TV Antennas

RatLabGuy

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
Location
Churchville, MD
Working on cutting the cord (cable). Going to try going w/ ATA TV & streaming... may have to fall back to something like Direct TV but we'll try free first.

As part of this, I need an antenna.
We don't live way out in the country, more like edge of suburbia, but unfortunately the nearest station is ~27 miles, most are around 30 and a lot in the 50+ range... but they are clustered such that they are split in different directions, w/ about 1/2 down roughly SW towards Baltimore (about a 30 degree arc) and the rest NE in PA (maybe 10-15 degree spread for those), w/ the centroid of those clusters roughly 90 degrees apart .
This makes me lean towards an omnidirectional unit? Any suggestions? I assume I'll need an amp too.
I know directional = more distance but it'll feed multiple TVs and frankly I don't feel like messing w/ adjusting the direction to flip between groupings.

I don't mind something big & ugly. I'd prefer to just put it in the attic since it's easier to route the cabling but will go roof if I have to.

Suggestions?
 
I am 45 plus miles from Charlotte I run a amplified rv antenna jack tv. it works great 30 plus channels locals plus fox and many varitions on pbs
 
WTF are you watching out of PA?

You can try an omnidirectional, but it won't have the reception that a directional will. I have two smallish directionals in the attic. They backfeed through a splitter/combiner and into a big amp into one wire. One of them picks up all the networks, the other is pointed about 90* apart to get PBS in Chapel Hill. Easy peasy.

From where you are, you could probably get one big directional, point it SW, and pick up all the Baltimore and DC networks. But if it were me, I'd probably just point it at TV Hill and be done with it.

This is what I have: http://www.amazon.com/RCA-ANT751-Durable-Compact-Outdoor/dp/B0024R4B5C/

I'd say it's good for 30-35miles, max. More than that and you're going to need something bigger.
 
Are you on a high spot, or are you down in a hole?

That also affects what you should do.
 
:popcorn:
 
UncleWillie said:
I am no expert by any means, but I tried several out here in the boonies and this one worked better than any other.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Philips-HDT...372?pt=US_Antennas_Dishes&hash=item3a9a15fcac

I had one hanging from a window blind by a coat hanger for a while and it got better reception than anything else did.
Click to expand...

X2 on that Phillips. I got same one in the camper. Used it for a while in the house whike doing some remodeling. Propped up on a table next to the tv, it did as good or slightly better than the 4226 with amp i have mounted in the attic.
 
I need something better than what have. Haven't had cable in 6 years but The Rifleman reruns on ME TV are getting old...
 
I knew I could find this guy again if I hunted around long enough:

http://www.dennysantennaservice.com/1496626.html

http://dennysantennaservice.com/best-tv-antenna.html

You might notice that his "Denny's brand EZ HD Antenna manufactured JUST FOR US by Winegard" looks surprisingly like the RCAs that I have. Probably strictly coincidental. But their tests also show it to be comparable to much larger (and more expensive) directionals. So maybe it's better performing than the 30-35 miles I suggested.

In any event, it's a fairly inexpensive antenna, and it's small enough that you can mount it up in the attic or on the mast alongside your DirecTV dish. I actually had mine on the roof for a number of years (until we got rid of the chimney) attached to the same post that the dish used to be on.
 
We are on a hill, but that just means we're about 15' above the rest of the neighborhood, no huge difference
From where we are stations in York, PA are just as close as the crow flies as Baltimore area.
after some digging around, I found this one seems to be a pretty good deal for the $$
http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Aspen-EASDTV2BUHF-Directv-Approved/dp/B000GIT002/ref=cm_cd_ql_qh_dp_t

I figure for now I'll buy 1, and plan to get a 2nd one like you mentioned Shawn if the directionality is a problem, then just point them in different directions. There's nothing special for that right, just a coax joiner? Does each unit need an amp?

Does the pre-amp really matter? Aren't they all basically just a low-noise amplifier? From reading this seems popular for the cost
http://www.amazon.com/RCA-TVPRAMP1R-Preamplifier-Performance-Enhancement/dp/B003P92D9Y/ref=sr_1_38?s=audio-video-accessories&ie=UTF8&qid=1414702571&sr=1-38&keywords=tv antenna amplifier

I do already have an amplified cable distribution splitter (1 to 8 post) thing.
 
Don't spend any money on an amp until you know whether or not you need it. The amped splitter will make up for losses within the system.

Fifteen feet is a big deal. If you were 15ft in a hole, you might not be able to pick up anything at all.
 
well at least within our neighborhood, our cul-de-sac is the highest point. So I guess that works out in our favor.

What concerns me a little about the amplified splitter is that it is down in the basement, so it'll be around 50' or more from the antenna, even farther if I have to move it out onto the roof. I'm a little worried about it amplifying any line noise as much as the "signal".

On a related note, we may still need to keep cable for internet, not sure whether DSL will be cost effective w/ our plan to use a cheap VOIP service. That means I need to keep the cable line coming into the house connected to the outside. I'd rather not have to run new dedicated wires.
Anybody had experience w/ using diplexers or other methods to combine OTA TV w/ the broadband internet signal? My understanding is they use different frequencies so it should be feasible, but I'm reading conflicting info on whether it actually works. Clearly a diplexer of some sort is needed.
 
All you need is one wire coming in from the curb and running to the cable modem. It doesn't have to cross paths with your tv signal.

That said, you may find that when you cancel the TV portion of your cable service, the service tech doesn't put the appropriate frequency blocker on your line, and you end up with basic cable regardless.
 
shawn said:
All you need is one wire coming in from the curb and running to the cable modem. It doesn't have to cross paths with your tv signal.

That said, you may find that when you cancel the TV portion of your cable service, the service tech doesn't put the appropriate frequency blocker on your line, and you end up with basic cable regardless.
Click to expand...

Right now I have the 1 wire coming in and going to that big splitter. A leg of that goes up to the place where the cable modem is. Yes I could bypass the splitter, but that incoming wire is teh same I intend to use for the antenna. I'd rather not run a new wire if it is avoidable. I'm lazy like that, and there's already to much spaghetti wiring in my basement.

Good point re: basic cable and the filters. May be worth greasing a palm when the time comes...

EDIT - look like it's probably encrypted anyway (the beauty - for them - of being digital)
http://www.cnet.com/news/fcc-allows-cable-operators-to-encrypt-basic-cable-tv-signals/
 
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I built my own db4 antenna and I get ALL broadcast channels HD ranging from 27-45 miles away. You can build an even larger unit like a db8. Google db4 and there are plans all over. Built mine for around $30 in materials and have almost enough left over to build another one
 
RatLabGuy said:
Right now I have the 1 wire coming in and going to that big splitter. A leg of that goes up to the place where the cable modem is. Yes I could bypass the splitter, but that incoming wire is teh same I intend to use for the antenna. I'd rather not run a new wire if it is avoidable. I'm lazy like that, and there's already to much spaghetti wiring in my basement.
Click to expand...

Just pull a new wire.

Sucks about the encryption. I'm guessing you have a decoder on each of your tvs now? Comcast FAQs suggest they've started encrypting in the last year or so.
 
I have & know of 3, of those Phillips ---------- boxes. Mine is even on my chimney. It nor the others, pick up worth a Fart! Amplified Too! Must depend on where you are.
I did order an Omni-directional, from Solid Signal.com. Check them & their prices out! This was on Don's [Granny] recommendation. And he lives in the country. Only thing,I haven't got it up yet.
I'm doing a 15' pole, off the chimney, & needed a stronger mount. I should have ordered that too! I dropped in Radio Shack, & had to order one! They sell even the Channel Masters [in stock], but no longer
stock any mounts? They were suppose to call me on arrival, they Haven't, & I been to busy to get back by. At home, I checked the reviews, on the Radio Shack mount, & looks like it Sucks! I'll look at it before I do anything else.
BTW, tried getting my pole & mount at Lowe's, like my present 5', & they no longer carry Any Antenna equipment.
 
Two things as far as antennas go ..... the higher the better and don't waste money on "digital" antennas.
The antenna doesn't care what the signal is.

Look around, you can probably build an antenna in an afternoon that will work better and be cheaper than anything you buy.
I built an omni bowtie that was good for 20-25 mile radius sitting on top of the tv.


Matt
 
Lizooki said:
Look around, you can probably build an antenna in an afternoon that will work better and be cheaper than anything you buy.
Click to expand...

You must not value your free time as highly as I value my own.
 
I'm pulling the cable plug as we speak. Just bought a smart TV, have a digital indoor antenna that I won at an rv show, and picked up a roku. Haven't figured all of the particulars yet but I will keep you updated. The one thing I'm wondering, do I need roku if I have internet on my TV
 
It depends on what services your TV supports. Some devices can't play from some sites, or the interface might be weird or clunky.

In a perfect world, the TV would play everything natively. But you'll have to try it and see.
 
this is all very new to me. I'm typig on a remote keyboard onto my tV.. Prettycool considering my last tv didn't even have RCA jacks
 
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