FreeVision HD30 - will it work and how to set it up

[ana]

I have two new HD TV's, and I'd like to be able to watch TV on them. Two days ago I figured out that I need an antenna. This is the level of exertise you're dealing with - dummy level. So:

The givens:
1) According to Antenna Web, I need a small multi-directional yellow UHF antenna. Furthest station is 6.3 miles.
2) The TV's are on the 2nd and 3rd floor of a townhouse. We don't have access to the roof or an attic, but one of the bedrooms has a small balcony.

The questions:
1) Will the FreeVision HD30 antenna work for me?
2) I can see that in the picture it's mounted on the apartment outside wall - but that would require drilling into the brick from the outside, and that's pretty much impossible. So my options are to simply lay it out on the balcony or to mount it inside. If it's on the balcony, it will be next to an air-conditioning unit. Is that a problem?
3) Then, how do I connect it to the two TV's? Would I need two antennas, one for each? How do people get the cable from outside to the inside? If it goes through the window or the balcony door, then they won't close completely. Could I run the cable through the A/C sleeve in the wall? How do other people do this?
4) So in the course of writing this post, I figured out I'll need cable. What kind?
5) Is there anything else I need? Or am I thinking about it all wrong? Is there a simpler way to do this? I would really like to get high quality HD reception.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, and please asssume I know nothing.

[winegard]

Good morning ana -

With the information you have provided the FreeVision would be an excellent choice for you. I would suggest calling our main off-air technical services consultant some time for a complete walk-through of your situation. His name is Hans Rabong and you can reach technical services at 800-788-4417.

You will want to make sure that balcony is located on the same side of the home that the channels you want to receive are located. Otherwise you may be better off mounting the FreeVision inside on the wall.

The questions:
1) Will the FreeVision HD30 antenna work for me?

With the information provided, yes. If you would like us to take a closer look please provide us with your zip code.

2) I can see that in the picture it's mounted on the apartment outside wall - but that would require drilling into the brick from the outside, and that's pretty much impossible. So my options are to simply lay it out on the balcony or to mount it inside. If it's on the balcony, it will be next to an air-conditioning unit. Is that a problem?

You can find many mounts used to mount an antena to the side of a brick home. If you lay the antenna outside it will obviously be moved by wind/rain/weather and you will lose signal, or just lose your antenna.

3) Then, how do I connect it to the two TV's? Would I need two antennas, one for each? How do people get the cable from outside to the inside? If it goes through the window or the balcony door, then they won't close completely. Could I run the cable through the A/C sleeve in the wall? How do other people do this?

You would bring the coax from the antenna to a splitter, then out to 2 televisions. The coax would run through the wall similar to how a cable installer would bring it through the wall. There are companies out there that do antenna installations, it may be best to find one in your area.

4) So in the course of writing this post, I figured out I'll need cable. What kind?

Normal television coax cable would be needed to run from the antenna to your television.

5) Is there anything else I need? Or am I thinking about it all wrong? Is there a simpler way to do this? I would really like to get high quality HD reception.



I would recommend a phone call with Hans or finding an installer in your area. There are many great locally owned installers in most markets. If you are unable to find a local installer I would recommend a phone call to Zip Installation... http://www.zipinstallation.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SKIPWCCO&CartID=1