly. Could you make an antenna recommendation for me? I live in Bluefield VA, we have a local VHF (6) station; from there, it's two other VHF stations abt. 100 mi east in Roanoke, VA two other VHF stations abt. 75 mi north in Beckley/Oak Hill WV, and I believe a couple north in Charleston WV and maybe Bristol VA/TN area to the SW about 90 miles. What do you think would be a good multi-directional to buy? Price? Anything else I've missed?
Thanks again for the arrestor info.
Best regards,
Jackson
Jackson
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I would suggest a Winegard PR 7037 TV antenna , or HD 7082P TV antenna or to be absolutely sure a HD 7084P TV antenna pointed to about 110 degrees. I don't believe your gonna find a multiple directional antenna that can reject channels at 3.7 and 7.5 miles and allow for decent reception on channels 7 and 10 at a distance of 64 miles. I wouldn't worry about channel channel 5 at 225 degrees from Bristol, it's an repeat NBC which you already have two of from Bluefield and Roanoak. I would stay away from a pre-amplifier unless absolutely necessary for fear your close by channels would overload onto your distant channels.
Best Regards,
Denny
RESTON 20171
I need to replace an existing (squirrel-damaged) outdoor chimney-mount UHF/VHF antenna, We live in the Washington DC suburbs, and the ZIP is 20171. Most of our stations are between 15-20 miles away, and mostly in one general direction. We'd be running 3 TV's, 2 going through DVD/VCR players, and a total of 2 cable splitters in the system. As I had hoped to get away from the large "typical" element style antenna, I viewed specs on everything from Channelmaster 3010 to the Winegard MS-2000. I'd appreciate your advice as otherwise I'm just relying on awing and a prayer.
Thanks alot-
Ron
Greetings Ron,
After reviewing your channels I see no reason to believe that the MS 2000 omni directional TV antenna
wouldn't work. Things to consider before making a final decision. Will the antenna be installed higher than the structures immediately surrounding your house? Will a distribution amplifier be necessary? You mentioned 2 signal splitters. How many times does each splitter divide the signal? Ron if you would, email me and explain how your system is laid out. So I
may determine if a distribution amplifier will be necessary. I will be waiting for your reply
Best Regards,
Denny
TV Antenna Source
Denny-
I truly appreciate the fast response. We don't have cable or satellite, so we rely on the old off-the-air system for entertainment. Anyway, it's a two story home, with a single-story attached garage/family room. The chimney is on the one story portion of the house, and the existing antenna mast brings the antenna up to just shy of the peak of the 2nd story
roofline. I could add an additional length to the mast if needed, I suppose. Our yard has many large, mature trees, as do the neighboring yards, but no tall buildings within a few miles. The antenna lead goes into the attic of the garage to a 2-way splitter where one goes into the second story bedroom, and the other lead goes into the basement where it splits again to feed a tv on the main level as well as one in the basement. I have no idea how to explain it any better. If the MS-2000 would work, that would be great. I'm assuming this is the one with the signal amplifier.
Thanks again Denny-
Ron,
No way to know if you would have to extend the mast pipe higher or not, I don't think you would. As far as a distribution amplifier goes I would suggest locating a DA 25 distribution amplifier in your garage before the 2 way splitter. As the signal passes through each splitter it will lose 3.5 decibels of signal for a total of 7dB after the second splitter plus the line loss. Be aware the MS 2000 omni directional TV antenna has a preamplifier and requires the power supply unit be plugged into electricity before the first 2 way siganl splitter in the attic of your garage. The coax cable goes in and out of the power supply. The proper order would be antenna to power supply to distribution amplifier to the splitter. Both the power supply and the distribution amplifier will need an electrical source.
If I can assist you further please don't hesitate to contact me.
Denny
TV Antenna Source |
Spotsylvania, 22553
We recently purchased an HDTV with a built in tuner and after doing some research & reviews am a little confused. I'm hoping you can assist in the selection of an antenna. Many sites say the antenna receives say channels 14-69, is this the actual channel or is it the frequency? The main channels I'd like to receive are CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox which are channels 4,5,7,9 in the Washington DC area. What I'm hoping to receive is their digital signals for High Definition. The analog signals received through the satellite receiver look poor and I'm trying to utilize the TVs potential (High Definition is my main concern). We are roughly 55 miles from the towers and the CEA lists us in the violet range. I've noticed in a other questions VHF is recommended along with UHF antenna's. I could go on but at any rate I'm just confused and would really appreciate any suggestions you may have.
Thanks for your time, Tim
Greetings Tim,
The channel numbers are just channel numbers but each number does indicate the frequency that channel uses to broadcast on. VHF is channels 2 -13 UHF is channels 14 - 69. The following link will provide you with channel numbers and their frequencies http://www.fcc.gov/oet/dtv/tvchfreq.html Reviewing the Washington DC area channels I found 3 channels that will broadcast on the VHF frequency along with 5 channels that will be using the UHF frequencies. You will need an antenna capable of receiving both VHF(Ch.2-13) and UHF(Ch.14-69). You also can receive Baltimore channels from your location if you choose to do so. For the DC channels only I would recommend the Winegard PR 7000 TV antenna. Your local broadcast towers are physically located near each other and would not require rotation of the antenna. If you choose to include the Baltimore channels a rotor would be required to position your antenna properly. The antenna I would recommend for this application would either be the PR 7000 TV antenna or the PR 7015 TV antenna depending on your immediate terrain and the elevation of the antenna (one or two story home, dense trees, buildings Ect...) If your in doubt choose the PR 7037 the larger of the two antennas. If you would send your street address and zip code I could determine if the MS 2000 rotorfree TV antenna would be a good choice. This antenna could possibly provide you with both Washington DC and Baltimore channels without rotation of the antenna. I didn't recommend the MS 2000 antenna because it is possible your stations are to close and would overload that particular antenna.
If I can assist you further please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best Regards,
Denny
Denny
Thanks for responding so quickly. The address is __________. Spotsylvania, VA. 22553. It's a two story house on a wooded lot of which the trees are as tall or taller than the house. Hope this helps and Thanks for everything.
Tim,
Using a Winegard PR 7037 or the HD 7082 (both antennas can be found on our TV antenna page along with a Winegard AP 8700 antenna pre-amplifier would absolutely do the trick. Point the antenna at 43 degrees or so and you would receive all of the Washington DC and Baltimore channels along with a few others. No rotor would be necessary. A few more channels could be obtained with a rotor but they would be duplicates of what DC and Baltimore offer. Both antennas would receive the signals equally well. The HD series antennas I believe are the longest lasting best built antennas available. The PR series antennas are better built than chain store antennas such as Radio Shack but the HD antennas are the best.
Hope this helps you.
Denny
Woodbridge 22193
Greetings.
I live in what is considered the D. C. metro area, specifically Dale city, Woodbridge VA. 22193. I live in a three story end unit townhouse with approx. 30 ft. of clearance from my neighbors house to the side, and approx 150 ft. from the houses behind me. I would like an antenna that 's easy to install , has good coverage of as many HD channels as i can get for under $100.00. What would you suggest? Thanks Denny in advance!
C. R.
ps. I run a one T. V. system
Greetings C.R.,
I examined the broadcast stations in your are and I recommend the Choice Select 5002 TV antenna for your situation. We tested this antenna about two months ago and were amazed at what it could do for its size. We pulled in digital channels from Grand Rapids Mi. from about 60 miles. We have not had a single return on this item to date. Its small, inexpensive and easy to install. If I can assist you further please don't hesitate to contact me.
Hello again,
Mucho gracias for the quick response time. I looked at your suggested antenna and it looks good! One question; besides digital channels will in receive analog as well as the HD signals? Thanks again Denny for you help
C. R.
Hi,
Any TV antenna that can receive digital signal will receive analog and vice versa. Both signals use the same frequencies (VHF & UHF) to send their broadcast it’s the tuner that makes the difference. Analog is a radio frequency signal (RF) and digital is digits 0's and 1's but the carrier is the same.
Regards
Denny
Thanks for the info my man. Your tech assist service is everything I read it to be and more. I'm sold on the antenna you suggested and will more than likely cancel my expensive cable service. Take care and Hapy Holidays!
C. R.
Don't cancel your cable until you know the antenna will do the job for you. TV reception is fickle, so fickle in fact I have had neighbors within a quarter of a mile from each other using the same TV antenna with different results. I'm sure it will work fine, I just don't want you to get the cart in front of the horse.
Thanks for the order, If I can assist you further please don't hesitate to contact me.
Denny |
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