Antenna recommendation

Channels DVR Server
#1

I'm in the US about 40 miles away from a couple of major cities. I'm currently using a couple of HDHR2's, each with a GE 33692 60 mile antenna in the attic, and each pointed accurately at each of the major cities. I've always had challenges getting a couple of the network channels, and the weather can even play a part. I'm up on a hill, so I don't think elevation is the problem.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a better antenna for attic mounting? I'd rather not outside mount them. These are also non-amplified, so if the consensus is that would help I could certainly try that. Trying not to spend more than $50 per antenna.

#2

You could try this website and put in your address to see what they recommend: http://www.tvfool.com/

#3

Even though I am just 20 miles from a transmitter, an amplifier improved my signal considerably. Especially if you have any splitters at all, those drop signal a lot.

#4

I have a similar setup with 2 antennas pointed in different directions. Some of the stations I receive are about 40 to 45 miles away. I don't know if this is possible in your house, but I have ethernet run to my 2 antennas in the attic. I've got no splitters or amplifiers as each antenna feeds directly in to a separate hdhomerun with about 10' of cable. I have most of the 40 or 50 channels each antenna can scan disabled in Channels so that I only receive the strong channels in the Channels app.

One of my antennas is a homemade dipole loop made from a few feet of #10 copper wire and a scrap of 2x4 but I needed something weak since one set of transmitters are only about 5 miles from my house. The strong signal seemed to overwhelm the hdhomerun. The other one is a yagi style directional antenna similar to what you have.

#5

How does it work when each HDHR has its own antenna, does the app combine the channels each antenna picks up? Curious if this is a better setup than combining the antenna signals together before the HDHR's.

Pre-amplifiers are only really helpful for minimizing signal loss "after" your antenna, so only needed for long cable runs (20-feet or longer) and splitters.

I live 20-50 miles from a few different transmitters and I use a Winegard Metrostar MS-2002 omnidirectional antenna in my attic (this model is discontinued but there is a newer "smaller" version available from Winegard). This antenna has a pre-amplifier built in and works very well for my needs. Its small enough that you could mount outside as this is always better than inside. Also highly recommend TV Fool for analyzing the available signals.

#6

I've done all of the antenna analyzers and have a pretty good idea of direction for the antennas and the estimated signal strength. My cable runs from the attic are probably 20-25'. It's been years since I ran them so I don't remember exactly. The HDHR's are located in the bedroom below, but the cables do a dog-leg so they need a little extra distance. It's not really practical for me to move the HDHR's closer.

Any recommended amps for these antennas, or does the amp need to be at the antenna and built in? I don't have electrical near the antennas in the attic and would rather not run it there.

Also, the reason for the two antennas and two HDHRs is that they're each two tuners. This gives me 4 tuners and I can be selective on the received channels for the direction the antennas are pointing.

#7

This is not correct. A quality low-noise mast-mounted preamp can improve reception of weak signals in some cases. In most cases, however, you're better-off with a better antenna.

That being said: With the HDHomeRun CONNECT series of network tuners a preamp will often do more damage than good. These tuners have very sensitive (we say "hot") front-ends as it is. They are uncommonly easy to overload.

It's best to look at the signals you're getting before making any changes. IME anything over 70% signal strength is generally sufficient. (Heck, I'm watching a Toledo station, right now, that's at 46% signal strength and 57% signal quality. Symbol quality is 100% and the picture & sound at solid.) If you have any stations sitting solidly at 100%, odds are you'll overload the HDHR tuner on those stations by adding a preamp.

If they're not too hot already. Some people have been obliged to add RF pads (attenuators) to their antenna systems.

#8

Yes.

#9

I thought I remembered a tool that let you see the signal strength, quality and symbols but I'm not finding that for Win10 now. Any pointers for where that is would be appreciated. Regardless, I was able to connect to the web interface and pull the stats while tuned into a problem channel. Here's what I got:

image

I'm not sure if the Symbol Quality is accurate, but it seems to be consistent for this channel. Other channels are coming up with 100% Symbol Quality. I seem to recall that was either 0 or 100.

So, I think I need to do something for this antenna. Just not sure if I should go amplified or bigger.

Thanks for all the help!

#10

Nope. It can be anywhere in-between.

The tool you're seeking is the HDHomeRun Config GUI. It's something like hdhomerun_config_gui.exe or the like.

Probably not. 89% signal strength is more than adequate for 100% signal and symbol quality. You've got something else going on there. Either there's something awry with the transmitted signal (we had a station here that did) or you're getting a lot of multi-path.

I would raise this issue in the Silicon Dust forums, where SD's people will look at it. This is not a Channels issue at all. If it's the station, all you can do is reach out to them. If it's multipath, then perhaps it can be addressed with a more directional antenna or antenna re-siting.

1 Like
#11

I use the following amplified antenna -

http://store.gomohu.com/leaf-50-indoor-amplified-hdtv-antenna.html

Which can be found at local BestBuys, etc.

If you need more range then there is also this one...

http://store.gomohu.com/flow-plus-60-mile-range-designer-indoor-amplified-hdtv-antenna.html

It's currently $50 per antenna if you buy from them directly.

Mine prefers window placement so I used electrical tape to affix it to one at ground level in the basement. So, it will likely work for you and doesn't necessarily need to go in your attic unless you really want it to. Placement will key so be prepared to try a few locations.

They have actual proper Attic antennas but they're bit more. Mohu makes THE best antennas IMO.