Antenna Query

[mac_bridger]

I am going to be doing an attic mount, and am looking to pick up analog VHF and UHF signals from Pittsburgh and Wheeling, WV. (At least for now) I have checked antennaweb.com, and they suggest a medium directional antenna. The channels I am interested in are 2, 4, 11, 13, 22 and 53 from Pittsburgh, and 7 and 9 from Wheeling, WV. (8 in Johnsontown would be nice, but is not neccessary.)

The terrain is hilly, and my home is in the valley. There are no immediate obstructions, other than the hills themselves, roughly 1/4 mile away. The hill to the North rises roughly 500' above my location.

I have been considering a Channel Master 3016, but was curious as to what you'd suggest here. Oh, and just FYI, I can pick up all the stations I want on pair of rabbit ears... Just not well.

Here is the info from antennaweb.com

red - vhf WPXI 11 NBC PITTSBURGH PA 340° 16.0 11
red - vhf WTAE 4 ABC PITTSBURGH PA 72° 3.4 4
red - uhf WPCB 40 FMN GREENSBURG PA 32° 10.1 40
red - uhf WPGH 53 FOX PITTSBURGH PA 343° 18.0 53
red - vhf KDKA 2 CBS PITTSBURGH PA 341° 18.3 2
red - uhf WNPA 19 UPN JEANNETTE PA 107° 37.2 19
red - uhf WCWB 22 WB PITTSBURGH PA 39° 14.5 22
red - vhf WQED 13 PBS PITTSBURGH PA 345° 14.0 13
red - uhf WQEX 16 HSN PITTSBURGH PA 345° 14.0 16
blue - uhf WIIC-LP 29 BOX PITTSBURGH PA 345° 14.0 29
blue - uhf WBYD-CA 35 BOX JOHNSTOWN PA 345° 14.0 35
blue - vhf WWCP 8 FOX JOHNSTOWN PA 106° 37.8 8
blue - uhf WPTG-LP 69 BOX PITTSBURGH PA 345° 14.0 69
blue - uhf WBGN-LP 59 IND PITTSBURGH PA 345° 14.0 59
blue - uhf W65CG 65 TBN PITTSBURGH PA 349° 11.2 65
blue - uhf WNPB 24 PBS MORGANTOWN WV 181° 39.2 24
blue - vhf WTOV 9 NBC STEUBENVILLE OH 287° 40.5 9
violet - vhf WTRF 7 CBS WHEELING WV 263° 49.0 7

[Ratman]

I see that you have not mentioned if you want 'digital' channels. Please let us know if you desire digital only, analog only or both.

Anyway... it seems the Pitts channels may be okay, but the others are quite further. With an attic mount, this may cause an issue. Additionally, you will need a rotator since the stations are in different directions. And... being in a valley doesn't help. ;)

[mac_bridger]

For now I'm just interested in analog.

The problem with the Pittsburgh channels is multipathing. Other than that, they come in well on rabbit ears.

The Wheeling channels also come in now, just poorly. Wheeling is, for the most part, unobstructed. It's pretty much straight down the valley.

Johnstown would be a bonus. It is completely obscured by mountains, so I don't expect to get that.

I'd rather do a roof mount too, but I'm not permitted to by my lease. I am only permitted to do an attic mount. I figure an attic mount would have to be an improvement over a $5 pair of rabbit ears. :)

[Ratman]

All you can do is try...

With reception everyone gets different results. Generally, a 'real' outdoor antenna will outperform an indoor. Unfortunately, there is no 100% solution.

My suggestion is to try/buy and antenna that can be returned if the results don't improve your reception. Again I must advise, an attic is not the best possible solution, so don't expect miracles. Also, you will need a rotator to get all of the desired channels. So make sure you have enough clearance to rotate.

You may want a larger antenna for the distant stations.
I'd consider a 3018 or 3679. For a rotor, the 9521A.

[mac_bridger]

The clearance was one reason I was looking at the CM 3016. It has a 66" boom, so there's plenty of room for clearance. With 45/30 mile range, it's close... Small antenna with decent range.

I don't expect miracles. I know all too well how hard it can be to get good reception. With that in mind, I expect little, and hope big. :)

[rochmndx]

What kind of reception do you get on channel four. antennaweb.org says it's only 3.4 miles away.

[mac_bridger]

Actually, 2, 4 and 11 are all crystal clear with the exception of the multipathing. At present I have 3 ghost images on channel 4.

[mac_bridger]

Time for an update. I got the 3016 and did my attic install. I haven't aimed it yet, and still have a few slight modifications to make to the set up, but so far the results have been very good.

Thus far the only issue is that the multipathing on channel 4 has actually gotten worse. I'm hoping that aiming the antenna will help with this, but I wonder if the problem is that the signal is just too strong. Could an attenuator possibly help in that situation? Presently I switch off to my $5 rabbit ears to watch 4. :)

I am currently able to recieve all the stations below, as well as channel 47 that is not listed... (No idea where it is out of either...)

red - vhf WPXI 11 NBC PITTSBURGH PA 340° 16.0 11 - Perfect
red - vhf WTAE 4 ABC PITTSBURGH PA 72° 3.4 4 - Multipathed
red - uhf WPCB 40 FMN GREENSBURG PA 32° 10.1 40 - Perfect
red - uhf WPGH 53 FOX PITTSBURGH PA 343° 18.0 53 - Perfect
red - vhf KDKA 2 CBS PITTSBURGH PA 341° 18.3 2 - Perfect
red - uhf WNPA 19 UPN JEANNETTE PA 107° 37.2 19 - Snowy
red - uhf WCWB 22 WB PITTSBURGH PA 39° 14.5 22 - Perfect
red - vhf WQED 13 PBS PITTSBURGH PA 345° 14.0 13 - Perfect
red - uhf WQEX 16 HSN PITTSBURGH PA 345° 14.0 16 - Perfect
blue - vhf WWCP 8 FOX JOHNSTOWN PA 106° 37.8 8 - Fuzzy
blue - uhf WNPB 24 PBS MORGANTOWN WV 181° 39.2 24 - B&W
blue - vhf WTOV 9 NBC STEUBENVILLE OH 287° 40.5 9 - Fuzzy
violet - vhf WTRF 7 CBS WHEELING WV 263° 49.0 7 - Fuzzy

[Ratman]

Try aiming the antenna directly to 72 degrees.
Trying an attenuator is a good test also. Radio Shack has a variable attenuator for ~$9

[mac_bridger]

I plan on moving it later today when my wife comes home. I'm hoping the multipathing will clear up when I turn it east.

I've seen the attenuator you're talking about. That was what I had in mind actually. Just wasn't sure if it would really make a difference.