Antenna?

[speakerman39]

I have a question regarding indoor antennas. I have a Walmart cheapo RCA brand that I bought for receiving my local FM radio stations. I recently purchased a 40" Sony LCD tv and hooked up the RCA antenna to it. Wanted to see how many stations I could get. Anyways, would an hdtv antenna do any better or is it just a bunch of marketing bs? Would a powered antenna do any better or once again is it just more marketing bs too? I know I can buy one and see but really dont want to haggle w/Walmart if I had to take it back. No need in buying something that really is NOT going to make much of a difference. Please help if you have already experimented with these above scenerios. Have a great day.

 

[markw]

I went tha troute a few years ago when I was "in transent" after a divorce. my experiences...

If you bought one of those tiny amplified FM antennas, they won't do much of anything for TV signals.

If you bought a rabbit ears type antenna that's designed for FM and VHF TV, you're doing about as good as you can.

If you go for an amplified version of the above, it may make a little difference, but not as much as one would think. Just keep fiddlin' with 'em for the best reception. This did help my FM reception, though.

There are no certainties when dealing with antennas. Unfortunately, the only real way to know what really works and what doesn't in your environment is to try it for yourself.

Can you do a rooftop antenna? That's the best way to go for TV (and FM) and the only guaranteed solution.

I never tried a "HD Antenna" but I'm getting tons of TV stations (digital, including HD, and analog)with my thirty five year old rooftop TV antenna.

 

[speakerman39]

I went tha troute a few years ago when I was "in transent" after a divorce. my experiences...

If you bought one of those tiny amplified FM antennas, they won't do much of anything for TV signals.

If you bought a rabbit ears type antenna that's designed for FM and VHF TV, you're doing about as good as you can.

If you go for an amplified version of the above, it may make a little difference, but not as much as one would think. Just keep fiddlin' with 'em for the best reception. This did help my FM reception, though.

There are no certainties when dealing with antennas. Unfortunately, the only real way to know what really works and what doesn't in your environment is to try it for yourself.

Can you do a rooftop antenna? That's the best way to go for TV (and FM) and the only guaranteed solution.

I never tried a "HD Antenna" but I'm getting tons of TV stations (digital, including HD, and analog)with my thirty five year old rooftop TV antenna.

Thanks for the info. I am still pondering if hdtv antennas are any better or just marketing bs. When I bought the Sony LCD all the salesman was saying is that the tv comes with a digital tuner. He further went on to say that because it was digital all of (or most of)my local stations would come in clear as a bell and in hd. It is true I did get a few but not all. There are still a few say 2 or 3 stations that I was hoping to get. As you mentioned I may need to just take a chance and try it for myself. If I do, I need some recommendations. Still yet, would it be worth investing $80-$90 dollars and installing a roof mounted unit??? Would i get more channels that way? Will FM stations come in cleaner as well? Been reading up on some of this antenna stuff BUT not really getting any answers. Seems like nobody knows for sure.

 

[markw]

This I can say for sure.

Radio reception is so dependent on your particular location, it's distancew from your stations and the terrain between you and them that nobody guarantee accurate answers, except your next door neighbor.

Still yet, would it be worth investing $80-$90 dollars and installing a roof mounted unit???

Yes, if not more.

Would i get more channels that way? Will FM stations come in cleaner as well?

Yes, but you must be sure the antenna is designed to work at the distance you are from the stations. The bigger, the better.

The antenna must be "aimed" at the stations you wish to recieve. If not, it won't work well. If your stations are in different directions, you should consider an antenna rotater.

And, digital tuners are a wonderful thing. The salesman did not lie. All Hi Def stations are digital, but not all digital stations are Hi Def.

Play with this for some info on FM in your area: http://www.radio-locator.com/

 

[Swerd]

Here is another link http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx.

It tells you how many TV stations broadcast in your area and which ones are digital. Enter your street address and zip code. Uncheck the two boxes for marketing info (unless you really want that stuff). It also suggests what type of TV antennas should work for you. If you click on the View Street Level Map button, you can see the various directions that broadcast stations are in relation to your home.

Note that many (if not all) digital broadcast stations are in the UHF band, channel 14 and up. Any antenna that receives standard UHF will also work for digital. You do not need a special digital TV antenna.

 

[jlyttle]

This may help if the signals fall within he normal FM band.

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/mwant/0143.html

 

[Bryce_H]

I worked off the antennaweb site and figured out all my local HD channels. Then I went to Best Buy and pricematched a Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna for Off-Air HDTV Reception off Amazon. Installed it in the attic, lined up the compass bearing, patched the cable to the HT in the basement, and whola - local HD channels. My signal strength for all stations are high (75+) and the picture looks great.

Don't know about the FM.

 

[speakerman39]

Would like to thank everyone that has offered me some good sound advice. This has helped me a lot.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

There is no such thing as an "HD antenna". They are simply UHF antennas. Your best reception would be with a rooftop outdoor antenna. I went though this before putting up a large 120" rooftop antenna to receive all VHF/UHF/digital channels, and it was worth the hassle. It's 2x as effective as putting it in the attic. You do have to aim it at your local stations for best results. If HD channels are your goal, the CM 4228 the best antenna you can buy. You can even mount it along side the house as long as you have a clear shot to the local stations (no trees or houses in the way). If you have cable, many cable companies will give you (free of charge) an antenna like this as well as install it. Don't waste your money on powered "HD" antennas that look like flying saucers. They don't compare. You can get similar reception with rabbit ears if you're in town.

http://www.pctinternational.com/channelmaster/antennas_outdoor_uhf.html

 

[speakerman39]

There is no such thing as an "HD antenna". They are simply UHF antennas. Your best reception would be with a rooftop outdoor antenna. I went though this before putting up a large 120" rooftop antenna to receive all VHF/UHF/digital channels, and it was worth the hassle. It's 2x as effective as putting it in the attic. You do have to aim it at your local stations for best results. If HD channels are your goal, the CM 4228 the best antenna you can buy. You can even mount it along side the house as long as you have a clear shot to the local stations (no trees or houses in the way). If you have cable, many cable companies will give you (free of charge) an antenna like this as well as install it. Don't waste your money on powered "HD" antennas that look like flying saucers. They don't compare. You can get similar reception with rabbit ears if you're in town.

http://www.pctinternational.com/channelmaster/antennas_outdoor_uhf.html

Great advice there. Thanks a bunch. Had to down-grade some of my cable services due to budget woes. Just trying to save a few dollars because it may be a while before I can regroup so to speak. We are all feeling the crunch. But thanks just the same.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I have a question regarding indoor antennas. I have a Walmart cheapo RCA brand that I bought for receiving my local FM radio stations.

Is this for an FM radio you now have? Is it doing its job with that FM radio? Is it an FM antenna or a TV antenna and for what channels?


I recently purchased a 40" Sony LCD tv and hooked up the RCA antenna to it. Wanted to see how many stations I could get.

And, is it pulling in any TV stations? Do you have close-by TV stations to receive? How far is the nearest one? Others?
Don't forget, the signal from an antenna will have lots of noise and other artifacts and your picture will look like back in the 1960s before cable TV, ghosts, noise, etc.

Anyways, would an hdtv antenna do any better or is it just a bunch of marketing bs?

Not marketing, but you have to have a station not far that transmits digital and HD signals. But, it will only pull in those signals, period.

 

[Swerd]

Something new in TV antennas?

Just when I thought that there was nothing new in OTA TV reception, I found a new product that might be something different. It is a Winegard SquareShooter antenna. It was designed to receive TV VHF Hi-band (channels 7-13) and UHF (channels 14-69), the range of bands that all HDTV is using. The passive version has an average gain of 4.5 dB in this range, and claims a range of 35-45 miles for analog signals and 40-50 miles for digital signals. It will also work, less well, for VHF Low-band (channels 2-6). There is also an amplified version, that should deliver somewhat greater gain. It should be useful for urban and suburban HDTV reception for people who want an alternative to more expensive and often less reliable cable TV. See the spec sheet.

It was clearly designed to look similar to 18" dish satellite antennas. It is square 16 × 16 × 4" and covered in gray plastic similar to dish antennas. The small size makes it easy to install in variety of locations.

Winegard has patented it and claims it was derived from military designs never used in home antennas. They claim it is especially good at rejecting multipath signals common in urban/suburban areas that cause ghosting in analog TVs.

 

[mtrycrafts]

This may help if the signals fall within he normal FM band.

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/mwant/0143.html

It's interesting that that company claims a 213% increase over a dipole and it sure looks like on, no other elements.

 

[speakerman39]

I have a question regarding indoor antennas. I have a Walmart cheapo RCA brand that I bought for receiving my local FM radio stations.

Is this for an FM radio you now have? Is it doing its job with that FM radio? Is it an FM antenna or a TV antenna and for what channels?


I recently purchased a 40" Sony LCD tv and hooked up the RCA antenna to it. Wanted to see how many stations I could get.

And, is it pulling in any TV stations? Do you have close-by TV stations to receive? How far is the nearest one? Others?
Don't forget, the signal from an antenna will have lots of noise and other artifacts and your picture will look like back in the 1960s before cable TV, ghosts, noise, etc.

Anyways, would an hdtv antenna do any better or is it just a bunch of marketing bs?

Not marketing, but you have to have a station not far that transmits digital and HD signals. But, it will only pull in those signals, period.

My inexpensive Walmart special is for VHF/ UHF and FM radio stations. It does a decent job of most local stations BUT my favortie for some reason will not come in very well. I listen to another station that my favorite owns as well and it comes through just fine. My antenna will also pull in a few local tv stations but thought it would pull in a few more because I live within 15 miles for all BUT (1). It would be nice to get that one in too. More specifically, the nearest tv station is about .7 mile away and the furtherest is 32.1 miles away.

 

[mtrycrafts]

My inexpensive Walmart special is for VHF/ UHF and FM radio stations. It does a decent job of most local stations BUT my favortie for some reason will not come in very well. I listen to another station that my favorite owns as well and it comes through just fine. My antenna will also pull in a few local tv stations but thought it would pull in a few more because I live within 15 miles for all BUT (1). It would be nice to get that one in too. More specifically, the nearest tv station is about .7 mile away and the furtherest is 32.1 miles away.

Are they in multiple locations from you by a compass direction? Antennas have reception patterns, lobes. More effective in one direction than another. And, depending an antenna design, how narrow or broad that lobe is. So, you may need to turn that antenna for the other stations, at least to test the antenna for its effectiveness. But, if the antenna works for you well enough but must turn it, then that is a consideration. In the days of antennas, some used rotors to turn the antenna. The distance is not that far, except that 32mi one. Are there hills, other obstructions in the way? TV and Fm signals are pretty much a line of sight signal.
Is cable TV not an option?

 

[speakerman39]

Are they in multiple locations from you by a compass direction? Antennas have reception patterns, lobes. More effective in one direction than another. And, depending an antenna design, how narrow or broad that lobe is. So, you may need to turn that antenna for the other stations, at least to test the antenna for its effectiveness. But, if the antenna works for you well enough but must turn it, then that is a consideration. In the days of antennas, some used rotors to turn the antenna. The distance is not that far, except that 32mi one. Are there hills, other obstructions in the way? TV and Fm signals are pretty much a line of sight signal.
Is cable TV not an option?

Hey mtry, I live in Kentucky-lots of hills here. Just kiddin. Yes, there are a few obstacles close to my home. Have a couple of trees that are kinda tall and up on a small hill opposite my living-room. Probably why I cant get some of the stations I am wanting to get.

 

[speakerman39]

Just when I thought that there was nothing new in OTA TV reception, I found a new product that might be something different. It is a Winegard SquareShooter antenna. It was designed to receive TV VHF Hi-band (channels 7-13) and UHF (channels 14-69), the range of bands that all HDTV is using. The passive version has an average gain of 4.5 dB in this range, and claims a range of 35-45 miles for analog signals and 40-50 miles for digital signals. It will also work, less well, for VHF Low-band (channels 2-6). There is also an amplified version, that should deliver somewhat greater gain. It should be useful for urban and suburban HDTV reception for people who want an alternative to more expensive and often less reliable cable TV. See the spec sheet.

It was clearly designed to look similar to 18" dish satellite antennas. It is square 16 × 16 × 4" and covered in gray plastic similar to dish antennas. The small size makes it easy to install in variety of locations.

Winegard has patented it and claims it was derived from military designs never used in home antennas. They claim it is especially good at rejecting multipath signals common in urban/suburban areas that cause ghosting in analog TVs.

Thanks for the info and the links. May check it out as there is a dealer not too far from where I reside.

 

[apatel25314]

well i heard directtv is gonna launce new hd sattelites this year so that may be a cheap alternative.