Sanity check from you cord cutters

[goeduck]

the preamps can be anywhere from 15 to 30db. For the house distribution amps, they are usually marked on the output legs. More common are +4 or +8db each.

If you are only going to run to a tablo and one other tv, you can prob get away with a single two way splitter after the preamp if drops are fairly short. You'll only be down -3.5dB per leg. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0113JAN8K/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B0113JAN8K&pd_rd_w=KDGVP&pf_rd_p=733540df-430d-45cd-9525-21bc15b0e6cc&pd_rd_wg=CqhZH&pf_rd_r=CEW2P4F9Y9DV79G8C1PF&pd_rd_r=81a1a64e-517c-11e9-acab-6543103b616a

A few weeks ago, not wanting to toss a bunch of money at an antenna if there was no chance of getting a signal, I bought a $25 cheapie with the intent of using it as a test and then upgrading. To my surprise I get about 40 stations but about half of those only if I use the cable coming out of the gizmo marked TV1 and if I take the antenna directly into the TV or Tablo I get only a few:

TV1 I get about 40
TV2 I get about 20
No gizmo, direct I get about 5

Is this telling me that I need a powered preamp? I like a better quality equipment than the above so I was looking at Channel Master for a preamp and antenna:

4-bay HDTV/UHF Digital Outdoor TV Antenna-Channel Master CM 4221HD (CM4221HD)

Outdoor HDTV VHF/UHF Antenna Amplifier/Booster-Channel Master CM 7777HD (CM7777HD)

The feed direct to the TV would be manual, unplug from Tablo and plug into the coax connection on the TV, I would not feed both.

 

[thekkfan]

If that's what you are using, you will be AMAZED with a CM antenna and preamp. Rule for antennas, size does matter.

I installed one of those for my FIL down in FL. Works ok for him, but hes close enough to Orlando that everything is nearby. Out in the sticks you need something more substantial.

 

[CMV]

So dumb question.....With this arrangement:

Could I take 2 antennas pointing opposite directions and use a splitter "backwards" to bridge them into one?

 

[goeduck]

If that's what you are using, you will be AMAZED with a CM antenna and preamp. Rule for antennas, size does matter.

I installed one of those for my FIL down in FL. Works ok for him, but hes close enough to Orlando that everything is nearby. Out in the sticks you need something more substantial.

That antenna was a $25 throw away now that I know I can get a signal I will install something better. Is there a way to fine tune the dB output without special equipment? Also, should the mast be grounded?

 

[thekkfan]

So dumb question.....With this arrangement:

Could I take 2 antennas pointing opposite directions and use a splitter "backwards" to bridge them into one?

Yes sir! But drops from antennas to splitter have to be equal length. There are articles on the web about doing so.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Yes sir! But drops from antennas to splitter have to be equal length. There are articles on the web about doing so.

I would guess that maybe 2 of the same antennas would help.

 

[thekkfan]

That antenna was a $25 throw away now that I know I can get a signal I will install something better. Is there a way to fine tune the dB output without special equipment? Also, should the mast be grounded?

IF outside, yes ground it. I did not ground mine inside my attic. Mine is over my master bdrm. I have a walk in attic and its mounted hanging from the ridge beam on a 4ft wooden dowel.

CM makes an adjustable level pre-amp also- it's on their site. I went with the high/low version to see which worked better. Think its +17 or +30db??

 

[oosik]

That's the beauty of living out here in the sticks. No cable ANYTHING to worry about. It's either satellite or it's NOTHING.

 

[goeduck]

IF outside, yes ground it. I did not ground mine inside my attic. Mine is over my master bdrm. I have a walk in attic and its mounted hanging from the ridge beam on a 4ft wooden dowel.

CM makes an adjustable level pre-amp also- it's on their site. I went with the high/low version to see which worked better. Think its +17 or +30db??

I assume people use the house ground off of a circuit in the attic? During the last snow storm the neighbors overhead cable drop was ripped off of their house and the cable guy left the old 100 ft of cable (only about a year old) on the ground. It is a Commscope F677TSVM with a messenger conductor, I wonder if people use that for a ground. Mine will be attached metallically to the chimney so it is going to be somewhat self grounding. My roof slopes down towards the transmitting towers so I am thinking the antenna will be best on the side of the chimney, not above where the wood stove smoke will hit it in the winter.

https://www.commscope.com/catalog/cables/pdf/part/46870/4514603_F677TSVM_XP.pdf

 

[kcflhrc]

I assume people use the house ground off of a circuit in the attic? During the last snow storm the neighbors overhead cable drop was ripped off of their house and the cable guy left the old 100 ft of cable (only about a year old) on the ground. It is a Commscope F677TSVM with a messenger conductor, I wonder if people use that for a ground. Mine will be attached metallically to the chimney so it is going to be somewhat self grounding. My roof slopes down towards the transmitting towers so I am thinking the antenna will be best on the side of the chimney, not above where the wood stove smoke will hit it in the winter.

https://www.commscope.com/catalog/cables/pdf/part/46870/4514603_F677TSVM_XP.pdf

How is attaching it to the chimney "self grounding" ? The messenger wire is to attach the cable at the pole and the house, not really for grounding.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

So dumb question.....With this arrangement:

Could I take 2 antennas pointing opposite directions and use a splitter "backwards" to bridge them into one?

If passive, yes.

 

[goeduck]

How is attaching it to the chimney "self grounding" ? The messenger wire is to attach the cable at the pole and the house, not really for grounding.

The chimney is masonry, concrete, brick, rebar, metal liner.. If a separate ground is run to the chimney is it usually just connected to house ground?

 

[NorTracNY]

Wow, just got off another billing issue call with Spectrum. I will be so happy when my CM OTA antenna arrives. I will be canceling TV with them very soon. I hate the aggravation of the company (nothing but scams) that I'm willing to spend the $300 and try cell phone internet just to replace the Spectrum cable. In my area is looks like the slowest internet is 100MB/s at $75+ taxes. I'm expecting Ubifi to be ~40-50MB/s, but at $90/month. I may also try to add the AT&T SIM card at $360/yr.

 

[thekkfan]

The chimney is masonry, concrete, brick, rebar, metal liner.. If a separate ground is run to the chimney is it usually just connected to house ground?

If possible, back to same point with outside panel. You'd normally have a ground block before it enters the house, that is grounded at panel.

If its in an attic, not required. I will say that mine comes from the attic into wall mounted cabinet that is all grounded. The house amp (Coax shield) is grounded though the cabinet power. So mine is all tied together.

 

[kcflhrc]

The chimney is not a ground source in any way shape or form. Ground is metallic usually a copper wire all the way to a ground source, typically a ground rod or electrical source single point ground. Some newer homes will have a ground block outside by the meter but not in all cases, depends on the builder and local code.

 

[goeduck]

The chimney is not a ground source in any way shape or form. Ground is metallic usually a copper wire all the way to a ground source, typically a ground rod or electrical source single point ground. Some newer homes will have a ground block outside by the meter but not in all cases, depends on the builder and local code.

View attachment 598046

That is a good diagram. My antenna will not be like that, it will be on the side of the chimney, below the top of the chimney and below the peak of the roof. The metal flue liner and metal cap are the highest points of the structure. I never expected to use the chimney as an electrical ground, just mentioning it was going to be sort of grounded virtue of the fact that it is on a mansonry chimney.

 

[goeduck]

Well I got the cheapie antenna up on the roof while I wait for my Channel Master. I am getting 53 stations with only 4 of them weak and another 4 are moderate. The rest are solid signals according to the Tablo app. I am very impressed with Tablo.

 

[thekkfan]

Well I got the cheapie antenna up on the roof while I wait for my Channel Master. I am getting 53 stations with only 4 of them weak and another 4 are moderate. The rest are solid signals according to the Tablo app. I am very impressed with Tablo.

Glad you like it. I really like how fast the menus and guide are on the roku express. Doesn't require alot of horsepower to run their software.

IF you haven't figured it out yet, you can channel swap back to last viewed by pressing down then left on the + pad during live view.

 

[radios1]

If passive, yes.

actually, it can't work that way.. use an antenna switch instead.. I'm an MSEE btw..

 

[buckeyefarmer]

actually, it can't work that way.. use an antenna switch instead.. I'm an MSEE btw..

Sure it works. We use splitters and combiners all the time.