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TV Antenna Selection for Washington
Bellevue 98006
Hi
I'm thinking about installing a TV antenna in my attic or roof. Can you give me some recommendations on what will work best in my location?
I live in Bellevue, WA 98006.
Thank you,
Ivan
Greetings Ivan,
You can easily receive all the networks, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CW, PBS and MNT. The antenna I recommend is the Winegard HD 7080P VHF/UHF/DTV antenna pointed at 280 degrees. Unless you plan to provide signal to more than 4 TV's or have an extremely long cable run (100 plus feet) you won't need an antenna preamplifier. A rotor is not necessary since all of the channels are in the same direction. The HD 7080 should provide you with excellent reception. Also, the 7080 is a well built antenna made in the USA and will provide 15 to 20 years of service.
If I can assist you further please don't hesitate to contact me.
Best Regards,
Denny
TV Antenna Source
Dupont 98327
Hello there,
I know basically nothing about antennas. I do know that I would like better reception without cable/satellite. Our zip code is 98327 in the south Puget Sound region of Washington. If you would please give me a recommendation for an antenna that is easy to install, that could be either mounted outside or in the attic, it would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
David
Greetings David,
If I can assist you further please don't hesitate to contact me.
Best Regards,
Denny
TV Antenna Source
Kennewick 99338
Denny,
Thanks for the great site. I’m hoping you can recommend the appropriate configuration for my situation. I’m located 10 miles from all of the area’s transmitters which are within 115-135 degrees compass orientation. I have a cheap radio shack indoor antenna in my attic (all wood structure) with a pretty clear shot to the transmitters (the tips of two trees 100’ away are in the path). I’ve got a 50’ run of coaxial to a digital receiver (I plan to add a splitter to my VCR for receiving regular broadcast). The coax runs close to 110v lines in a couple of spots. I receive digital signals in the 25 to 50 frequency beautifully, but barely receive 11.1 and don’t get 19.1 at all. 11 and 19 are located near the other station’s transmitters (probably just a weaker signal?). What would you recommend for my situation? A more powerful antenna, or just an amplifier, or both?
Thanks, Mike
Greetings Mike,
If you will send me your City and zip code I can give you a much better answer. With that information I have access to all of your broadcast stations, their tower height, output power etc.
I'll be waiting for your reply
Denny
That would be great.
It’s Kennewick, Washington 99338.
Mike
Mike,
All of your channels will remain on the UHF frequency after the digital transition is complete. I don't know exactly what antenna you are currently using. My recommendation for your location is a Channel Master 4221 TV antenna and a Winegard AP 4700 antenna preamplifier. Your local towers have a separation of about 20 degrees. The 4221 is a good choice because it has a beam width of 38 degrees which would allow good reception without rotation of the antenna.
The UHF frequency loses as much as 3 times more signal traveling the cable than VHF does along with the signal loss of the 2 way splitter you mention, I would recommend a preamplifier to off set this loss.
Unless it's poor quality wire I wouldn't be concern with the cable running near the electrical wiring.
If I can assist you further Mike, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Best Regards,
Denny
Mukilteo 98275
I am very interested in the Winegard SharpShooter SS 3000. Here is my info:Mukilteo, WA, 98275
Thanks...Randy
Randy,
Are you planning on using this antenna for digital reception? If so the Sharp Shooter should be an excellent choice for your location. The best choice for a simple easy to install antenna for analog reception is the Winegard MS-2000 tv antenna.
Best Regards,
Denny
TV Antenna Source
Hi Denny,
Yes, it would be used for local HDTV channels. I currently have Comcast and in a few weeks will be getting dish installed. While they have some of the local high def channels they are in dispute with local Fox affiliate and don't carry it.(can't live without HD football) so basically I wanted to use the Sharp Shooter for it.
Thanks,
Randy
Randy,
You'll also find over the air digital reception in most cases will provide a better image than cable or satellite. Also cable/sat. usually does not provide all of the secondary channels that over the air reception does. If you should decide on the SharpShooter please compare it to your pay provider and send us a report. Your information will help us, help others.
Best Regards,
Denny
Palouse 99161
Denny,
I live in Palouse WA. My zip code is 99161. I am considering mounting a trainable antenna on my shop and running the coax cable into the house (somewhere around 100 ft). I have 120 VAC available in the shop, so using a booster would not be a problem. I also have attic space available with 120 VAC, so I could do a roof mount antenna or an attic installation. Palouse is in a depression in the landscape, so line-of-sight may be a problem to the main transmission towers surrounding Spokane, WA which is around 80 miles to the north. Spokane is the main transmission point for the big three networks and FOX. Lewiston, ID is around 50 miles to the south and it broadcasts a CBS affiliate. What would be your recommendation for an antenna configuation?
Thanks,
Jeff
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164
Greetings Jeff,
According to the information available to me your location has ABC channel 40 and PBS channel 10 available from Pullman, NBC channel 6, CBS channel 2, and FOX channel 28 from Spokane. With additional duplicates OF ABC, PBS and CBS networks from various locations within range of your location.
I wouldn't recommend the attic mount at your location. However, the roof of your home or shop would be great.
If I can assist you further please don't hesitate to contact me.
Best Regards,
Denny
TV Antenna Source
Renton 98056
Hi Denny,
I live in Renton, WA 98056 and am getting poor reception of my local HD channel using a Zenith ZHDTV1 HDTV-UHF Digital Indoor Antenna. It sits above my TV but constantly cuts out. I really like your website and am considering purchasing the Winegard MS 2000. Do you think this will work for my area? Also, how should I handle multiple HD TV’s? I have one in my Master bedroom (mid level) and one in our family room (first floor). Would a splitter work?
Thanks so much for your assistance,
Sal
Greetings Sal,
You have numerous TV transmitters with in 10 miles of your location. With that in mind I am hesitant to recommend the MS 2000 antenna for fear of signal overload.
Many times the digital TV signal cutting out that you refer to is not always caused by weak signal. It can be caused by signal overload, multi-path interference etc... These types of interference occur more often in strong signal areas such as yours. Because of the close proximity of the transmitters I would be more comfortable recommending the Winegard SS 2000 Square Shooter TV antenna. This antenna is designed for use in strong signal areas where multi-path interference is likely. The TV antenna will need to be pointed in a westerly direction with final adjustments being made at the time of installation. To supply an additional TV a 2 way signal splitter is used installed on the TV side of the preamplifier power injector included with the antenna. Your installation would go like this. Coax cable from the TV antenna to the antenna power injector and from the power injector to the signal splitter and from the splitter to the TV's.
If I can assist you further please don't hesitate to contact me.
Best Regards,
Denny
TV Antenna Source
Yelm 98597
I have a yagi-style directional UHF fringe HD antenna, roof-mounted, about 36 feet in the air, with rotor. We have quite a few tall trees within 100 yards or so in my line of sight. We are approxmately 45 miles from the stations I want to pull in, and most are OK... not great but not bad (occaisional signal drops on a couple of stations and problems getting them during the day and in clear weather. What antenna amplifier would you recommend I try on this installation? I would like a UHF-only amp if possible, because ALL the digital stations here (Seattle-Tacoma) are going to be on UHF. My cable is about 65 feet long. I have tried low-power distribution amps to no avail ( and one radio shack antenna mounted amp which did nothing) I am using RG6 cable, Belden 1694A which is the best, lowest loss cable I could find. I am a little concerned about using an amp because a couple of stations have a signal strength of 8-9... but they are the exceptions, of course. Most are around 3 or 4 (and a couple are usually 1 and 2 - they are the ones that cut out sometimes) BTW, the scale goes in increments of 1 - 10 bars.
Thanks,
D P
Greetings,
Before you do anything you may want to consider that these station will broadcast on VHF after the digital transition is complete.
KCTS DTV Ch. 41 will move to Ch. 9
KCPQ DTV Ch. 18 will move to Ch.13
KSTW DTV CH. 36 will move to Ch.11
The above stations will move to their final channel destination on or before February 2009 (Resource FCC). Very few broadcast markets in the U.S. will remain all UHF after the digital transition is complete. You may want to rethink your antenna before you do anything.
Best Regards,
Denny
Dennis,
Thanks for the great info, but how do you know this? Everything I have read says that the entire VHF TV spectrum was going to be freed up for other uses. Could it be that just the upper range is going to be used for broadcast TV? Even if that is so, I will absolutely need both a VHF AND a UHF antenna. I can actually see, poorly, analog VHF stations on my yagi, but I'm sure it won't be good enough for VHF digital.. When I tried to get everything on one antenna, virtually none of the UHF digital stations would come in. How would I combine a VHF and UHF antenna for full time use, and what do I need? Can I mount them on the same mast? Can you provide me with the proper equipment for combining the signal from both antennas? What kind of antenna amp should I use if I do? I would need to send the signal to 2 locations in the house. I have tons of RG6, I own that crappy Radio Shack VHF/UHF antenna amp, I have a 24db VHF/UHFdistribution amplifier ( 1 in 2 out), and I also have a 10db VHF/UHF line amplifier I used to use on the old VHF antenna. I also have a VERY good channel Master VHF/UHF antenna from about 20 years ago (the thing is about 12 feet long!) I took it down for DTV because I had a lot of trouble with analog VHF ghosting, and UHF DTV stations would usually not come in.) I believed those channel assignments were permanent! I would really like some detailed advice here, and I'm more than willing to purchase what I need from you if you can advise me on what I should have.
Thanks again!
D P
Dan
The information on final channel destination is located at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf. You'll notice some locations even have channels that will return to the low VHF band. One of the biggest issue with this transition is bad information on websites all over the internet. Many really believe what they print others are doing it for financial gain. We offer a TV antenna coupler in our on line store. I'm not a big fan of coupling antennas. To many issues can occur that effect reception including signal strength loss of at least 3-4 dB on each antenna. They can be mounted on the same mast at least two feet apart, farther if possible. After the antenna coupler I would install a Winegard AP 8700 antenna preamplifier, also see preamplifier help Next run your wire to the preamplifier power supply and then to your splitter. I don't have your zip code to determine if a rotor is necessary or to recommend an antenna. If you would, please send your zip code.
Thanks,
Denny
Dennis,
My Zip code is 98597. Address is _______ SE (precise info on my location based on that address is in map quest, BTW). Our elevation here is approximately 300 feet.
Dan
Dan,
The best way to combine two antennas is with the Channel Master 7777 antenna preamplifier. This amplifier has separate VHF and UHF inputs. It combines the two antennas and amplifies both VHF and UHF as it does it. The VHF antenna I recommend is either the Winegard PR 5030 TV antenna or the Winegard HD 4053 TV antenna. Both antennas are good choices and we have them available. The HD 4053 is better constructed and has better gain than the 5030. Also notice the front to back ratio. The 4053 has a higher front to back dB rating which means a little more adjusting the antenna direction but less chance of multi path interference (ghosting). The antennas can be mounted on the same pole. I would recommend at least a two foot separation.
The pre amplifier would provide all the amplification you would need to supply at least 4 TV's so the use of a distribution amplifier would not be necessary.
I hope this helps you, let me know if you need anything else.
Sorry I took so long to answer, I got called away yesterday. Nothing serious just couldn't be here.
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