Today we tested a Winegard model HD7694 antenna (seen to the right). The test was performed by the WLIO engineering staff. As before, the antenna was mounted on a 10-foot mast pipe, in a 3-foot tripod, and then placed on the roof of our technical facility which is 15-feet off the ground. Therefore, the total height was 28-feet. No "booster" was used. Just antenna, RG-6 coax, going right to the TV.
The antenna weighed 7 pounds. It's still light enough that it could be mounted on a chimney or soil stack.
The Winegard web site claims that the antenna was optimized for channels 7 to 69. It has a turning radius of 43.25"
Winegard's list price is $89.99 with $10.95 for a total of $100.94. We found ours at Stark Electronics for $72.95 plus shipping.
The antenna was hooked to a Sanyo model DP19657 19" Diagonal Wide Screen Integrated Digital LCD HDTV. I got this TV at Meijer's for $377.95.
How did it compare to the HD1080 antenna tested yesterday, what can you get with it?
DIGITAL STATIONS
8.1 - WLIO-DT Lima NBC
8.2 - WLIO-DT Lima The CW
8.3 - WLIO-DT Lima NBC Weather Plus
27.1 - WBGU-DT Bowling Green PBS
27.2 - WBGU-DT Bowling Green Create
27.3 - WBGU-DT Bowling Green
27.4 - WBGU-DT Bowling Green Kids Channel
44.1 - WTLW-DT Lima (Ind)
ANALOG STATIONS
11 - WTOL Toledo (no signal received at all)
13 - WTVG Toledo (Better but still with some noise.)
15 - WANE Fort Wayne (Better than HD1080)
16 - unknown station very weak.
(Updated 5/17/2008: Finally caught an ID. WPTD Dayton)
18 - WLQP-LP Lima
21 - WPTA Fort Wayne (very good signal)
24 - WNWO Toledo (weak to moderate)
25 - WOHL-CA Lima
33 - WISE Fort Wayne (interference from WLIO but better)
35 - WLIO Lima
38 - WLMO Lima
39 - WFWA Fort Wayne (weak to moderate)
40 - WLMB Toledo (weak but much improved)
55 - WFFT Fort Wayne (moderate)
61 - W61CZ Lima (translator for the 3 Angles Network)
63 - WINM Angola IN (moderate)
Distance to Angola: 80 miles (129 km)
Distance to Fort Wayne: 59 miles (96 km)
Distance to Toledo: 75 miles (121 km)
This was an improvement over the HD1080 antenna.
This antenna shows a lot of promise for viewers in areas outside the metropolitan area, and for those people that need a little better quality signal.
I believe that this antenna would work better once it's above 28 feet. Another issue is that we have been trying to pick up the Dayton stations, but I think we're hampered by both a low profile, the ridge that runs through Shelby County, and the distance of 65 miles (104 km). I also think the reason we can't get channel 7 (WHIO) is due to our digital transmitter being just 450 feet away from our receive antenna on channel 8. With 27,500 watts of power, I think WLIO-DT is swamping out the receiver of our TV.
Another thought about channel 11 is, that we have a local FM station on 97.7 within .25 miles of our site, and it is possible that the reason we're not getting channel 11 is that the FM station is also swamping the receiver of the TV.
The antenna is being given to one of our employees to try at his home halfway between Lafayette and Beverdam. So hopefully we'll have some test results from out in the country to share.
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