Digital TV Antenna

R Q

R Q

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2005
Location
Charlotte
In my kitchen I use a digital TV antenna just so I can watch M.A.S.H. or some other mindless stuff while making food. I have bought the cheap ones and a better $100 one. And they all last a few months and stop working good. I don't care to stream in there, just give me M.A.S.H. or Tool Time and I'm good.
Is there one that works well and lasts?
 
An add on Roku box will stream lots and lots for free.

We have an outdoor antenna here in Lowgapistan or we wouldn’t get anything over the air.
 
R Q said:
In my kitchen I use a digital TV antenna just so I can watch M.A.S.H. or some other mindless stuff while making food. I have bought the cheap ones and a better $100 one. And they all last a few months and stop working good. I don't care to stream in there, just give me M.A.S.H. or Tool Time and I'm good.
Is there one that works well and lasts?
Click to expand...
I don't understand. An antenna is literally just a wire and metal frame. It should work or not work. The only thing that would change is the weather. When you say they stop working good what do you mean? Where is the antenna?
 
RatLabGuy said:
I don't understand. An antenna is literally just a wire and metal frame. It should work or not work. The only thing that would change is the weather. When you say they stop working good what do you mean? Where is the antenna?
Click to expand...
All these newer digital antennas need an internal amplifier powered up (usually from a USB 5V connection). They are cheap junk and the amplifiers go to crap. Same problem here; there are two junk ones still attached to TVs that we simply gave up on getting air channels. .GOV and the cell phone companies definitely got what they wanted out of that deal back in the day, digital broadcast is crap.
 
There is no such thing as a "digital" antenna.
It's just metal (wire, telescoping whip, whatever) with a connector and and some use amps.
Remember the old school t shaped flat ribbon antennas that came with the old school receivers back in the day?
If you have one of those in the junk drawer use it. It will work better than the amped one.
All the amp does is try to make up for a smaller than it should be antenna.
Take 5 minutes and google "simplest diy digital antenna" and take 5 more building one and save your money.
 
I picked up a set of rabbit ears from a thrift store a while back for $1, like one from the 80's. You could tell it was broken off some sort of mount. But it came with the little adapter to plug in where the coax would go. Picked up right many channels on the basement TV.
 
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