Quick Antenna Question

[pureadrenaline]

First off I apologize about the same question I'm sure you have heard a million times, but when I did a search there was so much information that I am not familiar with I figured I should just start my own topic.

I purchased a RCA universal indoor/outdoor antenna a few months back and its beginning to really upset me with the poor quality. I have done some research and the "best" TV antenna seems to be the Terrestrial Digital DB4. So what I am getting at is, does anyone know of a better antenna that I should look into? I am located in New York, with in a valley and I believe the nearest tower is approximately 30 miles away. My signal quality is currently only between 10 and 18 on a good day.

Thanks,
Casey

 

[kb2vxa]

The "best" whatever it may be is what best suits your purpose, right? You and you alone can make that decision, the best we can do is guess. First of all you don't say what that "RCA" (RCA never made antennas, somebody just slaps American names on them) antenna is so no comparison can be even guessed at.

All I can tell you is to begin with forget about "digital" and "HDTV" when it comes to anything but the receiver, it's all advertising hype. You don't need a special antenna, what adequately receives analog will receive digital, it's only modulation and the important thing is how much RF carrier you get.

The DB4 is a 4 bay bow tie design giving approximately 5.8dBd gain, that is nearly 4 times more signal than a single bay. Having a cardioid (D shaped) pattern aiming isn't critical, just face the bow ties in the general direction of the transmitter(s). This comes in handy when all the channels aren't in the same location but not too widely spaced. I've used them and they're pretty good overall but how well it will work in your situation only you can determine. Try it, they're cheap enough; that is unless that er, RCA antenna is the same thing only a different brand. (;->)

I strongly recommend using "heavy duty" foam dielectric twin lead (I used to get it at Rat Shack) since it has the lowest loss of any commonly available and stands up to harsh weather and sunlight very well. Hey, the antenna should be outdoors, as high as practical and clear of obstructions... right? Why twin lead instead of coax? Simple, even the poorest parallel line has far less signal loss than the best coax ever made. Today's TVs only have female F connectors on the back so you'll need to perform a little magic. Get yourself a cheap indoor TV balun and cut the lugs off, then make a pigtail splice to the twin lead, solder and wrap with tape. Make a good stiff ball of it (;->) you don't want the splice to flex and snap. Then connect the balun to the TV with a short coax jumper having male F connectors on both ends and you're in business.

If it seems like I'm putting you through changes I probably am but take it from an old fashioned TV man, a relic left over from a now defunct TV shop on Main Street; it's well worth the effort doing it right.

 

[zuzu]

Lacrosse by Terrestrial Digital, with amplifier

I highly recommend the amplified Lacrosse model by Terrestrial Digital. I paid $150 for mine new, but I see they're on eBay now discounted to about $100.

It also has a small size for its strength, and looks aesthetically pleasing as far as outdoor antennas go:

 

[pureadrenaline]

I found that they also have a DB8 that reaches 60-70 miles which sounds about right for my area. This is the antenna i currently have <img src="ges.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/8452/8452079_sa.jpg">. It looks like the DB4/DB8 would be a better choice than the antenna I currently have.

I did look at the lacrosse but I feel as though the DB4/DB8 might be better as the signals I am dealing might be a little to far for the lacrosse. Then again I am going by the numbers i read in their website and not actual experience. I'm not worried about the looks of the antenna, just the performance.

Thanks A lot,
Casey