Need help with DTV in Chicago suburbs

dgodoy

Hi, I could use some advice for an antenna set up I can't quite get to work perfectly.
I have an Antennacraft HBU33 that I bought from Radio Shack today.
My AntennaWeb results are (from Wheaton, IL):
Antenna Type Call Sign Channel Network City, State Compass Heading Miles From RF Channel
red uhf WFLD-DT 32.1 FOX CHICAGO, IL 89° 24.2 31
red uhf WCIU-DT 26.1 IND CHICAGO, IL 89° 24.2 27
red vhf WBBM-DT 2.1 CBS CHICAGO, IL 89° 24.2 12
red uhf WGN-DT 9.1 CW CHICAGO, IL 89° 24.2 19
blue uhf WGBO-DT 66.1 UNI JOLIET, IL 86° 25 38
blue uhf WJYS-DT 62.1 REL HAMMOND, IN 89° 24.2 36
blue uhf WCPX-DT 38.1 ION CHICAGO, IL 86° 24.3 43
blue uhf W57DN 57 TBN LASALLE, IL 327° 12 57
blue vhf WLS-DT 7.1 ABC CHICAGO, IL 89° 24.2 7
blue uhf WSNS-DT 44.1 TEL CHICAGO, IL 89° 24.2 45
blue uhf WXFT-DT 60.1 TFA AURORA, IL 89° 24.2 50
blue uhf WTTW-DT 11.1 PBS CHICAGO, IL 89° 24.2 47
blue uhf WMAQ-DT 5.1 NBC CHICAGO, IL 89° 24.2 29
blue uhf WPWR-DT 50.1 MNT GARY, IN 89° 24.2 51
violet uhf W40BY 68 TBN LASALLE, IL 89° 24.2 68
violet uhf WOCH-CA 41 IND CHICAGO, IL 86° 25 41
violet uhf WYCC-DT 20.1 PBS CHICAGO, IL 86° 25 21

For various reasons, I need to install this antenna in my attic--outdoors is not an option at this point. I can get most of the channels I need reasonably well, but reception on FOX (WFLD) is spotty, and I can't pull in WMAQ for NBC. I tried attaching a small signal amp in the attic next to the antenna, but that seemed to do more harm than good.

One of my biggest problems is that it's a real pain to go up in the attic, tweak the antenna, then come back down and do a full signal scan on my TV to see if I got NBC. Surely there's a better way to do this (without spending a ton of money on a signal meter).

Any advice would be much appreciated.

NonMcTubber

Since I can't make a damn bit of sense from the antenna web report, I will post a generic address TVfool report for Weaton.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...8ecdd968771043

Which shows that all your Chicago stations are basically due east of you and are a mixed bag of VHF and UHF.

And to go into trouble shooting mode, I do not know much about your specific antenna, I might suggest basic aim and almost TVsignal opaque building materials in your attic as big problems.

I would also suggest that you are almost a prime candidate for a good preamp, because you should be doing better.

Just my initial take, lets see what others suggest.

__________________
High definition is not the definition of my life.
But knowledge is power and HD does have some potential to increase content variety and choices.

dgodoy

Well, it basically came down to a full evening of trial and error, but I finally got all the essential stations with good stable signal. I'm just glad I won't have to go through that again unless they move the Sears Tower.

JB Antennaman

When you buy a small, cheap antenna and you put it in the attic - with no antenna rotor and expect it to work, then you usually get what you pay for.

Since I have to put it in the attic, and I don't want to spend any money, then I must do a little more leg work to get it to work.

I wouldn't expect much more than spotty performance at best.

Once you get a couple of inches of snow on the roof of the house, your signals might all disappear.

__________________
There is no exception for good reception!

IDRick

JB, why would he need a rotor? All of his/her channels are in a very narrow band.

NonMcTubber

Sorry, duplicate post

__________________
High definition is not the definition of my life.
But knowledge is power and HD does have some potential to increase content variety and choices.

NonMcTubber

I would hardly call the HBU33 a small and cheap antenna although the on aim gains of about 7.6 db is not that impressive.

But still, if the doom and gloom or Jbantennaman does come to pass in snow, a fairly inexpensive preamp could probably make up the difference.

But if our OP now has the antenna facing through a East facing vertical gable end, or the roof pitch is steep, accumulating snow is not a worry.

In short, congratulation dgodoy, and you have a working setup going as your efforts have been rewarded with results. And results are all that matter.

__________________
High definition is not the definition of my life.
But knowledge is power and HD does have some potential to increase content variety and choices.

Bigloww

Yea, pretty much all the Chicago channels are from atop the Sears Tower (still refuse to call it the Willis) and a couple (86 degrees) are atop "The Cock" about 3 miles or so away.

__________________
Commit to the Indian..

In Loving Memory of Junkie, The Rizz, Eagle and the Boys.. They are gone (wasted in fact) but not forgotten..

dgodoy

NonMcTubber, what would you recommend for a preamp? I don't mind spending money, as long as it's quality.

IDRick

dgodoy,

The appropriate pre-amp depends on your tv distribution system. How many tvs and how many feet of cable do you have in your distribution system. A Winegard HDP-269 is good if you only have 1 or 2 tvs and less than 100 ft of cable run.

HTH,

Rick

Bigloww

The Channel Master 7777 Titan is a good pre-amp and can be had for around $50-$60..

http://www.warrenelectronics.com/antennas/7777.htm

__________________
Commit to the Indian..

In Loving Memory of Junkie, The Rizz, Eagle and the Boys.. They are gone (wasted in fact) but not forgotten..

dgodoy

I have one tv, and no more than 50 feet of cable. I'll look at the Winegard HDP-269.

Thanks,
Dan

Deaf-Tech

Too much signal can cause intermittent/spotty reception problems as well as create false signal strength readings. WFLD and WPWR are both pushing 1 MW, both with antennas on the west side of Willlis Tower. You might try adding a splitter or 3 dB pad to see if your performance improves or worsens.

NonMcTubber

To dgodoy,

If you are getting all channels now, why waste money for a preamp? Its only if you have future problems in snow where you
might consider curing your yet to be realized problems with a preamp.

And if you have future problems, the most cost effective solution is and remains getting the antenna from the attic to the clear air above the roof. And in your case, you don't need to be much above your roof.

But who knows, you may also see some channels drop out with rain
also, and it takes a while to learn your long run average.

__________________
High definition is not the definition of my life.
But knowledge is power and HD does have some potential to increase content variety and choices.

IDRick

While I agree with NMT that a roof mount usually gives superior performance over an attic mount, I also understand the reasoning behind wanting an attic install. A pre-amp will likely give dgodoy a signal boost of 6dB at his television (3 dB lost in cable run and 3 dB difference between pre-amp NF and tv tuner NF). This is a fourfold increase in signal and adds margin to his current set up.