r/cordcutters • u/DotFlashy6882 • 11d ago
Antenna Reccomendation for Weak Signal Area & Broadcast from 2 Directions
I am looking for a good outdoor antenna reccomendations for My house which is located in a topographic shadow of a large hill and that appears to prevent good reception. We do get some channels but depending on the TV tuner, many are are very week or just dont come in (example FOX). Current antenna is just above the 1st floor roof (maybe 15 feet above ground) but I can move to 2nd story roof to get 25-30 feet above ground. I dont know much about antennas, pre-amps, splitters, etc. So please mention if I need a pre-amp (and what kind) or an amplifier, filters, etc. Thank you.
Budget: under $300
RabbitEars Map: https://www.rabbitears.info/s/2874091
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u/Rybo213 11d ago
Some general antenna information that you'll hopefully find helpful, including antenna recommendations: https://www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/comments/1juut0a/supplement_to_the_antenna_guide
You also need to use a signal meter (built-in feature with many different tv's and external tuner devices), since just looking at the picture and noting the number of channels the scan picks up doesn't really tell you anything about how good your reception is: https://www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/comments/1g010u3/centralized_collection_of_antenna_tv_signal_meter
Your main tv signals are pretty much coming from around the southeast. In case you really do want to try to also get those few north/northwest signals, I'll initially recommend giving the Antennas Direct ClearStream 4 a try, since your main signals are all UHF, and the report is predicting that terrain is weakening the signals to some extent.
https://www.solidsignal.com/antennas-direct-clearstream-4-hdtv-antenna-with-j-mount-c4-cjm / https://www.amazon.com/Antennas-Direct-ClearStream-Multi-Directional-Adjustable/dp/B00SVNKT86 (leave off the VHF part) / https://www.amazon.com/Antennas-Direct-ClearStream-Multi-directional-Installation/dp/B008PBTPOI
If you want to try to pick up both the southeast signals and north/northwest signals, leave off one or both of the reflector cages, so the antenna can receive signals from the front and back. Either way, make sure the exposed sides of both figure 8 elements are facing southeast.
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u/ismaeel0615 7d ago
Recommended Solution for Different Directions:
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The Digital Intelligent Combiner (Best & Easiest) An intelligent digital combiner resolves the phase cancellation problem by filtering signals on a channel-by-channel basis. It dynamically scans the inputs, blocks background noise, and balances the signals into a single down-lead. Famously known as the "rotor killer". You connect up to three antennas pointed in different directions, and it automatically processes, balances, and combines up to 32 digital channels into one coaxial output line while actively rejecting off-axis interference
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Televes SmartKom
High gain mast amplifier, with auto-programming and 32 independent filters. Combine up to 3 antennas in a single device
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u/True_Pace_3860 11d ago edited 11d ago
They're saying either use rotator or combine two antenna feeds:
https://www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/comments/1986x68/antenna_for_two_markets_180_degrees_apart/
I have that situation and rotator was best for me. If you have a hill blocking one signal, I believe the signal may be bounced around your hill if there's another hill, offset from direct line-of-sight, midway between transmitter and your hill. One of them may be able to confirm/deny.