Need help setting up antennas

I currently have a single vhf/uhf antenna (10 yrs old) on a rotor.

I want go to a setup without the rotor.

My station are

VHF: 8.1, 20 miles at 349 deg
UHF: 19.1,25.1,31.1,67.1 6 miles at 268 deg.

This is going on top of a 2 story bldg.

Can I use the existing combo antenna for vhf and point to 349 deg and buy a uhf for the UHF channels set below the VHF pointed at 268 deg?

Would it work better if I went with a VHF only instead of using the existing combo?

What do I use to combine the 2 feeds from the antennas so I can use the single coax to the TV.

Thanks for the information.

Joe

Without knowing where you live, the answer is NO! you cannot just add a second antenna to your combo antenna. At some point or another, co channel interference will probably disrupt your signal and give you poor performance.

Give a address for where you are located and we can look at your situation and try to give the best advice possible. Play mind games and your questions are going to be harder to answer and you might not get the answer you want to hear.

Since we do not know where you live, how do we know that the virtual channel number is actually the actual channel number. It is pretty apparent that you know nothing of digital television and the mapping of numbers and the switch of frequency's between the analog and digital conversion - where channels were moved out of the VHF and into the UHF and where channels that were in the UHF were moved down into the VHF and where high UHF channels were moved down into the lower UHF frequency's.

You use a UHF antenna to receive UHF and you use a VHF antenna to receive VHF, or you use a combo UHF/VHF antenna to receive both and you use a antenna rotor to properly orientate the antenna in the direction you wish to receive in. Or if you place one good antenna in the direction you wish to receive in - if you only have one UHF or VHF channel and that is all you wish to receive.

Most reception relies on the use of some sort of Pre Amplifier to compensate for line loss and the weaker digital signal to transfer as much of the signal from the antenna to the television as possible, and the use of some sort of RG 6 wire with proper shielding to conduct the signal from the antenna to the television.

Raising the antenna higher on the roof to get further away from the noise generated inside and around the house and getting a clearer field of view in the general direction you wish to receive in.

Can I use the existing combo antenna for vhf and point to 349 deg and buy a uhf for the UHF channels set below the VHF pointed at 268 deg?

Joe

There's insufficient information to answer your question. The channel numbers that you referenced are virtual channels, not actual channels.

At a minimum, your zip code is needed, but the best answer can be provided with an exact report from tvfool.com. When you post the result, change the "." to "dot", the system will accept it, and we'll change the "dot" back to ".".

Hi JBL121,

Welcome to the forums!

Your approach seems very doable, as long as the old antenna is in good shape and you have UHF only stations at 268 degrees. As you state, aim the combo antenna at 349 and purchase a new UHF only antenna and aim it at 268 degrees. You can join the two antennas with a uvsj ($3.99 at solid signal + shipping). See: http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=UVSJ&d=Pico-Macom-UVSJ-UHF-VHF-Band-SeparatorCombiner-for-Antenna-(UVSJ) The uvsj will combine only the VHF from the old antenna and the UHF from the new antenna into a single downlead.

Please go to www.tvfool.com and enter your actual street address. Post the link for the results here on the forum. We won't see your actual address but will have a good feel for the reception opportunities and challenges in your area. BTW, you need 5 posts before you can post a link. Simply post 4 test posts in this thread, then post the link.

HTH,

Rick

Would it work better if I went with a VHF only instead of using the existing combo?

What do I use to combine the 2 feeds from the antennas so I can use the single coax to the TV.

Joe

With a little deduction I assume that you're in Monterey, CA.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d8ecd6935b3c2ec

second post

third post

fourth post

fifth post, will have link to my tvfool.

My address is:

400 south third st.
La Crosse, WI 54601

Antenna is on top of second story bldg.

Sorry if I was deficient in my explanation in my first post.

Here is my link to my tvfool:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d8ecdf523b3d3a9

Thanks again for your assistance.

Thanks for posting your tvfool link! Is NBC broadcast on W67CH? If so, your original plan with two antennas should work well. All the stations at 268 degrees are UHF. You will need a uvsj to join the two antennas. For the second antenna, I would recommend a DB-2, an eagle aspen db-2 clone, or a channel master 4220. You have very high signals in this direction, anyone of the three antennas should work well for you.

http://www.solidsignal.tv/prod_display.asp?prod=UVSJ
http://www.solidsignal.tv/prod_display.asp?prod=AD-DB2
http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Aspen-Dtv2Buhf-Directv-Antenna/dp/B000GIT002
http://www.solidsignal.tv/prod_display.asp?PROD=CM4220

AHA: MUCH better! The big issue with LaCrosse TV is always NBC.

Fortunately, KTTC in Rochester, MN has built a translator in LaCrosse that will give you NBC in digital, so your basic networks are covered. All but WKBT, the CBS station are on UHF. WKBT operates on VHF channel 8, and it's transmitter lies in a different direction that the other La Crosse transmitters do.

This isn't a difficult installation, but it will require 2 antennas: a small VHF-high-band yagi to pick up channel 8 aimed at 350 degrees by your compass, like an AntennaCraft Y5-7-13, and a UHF antenna like a Channel Master 4221HD or a Winegard HD-4400 aimed at 265-270 degrees. Mount the UHF antenna above the VHF antenna, separate it by at least 3.5 ', and combine the signals from each antenna using a Pico-Macom UVSJ VHF-VHF antenna joiner. If you plan to run more than 2 TV sets from this antenna system, use a Channel Master CM 3414 distribution amplifier indoors to provide enough signal to each TV set. You'll see all of your local stations without glitches.

Be sure to use all new RG-6 u coaxial cable. This is a fairly low-cost system that should provide excellent reception.

Rick and I are basically on the same page about this installation: I just want you to use a little bit bigger UHF antenna and a new VHF yagi rather than your existing antenna: either will work well. I suggest the slightly larger UHF antenna because UHF antennas tend to lose their effectiveness faster than VHF antennas do, and this will give you just a little more margin, and a bit more gain if you want to use multiple TV sets.

Goodluck JBL121, whichever you decide! Report back and let us know how it works for you!

Sorry for the stupid question but I can get a splitter 2 into 1 or vice versa. Is this the same as a combiner because I have seen them on sale online advertised as splitter/combiner.

I can get a UHF intenna locally and would like to get the combiner locally also.

Are they the some or are the ones labeled VHF, UHF and out different.

Thanks

Joe

Joe,

In your situation, you need the uvsj to join a UHF and VHF antenna. Are you using the old combo antenna and a new UHF antenna? Or did you decide to buy two new antennas (a VHF and a UHF)?

Rick

Going to try the old antenna at north for cbs 8.1

Getting new uhf antenna this week. Looking at the Eagle Aspen Dtv2Buhf Directv 2-Bay Uhf Antenna.

Has great reviews.

THanks again for your assistance. I looked for a UVSJ in my area but no luck. May have to try a tv shop.

THanks again

Your welcome Joe! Report back when you get it all set up and let us know how it works!