NEXT..... OTA help for me ?

[Warpdrv]

I am a good distance north of milwaukee, scanned my zip into the web and got this info. http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d109/Warpdrv/home theater/OTAinfo.png

I am running dish network on 2 separate systems a 722 and 622 receiver, both can process OTA signals and add them to the list of channels.

My dish is on the roof and I would really like to be able to use one of the cables coming off the SAT and split it to take both Sat and OTA signal. So a antenna that would incorporate with the dish would be best if they make a good one that works.

Any suggestions on how to get this working and the equipment needed would be much appreciated indeed...

I have been using a RCA boosted rabbit ear type indoor antenna, but its hit and miss, I need the height with all the big trees around. Something mounted on my dish would work great. If the clip on antennas are junk, whatever I can use near it will be just fine as well.

 

[lsiberian]

I am a good distance north of milwaukee, scanned my zip into the web and got this info. http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d109/Warpdrv/home theater/OTAinfo.png

I am running dish network on 2 separate systems a 722 and 622 receiver, both can process OTA signals and add them to the list of channels.

My dish is on the roof and I would really like to be able to use one of the cables coming off the SAT and split it to take both Sat and OTA signal. So a antenna that would incorporate with the dish would be best if they make a good one that works.

Any suggestions on how to get this working and the equipment needed would be much appreciated indeed...

I have been using a RCA boosted rabbit ear type indoor antenna, but its hit and miss, I need the height with all the big trees around. Something mounted on my dish would work great. If the clip on antennas are junk, whatever I a dcan use near it will be just fine as well.

Unless you're into TBN, I'd use a directional antenna that points to 180 degrees.

 

[jostenmeat]

I am a good distance north of milwaukee, scanned my zip into the web and got this info. http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d109/Warpdrv/home theater/OTAinfo.png

Are those antennaweb results? Check out Tvfool, it's even better.

Do you have attic space?

Your STBs probably have multiple inputs, including OTA, so why wouldn't you want discrete feeds? You could then record many shows at the same time, right? Isn't there a specific Dish model that accepts TWO OTA, so that you can actually record 4 shows at a time? Just asking.

As for combining the feeds into one coax, I haven't run across that yet, and am not even sure if that works. Sorry. I'd start running search functions at different forums/subforum/threads.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

You're rich, get Fios or U-Verse and pay for the local channels.

 

[lsiberian]

You're rich, get Fios or U-Verse and pay for the local channels.

See this thread for information on why warp is making this move. http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59173:D

 

[Swerd]

Where I live, I'm about 15 miles from most of the Washington, DC broadcast towers. That is very close to what you have with Milwaukee.

I have a Winegard Squareshooter SS-1000 in my attic. I use it with a rotor so I can also pick up the TV stations in Baltimore which are about 35-40 miles away. Its small and is designed to share a mount with a satellite dish, as shown in the photos in the link. I recommend it. You probably don't need a rotor.

Winegard also makes an amplified version, the SS-2000. I don't know if you'll need the amplified version or not. I suggest you first try the SS-1000, and if you think you need better reception, you can buy the antenna preamp separately and mount it with what you have.

I ordered mine from Solid Signal.

 

[Warpdrv]

First off the Cables are already run and I was hoping to use one, because I was under the understanding that I could combine signals on 1 cable and separate the OTA signal and run them to the receivers using something like a diplexer to combine and then split at the other end.
http://www.prosatellitesupply.com/diplexer_eagle_aspen_X1.htm



The cables are run down the stack from the attic to the basement and I would rather not make the attempt to run another cable it was incredibly difficult to squeeze the 4 in there to begin with. But if it comes to that and I have no choice then I guess I have no choice, but I will need to split that signal to the separate receivers.

Unless you're into TBN, I'd use a directional antenna that points to 180 degrees.

A directional is fine, I just wanted to keep it as neat and non obtrusive looking as possible.

Not all that concerned with TBN, all I care about is getting good local signals if and when there is a something in HD on a local channel much like the Superbowl, which I couldn't get.

TVfool http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d109/Warpdrv/home theater/OTA2.png

 

[Warpdrv]

You're rich, get Fios or U-Verse and pay for the local channels.

Can't get either of those at my place. Not Avail.

See this thread for information on why warp is making this move. http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59173:D

Hahaha Not sure what you mean buddy... I like LMS's?

Where I live, I'm about 15 miles from most of the Washington, DC broadcast towers. That is very close to what you have with Milwaukee.

I have a Winegard Squareshooter SS-1000 in my attic. I use it with a rotor so I can also pick up the TV stations in Baltimore which are about 35-40 miles away. Its small and is designed to share a mount with a satellite dish, as shown in the photos in the link. I recommend it. You probably don't need a rotor.

Winegard also makes an amplified version, the SS-2000. I don't know if you'll need the amplified version or not. I suggest you first try the SS-1000, and if you think you need better reception, you can buy the antenna preamp separately and mount it with what you have.

I ordered mine from Solid Signal.

I saw that post in the other OTA thread.... If I could do this with a diplexer that unit may work.

 

[highfigh]

I saw that post in the other OTA thread.... If I could do this with a diplexer that unit may work.

You can use a diplexer. How far do you live from work? North of there? If you look toward Estabrook Park, can you see any of the towers? If you can, you may not need the amplified version, especially if you're close to the highway.

 

[Warpdrv]

I'm up in Grafton, I used to live in WFB as a youngster - I really got most of the channels, but if I got a Diplexer and a clip-on antenna for my dish that would be the best... I guess all I can really do is try the Diplexer, pretty sure my buddy has a couple that I can test out...

 

[lsiberian]

Hahaha Not sure what you mean buddy... I like LMS's?

I just in-vision the subs you will be adding with the money saved.

I'd get a winegard if you can swing it. They are fantastic antennas

 

[highfigh]

I'm up in Grafton, I used to live in WFB as a youngster - I really got most of the channels, but if I got a Diplexer and a clip-on antenna for my dish that would be the best... I guess all I can really do is try the Diplexer, pretty sure my buddy has a couple that I can test out...

On high ground or lower? Low ground is a major problem with terrestrial reception.

 

[Warpdrv]

I'm not really on lower ground - if I get the antenna up high I shouldn't have any problems and will get everything I wanted in the Milwaukee area. Like I said - the rabbit ears I'm using get me almost all the channels with pretty good signal and its sitting in my living room, but I'd rather have a better quality dedicated antenna.

 

[Swerd]

I'm up in Grafton, I used to live in WFB as a youngster - I really got most of the channels, but if I got a Diplexer and a clip-on antenna for my dish that would be the best... I guess all I can really do is try the Diplexer, pretty sure my buddy has a couple that I can test out...

When Winegard says the SS-1000 has an average gain on 4.5 dB, that's compared to a standard reference, a folded dipole or rabbit ears. Most clip-on antenna that I've seen mounted on satellite dishes are essentially curved folded dipoles with no better reception than rabbit ears. So the SS-1000 should do better than a clip-on.

The SS-1000/2000 are moderately directional with an average front/back ratio of 13 dB and a beam width of about 60°.

This antenna ought to work with a diplexer, although I've not tried that.

 

[Warpdrv]

Thanks Swerd

That really looks like the Antenna I would most likely want.

I really don't care about any other direction then just the standard channels that come out of Milwaukee, and they are pretty much all in a straight line so its a simple choice, I have heard other say the same thing as you about the clip ones so I should just take the hint and stay away from them.

I can easily mount that antenna in my attic - point it in the right direction and feed both receivers with it. I assume I don't have to worry about gain on the long runs to both receivers with the splitting of the cable ?

 

[highfigh]

Thanks Swerd

That really looks like the Antenna I would most likely want.

I really don't care about any other direction then just the standard channels that come out of Milwaukee, and they are pretty much all in a straight line so its a simple choice, I have heard other say the same thing as you about the clip ones so I should just take the hint and stay away from them.

I can easily mount that antenna in my attic - point it in the right direction and feed both receivers with it. I assume I don't have to worry about gain on the long runs to both receivers with the splitting of the cable ?

If the sat cables go into the attic, that's a good place for it. You could then have the diplexer as close to both sources as possible and your installation will be easier.

 

[Swerd]

I can easily mount that antenna in my attic - point it in the right direction and feed both receivers with it. I assume I don't have to worry about gain on the long runs to both receivers with the splitting of the cable ?

I only have a little experience doing this, but its my impression that the answer to your question is - it depends.

It depends on how strong the OTA signals are, how much loss there is over your cable runs to your receivers, and how sensitive the receivers are. You can get RF line amplifiers to make up for the loss, but depending on how they are installed, they can amplify noise as well as the signal. It is my impression (again from limited experience) that the closer the amp is to the antenna the better. That's why you see those antenna amps designed to mount on the mast directly under the antenna. If an amp is downstream of a long coax run, it will amplify everything it gets fed from upstream, noise and signal. The closer the amp is to the antenna, the smaller the line loss is and less interference can enter through the cable.

I wish I could give you a more definitive answer. Try it first with a passive antenna that has plenty of gain, with the long coax run. First try it with one receiver and then split to two. The picture you get should let you know if you need an amplified antenna. If your receivers have some kind of signal strength meter in them, that will help you figure out what you need.

 

[Warpdrv]

Well I think I'm just going to try to run a single Coax albeit a pain in the Butt, and split it down in the basement and run to the separate receivers.

Seems like the winegards will probably be the way to go and keep it all up in the attic. If it needs to be a boosted signal device, I can easily get the power up there.

Appreciate all your advise guys... Not trying to do this cheap - just simple and done for the random times I use the OTA.