Help with Antenna Selection

[swylie17]

I am new to the HDTV world... and was looking for a little help in choosing an antenna. I live in Chicago, about 5 miles from the Hancock and Sears tower. I have access to mounting on my roof, giving a clear line of sight. There is already a dish mounted on the roof... so a TERK TV44 looks like the easiest option... but sounds like that might not be the best. Any recommendations???

AntennaType-Call Sign-Channel-Network-City-Compass-Miles-Frequency
yellow:uhf-WSNS-44-TEL-CHICAGO-156°-5.5-44
yellow:uhf-WSNS-DT-44.1-TEL-CHICAGO-156°-5.5-45
yellow:uhf-WPWR-50-UPN-GARY-156°-5.5-50
yellow:uhf-WPWR-DT-50.1-UPN-GARY-156°-5.5-51
yellow:uhf-WYCC-20-PBS-CHICAGO-140°-4.7-20
yellow:uhf-WYCC-DT-20.1-PBS-CHICAGO-140°-4.7-21
yellow:uhf-WTTW-DT-11.1-PBS-CHICAGO-156°-5.5-47
yellow:uhf-WLS-DT-7.1-ABC-CHICAGO-156°-5.5-52
yellow:uhf-WMAQ-DT-5.1-NBC-CHICAGO-156°-5.5-29
yellow:uhf-WGBO-66-UNI-JOLIET-140°-4.7-66
yellow:uhf-WGBO-DT-66.1-UNI-JOLIET-140°-4.7-53
yellow:uhf-WGN-DT-9.1-WB-CHICAGO-156°-5.5-19
yellow:uhf-WXFT-60-TFA-AURORA-156°-5.5-60
yellow:uhf-WXFT-DT-60.1-TFA-AURORA-155°-5.5-59
yellow:uhf-WFLD-32-FOX-CHICAGO-140°-4.7-32
yellow:uhf-WFLD-DT-32.1-FOX-CHICAGO-156°-5.5-31
yellow:uhf-WCIU-26-IND-CHICAGO-156°-5.5-26
yellow:uhf-WCIU-DT-26.1-IND-CHICAGO-156°-5.5-27
yellow:uhf-WCPX-38-PAX-CHICAGO-140°-4.7-38
yellow:uhf-WCPX-DT-38.1-PAX-CHICAGO-155°-5.5-43
yellow:vhf-WBBM-DT-2.1-CBS-CHICAGO-140°-4.7-3
green:vhf-WGN-9-WB-CHICAGO-140°-4.7-9
green:vhf-WTTW-11-PBS-CHICAGO-155°-5.5-11
green:vhf-WLS-7-ABC-CHICAGO-155°-5.5-7
lt green:uhf-WOCH-LP-28-ETH-CHICAGO-140°-4.7-28
lt green:uhf-WJYS-62-REL-HAMMOND-193°-27.9-62
lt green:vhf-WBBM-2-CBS-CHICAGO-140°-4.7-2
lt green:vhf-WMAQ-5-NBC-CHICAGO-155°-5.5-5
blue:uhf-WWME-CA-23-IND-CHICAGO-156°-5.5-23
blue:uhf-W34CK-34-REL-ARLINGTON HEIGHTS-156°-5.5-34
blue:vhf-WOCK-CA-13-BOX-CHICAGO-140°-4.7-13

Thanks in advance!

[Ratman]

Lots of stuff to read:
http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/search.php?searchid=111491

[swylie17]

Thanks for the search link. Does anyone have any experience with Antennas Direct V15? How does this antenna stack up to Winegard or Channel Master?

I am only 5 miles from the Sears Tower & Hancock Buliding... so range shouldn't be an issue.

[tigerbangs]

If you have a clear shot, you still aren't home free, because the many antennas have a tough time with WBBM-DT which is on Channel 3. Your best bet is to try a real TV antenna, instead of one of the gimmick antennas out there: Do the two transmitter buildings lie in more or less the same direction from you, or are they in different locations? If they are within 30 degrees of one another in your location, try a Winegard PR-7015, which is an inexpensive, high quality all-channel antenna that is well suited to urban environments. If you have access to your roof it's your best choice, and is less expensive than the (censored) Terk 44

http://www.winegard.com/offair/pdf/pr-7015.pdf

[mjones73]

At 5 miles, the V15 would probably be overkill and could overdrive your tuner... I'd give AD a call and see what they recommend.

[swylie17]

I have spoken with AD and they actually recommended using two separate antennas.... the SR15 for my UHF and the V4 for my VHF. I was hoping to get away with only one antenna on my roof!

The transmitting towers are only 16 degrees apart.... so it sounds like the Winegard might be my best one antenna option.

I am going to post on the Chicago forum as well to see if any has experience with these antennas in the Chicago area.

[swylie17]

I live in the 60618 area, and can mount an antenna on my roof, giving me a direct line to the John Hancock and Sears Tower (about 5 miles away). I am trying to figure out what antenna will be my best option.

I have spoken with Antennas Direct, and they recommended two separate antennas... SR15 for UHF and V4 for VHF. I was hoping to get away with only one antenna on my roof!

Has anyone had success with OTA HDTV (specifcally WBBM) using one UHF/VHF antenna??? Any recommedations?

[Ratman]

Read some of the previous posts in the Chicago forum for some experiences and recommendations.

Duplicate threads merged by moderator

[kevinw]

If your patient, you will not need the VHF antenna very soon.
http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=46405

[swylie17]

I meant to post this last message in the Chicago forum... is there anyway to move my message, or do I need to post a new one?

Ratman... I already did search on 'antenna' in the Chicago forum, read through all the threads, and came up with a few ideas... but nothing definitive. I am hoping that someone in my area (near north Chicago) can give me advice.

[Ratman]

Well... we all have your attention here. No need to duplicate the question(s). That's why they were merged.

[swylie17]

From everything I have read on this site.... those that frequent these posts the most really don't think too highly of the Terk products :boo2:

Well, believe it or not, the Terk 55 works great for my case. A friend of mine had one that he wasn't using, so I figured what the hell, its worth a try. Last night I set it outside my window, connected it to my TV (Sharp LC-26GD4U), and voila... HDTV (even WBBM) :hyper:

I don't have any of the mounting attachments... so I am going to have to create something myself... but other than that, I am a going with the Terk.

[mjones73]

Is the 55 the one that looks like a 2x4? You just need to screw it down on each end to mount it. People tend to down Terk because most of the stuff they make doesn't work well in most situations and is overpriced for what you get. There are usually better priced and better performing options out there. Glad to hear the 55 worked out for you though.

[swylie17]

Yep, its the plastic 2x4... with a coax output!

It's got a slot along the back for mounting... but I didn't notice anywhere to screw into on the ends.

[mjones73]

Ahh they must have changed the design, I have a pretty old one that has slots on the ends for screwing it down...

[aerialist]

You can use the winegard cut channel 2-6 yagi and aim it at the Hancock mast for wbbm . And then use a good uhf antenna with a low gain factor and aim that one at Sears tower. Use a uhf/vhf combiner for one line to your set. I also would use a fm trap in this close rf jungle.