Close Window
>
>
Q. Hello I recently bought a two story house in Beaver Falls Pa. 15010. I see several houses in the neighborhood have antennas.  I am tired of paying $80.00 a month for cable and getting nothing.  There are several college buildings around my house. My question is what antenna should I use?  Is it all right to mount it to a chimney in the middle of the roof? What other equipment should I have such as rotor, amplifier, etc.  

My complete address is ________ ave. Beaver Falls Pa. If you could tell me everything I would need for reception and a aproximatly how many stations I would get that would be great.  I have a neighbor five houses away who is also anxious to find out what I learn from your site.  Thanks Ross C.
.
.

A. The majority of the TV stations come from Pittsburgh at your location and because of signal obstruction they are somewhat weak. There are some even weaker signals from Youngstown available at your location but only a couple of channels and they are repeat networks of what is available from Pittsburgh.
.

Your absolute best TV Antenna choice is the Winegard HD 7084P.
.

Along with the antenna I suggest either the Winegard AP 8700 or the AP 8780 mast mounted preamplifier. Use the AP 8700 if you will be supplying 1 TV or 2 TV's using a 2 way signal splitter. If you will be supply 3 or more TV's using a 3 way splitter or larger then use the AP 8780 preamplifier.

The TV antenna can be mounted in a stationary position with the narrow end pointing SSE at about 150 degrees on the compass to receive the Pittsburgh stations. If you desire the Youngstown stations I mentioned you will need a rotor to aim the antenna. Unless you have a particular reason to want these stations I wouldn't bother with a rotor since they will basically have the same programming as the Pittsburgh stations. 
.

The reception you can expect is as follows in no particular order. IND 16 & 66, CBS 2, PBS 13, FOX 53, NBC 11, CBS 27, BOX 25, HSN 16 and ABC 4.
.

The TV antenna can be mounted on the chimney as long as the chimney is structurally capable of supporting the antenna.

The installation would go like this.
>
With the TV antenna mounted and the narrow end of the antenna pointing SSE and the mast mounted preamplifier mounted just below the antenna run a short piece of coax cable from the antenna output connection to the preamplifier input connection labeled ANT.
>
From the preamplifier output labeled power supply run a cable to the ground block that should be installed on the coax cable down lead just before it enters your home.

> 

From the ground block run cable indoors to the preamplifier power supply input coinnection labeled Ant. The power supply is included with the preamplifier and it requires an electrical outlet.

> 

From the power supply output labeled TV run cable to the TV or a signal splitter and then to the TV's.
>

A ground wire should be ran from the ground block to a suitable ground such as a ground rod. Also, a ground wire should be ran from the antenna mount to a ground.

>

You will need a mast pipe to extend from the chimney mount to support the antenna. Good quality electrical black tape can be used to secure the cable to the mast. Screw clip cable fastener's work well to secure the cable as you run it.
>

I think that covers it. This should be everything needed to install a complete antenna system that will work as good or better then if a professional did the installation.
. 

I am very confident that this equipment properly installed (I'm here to help if you need it) will provide you with excellent reception for both analog and digital/HD signals.
>

If I can assist you in any way, please don't hesitate to contact me.
>

Best Regards,
Denny Duplessis
TV Antenna Source 1-800-528-9984
>
>

Q. Thanks for the info. I will take you up on your offer and would appreciate help/info on how to install the equipment you recommended.
>
It is refreshing to have such great personal support! I really do appreciate it. 
>
Blessings, Joel
>
>

A. The first step is to choose the mount. A tripod is a good choice. It's one of the easiest, very stable and trouble free if done properly. I have put together a page on the website to cover the steps on how to install a tripod that will be very helpful it's at http://www.dennysantennaservice.com/1475651.html

>

Lets start with the picture below, 3' tripod, rotor, and preamplifier, disregard the satellite dish. The antenna is a different kind then I recommended for you but the how to is the same.
>

>

Install a piece of mast pipe long enough to extend out of the tripod about a foot and install the tripod to the roof. Next attach the proper length of rotor wire to the rotor motor and install it on the pipe. The rotor wire must be long enough to reach the indoor location where the controller will be located.

>

Next, assemble the TV antenna following the manufacturers instructions. Depending on the roof sometimes I fully unfold the antenna on the ground and other times I wait until the antenna is in the mount to unfold the longer elements. Install a short piece of pipe (about 2 feet) into the antenna lock jaws, make sure all of the longer elements of the antenna are on the proper side of the pipe before you install it.

> 

 Install the preamplifier onto the pipe just below the antenna. Run a short piece of coax cable from the antenna output to the preamplifier input connection labeled Ant input.
>
Attach a long enough piece of coax cable to the preamplifier output connection labeled to power supply to reach the ground block that should be installed at the location just before the cable enters your home.

> 

Now the fun part, carry the TV antenna up onto the roof and install the mast pipe into the rotor. Tighten the jaws of the rotor down onto the pipe with the narrow end of the antenna pointing South. Use a quality black electrical tape to secure the cables to the mast pipe and the mount. Be sure to leave excess coax cable to allow for the rotation of the TV antenna.

You can secure the coax cable and rotor wire as you run it down to the ground block with screw clip cable fasteners. Both cables will fit into the clip, put the coax in first followed by the rotor wire. Be sure the screw on the fastener does not cut into the rotor wire as you tighten the screw. Run the coax cable to the ground block on the side of your house. Run the rotor wire to the location of the indoor rotor control unit.

>
Run coax cable from the ground block to the power injector input connection labeled ANT. The power injector is included with the preamplifier. The power injector must be located indoors and it requires an electrical outlet. The power injector supplies low voltage electricity up the coax cable to power the preamplifier at the TV antenna.

>

From the power injector output connection labeled TV run coax to the TV or a signal splitter and then to the TV's.

>

Now run a ground wire from the TV antenna mount or mast to a suitable ground such as a ground rod. Run a ground wire from the ground block to a ground. 

>

That should do it, you should now have an antenna installed as good, if not better then if you would have hired a professional.  

>

Parts

>

TV antenna
>

Mast mounted TV antenna preamplifier.
>

TV Antenna rotor
>

5 foot tripod
>

5 foot mast pipe. The pipe can be cut into one 3 foot piece and one 2 foot piece. The 3 foot piece for the tripod to support the rotor and the 2 foot piece to go from the rotor to the antenna.
>

Coax cable to go from the antenna output to the preamplifier input. We offer a 2.5 foot piece on our coax cable page in our store that's ideal for this purpose.
>

Coax cable to go from the preamplifier to the ground block.

>

Coax cable to go from the ground block to the power injector.

>

Coax cable to go from the power injector to the TV.

>

Optional: If you will be supply multiple TV's with signal from the antenna.

> 

Coax cable to go from the power injector to a signal splitter.

>

Coax cable to go from the splitter outputs to the TV's.

>

Rotor Wire to go from the antenna rotor motor to the indoor control unit. Locate the indoor control at a convient location to operate it. Our rotors come with infrared remote controls.

>
Ground block
>

Ground wire to go from the antenna mount/mast to a ground and to go from the ground block to a ground.

>
Ground Rod

>

Screw clip cable fastener's

>

Hope this helps you, if you have further questions just let me know.

>

Denny