using 2x HDHomeRun's + SageTV

[steingra]

I have SageTV 6.x and running with hdhomerun. Overall the whole system has been working good for several years.

Since the digital TV transition one of my stations is no longer reachable by my antenna on the roof because the station signal must have gotten a LOT weaker since then.

My antenna is a uni directional. But it used to pick up that station OK but not perfect.

So anyway, what I am wondering is if I can hook up a second antenna (up on the roof pointed the other way) to the HDHomeRun to pick up that station over ATSC signal. It will be broadcasting the super in our area. So I need to make sure I get a good clear signal.

PS
Will sagetv work OK with two hdhomerun's being controlled by it. Because both the HDHomeRuns would be using the same zip code to get the station listing. And I am just wondering how SageTV might handle that? If SageTV would show all channels two times in the program guide?

I dont mind stringing up another antenna and another HDHomeRun as long as sagetv will be happy with it.

[stanger89]

Yeah, you shouldn't have any problem with that at all. You'll just want to make sure to use a "copy" of an existing lineup, and not actually "use" an existing lineup when you go through the source setup. And make sure you do the channel scan for each tuner.

[big poppa pump]

Why don't you just setup the other antenna and then use a combiner to join the signals from both the antennas. This is what I am doing with my current setup.
I have a Winegard HD7084 Platinum UHF/VHF antenna which picks up most of my stations and a cheap AntennaCraft CS600 VHF for one VHF channel that is in the opposite direction. I combine the signals from both the antennas before it goes PreAmp -> Splitter - > HDHR.
I have absolutely no problem getting any of my channels with my current setup.

[steingra]

Originally Posted by big poppa pump

Why don't you just setup the other antenna and then use a combiner to join the signals from both the antennas. This is what I am doing with my current setup.
I have a Winegard HD7084 Platinum UHF/VHF antenna which picks up most of my stations and a cheap AnetnnaCraft CS600 VHF for one VHF channel that is in the opposite direction. I combine the signals from both the antennas before it goes PreAmp -> Splitter - > HDHR.
I have absolutely no problem getting any of my channels with my current setup.

I have never used a combiner...and I also believe that the one station that I am missing is now on VHF. All the others are on UHF. So I will have to combine UHF and VHF signals from both the antennas....and I think that might be a problem. But I dont know for sure :-) since I have never done this before.

Whatever is the most simple is OK with me!!!!!

[stanger89]

Actually that should work better/easier. If one antenna is only VHF and the other only UHF, then you should have no trouble combining them, I think you should be able to get a VHF/UHF combiner pretty cheap.

You have to be somewhat careful combining antennas with overlapping frequencies, because you can end up with them interfering with each other.

[steingra]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Actually that should work better/easier. If one antenna is only VHF and the other only UHF, then you should have no trouble combining them, I think you should be able to get a VHF/UHF combiner pretty cheap.

You have to be somewhat careful combining antennas with overlapping frequencies, because you can end up with them interfering with each other.

I will check with the antenna manufacturer. They were talking about the two antennas and a combiner/splitter. Since I will get both antennas from them...they will know the spec's on them. And can hopefully recommend the correct device to connect the two antennas together.

That would be very nice IF it would work. Then I dont need another HDHomeRun.

(EDIT) I just checked specs on the antenna again, and I noticed the new one is VHF and UHF. So that might present a problem. Maybe I can find something else to inhibit the UHF on the new antenna feed...and make it only pass VHF into the spliter/combiner. hmmmm. I am hoping I can achieve the use of two antennas and just one hdhomerun!!!

[big poppa pump]

Couple of things to take note when combining 2 antenna's

1) Make sure that the 2nd antenna is installed a safe distance away from the other antenna.

2) As far as possible, try to keep the same length for the cable runs from both the antenna's to the combiner.

Other than that you shouldn't have any problems.

[steingra]

Originally Posted by big poppa pump

Couple of things to take note when combining 2 antenna's

1) Make sure that the 2nd antenna is installed a safe distance away from the other antenna.

2) As far as possible, try to keep the same length for the cable runs from both the antenna's to the combiner.

Other than that you shouldn't have any problems.

How far away do they really need to be? I was thinking of attaching to the same chimney just on the other side of it, and lower by a few feet.

Also, they will be pointing in almost opposite directions...for what its worth!

Thanks

[big poppa pump]

That should work, either lower or higher by a couple of feet.