Optimizing my OTA

[Matt In Roanoke VA]

Hi, I'm Matt. I just cut the cable and bought a package from ChannelMaster.com with a Tivo Edge (which is working well), some cable, and an antenna. In a last-ditch effort to utilize the already-installed older antenna that came with the house, I was able to figure out the proper set up with the countless cables I have running through my house and managed to get a fair amount of channels. However, there is one local channel, CBS, that I don't have, which confuses me. My neighbor across the street uses an antenna and gets the channel fine. Granted his is newer 180 degree antenna. We also live in the mountains and his antenna is raised more than mine, but not a huge amount higher. When I was on customer support ordering my antenna, the rep actually recommended against the 180 and 360 designs, suggesting this:

UHF/VHF/FM Digital HDTV Outdoor TV Antenna-Channel Master CM 3016 (CM3016)

This is what I have downstairs, still in the box. So, a few questions...should I bite the bullet and install the new antenna, or is my current one likely fine? Can I get the local CBS channel that's missing with the old antenna? Can I get it with the new antenna? Should I get additional equipment, like an amp to help my current set up?

I was pretty surprised that the signal came in because the cable that is coming out of the antenna is pretty wore out, so I bought some new cable as well, but haven't installed it since I have several channels coming in (around 25). Any feedback on this would be appreciated too.

Last, I ran the RabbitEars report on my location and the missing channel has the following information:

Channel 7‑1 (30) CBS ROANOKE VA
Transmitter Distance(miles): 6.8
Direction (True): 252.1°
Direction (Magnetic): 260.8°
Field Strength (dbuV/m): 69.49, Fair
Signal Margin (Db): 29.17
Repack Info: L
Any and all feedback is much appreciated folks.

 

[videobruce]

CM is pricing themselves out of existence AFAIC. That's almost 2x what it should cost.
Anyway, at 7 miles, you should pick it up with a coat hanger unless you are surrounded by trees etc. I have 3 stations that dump around 40dBmV down my coax and they are 7 miles away. I can actually see the tops of their towers from a 2nd floor bedroom..

 

[Jim Navotney]

Hi, I'm Matt. I just cut the cable and bought a package from ChannelMaster.com with a Tivo Edge (which is working well), some cable, and an antenna. In a last-ditch effort to utilize the already-installed older antenna that came with the house, I was able to figure out the proper set up with the countless cables I have running through my house and managed to get a fair amount of channels. However, there is one local channel, CBS, that I don't have, which confuses me. My neighbor across the street uses an antenna and gets the channel fine. Granted his is newer 180 degree antenna. We also live in the mountains and his antenna is raised more than mine, but not a huge amount higher. When I was on customer support ordering my antenna, the rep actually recommended against the 180 and 360 designs, suggesting this:

UHF/VHF/FM Digital HDTV Outdoor TV Antenna-Channel Master CM 3016 (CM3016)

This is what I have downstairs, still in the box. So, a few questions...should I bite the bullet and install the new antenna, or is my current one likely fine? Can I get the local CBS channel that's missing with the old antenna? Can I get it with the new antenna? Should I get additional equipment, like an amp to help my current set up?

I was pretty surprised that the signal came in because the cable that is coming out of the antenna is pretty wore out, so I bought some new cable as well, but haven't installed it since I have several channels coming in (around 25). Any feedback on this would be appreciated too.

Last, I ran the RabbitEars report on my location and the missing channel has the following information:

Channel 7‑1 (30) CBS ROANOKE VA
Transmitter Distance(miles): 6.8
Direction (True): 252.1°
Direction (Magnetic): 260.8°
Field Strength (dbuV/m): 69.49, Fair
Signal Margin (Db): 29.17
Repack Info: L
Any and all feedback is much appreciated folks.

Yes if all your stations are in the same general direction then that CM 3016 should work better than the "180 degree" antenna your neighbor is using.
Just don't try and use any kind of amplifier since you are so close and line of sight to all your stations, you will overload the tv tuners with noise and interference resulting in fewer channels