Detailed instructions on how to Install an over the air TV Antenna for free HDTV

I created this video because it is very hard to find comprehensive detail on how to install an over the air tv antenna with Pre-amp and powered splitter. I hope it helps.

I decided to try and cut the cord. For years I had cable, and then I switched to directv. My directv bill averaged $98 per month and really all I watched were the ESPN’s and the network channels. I decided to cut the cord. I have AT&T Internet so WatchESPN streams on my Roku and AppleTV’s at home perfectly. I thought that if I could get the network channels then I could cancel Directv.

The problem is, I am located about 50 miles from the broadcast tower and 2 of the 4 network channels are broadcast in VHF while the remaining channels are UHF. This would mean that I would need 2 antennas. So I went to antennasdirect.com and began researching.

2 websites that were a huge help were
http://www.antennapoint.com
and
http://www.tvfool.com


Both websites have data on the closest television towers at your address. They show the frequencies and the direction in relation to your home. Over the air (OTA) television is directional meaning you antenna must be aimed at the tower broadcasting the channels you plan to pick up. (Especially the further you are from the broadcast tower).

I decided to order 2 antennas. UHF and VHF.

VHF antenna (Clearstream 5 – I highly recommend. It works great): https://www.antennasdirect.com/store/...

UHF antenna (DB8e – This antenna worked wonderfully as well): https://www.antennasdirect.com/store/...

The clearstream 5 came with a VHF/UHF antenna combiner. So I used the combiner to combine the two antennas. A combiner is nothing more than a splitter used backwards from what I could gather.

I intended on splitting my signal to 4 different televisions. Everything I read said that when you run long runs of coax cable, the television signal is diminished drastically. So, I purchased a pre-amp and a powered 4-way splitter.

Pre-Amp: http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-LNA-20...

4-way splitter: http://www.amazon.com/Antennas-Direct...

I decided I would install my antennas in the attic. I felt like I would get more life out of the cables, antennas, and splitters if they were out of the elements. I wasn’t sure if the signal strength would be strong enough but I thought I would try it, and if it didn’t work then I could mount onto the roof.

I installed the antennas in the attic and hoped I wouldn’t need the pre-amp or the powered splitter. The first thing I did was hook up a regular 4-way splitter and ran a channel search. All the desired channels came in, but the signal strength was too low and there was a lot of buffering. I decided to hook up the powered 4-way splitter and that increased the signal strength a bunch but still it was in the 65-70% range and that was not what I wanted. I then hooked up the pre-amp and boom! I had a 90% or more signal strength on all channels.

I also made sure to use only RG6 coax cable and cut the cables to be as short as possible.

Here are the RG6 cable tools I purchased.

Cutter and stripper: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0099DIV4G/r...

Cable end compression tool: http://www.amazon.com/RG59-Connector-...

Cable ends: http://www.amazon.com/PCT-TRS-6-Unive...

I also used two mounts in the attic. They worked great. Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000...

That’s it…that is all you need to get free OTA television. I was able to receive all the channels available in my market. WMAB 2/WMAE 12 (x.1 PBS/MPB, x.2 PBS HD, x.3 Create) WCBI (4.1 CBS, 4.2 MNTV, 4.3 The CW) W07BN-D (IND/TBN) WTVA (9.1 NBC, 9.2 ABC) W25AD (TBN) WLOV (27.1 Fox, 27.2 Me-TV, 27.3 This TV) W34DV/W39CA (UBN) WEPH (49.1 CTN)

The best part of all this, was calling Directv and canceling my service.