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Original thread:
Post 11 made on Saturday November 8, 2008 at 23:21
mikeuhf
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
September 2008
31
A cheap antenna placed high outdoors will outperform an expensive antenna placed low indoors. The secret to good VHF and UHF reception is height. Since RF signals at there frequencies travel in straight lines you need to get the antenna as high as possible in order to extend the horizon. Furthermore, obstructions such as wall, roofs, thick trees, etc. can block UHF signals.

Use RG6 coax, it's less lossy.
Keep the runs as short as possible.
Avoid using splitters, switches, etc. as these are signal killers.
Don't run your antenna feed through the VCR it will also attenuate the signal.
Run the antenna feed directly to the TV and use composite or component patch cords to run the VCR video into the video input on the TV.

An amplifier can't make the antenna work better. It is designed to boost a signal in order to overcome losses in the feedline. (An amplifier must be installed at the antenna only otherwise it will amplify more noise than signal). If you have a short feedline with no splitters, etc. you don't need an amplifier. Don't fall for the claim that an amplifier will improve your reception. It won't.

I'm not sure if you have a new TV with an ATSC digital receiver. If you do you really only need a UHF antenna as the stations you've listed are transmitting digitally on the UHF band. After 2011 (2009 in the US) channels 2-6 will probably be dropped and 7-13 may or may not be used.

UHF is the way to go. You can get a good UHF 4 bay antenna for about $30. Try Sayal Electronics. They have several stores in the GTA including one in Scarborough.

http://www.sayal.com/


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