antenna help??

[zwylde1]

Hi Group,

I am new to this all, so excuse me please if I am asking something that can be found elsewhere at this site. I just got a new Sony 50' LCD HDTV. I have Dishnetwork comming in a few weeks to install the HD reciever. I know that I will not get networks(ABC, FOX, etc) in HD from their reciever. So I went out and got a rooftop antenna from Radio Shack. I got a model VU-90XR. 80" boom etc. Went to antenna web to get locations of the stations I want. I get ABC, CBS, UPN and PBS great. But FOX and NBC are at best a week scrambled signal. There is a mountain in the way of their signal for me based on where I am pointing compass heading wise. Would getting some sort of high gain signal booster do me any good, or would I just end up amplifing the noise? If a amp would work, what would your suggestions be. Thanks for any help in advance.

[rochmndx]

Show us your antennaweb results, and we'll figure somthing out.

[Ratman]

What direction is your antenna currently aimed?
From what city/direction are you getting ABC, CBS, UPN and PBS?(Philly/Balto)

You should be able to get FOX and NBC from York/Lancaster with little problem (since they are closer).

Maybe all you need is a rotor.

red - uhf WPMT 43 FOX YORK PA 278° 15.5 43
* red - uhf WPMT-DT 43.1 FOX YORK PA 278° 15.5 47
red - uhf WLYH 15 UPN LANCASTER PA 343° 17.4 15
* red - uhf WLYH-DT 15.1 UPN LANCASTER PA 343° 17.4 23
* red - uhf WGAL-DT 8.1 NBC LANCASTER PA 280° 16.5 58
blue - uhf WGCB 49 IND RED LION PA 248° 17.3 49
* blue - uhf WGCB-DT 30.1 IND RED LION PA 248° 17.3 30
blue - vhf WGAL 8 NBC LANCASTER PA 280° 16.5 8
blue - uhf WTVE 51 IND READING PA 56° 30.6 51
violet - uhf WTXF 29 FOX PHILADELPHIA PA 101° 56.5 29
violet - uhf WNUV 54 WB BALTIMORE MD 216° 57.3 54
violet - vhf WJZ 13 CBS BALTIMORE MD 212° 52.0 13
violet - uhf WLVT 39 PBS ALLENTOWN PA 63° 58.6 39
violet - uhf WPPX 61 i WILMINGTON DE 125° 58.6 61
violet - uhf WPSG 57 UPN PHILADELPHIA PA 101° 56.6 57
violet - vhf WPVI 6 ABC PHILADELPHIA PA 100° 56.4 6
violet - uhf WPHL 17 WB PHILADELPHIA PA 101° 56.5 17
violet - uhf WUVP 65 UNI VINELAND NJ 116° 80.5 65
violet - uhf WHTM 27 ABC HARRISBURG PA 311° 38.9 27
violet - vhf WHYY 12 PBS WILMINGTON DE 101° 56.5 12
violet - uhf WITF 33 PBS HARRISBURG PA 317° 36.3 33
violet - vhf WMAR 2 ABC BALTIMORE MD 212° 52.0 2
violet - uhf WMPB 67 PBS BALTIMORE MD 223° 48.0 67
violet - uhf WMPT 22 PBS ANNAPOLIS MD 204° 72.9 22
violet - uhf WYOU 22 CBS SCRANTON PA 27° 82.1 22
violet - uhf WUTB 24 UPN BALTIMORE MD 216° 57.3 24
violet - uhf WGTW 48 TBN BURLINGTON NJ 101° 56.4 48
violet - uhf WFMZ 69 IND ALLENTOWN PA 62° 58.3 69
violet - vhf WCAU 10 NBC PHILADELPHIA PA 101° 56.7 10
violet - uhf WHP 21 CBS HARRISBURG PA 317° 36.4 21
violet - vhf WBAL 11 NBC BALTIMORE MD 212° 52.0 11
violet - uhf WBFF 45 FOX BALTIMORE MD 212° 51.9 45
violet - uhf WBRE 28 NBC WILKES-BARRE PA 27° 82.3 28
violet - uhf W24CS 24 PBS READING PA 56° 30.6 24
violet - uhf W35BT 35 FMN HARRISBURG PA 308° 41.2 35
violet - vhf KYW 3 CBS PHILADELPHIA PA 100° 56.4 3

[zwylde1]

Here are the results from my search: and like I said, I get UPN, ABC, CBS, and PBS fine, but no luck with FOX and NBC. I did the get on the roof and rotate thing, with walkie talkies to try and get those stations, but like I said, signal was not of the best quality. Thanks for the prompt help.

yellow - uhf WLYH 15 UPN LANCASTER PA 220° 3.9 15
* yellow - uhf WLYH-DT 15.1 UPN LANCASTER PA 220° 3.9 23
* green - uhf WITF-DT 33.1 PBS HARRISBURG PA 287° 23.3 36
lt green - uhf WITF 33 PBS HARRISBURG PA 287° 23.3 33
lt green - uhf WHP 21 CBS HARRISBURG PA 287° 23.4 21
lt green - uhf WHTM 27 ABC HARRISBURG PA 282° 27.5 27
* red - vhf WHTM-DT 27.1 ABC HARRISBURG PA 282° 27.5 10
* red - vhf WHP-DT 21.1 CBS HARRISBURG PA 287° 23.3 4
blue - uhf WPMT 43 FOX YORK PA 216° 21.6 43
* blue - uhf WPMT-DT 43.1 FOX YORK PA 216° 21.6 47
blue - uhf W35BT 35 FMN HARRISBURG PA 281° 30.5 35
blue - vhf WGAL 8 NBC LANCASTER PA 219° 21.6 8
* blue - uhf WGAL-DT 8.1 NBC LANCASTER PA 219° 21.6 58
violet - uhf WGCB 49 IND RED LION PA 207° 29.2 49
violet - uhf WFMZ 69 IND ALLENTOWN PA 82° 54.8 69
violet - uhf WYOU 22 CBS SCRANTON PA 37° 66.8 22
violet - uhf WTVE 51 IND READING PA 95° 28.0 51
violet - uhf WLVT 39 PBS ALLENTOWN PA 82° 55.1 39

[Ratman]

How about a rundown of your equipment?
Type of digital tuner (internal/external make/model)
What model rotor/rotator
What channels are you trying to tune in (use "call" letters)
Are you looking for digitals only or analog also

[mac_bridger]

Looking at the data Ratman posted from antennaweb, which stations are you currently bringing in? Philly, Baltimore? It looks like you have a few options as to how to aim your antenna. If you don't have a rotor, get one. With all those options you should be able to bring in what you want.