Antenna recommendation for MeadowPointe III (Rensselaer)?

[Mike_Casillas]

I live in MeadowPointe III and my new HD set will be delivered in the next couple of weeks. I need to get an OTA set up. According to antennaweb.org, I should be able to get by with one of the "multidirectional" antennas like the Winegard MS-2000. Has anyone had success with this specific antenna receiving all the available channels in the area? And if not, what would be your recommendation for an attic-mounted OTA? Thanks in advance.

[OccamMD]

Get out out of the attic if you can

[Mike_Casillas]

Get out out of the attic if you can

Will an amplified omnidirectional antenna (ChannelMaster Smartenna or Winegard MS-2000) work for me if I install it outside?

[OccamMD]

Its possible, I had voom istalled and the channel master amplified stealth worked well. Even picked up CBS off axis.

Prior to that I had a large CM VHF/UHF pointed at riverview w/a rotator.

You could try the amplified stealth toward riverview and maybe a second antenna pointed to holiday for CBS. Holiday is UHF and riverview is VHF/UHF.

[tampatom]

Mike,

Can you tell me how everything worked out for you? I'm in MP II/Wrencrest, right down the street from you. What kind of antenna did you end up with? Is it in the attic? I'm waiting for a new Hitachi 57" monitor, and want to have everything figured out before it shows up.

Thanks,

Tom

[Mike_Casillas]

The attic install did not work. I ended up installing both antennas outside on the side of the house using a Winegard DS-3000 "J" Pipe Mount (http://www.winegard.com/offair/combomounts.htm). I have a ChannelMaster StealthTenna (without the internal amp) connected to a Winegard VHF-only pre-amp pointed at Riverview. Right underneath it, I have a DB4 4-Bay UHF antenna from AntennasDirect.com (http://www.antennasdirect.com/MediumRangeAntennas.htm) connected to a ChannelMaster UHF-only pre-amp also pointed at Riverview. This antenna/pre-amp combo is good enough to pick up Channel 24 from New Port Richey even though it's aimed at Riverview. The leads from both of the anntennas are joined with a ChannelMaster UHF-VHF joiner and then fed into my Terk 5x8 satellite multiswitch. At the other end I have Eagle diplexers that separate the OTA and the satellite signals. All in all I am getting high 90's on all the Riverview channels and high 80's on channel 24.

BTW, If anyone is interested I have another DB4-4 Bay UHF antenna (slightly damaged in shipping but still usable) and a ChannelMaster Ch.24 Jointenna for sale.

I will post a picture of my installation later on...

[tampatom]

Regarding the attic antenna not working.

I really didn't want to hear that. I just came home from ordering my Hitachi 57S500. Delivery on Thursday. I guess for the time being, I'll just use it as a big screen TV. I need to figure out if I want to upgrade my DirecTV, which will mean an antenna for the locals, or just chuck the satellite, and go with BHN. While I'm trying to decide, maybe I'll just pick up that cheap HDTV STB from Walmart, and play around with different antennas.

Thanks,

Tom

[tampatom]

Well, the offer I was able to cut with DirecTV was that they would give me a free HDTV receiver with a 1 year commitment to the HDTV programming. I couldn't pass it up. They then asked if I needed an OTA antenna. They said it would be $50 plus tax. I figured, for $50, we'll see what this guy can do. If it doesn't work, he won't leave the house without getting it to work, or taking it back with him.

DirecTV came by and installed the new 3 LNB oval dish I needed. They came in the house, installed the Samsung SIR-TS360 receiver. Hooked it all up, aimed the dish, and all was good. I then mentioned that he was supposed to install an OTA antenna as well.

He said he knew that, and pulled out a Winegard Metrostar 2000 omnidirectional. He then climbed up into my attic, stuck it between 2 joists, connected the diplexors, and had the receiver scan for stations. All 13 stations came in fine, with no pixelation, or dropouts. The only weird part is that WFTT comes in on 715.1, instead of 47.1. I don't care about it anyway, but I can get it.

He also mentioned that if I wanted to play around with it, and move it around, I may be able to pick up other stations. Yesterday, I mounted it on an old tripod. I then moved it in small increments and had the receiver scan for stations. It added 40.1, ABC-Sarasota, which is 43 miles away, but I started losing some of the other channels. The installer mentioned that he has put about 4 different antennas in his attic all pointed in different directions, and he can get Orlando, Tampa, Ocala, and others.

The bottom line kicker: When I activated the receiver, the CSR said that I agree to the one year commitment, and the fee is $10.99 per month for the HDTV programming, but the first 6 months is free. SOme new promo they're running. So I got my HDTV upgrade including the OTA antenna for free!! Now I can go pick up a few other antennas and see what I can get.

[pkensler]

TampaTom,
Do you have the name and number of the subcontractor that put in your Metrostar HDTV antenna? I'm moving to Lutz and am having a hard time finding one... DirecTV told me they could "put in the notes to have the installer show up with an OTA antenna if he has one" but couldn't help out otherwise... strange that we got such different results...

Thanks,
Paul

[tampatom]

Paul,

Sorry, I can't help you very much, if at all. The guys showed up in a plain white van. No DTV/subcontractor name or anything. I just pulled out the paperwork they had me sign. Just a plain white copy from a dot matrix printer giving my address and a line that says HDTVUPGRADE BRING EQ.

No identifying logos or names.

I've got to figure, it's up to the installer what kind of antenna he uses based on how much work he wants to do. They had some good size directional antenna boxes in the truck, and one of those may have ended up on my roof, if the Metrostar didn't work.

Sorry I don't have anything to go on.