The first thing to understand about antennas is there are THREE types of antennas. VHF, UHF, and Combo (UHF/VHF) antennas. WLIO Lima, OH is a VHF station.
Remember the 50's and the 60's when you would have a small tower with antenna? That technology has NOT changed. A tower with antenna can get you dozens of free TV stations. Here's how.
First, If you have been told that you may not erect a small outdoor TV antenna, that is probably wrong. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 has a provision that preempts (overrules) nearly all local restrictions such as deed restrictions, home-owners association rules, and renters contracts.
Your community code enforcement may have a beef with your plans if you do something silly, such as building a tower under power wires, or putting up a small 1" pole to hold your antenna which could easily be blown down into a neighbor's home. So, carefully plan your installation and don't go on the cheap and sacrifice safety!
Remember, every year people get killed while erecting antennas. It's always due to two factors. Either allowing the tower or antenna to come into contact with power lines, or installing a shoddy, unsafe tower which they fall off when installing an antenna.
HEIGHT
If you want local channels, you may not need a tower. A "small" antenna attached to a soil stack or chimney may be sufficient.
Here in Lima, if you want to get Fort Wayne stations, you may need a tower of at least 30-35 feet in height.
To get Toledo, you may need 50-75 feet.
Your tower should be a three-leg tower, usually like a Rohn 25 or 35 design. If you get a used tower, have it inspected by a metal fab shop. 95% of the used towers are rusted from the inside out, and the seller often covers the outside with galvanizing solution to cover the pox marks. Buyer-Beware.
ROTOR
A rotor is necessary if you want to point it to Fort Wayne to get their stations, then point it towards Toledo, etc.
The rotor should be able to support the antennas, the pipe the antennas are mounted to, and cables.
The pipe can be a simple 1.25" mast pipe if you're using a small antenna system, but it should be thick wall, (like steel gas pipe), if you have a BIG antenna system.
CABLES & WIRING
Most all antennas are 300-ohm antennas. To use a 300 ohm antenna, you use the 300 ohm wire or "flat cable", which is also called "twin lead".
The better way to install an antenna is to use coax cable. Coax cable is like what a satellite TV or cable company uses. It's a round cable with a woven shield, and a copper wire in the center. It goes by the name RG-6 cable. Be sure to get something that is 80% shield or better!You also need cable connectors on each end of this wire. Be sure to coat them with a small amount of silicone caulk and wrap the connector in tape to prevent moisture damage.
ANTENNAS
Antennas depend on the range and channels you want to pick up. Remember these facts;
- A VHF antenna will receive channels 2-13
- A UHF antenna will receive channels 14-52
- A combo VHF/UHF antenna is compact, but sometimes not the best performer.
and the number one fact ....
There is no such thing as a digital antenna!
An antenna is an antenna, regardless of it receiving an analog or a digital station. If someone is trying to sell you a "digital" antenna, you're being taken.
See my article on Antennas.
I found a web site that was selling digital antennas. These antennas were gold in color, and had a price that seemed gold as well. $219.95 for a UHF panel antenna. Upon further research I found that the company was taking a $29.95 UHF antenna, having it powder coated gold in color, and reselling them. Quite a scam!
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