(Part 3) Best radio & tv antennas according to redditors

I think it's this one

This. I used to have a cheaper antenna like a Leaf (not the exact same brand, but close) and after getting a ClearStream 4 I've never looked back. Put that sucker up in my attic, dialed it in and get GREAT reception.

I'll be watching in crystal clear uninterrupted HD on my $20 indoor digital antenna.

https://www.amazon.ca/Digiwave-BMX-HDTV-Digital-Antenna/dp/B00ACDE6FU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486054734&sr=8-1&keywords=bmx+digital+antenna

Non refer link. https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master-CM-3020-Range-Antenna/dp/B000BSGCSA

I've been thinking about setting up an antenna for a backup or emergency, or possibly to eventually cut the cord with cable. My concerns are regarding how serious of an antenna I might need. While I am only about 17-21 miles from the stations (all UHF signals) and they are all about in the same direction, my house is in a valley with a thickly forested steep 130ft hill in the direction of the stations.

I remember back in the 90's before we had cable we had a $100 omnidirectional analog antenna that pulled in a couple of the strongest stations with some static and a couple others that were too poor to watch with the rest being almost all static. I'm thinking with a more directional quality antenna pointed well, we might be able to pick up all of the stations now.

The question is can I pull in all of the stations with an antenna like this? Is there one better that I could buy for my situation? Is there DIY design that would be better than this one? If anyone has any input I'd be grateful.

Attics are good ;-) I put one of these in my attic and I'm getting great reception:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EHWCDW/ref=oh_details_o08_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My attic doesn't have a floor and it's knee deep in insulation. What I did was screw together two pieces of 3/4 plywood and then lag bolted them to a couple of rafters. I bolted on a J-mount for the antenna and that was all it took. I haven't needed to go back up there at all.

If you have 4 feet of head room, you have enough room to do the install. Honest. The antenna went together with a screwdriver and a crescent wrench. You could probably assemble it in the attic, but you'd definitely want to get real familiar with all the pieces and the instructions before carting it up there.

There are chimney mounts, too, so you wouldn't need to put holes in your roof. I know plenty of people have roof antennas, but I'd be worried about winds.


Most of my stations are not as distant as yours. However, after I assembled the antenna in the living room, I connected it to the TV and was able to pick up most of the stations that TV Fool said I could receive, and that was with the antenna propped up against a chair and through the aluminum siding on my house! When I mounted it in the attic, I was able to pick up channels way the hell and gone from me.

If you have a good antenna pointing due south, you should get everything to the east and probably some of the ones on the west, too.

If you have an Android cellphone, look for compass and clinometer applications to get the antenna aligned and at the right angle.

Not legally. Buy a digital antenna and get HD. http://www.amazon.com/RCA-ANT1450BF-Multi-Directional-Amplified-Digital/dp/B001GE6T9A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1458091189&sr=8-3&keywords=rca+digital+antenna

I doubt you can sign up for cable for anything less than a 6 month contract. Sorry your babysitter is such a tv addict, that's a sad demand for an adult.

I've been using this one for several years and have been very pleased with the results. I've used mine in two different states and my folks have had equally good luck with theirs. You can't beat the price vs. performance ratio of the refurbished version.

Go to TV Fool and run a report. It will tell you what type of antenna you need, how to orient your antenna to pick up stations, and how far away each broadcaster is. Set up your antenna, (ranges from anywhere from free (a paperclip), to around $400 for a CM-3020 a CM-7777 preamp, a rotator, and a mast). and do a channel scan.

Unless you're VERY far away from the transmitting towers, you'll probably not need to spend much money to get a quite a range of selection of channels to choose from. The only way to tell is to run a TV Fool report for your address. Obviously which stations you are able to pick up will vary by location. For instance, if I were to be able to pick up everything within a 100 mile radius of myself, I'd have about 40 channels OTA.

You have signals from multiple directions - This one can be aimed in two directions at once and is fairly broad in aiming. https://www.amazon.com/Xtreme-Signal-HDB8X-Bowtie-Antenna/dp/B00CX6UJ5K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1523715450&sr=8-2&keywords=8+bay+antenna

Or get an HD antenna for the games on local channels.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MYMVPVX/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

GE 29884 Pro Outdoor/Attic Mount Antenna - Long Range with Compact Design Outdoor / Attic HDTV Antenna for VHF / UHF Channels - 70 Mile Range

http://www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-FM-Dipole-Antenna/dp/B000M9EREE/

We live in Binbrook & get about 35 stations (this includes some religious stations which we promptly delete). CTV is a pain in the ass to get. Most of the time if we align our antenna to get CTV, we'll have it for a day or two and then it drops out. We've all but given up on that station. We get all the US stations perfectly, so anything we'd want to watch on CTV we can usually get from the US.

The best advice I can give is: Install your antenna outdoors, the higher the better. This makes all the difference in the world.

We're using two stacked antennas, the 8 bay is pointed towards the US & a smaller one pointed towards Toronto. We have a preamp up on the antenna which really seemed to help.

We're also using the Tablo OTA DVR so we can record our shows and pause live TV, the cool thing about this setup means we have only one device plugged into the Antenna and we can watch on several devices. We have the 4 Tuner version, so can watch or record 4 things at a time.

Yes. I have also cut the cord with the help of this subreddit. I pay for my internet bill, Netflix, Hulu Plus, and I have Amazon Prime as well.

I also bought one of these antennas and an HDHomeRun and after several hours of struggling with software, I have a really nice setup to watch and record broadcast television with a full TV guide similar to digital cable with DVR. I just have my computer plugged into my TV. It took some time and money to setup, but now I'm saving almost $100/month.

I am in NW Lincoln and I have this one in my attic:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KUXVKK0/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_xsezDbW16K8DF

Right now at this very moment, I am getting:

• 6.1-6.3
  
• 7.1-7.2
  
• 8.1-8.3
  
• 10.1-10.3
  
• 12.1-12.3
  
• 52.1
  
  I can sometimes also get:
  
  
• 3.1-3.3
  
• 4.1-4.2
  
• 15.1-15.4
  
• 42.1-42.3

Ha, that's just my favorite Ola Belle Reed song. I'm actually in a bit of a cove, and have lots of trees and a ridge obstructing the southern view to the TV towers.

This is the antenna I bought. I pick up channels 7,13,21,33 & 50 just fine and a few other random ones sometimes.

ok so you have 4 stations that are above zero and they are in 4 different directions.. one of them is vhf which will be hard to get..

The first thing you have to do is the stations to the north east that are around 60degrees.. those are probably your best bet..

see how high you have to put the antenna to get them in the 30db range.. if you can put up a 40 foot tower that would be better.. put it up on your hill and get a

https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master-3020-HDTV-Antenna/dp/B000BSGCSA


and a

https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master-CM-7777-Antenna-Preamplifier/dp/B000GGKOG8

and if you can one of these

http://www.ebay.com/itm/25G-AMERICAN-TOWER-ROHN-TOWER-STYLE-AME25-NEW-W-BASE-30-FOOT-/321161408070

and you will have to pour a concrete footing for that tower i would guess that a 2 foot x 2 foot x 2foot footing might work ok.. its a lot more concrete than you think if you're mixing by bags.. probably 20 bags easy but you need something serious for that antenna.. if you can go deeper then go deeper ... maybe a 1.5 foot square that is 3 foot deep .. but a 2 foot one would probably not heave in the winter frost.

then you will probably need a second distribution amp in your house instead of a splitter its like a powered splitter that amps up the signal a bit.

How far up the hill? 100 feet ... 50 feet from the house.. then you have to add the height of the tower.. thats another 30 - 40 feet .. then you have to add in some extra for in the attic or to get to your distribution amp .. another 15 feet .. and some spare just so you have a loop at each end in case you need to repair it..

so if you are 50 feet from the house you are over 100 feet from your distribution amp.. hopefully that is enough.. if you are in the 300 foot range you will have to add a booster amp...

If you plan on stringing the coax in the air then you need to add a steel cable to the coax so its actually hanging from the steel cable not the coax cable or you will trash the coax.

good luck

You're unlikely to pull in those PBS stations with a Clearstream 4 at that range unless your terrain conditions are absolutely ideal.

You'll need something larger, like an 8-bay or a big mother like this.

$420 - 1 year 30/5 cable Internet

$80 - Cable modem

$90 - 1 year Netflix gift certificate to myself

$100 - 1 year Hulu gift certificate to myself

$70 - Over the air antenna

$180 - Prepaid CallCentric

$46 - Cisco ATA for CallCentric

$986 for one year of high speed Internet, 1 year of Netflix, 1 year of Hulu, all the over the air HD broadcast stations, near unlimited telephone calls, and all the equipment needed to make it run. No monthly payments or bills for one year. Accessible from my smart phone, smart TV, and computer.

You could try an antenna like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Antennas-DB8-Extreme-Multi-Directional-Antenna/dp/B000EHWCDW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1376568410&sr=8-5&keywords=antenna+direct

Should be able to handle stations at 70 miles or more if you mount on your roof. Also I don't see if CBS and ABC are UHF. This antenna only works with UHF channels so anything VHF is a no-go.

EDIT: Looks like you can get get WBNS-TV and WSYX out of Columbus using that antenna if you point at 311 degrees true north according to antennapoint.com. Both are UHF so should work fine with this antenna.

http://www.antennapoint.com/antennas/show?id=45701&commit=Advanced+Search&search%5Buhf_ant%5D=1&search%5Bvhf_ant%5D=1&search%5Bmin_erp%5D=0&search%5Bmax_erp%5D=9000&search%5Bmax_distance%5D=70

nice post.

His stations are coming from all different directions and are splits between VHF and UHF. He will need multiple antennas and splitter/combiner.

the DIY Db4 antenna is a UHF antenna, and will likely struggle to consistently pull in channels from the 256-290 degree range. For that, I would reccommend a db8. Since this is a practice, and buisness expense (which is tax deductible), I wouldnt recommend building his own.

My recommendations:

1. db8 antenna
   0r [91xG (http://www.antennasdirect.com/store/91XG_HDTV_Antenna.html)
   
   
2. channel master 7777 preamp
   
   
3. antenna mast, coax cable, coax splitter
   
   
4. ground the antenna (so it is not a lightning/fire hazard)
   
5. possibly simple/inexpensive "rabit ears" for PBS on channel 8

75 ohm antenna

thing that makes impedance 300ohm

They work the same, the adapter is to hook up rabbit ears to use for a fm antenna

You can actually use speaker wire for an antenna or buy some Parts Express FM Dipole Antenna https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000M9EREE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-SfyCbXCP3R9J

Exchange the preamp.

Preamps can be DOA fairly easily. It's worth another shot.

Example of DOA units from amazon revievs:

https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master-CM-7778-Medium-Gain-Preamplifier/product-reviews/B0013CGNGY/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_search_rgt?filterByKeyword=DOA&search-alias=community-reviews

Another thing to keep in mind is that your preamp, which is fairly high power, may overpower your HDHomeRun tuner. People who live in an area with good quality signal should generally use a lower-gain preamp, like the RCA Preamp.

I actually have great advice on this! I live in Willowick, which is east of Cleveland. My fiance and I are cable cutters as well, and we have put up an antenna on top of our house. We had a very difficult time getting 19 and 8. After some analysis, we found out that 19 and 8 are pointing different ways, and are different signals (one is VHF the other UHF). Using TV Fool's TV signal locator is a good first start to determine exact pointing locations. Here is the link for that:

https://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29

We also decided to use a preamplifier to boost signal. I do not know if this will help, but I will list all components I used to to my setup. I know it might seem overkill, but I probably have around 40-50 channels, so it works.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4XVOOC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013CGNGY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00

I know what I wrote was overkill, but the main takeaway is that you need to determine where 8 and 19 are located. Also, I would strongly recommend that your antenna be outside. The higher up and the clearer the pathway, the better the antenna will work.

Agreed. I'd rather spend that money on Hulu Plus and Netflix where I can stream anything I'd want to record from over-the-air broadcasts and more (e.g. Comedy Central shows).

I got a $25 amplified antenna and found the right position for it on my window sill where all channels come in flawlessly.

I think Aereo is an awesome idea and execution, and this lawsuit is bullshit -- it's clearly a legal practice, but the cable companies are happy to see if they can get it shut down anyway. BUT it's not worth the money for me.

https://www.amazon.com/Antennas-Direct-ClearStream-Multi-directional-Installation/dp/B008PBTPOI/ref=sr_1_30?keywords=outdoor+tv+antenna&qid=1573156183&sr=8-30

I can't speak for OP but it looks like this one.

Hi! The one in the video is this one: https://www.amazon.ca/Digiwave-BMX-HDTV-Digital-Antenna/dp/B00ACDE6FU

Try this: https://www.amazon.com/Xtreme-Signal-Range-Antenna-HDB91X-x/dp/B00CX700EY in your attic. I have something similar and get Harrisburg, Philly and Johnstown area stations just south-west of Wilkes-Barre.

That should give you enough gain when pointed at 151°. Due to the distance, cable length and being in an attic, you may need amplification, such as a CM-7778. That antenna may be strong enough that you don't need amplification though

Extender?

I have my antenna in my attic in Clintonville. I wouldn’t call it 100%, probably 98-99% but easily watchable.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00IITMTKE

If you have a television, get an antenna! That way you can watch NBC for free! I have this one and it works great (FYI I’m in a smallish apartment with a south window that faces the tv broadcast towers a few miles away, but I think it’s supposed to have like a 30 mile range or something) https://www.amazon.com/Mohu-Paper-thin-Reversible-Performance-MH-110543/dp/B00JC9J2NQ/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref_=oh_aui_i_sh_in_o0_img

You’d be surprised. Lots of people who use streaming services (DirecTV Now, YouTube TV, etc.) like myself use antennas. It’s how I’m able to watch NFL games despite not paying for cable.


They look more like this than rabbit ears though: https://www.amazon.com/Mohu-Paper-thin-Reversible-Performance-MH-110543/dp/B00JC9J2NQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=BAHCY1XSV40M&keywords=antenna+tv+digital+hd&qid=1550584968&s=gateway&sprefix=ante&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1

Yeah, OP should get a Mohu Leaf Antenna.

Near portage and hayes road. Using HD antenna. Had a leaf on it and now tried an eclipse (bought for another TV in the house).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JC9J2NQ/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_G-pUDbCXFVNGZ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SQGVCHJ/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_u.pUDb17Q0V45

Edit: never had a problem before the rescan. Also the eclipse was rated top by wirecutter.

You can also watch the WGN and ABC games on your TV (if you have a TV) with an antenna. I got this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JC9J2NQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

It gets a bit jittery when the train goes by but the picture quality is really good.

Dude, it's a national broadcast. You know you can buy a $20 antenna like this, hook it into any TV, and get broadcast channels for free. It's the modern equivalent of the old bunny ears, of course you only get the biggest games that channels decide to broadcast.

Mine has an amp and I get no noise. After reading a lot on here about antennas and people's issues and experiences, it is hit or miss with some and everyone's experience is different.

The amp actually helped me in my area: Picked up 10 more channels when I turned it on.

This is the one I have (in an apartment)

Its more about placement. I get all my locals minimum 42 miles away from this and the stand .

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00RFLGH5E/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1522334700&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=one+by+one+antenna

I have this antenna:

https://www.amazon.ca/AmazonBasics-Ultra-Thin-Indoor-Antenna/dp/B01IN26Z5A

It is at a very good price, and an AmazonWarehouse deal so it will be in fine shape. I got mine from Amazon.COM a few years ago for more and am now tempted to buy this one if nobody grabs it, haha.

I have it on a second story wall, facing south, in Nepean and I get all Ottawa channels, plus PBS if the weather is right.

After a certain point, location and height matter more than the quality of the antenna. If you are in the city, don't really spend more than $50, it won't make a difference. use TVFool.com to see what channels you can get and where to point your antenna.

I have this one and am in Alpharetta. I get 80+ channels including all the major networks and PBS. It is mounted in the attic and then fed to all my TV's through the existing coax that was here from cable in the 80's. Works great.

/r/stratux is a great place to start for software and general Stratux questions.
On the hardware side, I used a Raspberry Pi 3, this battery, these antennas, this GPS receiver, and this cooling fan. The STL can be found here.

I use something like these for my phantom and they work well. I see a 20-30% distance increase with them on.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072HFCC2S/ref=cm_sw_r_tw

Ok, thanks. It looks like you need an antenna with a range of at least 85 miles for Oklahoma City, Wichita, and Tulsa. They're in three substantially different directions. I would consider a 360 degree motorized rooftop antenna for that. Maybe something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Amplified-Digital-Motorized-Rotation-Infrared/dp/B004NQMCDK

If I was in your shoes that's what I would get because it should easily pick up a signal from around 80-85 miles away. If you're okay just pointing towards one city maybe something like this

https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master-CM-3020-Range-Antenna/dp/B000BSGCSA

but the directional one is only $35 versus $120 for the directional one.

Picked up everything listed on www.antennaweb.org for my address using this antenna for $68 back in 2012.

Since I apparently need an omni-directional outdoor antenna, do you think something like this would meet my needs?

The DB2e may be a good choice for you. It is small enough to put in a window. Check around on eBay, Amazon and Walmart for the best price.

I would also recommend the Winegard LNA-200 amplifier. You could go with an amp with more gain, but if you have too much gain you won't get a good signal. It is also available at the stores I mentioned. Go with the store that has the best return policy, as you may either not need it at all (I doubt it) or want one with more gain, like the Channel Master CM-7777 Titan 2. Just remember, more (gain) is not always better.

One other note-I had good luck using the Winegard amp on a Antennas Direct, inc CSM1 indoor antenna, but it didn't consistently bring in the channels like the DB2e. I wouldn't recommend that setup. BUT, you Could try just putting the amplifier on your Leaf to see what happens before purchasing a larger antenna.

I'm on the opposite side of St. Louis. I'm probably a little closer at around 70 miles away, maybe. Anyway, I'm basically doing what you want to do in reverse. I pick up the St. Louis stations and pick up a couple Cape locals on the backside of my antenna.

As far as gear, I'm using an Channelmaster 4228HD https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master-CM-4228HD-High-Antenna/dp/B000FVVKQM and a Channel Master 7777 High Gain preamp https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master-CM-7777-Antenna-Preamplifier/dp/B000GGKOG8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1537450060&sr=1-1&keywords=channel+7777. I have no affiliation or preference for Channel Master, it just happened. Anyway, with this setup, I can get all the St. Louis full power stations (2,4,5,9,11,24,30) and two from Cape on the backside (12,23). I receive 46 about half the time. I will occasionally receive a few of the southern Illinois stations but I've not optimized (aimed) my setup for those.

Actually with this setup, I once received all your locals via ducting for a few hours.

As they say, buy once, cry once. Don't chase around with those garbage Amazon antennas. Get a big antenna from a reputable company i.e. Channel Master, Winegard, Antennas Direct etc. Then get a decent preamp also from a reputable company. Redo your wiring with new RG6 with NO splices or splitters. Finally point your antenna toward the St. Louis cluster of stations (you have enough dbs to receive you locals without pointing. I think you'll be able to get those St. Louis stations especially since you received them on a garbage antenna.

At 55 miles you need a roof mounted antenna to get your stations as you found out inside antennas most likely won't work well at all. All of your signals are pretty strong and LOS even at 55 miles all but one in the same direction which is good but as others have said you want a combo antenna that does both VHF(lo-hi) and UHF such as the CM-3020 HD8200XL or the ANT3038Z I believe they sell a very large RCA antenna similar at Menards for $94 the last time I looked but unsure of the the model just look for the largest box and similar price. These antennas are all 12ft long and if you need something more compact with similar performance there is the HD Stacker TV Antenna.

For a pre-amp the LNA-200 would probably work just fine and it is cheaper than the Channel Master 7777 preamp but you may not need it depending on how many tvs you have but if you have like 4-5 then a preamp is a good idea. You should also be able to use the existing cabling before used for direct tv and hook it into the antenna.

ABC is a VHF-low channel so a small antenna isn't likely to work all that well. The easiest thing to try would be good old rabbit ears (you might want to get the type that can adjust all the way flat). The other thing to try would be a separate FM antenna and depend on the fact that real ch 6 is right next to the FM band. Something like this:

• https://www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-FM-Dipole-Antenna/dp/B000M9EREE/
  
  ... and one of these ...
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/RCA-VH58-Matching-Transformer/dp/B00005T3EZ/

That metal tube I believe is the AM Antenna. What you can do is buy something called an FM Antenna. It looks something like this. That is American side, I do not know the UK equivalent. I would recommend just going into your generic audio parts shop (Whatever the UK equivalent of radio shack is and getting help).

Second you need to fix your speakers. Put both on A Speaker Right and Left. Or B Speaker R + L but not as it currently is B Speaker Right and A Speaker L. A + B speakers are there for you to hook up two sets of speakers and allows you to change from A to B speakers via dial or you can use both A + B speakers together although the volume will be a little less overall since you are trying to power more.

You can simply use a pair of wires, other wise there are other compact dipole antennas around that can sit behind it.

https://www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-FM-Dipole-Antenna/dp/B000M9EREE

Flat water is a great conductor of radio waves. Drive down to the water, late at night, and tune your AM radio to a station there. It will probably be coming in loud and clear.

105mi is a bit of a trip for during the day and especially on FM, but if you have a receiving antenna like a dipole you might be able to tune in. (Not affiliated with that Amazon seller, it was just the first link that came up for dipole. Super easy to make one of your own.)

Lastly, radio stations in Cuba are available on livestream. Unless the US government blocks it, of course.

I have a peak roof and mounted it on the back of the house. Here's and image of it mounted. This bracket I bought from Amazon for $26 bucks. It's very strong and I have no worries that it would fall off. I bought a Preamplifier to help boost the signal. The mast I bought from a local store, so hopefully you can find one in your area. Hope this helps, if have any questions just let me know.

I was getting weak signals for ABC and CBS, and no signal at all for UPN before hooking up the amplifier. IIRC, I was getting about 35 total channels with no amp. I hooked up a Channel Master CM-7778 and pulled in over 100.

I have heard that if you live very near to the towers, you can overamplify and degrade your signal. I have a bit of distance and topography between me and the towers, plus having the antenna in the attic instead of outside on the roof has a negative effect so the amp works well for me.

https://i.imgur.com/9mmRi4hl.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/RCA-ANT1450BR-Multi-Directional-Amplified-Digital/dp/B001GE6T9A/

I have this antenna and it works great and it's pretty cheap at $25.

Digital antennas are 30 bucks or less and you get all your local channels plus some, depending upon your area. I live in Southern Ca and get over 50 channels for free, most in HD, with an antenna. I don't use cable- I've watched the Olympics for the past week in glorious HD for free as well as started to learn Vietnamese thanks to the old ladies on channel 54.

I bought this

I get CBC, CBC French, CityTv, OMNI and YESTV. No CTV in my area. Cuts out sometimes when its raining and cloudy.

As u/kicksoda posted and OP u/FlyingSheng confirmed, this is the antenna feature in the video - about $20 off Amazon.


https://www.amazon.ca/Digiwave-BMX-HDTV-Digital-Antenna/dp/B00ACDE6FU

Si ça peut t'aider, moi j'ai acheté celle là.

Avec un bout de câble coaxial de TV tout seul je pognais juste Radio-Canada, maintenant j'ai V, R-C, Télé-Québec pis Global.

Mon antenne est collée sur une vitre en direction du Mont Bélair pis de l'autre côté j'ai le Complexe G tout près. Selon TV Fool, je devrais avoir TVA aussi, mais il doit y avoir trop de bâtisses entre le Vieux-Québec et la tour de Ste-Foy.

Mais bon anyway j'm'en sert pas gros.

Y'a des meilleures antennes, certaines avec deux antennes directionnelles pour capter loin dans différentes directions. Regardes sur TV Fool à quoi tu devrais t'attendre comme signal, vérifies si y'a des bâtisses qui pourraient être dans le chemin, ça devrais t'aider à choisir un modèle.

I use this one: Amazon Link Here

I also get all 7 channels in HD, and It looks to be on sale today.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00ACDE6FU/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The amplified rabbit ears might just work for ya. Take your time getting them setup just right : )

I have an attic-mounted multi-directional Xtreme Signal HDB8X . The two panels are currently both facing the same direction as I no longer need to catch two cities' worth of signals, so yeah overkill for sure. I've also got an amplified 4way ChannelMaster splitter that works nicely.

Here it is installed (literally using rope) in my attic:
https://i.imgur.com/rc44giC.jpg

It's amazing for UHF (I'm getting solid NJ signals in addition to the Philly Fox/CBS/NBC/etc stuff), but struggles with VHF, especially 6ABC here. I just bought a VHF-UHF combiner and have a half-wave dipole antenna I made to connect to the VHF side (cut to length for the exact 6ABC wavelength). Once it cools off in the attic I'll install and see if it improves 6ABC...

All,

I'm currently working on getting an antenna system to work in an area that was easily served during the analog era. As it stands right now, there is no antenna outside or attic mounted.

I normally work inside city limits and metro locations where transmitters are full power. (i work in tv fyi) - this rural location is oddly stubborn. I've got a couple different antennas ive used for years that quote being good to the 50 mile range. and I've got an amplifier for them. Normally, this would be all i need to pull a station only 30 miles away... but nothing. not once ounce of signal.

I'm looking for hive mind reccomendations on what route to go here.

I'm currently looking at something along the lines of the Xtreme Signal HDB8X Would I need to add a VHF High yagi on top of this to pull in either of the vhfs below?

I'm looking to pick up 8-25-31-34-43-45-47-49 - these will provide all the oklahoma city stations via translator.

however - I'm also hoping to pick up 11 - which is in the opposite direction. Since the beginning of time, KSWO has been available here. But the cable has dropped it cable comes from where the above translators are... its stupid.

Cable was fine until very recently - theyve switched to all digital - requiring a minibox AND smartcard on all tvs. And that means lots of cash down the drain just to make a tv work.

What are your opinions on antenna setup to get these channels? It should be doable right? even the lowest signal is 11db and with a good 15db antenna - it should come in clear enough at 26db right? with amp? maybe into the 30s?

> OTA only breaks up when people fail to invest the minicscule time and effort into obtaining and arranging a proper antenna.

You are lying your ass off. I had a very good antenna and the rca booster everyone recommends.

Sports and prime time were still attrocious. Not one channel really played without breaking up. I aligned the thing with a compass exactly to the degrees antennaweb said.

Fox and cbs transmitters are 2mi, and it still sucked once the quality was turned up for hd broadcasts. NBC is 5 mi and the rest are like 6-8mi.

Antennaweb labels them all yellow for class of antenna.

I am going to say that the city I am in broadcasts with too low of power.

I live near the med center in an apartment building, surrounded by neighbors and I can get all the local well-known channels plus a few dozen smaller channels. I use this antenna: https://smile.amazon.com/Mohu-Paper-thin-Reversible-Performance-MH-110543/dp/B00JC9J2NQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1520354933&sr=8-3&keywords=mohu+leaf+metro+antenna

Edit: Yes, I get NBC.

Also, check to see how far away you are from the transmitters. Most are near Missouri City (https://www.antennasdirect.com/transmitter-locator.html). Mohu makes a 50 mile version of this antenna as well.

Buy an HD antenna.

The Mohu Metro should be enough. It's a 25-mile radius leaf indoor antenna. It's It's what I have and I get FOX in crystal clear HD. I also haven't paid for cable in about a year.

Since you live in New Orleans, I'm sure you won't have any problem getting FOX at all.

http://amzn.com/B00JC9J2NQ

In a side-by-side test the Winegard Flatwave captured almost twice as many channels as the Mohu. (Winegard also has 50 years experience making sensitive antennas.) Here's one for $20.... hopefully it won't be too strong

https://www.amazon.com/Winegard-FL-55YR-Amplified-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B00LAA45PA

I have a simple indoor antenna like this one and I get very good, reliable reception. But, I'm north and slightly east of downtown (Fountain City), so I can't speak for far-west Knox.

I have this one that I use: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Ultra-Thin-Indoor-Antenna/dp/B01IN26Z5A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536088754&sr=8-1&keywords=ota+antenna+indoor+amazon+basics

With the cheap antennas, placement of the antenna is key.
Get it as high as possible.
If it's one of those flat rectangle jobs. I've found that it doesn't work well if there's a gap between the antenna and some object (ie wall).. Gotta get it flush to the wall (sticky tack is your friend)

Then, depending on your TV, you may need to have it search for stations and find the channel first. One of my TVs won't let me tune directly to a channel if it didn't find it in it's search first. Which can be annoying when trying to find optimal antenna placement.

You could save a few dollars and start with an Amazon Basics antenna to see what you can pull in with that. It does look like you're a pretty good distance from the LA transmitters, so you may end up needing an outdoor antenna to pick up all of what you want.

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Ultra-Thin-Indoor-Antenna/dp/B01IN26Z5A/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1506718787&sr=1-1&keywords=amazonbasics+antenna

Not sure if anyone sells them on there own anymore. Send a PM to /u/strangerwithadvice and he can probably hook you up with a set.

https://www.amazon.com/Stratux-1090ES-UAT-Radios-Antennas/dp/B01M7NMWCD The picture in that link is out of date the labels are laser etched these days rather than being paper.

Well the stratux uses these 2 1090 and 978 MHz antennas as well. Theres no way someone could argue that those aren't receiving and/or transmitting radio signals.

Ok so probably a dumb question here but I don't know much about any of this. I'm building my stratux now and the last part I have to order is the antenna. I was going to order this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7NMWCD/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

​

However its out of stock. So does what were talking about here replace that? So all I would need is this? And no external antennas?

If so that would be awesome!

These are the antennas I purchased...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7NMWCD/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bought this antenna and I get about 50 channels. Cost nothing more than the cost of the antenna and the cord, and I now have three TVs I can watch for free anytime

Thanks everyone for their suggestions! Is there a huge different between the CM-2018 and this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BSGCSA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_OtvuDb51CQK7D ? I was looking at this one before I saw the post above, but this is one double the price. Worth it? Or the 2018 enough?

I just researched the same problem. I was even losing some channels. I bought a new antenna and it’s the old style that has the real wide rods on it. You have to get an antenna that can pick up VHF signals. The ones that have the real wide rods are the best.

This is similar to what I bought.
Channel Master CM-3020 Long Range VHF, UHF, FM and HDTV Antenna https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BSGCSA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_hnluDb5Y5SX0A

Yeah, that won't make it for CBS at that distance. You'd need something bigger.

And even with that mounted outside, I still wouldn't guarantee CBS reception with it at that distance.

If you're north/northwest of the city, you might be able to get CBS from Milwaukee or Rockford if you aim your antenna that way (which of course would lose the Chicago stations).

48-3 does still carry CBS, but 48 is a low power station. Also I think their signal has been weaker of late possibly due to getting ready to change transmit frequencies on October 18. It's going to transmit on a lower UHF frequency than it's currently using which may (or may not) make it easier for you to pick up.

Sadly, CBS is not changing their frequency and will remain on VHF.

> VHF is very terrain sensitive.

This is the TV Fool terrain map.

The channel I'm trying to get in is CBS on this list. I just tossed another 5' antenna length on the antenna that came with the house and got in the NBC station.

It's listed as 15.6dB noise margin & -75.2 dBm predicted signal power. The CBS station is listed as 11.8 dB noise margin & -79.1 dBm predicted power. Both are listed as being picked up through double edge diffraction from the terrain profile.

I could go a bit higher or try another more expensive antenna but I'd rather just see what $40 in electrical fense wiring can buy me. The local farming store even has all the insulators and tensioning equipment to make it as well. I'd just need to get the math right.

> It will be highly directional, so get your bearing right before erecting.

How directional? NBC is 57.3mi/92.2km away at 135, CBS is 59.1mi/95.1km at 138. I knew I stumbled upon a website that had the calculations for rhombic size to directionality, however I can't seem to find it any more. I did find this paper but I was hoping for the short version. (It's been a while since I've done college level math). It also has calculations for phi, which I've also been looking for.

Circling back around to this. Work work work.... Anyway. I'm looking at the following:

Channel Master CM-3020 Long Range VHF, UHF, FM and HDTV Antenna

CMSTCM7777 - CHANNEL MASTER CM-7777 Titan 2 Preamp (High Gain)

Channel Master CM3414 4-Port Distribution Amplifier for Cable and Antenna Signal

​

Should i get the below LTE Filter? Any other thoughts or suggestions?

​

Channel Master LTE Filter Improves TV Antenna Signals

so for ota tv should i get a crazy long yagi http://www.amazon.com/Solid-Signal-Definition-Antenna-HDB91X/dp/B00CX700EY/ref=pd_sim_e_31?ie=UTF8&refRID=1G51JHS2CRZR6BVAMD40 or a extreme range bowtie like this http://www.amazon.com/Terrestrial-Digital-DB8-Multi-Directional-Antenna/dp/B000EHWCDW/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1393828354&sr=8-9&keywords=long+range+tv+antenna. can you recommend me a hf antenna or maybe an article about various types? and for a satellite antenna it looked like the turnstile was very basic, which would be better the qfh or dca?

How about a DB8?

I installed a DB2 in the attic because all the stations I want are within 25 miles and it does indeed pull them all in.

HDTV Omni directional Antennae

We use an Antenna out in Brunswick and get a ton of channels. The issue we have is that we need two antennas to pull baltimore and dc at the same time and then a joiner to join them together. Don't get one of those indoor set top antennas because that shit just won't work for how far out we are.

Here is what we got:

http://www.amazon.com/Antennas-C2-ClearStream-Television-Antenna/dp/B0017O3UHI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1369798861&sr=8-3&keywords=clearstream+antenna

We got ours from Best Buy open box for like $30, but Amazon's price is good. I would recommend something more like this if you are serious about getting OTA TV:

http://www.amazon.com/Antennas-DB8-Extreme-Multi-Directional-Antenna/dp/B000EHWCDW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369799102&sr=8-1&keywords=antennas+direct+db8

The shorter the cable run from the Antenna, the better as well. We have a lot of channels accessible in Frederick, it's just taking a bit of time to do some research and setup the equipment.

I will say that my friends and people who I have talked to that say they have "tried it" in our area, usually have tried it with a shitty tv top antenna or just plain had no idea what they were doing. I can tune at least 15 channels each from DC and Baltimore with the first antenna I listed (though I have to readjust it).

When I owned my house in North Texas, we had a radiant barrier because of all the heat during the summer. We had the spray on kind in the attic.

Here is our tvfool to give you a comparison.

We used this antenna installed in the attack.

It worked amazingly. There was an amplifier which I put between the antenna and the splitter which split the signal to all the coax outlets in our house. I believe we had it set up with a 4 way splitter.

Hope this helps!

Awesome thanks. I know little about this realm of tech... I assume I need a pre-amp? Something like this: Channel Master CM-7777?

How difficult is it to mount to the roof? Any advice?

This is the one I'm using. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GGKOG8/

I'm about 30 miles from the antennas and don't seem to have any problems with over-amplification.

Any textbook will tell you can't amplify yourself out of a signal level problem. You need a raw signal elevated enough from the noise to make things work.

Those same textbooks will list loss factors for common roofing materials, and the calculations will show that you really don't lose that much with attic installs.

We first went by the book, but two channels were unreliable. After throwing the book away and trying that Channel Master 30db amp - all problems went away. Our nest of digital demodulators is showing a zero bit error rate.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GGKOG8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

YOUR mileage may vary.....This IS a science experiment. Many things can go wrong for you.

Attic installs stink. But they can be made to work on occasion.

I bought one of these and cut it down for 144.39Mhz (22.5in IIRC) for APRS:

https://www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-FM-Dipole-Antenna/dp/B000M9EREE

If you want another range you can cut accordingly.

Don't forget the F type balun:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002ZPIOQ/ref=pd_aw_fbt_23_img_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=WVAR63WQK6KZVGP0GTRK

and an adapter to fit on your rtlsdr:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CP17WMG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469591788&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=mcx+male+to+sma+female&dpPl=1&dpID=31Q6jniv9vL&ref=plSrch

So I thought it was a single wire but it turns out it's not.

Here's what the connector looks like. Is this the correct type of antenna to get?

Search for FM Dipole antenna.

​

Something like this https://www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-FM-Dipole-Antenna/dp/B000M9EREE

Hard to tell from the pics, but that black thing is the AM loop antenna. For FM you need one of these

Real CH2 and CH6 are down near the FM frequency range, your antenna won't even see those signals. Your signals are strong enough that an FM antenna would probably work and you don't need the amp. I'd get a FM folded dipole antenna (the T-type that you tack to the wall) like THIS and connect it to a Balun like THIS and then use a regular two-way coax splitter like THIS to combine the signals from the FM antenna and the 1ByOne into the TV/Tuner.

Thank you. I think that I will probably go with the Channel Master from Amazon here and see if it makes much of a difference.

I bought this

https://www.primecables.com/p-356275-cab-av-0966v-primecables-hdtv-outdoor-antenna-high-gain-vhf-uhf-combo

and paired it with one of these because i had a long cable run
https://www.amazon.ca/Channel-Master-Antenna-Preamplifier-Amplifier/dp/B0013CGNGY/ref=sr_1_sc_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1502478310&sr=1-4-spell&keywords=channelmaster

works great, I get 14-ish channels i think (even on cloudy and rainy days). Indoor antennas only got me about 6 on average. You can probably opt for a cheaper amplifier if you want.

I tried a similar indoor antenna that you had at another house and couldn't even pickup a single channel without massive interference.

But if you don't want OTA you could try Vmedia. internet+TV+phone for less than $100/month

That's good information regarding WBKI/WMYO. Definitely solves one of my problems.

Between the HD7694P and CM-2018 which one would be "better" (I know that word is usually subjective) for my situation?

Is the Extreme Broadband BDS104h a decent splitter?

If I do need to add a preamp would one of these two be acceptable?
Winegard LNA-200 Boost XT

Channel Master CM-7778

Thanks again!

thanks for the reply

this is the antenna we have

https://www.amazon.com/RCA-ANT1450BE-Omni-Directional-Digital-Amplified/dp/B001GE6T9A

i honestly don't really know anything beyond this , no idea even UHF or VHF means

I'll answer your question with a bit more information.

• OTA broadcasts are usually not compressed and at a higher bitrate than streams.
  
• OTA does not have to buffer or get hit by network over loads.
  
• OTA is usually HD, both 720p and 1080 are common.
  
• OTA does not count against bandwidth caps.
  
• OTA does not have any additional fees or costs once you have a TV and Antenna.
  
  RCA & Leaf indoor antennas are not expensive. I would suggest spending a little more and getting the better quality unit.
  
  Check this website to see what is broadcast in your area. http://antennaweb.org/
  
  $20 RCA ANT1450BF
  
  $35 RCA ANT1650F

Yes they work well. I use; This one without the amplifier connected and am able to pick up almost 100 channels.

It's because you live downtown, and the tall buildings are blocking the signal.

Get a powered antenna. I used this one when I was living in Quality Hill and it worked great.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GE6T9A/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3?pf_rd_p=1944687682&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0027FGW3K&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1J0C4RP0Z9AHK6HX3P9B

http://amzn.com/B001GE6T9A

This is what you want:

https://smile.amazon.com/ClearStream-Indoor-Outdoor-Antenna-Mount/dp/B008PBTPOI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1474644605&sr=8-2&keywords=clearstream+4v

You will probably want a preamplifier, too:

https://smile.amazon.com/RCA-TVPRAMP1Z-Preamplifier-Outdoor-Antenna/dp/B003P92D9Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474644665&sr=8-1&keywords=rca+preamplifier+for+outdoor+antenna

Just mount the antenna in your attic, aim it at San Jose/SanFrancisco (west-southwest of you), and jack it into your existing cable wiring. It's a lot easier than you think. With this antenna, you'll get EVERYTHING. I have this setup, and it's 100% worth the extra cost. The picture is crystal clear, and you'll get dozens of channels.

Here is my tvfool.com report:
http://imgur.com/B4Nd7xH

And I am using the ClearStream 4 Indoor/Outdoor HDTV Antenna with Mount - 70 Mile Range (https://www.amazon.com/ClearStream-Indoor-Outdoor-Antenna-Mount/dp/B008PBTPOI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1467308345&sr=8-2&keywords=70+mile+tv+antenna).

And thanks for the information about r/OTA. I will check them out.

EDIT: I think it is closer to 20- 25 ft above the ground.

"Aim small, miss small."

Go with this: https://www.amazon.com/ClearStream-Indoor-Outdoor-Antenna-Mount/dp/B008PBTPOI/

Or CM4228 (though it might be overkill): https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master-CM-4228HD-High-Antenna/dp/B000FVVKQM/

I'm in East Point. We've had a Clearstream 4 on the roof since in February. It was on sale at BJ's for $49.

The GPB channels (8.2-8.3) occasionally drop depending on the weather. Apparently, this antenna is for UHF, and channel 8 is VHF. But everything else comes in great.

Edit: Link to the antenna at Amazon

I actually live in Norwalk as well, by Brian McMahon high school. [I have an older single version of this antenna.](ClearStream 4 Indoor/Outdoor HDTV Antenna with Mount - 70 Mile Range https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008PBTPOI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_IpAOybQVG0ANY) it works ok but because it's a single I can only get either New York or Ct news and because NY has it's a much stronger channel.

[I am about to purchase this antenna] (8 Element Bowtie Indoor/Outdoor HDTV Antenna - 70 Mile Range https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C4XVOOC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_InAOyb9KCNGKX), my father in law has it and it's fantastic but you have to put it outside. The first one does work inside in most locations.

thanks i have this one https://www.amazon.com/ClearStream-Indoor-Outdoor-Antenna-Mount/dp/B008PBTPOI/ref=sr_1_74?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1538678223&sr=1-74&keywords=tv+antenna
in attic but don't get channel five

Hey man, hopefully we can help you out. I don't know everything when it comes to cordcutting, but I'm pretty tech savy and have been without cable now for about 7-8 years. I'm hoping some others chime in here too, as I'm not a huge sports fan, so I can't cover everything there. But catch every Packer game free in uncompressed HD with a ~$150 antenna. $150 may strike you as expensive, and it is, but think about what you pay for all the channels you don't watch via cable. It will pay for itself in a month once you completely cut the cord.
For General TV:
The first thing I would encourage you to do, is buy a decent antenna. Don't cancel you cable yet. Everyone's home/surroundings are different and antennas are effected by all kinds of materials in a house/apt. This way as your learning what works and what doesn't, you won't get frustrated and give up completely on cutting the cord if you hit a roadblock. Bascially start small and work your way up would be my general recomendation. This worked for me at least. Now I pay for internet service, Netflix, and Amazon Prime, and couldn't be happier.

Antenna Placement: Generally the higher the better, the bigger the antenna the better, and the clearer the line of sight to the TV Towers the better. ex: Mine is in my attic so the signals travel through my roof, thru some tress across the street..etc.
Here is a good site to start: http://antennaweb.org/default.aspx
Here is the antenna I have: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008PBTPOI?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00

I'm not familar with the homerunhd, but just checked it out. Looks like you can stream to different devices from this. If your roomates have a smart tv, you may be able to stream directly to them. At the very least I see Android on there, get a $30 Chromecast, plug it into the roomates TV, and with their tablet or phone you should be able to cast it on the TV.

If you havent bought the homerunhd yet you could check out Plex. Run the Plex server sw on your computer, and the plex clients on virtually any device. Stream right thru your network. The homerun may work similar, if so it should work just as well.

Another Option:
If you have an Xbox one, you can get the OTA adapter for it, and play TV right thru it. And Microsoft will be adding DVR support to it at some point.

For the Major Sports fan:
For soccer, you don't need cable. I watch mostly soccer as I'm a pretty big fan, so I can help here a little. A great sub reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/footballdownload/
Its not live, but I actually prefer watching something after it's aired as I LOATHE commercials.

For NFL, MLB, NBA..etc... I would start by looking what streaming services are out there and compare what devices they are compatible with. This may be your determining factor for the roommates in room devices.

Hopefully someone else can chime in here for ya, as just don't have the experience with the other sports. What NFL, NHL MLB and such I watch, I get my fill via my antenna as I'm not a die hard sports guy....except soccer.

Sorry if I rambled and if you have questions just ask.

I have this in my attic, and it works quite well for me.

I bought this antenna for $20:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00ACDE6FU/ref=pe_386430_121528420_TE_dp_2

I now have 10 channels (all buffalo unfortunately due to the angle of my apartment window) but still better than fish 24/7!

I got this one. http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00ACDE6FU They have a few other options. It's really small, has window suction cups and has about a ten foot coax cord. My TV has a tuner built into it so I can't help you there, but I think you can get an external tuner for another twenty on amazon?

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00ACDE6FU/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1458248113&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=antenna&dpPl=1&dpID=413pDeIC6HL&ref=plSrch

That's great video, thank you. It seems to boil down to:

• use a combiner (is this the same as a splitter? Some splitters I've seen say -4dB or something similar on the "outputs" which would be the inputs in this case)
  
• use the same length cable between the two antennas because of velocity factor.
  
  One of the antennas I'm considering is this which looks like it already has a combiner for two halves. Would treating that as one antenna, and running a length of coaxial cable between the output of it's combiner and a second combiner - and then running that same length from another traditional antenna to the second combiner, be a mistake? Because of the extra two feet of cable used with the first antenna, I feel like it may violate velocity factor, but I'm not sure.

But then again this is a sexy beast of an antenna. Probably needs more mast than I currently have though.

As others say. That one is likely for radio. I get about 20 channels, many from 70-80 miles away, with this antenna, but I am halfway up a mountain, and facing the right direction for those channels.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CX6UJ5K/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Maybe you need to go bigger. My dad switched and had something like this and was getting full HD from almost Spring Valley.

You just need a stronger antenna, like this one

https://www.amazon.com/Xtreme-Signal-Range-Antenna-HDB91X/dp/B00CX700EY

I do believe the Winegard HD9095P has been discontinued. But the 91XG does intrigue me. I've heard good things about it, and its overall db. gain.

What about this guy...the the HDB91X. Very similar in all aspects to the 91XG...at half the price!

You don't foresee any conflicts by "stacking" one of under my current antenna?

Thanks for the comeback!

This is the antenna I use for UHF. It’s one of the best I could find and it might be what’s necessary for your situation.

Xtreme Signal Long Range Yagi Style VHF/UHF HDTV Antenna (HDB91X) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CX700EY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_OctWCbY9WWTPE

Another great option is the DB-8 design.

Xtreme Signal HDB8X-NI 8-Bay VHF/UHF HDTV Bowtie Antenna https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CXQO00K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_C.tWCbKD1XGDH

Or this one? https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CX700EY#Ask

http://www.amazon.com/Mohu-Indoor-Antenna-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B00DHKKI16/ref=pd_ybh_5

I just received this today, and I'm on the 10th floor of a 26 floor building in center city, my windows face another building, and I just pulled in 50 channels.

The good - I get CBS, FOX, and NBC, so the majority of games are covered.

The bad - No 6ABC, but you'll probably have a better chance.

I recently bought a Mohu Leaf indoor antenna with amplifier: http://www.amazon.com/Mohu-Indoor-Antenna-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B00DHKKI16/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1408627856&sr=8-2&keywords=mohu+leaf+50
I live 20 mi. from the center of Boston and I am able to pick up nearly every broadcast channel in the greater Boston metro area. I am glad I finally cut the cord, the last straw was when my girlfriend started to buy a show on itunes because the DVR was running into problems. I suggest you buy this or another antenna and try it out. You can always return it if it doesn't do the job.

Can anyone please help me understand my tvfool "rating"?

Does this mean I won't be able to pickup FOX and ABC? I'm 100ft in the air (10th floor?) with clear line of sight to NY state.

Should I buy a Mohu Leaf 50? I believe it's their latest product. It's rated for 50 miles and FOX is 76 miles away so I wonder if this will help at all.

EDIT: I might try this CANT1650 from Future Shop and return it instore if not satisfied instead.

This maybe? $40 seems a lot nicer than $99...

http://www.amazon.com/Mohu-Indoor-Antenna-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B00DHKKI16/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1415129177&sr=8-2&keywords=mohu+leaf+ultimate

I bought this: http://www.amazon.com/Mohu-Indoor-Antenna-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B00DHKKI16

And I now have local Fox, CBS, PBS, NBC, ABC, UPN, and CW channels with almost perfect HD reception.

I have that, Netflix, and I'll be buying HBO now as soon as it is available on my LG TV's OS.

Bought this but a 50 mile version.

Been running the channel search a few times. Turned everything off and on and unplugged and plugged stuff back in.


I'm just confused why it showed up when I first plugged it in and was coming in perfectly and now it's not coming in at all.

You and I are in the same boat when it comes to how far our homes are from the transmission towers.

The [Mohu Leaf 50] (http://amzn.to/1PwvSat) works great for me. I have two at my house, and both pull in all the stations (and then some) from about 25 miles away from the transmission towers. You do have to spend a few minutes moving the antenna around your wall for optimal reception, but once you get it set, you're good to go.

Another thing you could do: Call Comcast and see if you can switch to their Digital Ecomony with Blast! promotion. The cost is around $55 to $60 a month depending on where you live and when you call. You get all your locals, a handful of very basic cable channels and 105 mbps Internet. This is what I have, and it's great.

You have a Triple Play bundle, so I'm guessing you also have home phone, and that's probably important to you. We also have a home phone, but it's separate from Comcast — we bought a refurbished [StraightTalk home phone system] (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Straight-Talk-Huawei-Prepaid-Home-Phone-with-15-Nationwide-Plan-Refurbished/44753494) that plugs into our existing phones and uses the AT&T Wireless network instead of a traditional landline. Service cost is $15 a month, and it works great.

Assuming you get the Digital Economy with Blast at $55 and home phone through StraightTalk for $15, you're looking at around $70 a month, or $130 less than what you're paying now (not including fees for Netflix and Amazon).

Amazon, Hulu, Netflix. We have a ClearStream Antenna mounted on the roof and get all the local stations fine (CBS is occasionally iffy).

Distance is an issue for you. Without knowing your apartment orientation, I would hope you are in the SW corner or at least the south side of the building. Distance is also an issue, so any OTA antenna needs to be able to reach distances, which is better for outdoor antennas.

I didn't have much luck with the flat indoor antenna's, regardless of the range, unless you really can mount them on a window, that faces the direction you need (which is South/SW)

You are looking at something like this: (and with the amplifier) https://www.amazon.com/ClearStream-Indoor-Outdoor-Antenna-Mount/dp/B00IITMTKE/?tag=10bestlongrangetvantennas-20

If you have a near by Best Buy or Walmart, you can try a couple antennas out and take them back if they don't work.

Replacing the antenna looks like it took care of the issue.

This is what I used:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IITMTKE/

Whoops, you just made me realize I linked the wrong antenna, this is my antenna:

http://amzn.com/B00IITMTKE

Pretty sure it's facing South-South-West, will have to double check. No metal roof. I still suspect my TV's tuner, I like the idea of buying an amp. Thanks, good info here!

I live in an apartment complex and I use these to get over the air channels. https://www.amazon.com/Mohu-Paper-thin-Reversible-Performance-MH-110543/dp/B00JC9J2NQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1472969862&sr=8-5&keywords=leaf+antenna

I have one in the front room and bedroom. They work great. I tried one of the amplified ones and it was horrible.

I use the leaf: https://www.amazon.com/Mohu-Paper-thin-Reversible-Performance-MH-110543/dp/B00JC9J2NQ

No problem getting any local station but I'm sure it depends on where exactly you are.

It's indispensable for live sports in my house. College football, playoffs, etc. But that's about all I use it for.

Depending on how far you are from your local broadcast towers and what the terrain is like, you could potentially get by with a little cheapie like this or even this.

I have a Mohu and an Amazon brand that looks identical to it. Both work alright, but our property is very wooded, so I upgraded to a big 15 foot antenna in the attic to make sure I get uninterrupted signal.

Just one note, if you have direct line of sight, you can get by with a little antenna. If you don't have direct LOS, no amount of amplification will help you, so don't waste your money. Only spend money on an amplified antenna if you have near direct LOS, but are a good distance away from the tower.

I haven't had cable/satellite tv in about 8 years. I bought an indoor HD antenna for my wife so she can watch Jimmy Fallon. I download/stream everything else.

Winegard Company FL-55YR Factory Refurbished Flatwave Amplified Indoor HDTV Antenna https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LAA45PA/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_4XPRub0ARCT29

I have this one.

Thanks, would this refurb be a good bet?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LAA45PA/

You need an electrically amplified antenna like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LAA45PA

Better results when mounted on or facing a window.

Maybe try a better antenna or moving your antenna higher? I have an antenna in my second floor window. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LAA45PA
It gets PBS, ABC, Fox, CBS, NBC and a few less common channels. In south Asheville.

Why do they have to be the odd duck? I have a Winegard amplified HD antenna and I still can't pick it up without it pixalating and cutting out. I live in Plano.

this guy

Get a Mohu leaf. It is the best HD antenna receiver I've ever used. Paper thin. It'I bought a clunky one from Walmart before with the supposed same specs at the same price range, and it barely got any reception.

Acceptable clone at half the price: https://www.amazon.com/1byone-Amplified-Antenna-Supply-Coaxial/dp/B00RFLGH5E/ref=pd_lpo_23_tr_t_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ZDH8K5RYHEXSFY98NEFW

this one: https://www.amazon.com/1byone-Amplified-Antenna-Supply-Coaxial/dp/B00RFLGH5E (it was a while ago, so probably something like it)

I can pick up channels ~20-25 mi outside of a major metro area. I brought it down to the beach and with the right positioning I was picking up channels 50+ mi away. father in law got a roof mounted antenna (not sure which one) which picked up even more channels.

so even at 50-60 I think you've still got a chance...the only thing that would be an issue is the broadcast power of your local stations. if they're really low, you might be out of luck :\

I had a cheap RCA one and it would lose signal during bad weather. I since bought this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RFLGH5E?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00 and have had 0 issues. I'm not sure how far the TV's are from each other, but you can also run a splitter from the antenna so you don't have to buy an antenna for each TV. I run one to two TV's with the antenna I linked and it works great.

I have an indoor 30 mile range antenna. It doesn't reach far enough.
I'm going to try a 50 mile range one, that is amplified and see if that works.


https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Ultra-Thin-Indoor-Antenna/dp/B01IN26Z5A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1538597560&sr=8-3&keywords=amazon%2Bantenna&th=1

I've tried just using rabbit ears but I still can't seem to get ABC or CBS. Any other tips on antenna types?

Would this amazon basics antenna be any better than what I have now? https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Ultra-Thin-Indoor-Antenna/dp/B01IN26Z5A/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1541386281&sr=8-4&keywords=antenna+amazon

In case anyone in the future searches antennas in r/airdrie .....

I bought this one off amazon for 35 bucks

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B01IN26Z5A/ref=psdcmw_680467011_t3_B07DPV9WSP

Works great. I get 6 channels crystal clear with the antenna thumbtacked to my wall hidden behind my tv.

Currently have this antenna and I get CBS/FOX but am having no luck finding an antenna that can also get NBC (for Sunday Night Football). Anyone have an recommendations?

I’ve got this one. In Murfreesboro I get all local channels. Some days I can pick some up out of Alabama.

Thank you all for the help. TVfool doesn't recognize my address, but I used the coordinates. Updated report is here: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3de6a4573dbc94bd
Honestly, the only VHF channel I want to receive is ABC (WPVI-TV channel 6). Is there any way to receive this without a HUGE antenna? I'm not sure I can fit it in my attic, and my wife won't let me put it outside. Is there any chance something like one of these two antennas would work, or are they garbage?
https://www.amazon.com/GE-Antenna-Compact-Enhanced-33692/dp/B00DNJZ58M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1487039749&sr=8-3&keywords=attic%2Bantenna&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/1byone-Amplified-Mounting-Extremely-Performance/dp/B01KUXVKK0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1487039749&sr=8-5&keywords=attic+antenna

I recently cut the cord and had trouble with 3 antennas until I tried this one: 1byone 85 Miles Digital Amplified Outdoor / Attic / Roof HDTV Antenna with VHF and UHF Band and Mounting Pole, Extremely High Performance https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KUXVKK0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_JKV6Ry57xSR6W
I live in Evans near Belair and Columbia Rd.

Would you mind giving me some advice on antenna? [tvfool] (http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3de6a43e118bd5e0)

I was looking into [This] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KUXVKK0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_sHzczb0ZVB3GJ) antenna but it seems by the signal analysis, might only need an indoor one.

I just got a 1byOne 85 mile radius that does both UHF and VHF. It works great. I had a grounding issue at my house (my grounding block is on one side of the house and the cable input to the house is on the other) so I moved it to the attic and it works just as well. I got like 95 channels... Of course 60% of them are Spanish/Shopping/Religious but I got the important ones too.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KUXVKK0/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apap_slRxJd5LuzQ7g

What about this?

https://www.amazon.com/1byone-Amplified-Mounting-Extremely-Performance/dp/B01KUXVKK0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1502241867&sr=8-4&keywords=attic+antenna

I did read the sidebar and it seems like there are a lot of variables, which is why I thought it was better to ask since I was left still pretty confused. I'm far away and the channels are roughly the same direction. Would a yagi style be better? Do I need an amplifier?


I was looking at this one, that supposedly has good ratings on Amazon (for what that's worth)
1byone 85 Miles Digital Amplified Outdoor / Attic / Roof HDTV Antenna with VHF and UHF Band and Mounting Pole, Extremely High Performance

As suggested earlier, sounds like you are missing the radios and antennas. Link below ...

https://www.amazon.com/Stratux-1090ES-UAT-Radios-Antennas/dp/B01M7NMWCD?ref_=ast_sto_dp

I used these: Amazon SDR Kit and I'm running the current version of stable 1.2r2

Is this what you're referring to?

Link

But is working? I mean are you able to have both on and see any 1090 traffic?

btw, are this the radios that failed? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7NMWCD/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm asking because I just bought a set

Here is what I use, not expensive and can go inside your house just not pretty to look at. I used it inside until I put it in my attic.

https://www.amazon.com/GE-29884-Outdoor-Attic-Antenna/dp/B01MYMVPVX

Out near Budweiser I've had good luck with this on my old satalite pole. I have, however, seemed to have lost channel 7 ABC since a few months back, even after several rescans. I have not tried repositioning yet.

GE 29884 Pro Outdoor/Attic Mount TV Antenna - 70 Mile Range - Outdoor/Attic HDTV Antenna for VHF/UHF Channels - Long Range with Compact Design -- Opti https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYMVPVX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_xFKIBJXbUjgJU

OTA antennas take only a small bit of skill. After realizing those flat HD antenna rectangles will not work for me, I got a decent OTA inside attic directional:
Antenna

But that wasn’t perfect so I added a booster which made everything clear.

Use a compass app on your phone to point the antenna to the Manayunk broadcast antenna cluster and you are set.

Plex Pass $75 for life on sale for streaming local and DVR. GE Antenna for $40 GE Pro Attic Mount TV Antenna, Outdoor, Attic, Long Range Antenna, Digital, HDTV Antenna, 4K 1080P VHF UHF, Compact Design, 29884 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYMVPVX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_25JvCbEME93A2

Netflix and Hulu only monthly bill.

All running on Roku 3s.

I use one like this, but I live ~30 miles with some hills from the city, so I had issues getting a few channels in the VHF range (namely, CBS). With this thing in my attic, I get everything.

If you're in-city (I assume you are), one of the suggested flat dealies will likely work fine, but buying bigger right away and getting all the channels you want is probably better than finding out a smaller antenna won't cut it and having to upgrade later.

Hello to all! I need a little help with Live TV....

I've been running Plex for about 4 years now but only as a bit of a lightweight. Nothing fancy at first just some basic media serving. I run an @home server only, no remote access. Plex is v 1.15.3.876-ad6e39743 and running on a Synology 918+ with three 8TB drives running a redundant BTFS configuration with about 14TB of usable space. My Radarr and Sonarr integrations are great and don't cause any problem. I own three TCL branded Roku TV sets. I don't typically have any issues watching any movies or TV shows. Little to no CPU and fairly small bandwidth (10-20Mbps). Almost nothing needed to transcode until I got to the TV stream from an HDHomerun. I started with a two tuner connect. It was having lots of problems including a wonky power connection. I replaced it initially with a quatro but I had the same performance issues. I read a few more posts and swapped it out yesterday for an Extend. I thought things would be great but when I installed the extend, the synology CPU goes to about 50% with hardware encoding enabled. On the dashboard screen it says it's transcoding from 1080i to 1080p for the video and the audio is direct stream. The stream buffers a lot and in the course of about an hour will be 15 minutes behind because of the buffer time.

I want to cut my cable so this is a pivotal component of that transition. Any help that anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

​

Antenna is in the attic with a pre-amp on the mast and a power component inside.

​

Amp is - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQN3R9O/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Antenna is - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MYMVPVX/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

Thanks!

Also, do products like these actually work? Would this solve my problem?

For $9 bucks these might be worth trying?

Check to see what 2.4GHz or 5.GHZ channels are congested then pick a channel that is not heavy used. In addition to an OTG cable, you can try this antenna booster. I've had mostly positive results with it. I've gone out to a mile with video only cutting out for a second or two.

Something like that https://www.amazon.com/Threeking-Controller-Extender-Parabolic-Accessories/dp/B072HFCC2S/

Ones for the mavic will fit the spark Signal booster

They boost the signal to help quality when flying within range of your bird of choice. Mavic or spark

Don’t forget OTG cable. Thats more important IMO.

Here’s a link, not sure if this is same brand but they’re probably more or less the same: Threeking Foldable Parabolic Signal Booster Range Extender Antenna Extender Compatible for DJI Mavic Pro/Mavic 2 Pro/Mavic 2 Zoom[Not fit DJI Smart Controller]/Spark/Mavic Air Remote Controller https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072HFCC2S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_biKRCbE656R2Y

Edit: Also important to note that it was a clear day with completely unobstructed line of sight. In my experience even one tree in line of sight can have significant
effect on range.

Watching on tv requires me to deal with an antenna and the quality is poor. 1080i sucks.

You have to deal with the random pixelation from a bad signal, so it is not any better than your average internet stream. This my antenna with this booster pointed in the correct direction for the channel according to antenna web. Still sucks. First floor, so I would have to mount it up on the roof or in the attic to maybe get it working better. Right now it is on this kind of pole and I used it just for football. All that work for nothing really. It definitely has a better signal, but still enough random problems to make it annoying. I live on the outskirts of downtown of a major city, there is no valid reason it should be this hard to get a tv signal.

It also restricts me to games broadcast locally, which aren't usually the games I want to watch and doesn't let me easily switch between games. With streaming, I just have multiple streams open and just switch which one is non-muted and full screen.

I was thinking about getting the nfl sunday ticket, but then found out it only allows a single stream at a time. So I still use free online streams.

I'm of the opinion of if you're gonna do it, do it right. Especially with all the money I'm saving by cutting cable. So I got the amplified Mohu Leaf. It's normally like 60-70 bucks but I got a refurb off amazon for 39.99, the price of the standard Leaf. It works so so so good. I can't wait to watch football in HD this weekend.. for free.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DHKKI16/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've been without cable tv for over 6 years. When it's windy I watch hulu, or some other streaming service. I have an outdoor antenna for one of my TV's and it works better than the indoor one I have on another TV. I use this antenna

I own this ClearStream unit and it's worked amazingly.

gotcha. i assume my report shows my signal is good enough that i don't need the amplified versions? i'm really only looking for the major networks any way for nfl playoffs and the super bowl.

this one seems to have got high marks everywhere. think it will do the trick?

thanks again for all the help. i'll toast you as i watch the games this weekend.

I bought the Mohu Leaf 30 and an then the leaf 50. Was disappointed with both. Bought this from Amazon...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KUXVKK0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have been very happy with it. I planned to mount it outside on the deck but found that it picks up the same amount of channels siting on me dresser pointing out of the window.

If most of the channels you want are in the same direction then you will be good to go. If not, you may need to adjust it from time to time.