Antenna Recommendation for (08876)

[njlenman]

Mind if I add myself to the list of people who have asked for expert advise on antenna selection for my area. Thanks for this thread btw... I am curious if you think the TREK TV44 will work in my area ?

green - uhf WNJB 58 PBS NEW BRUNSWICK NJ 92° 11.4 58
* green - vhf WNJB-DT 8.1 PBS NEW BRUNSWICK NJ 92° 11.4 8
blue - uhf WNJT 52 PBS TRENTON NJ 188° 21.4 52
blue - vhf WNBC 4 NBC NEW YORK NY 90° 37.8 4
blue - uhf WMBC 63 IND NEWTON NJ 25° 29.7 63
* violet - uhf WMBC-DT 63.1 IND NEWTON NJ 25° 29.7 18
violet - uhf WGTW 48 IND BURLINGTON NJ 229° 46.9 48
violet - uhf WFMZ 69 IND ALLENTOWN PA 280° 37.9 69
violet - vhf WCBS 2 CBS NEW YORK NY 87° 39.8 2
violet - vhf WCAU 10 NBC PHILADELPHIA PA 228° 46.7 10
violet - vhf WABC 7 ABC NEW YORK NY 90° 37.8 7
violet - uhf WBRE 28 NBC WILKES-BARRE PA 317° 72.6 28
violet - vhf KYW 3 CBS PHILADELPHIA PA 229° 46.8 3
violet - uhf WNJU 47 TEL LINDEN NJ 90° 37.8 47
violet - uhf WLVT 39 PBS ALLENTOWN PA 280° 37.7 39
violet - uhf WFUT 68 TFA NEWARK NJ 87° 39.8 68
violet - uhf WUVP 65 UNI VINELAND NJ 199° 59.6 65
violet - vhf WHYY 12 PBS WILMINGTON DE 229° 46.9 12
violet - uhf WNJN 50 PBS MONTCLAIR NJ 68° 33.0 50
violet - uhf WNJS 23 PBS CAMDEN NJ 199° 60.0 23
violet - uhf WYOU 22 CBS SCRANTON PA 317° 72.8 22
violet - vhf WWOR 9 UPN SECAUCUS NJ 87° 39.8 9
violet - uhf WPSG 57 UPN PHILADELPHIA PA 228° 47.0 57
violet - vhf WPVI 6 ABC PHILADELPHIA PA 229° 46.8 6
violet - uhf WPXN 31 PAX NEW YORK NY 87° 39.8 31
violet - uhf WNYE 25 PBS NEW YORK NY 87° 39.8 25
violet - vhf WNYW 5 FOX NEW YORK NY 87° 39.8 5
violet - uhf WPHL 17 WB PHILADELPHIA PA 229° 46.9 17
violet - vhf WPIX 11 WB NEW YORK NY 90° 37.8 11
violet - uhf WTXF 29 FOX PHILADELPHIA PA 228° 46.9 29
violet - uhf WXTV 41 UNI PATERSON NJ 87° 39.8 41
violet - uhf WYBE 35 PBS PHILADELPHIA PA 228° 47.0 35
violet - vhf WNET 13 PBS NEWARK NJ 87° 39.8 13

Thanks in advance

[Ratman]

Nope!

Try to re-check antennaweb and select "digital" stations. All stations listed above are analog.

Everything is pretty much violet for analog, which is not a good sign for digital.

Every channel is pretty far and in various directions.

All Philly digital channels are UHF and I think all NYC ones are also. So... I'd suggest a Channel Master 4228 and a Channel Master 7775 per-amp. You will also need a rotor.

And... don't be overly optimistic. Your situation is pretty 'messy'.

[njlenman]

I did as you asked and here is what came up.

red - vhf WNJB-DT 8.1 PBS NEW BRUNSWICK NJ 92° 11.4 8
* violet - uhf WMBC-DT 63.1 IND NEWTON NJ 25° 29.7

I'm trying to get local HDTV broadcasts from New York, for 2, 4, 5, and 7. Are you saying that I will not be able to get them ? When I was a child before all pay TV, I remember in the same area code being able to watch all local TV stations. Is it not worth it for me to put up anything to get OTA HDTV broadcasts ?

Thanks again
Lenny

[tigerbangs]

It appears that you are up in the foothills of New Jersey, due west of NYC. That area can be tricky for reception, but HDTV reception is still possible where you are. Ratman's suggestion about the Channel Master 4228 is the right one, my only other suggestion is that you use the Channel Master Titan 7777 all channel preamp, rather than the 7775, since WNJB has a digital transmitter on Channel 8. I really think that you won't have too much of a problem getting either NYC or Phily if you use the proper antenna, a rotor and preamp. I have another forum member who gets all the NYC digital stations from Ridgefield, CT with a 4228 and a Titan 7777, and he's further away from NYC than you: about the same distance that you are from Philly. PM me if you want more information.

http://www.channelmaster.com
http://www.channelmaster.com/pdf/AntInstallGuide.pdf
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ISSUES/erecting_antenna.html

[njlenman]

Thanks TB...

I will be checking out your recommendations.

I just have one more question. Since I already have 3 cables from my Sat dish running into my house, can I use a diplexor on the run that goes into my basement for OTA HDTV, or will that degrade the signal strength of both the Sat and OTA signal when it gets to my Sat HDTV Receiver ???

Thanks as always
Lenny

[tigerbangs]

Please, PLEASE don't use a diplexer! I have never trusted those things, and they seem to wreak havoc on UHF signals. One or two additional cables are no more expensive, and they will reward you evert time you watch TV!

[gtogre]

FYI: Go to channelmaster.com to find local/internet retailers. My situation isn't as complicated, but the 4228 was better than the Radio Shack 2160 yagi antenna. Finally picked-up UPN digital and stations seem more 'stable'. Even though my antennaweb.org info called for a 'red, medium directional' antenna, the 'large' 4228 was well worth the $50 I paid. It's not even really that 'large.'