HDTV antennas? Good, bad, ugly?

S

Sid Post

Joined
Oct 14, 1998
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I have a flat $40 amplified RCA HDTV antenna I bought from Wal-Mart that sort of works. It is supposed to be "Omni-directional" but isn't. Channels frequently stop working or work intermittently.

What should I be looking for in a better antenna? Specific model recommendations are appreciated. I live ~20 miles from most of the TV stations so, I guess I'm in a 'fringe' area. I'm on the third floor of an apartment complex on a rise so, I don't have buildings or terrain obstructing my "line of sight".
 
Sid, I did a related thread recently here. Not exactly on your topic, though some posts did touch on it. I too am interested in a good attic antenna (or similar), as the small digital antennas I have on each tv don't really cut it.
 
I can't give you specifics since mine is up in the attic, but I went with a big round thing (about 2 ft diameter) that cost about $100 several years ago. Since my house was wired for cable and I've never had cable (and never will), I used the existing cable wiring that was already run to the rooms that I want. Works really well.
 
I have a realistic amplified antenna that I hooked up first, the channels came in ok but my sister that lives next door said they got more channels so I just hooked up an old roof antenna that has been on the house for the past 30 years or so and now I get everything they do. I really think all it needs is to be up in the air with no major obstructions and it will work fine.
 
Mohu leaf..good reviews wherever I looked.

I currently have one...great reception on all but one channel in my area. I have no doubt if I move it to the attic, it would bring in all in my area.
 
bhyde said:
Mohu leaf..good reviews wherever I looked.

I currently have one...great reception on all but one channel in my area. I have no doubt if I move it to the attic, it would bring in all in my area.
Click to expand...
I have the amplified version and it works great. It's in my shop which is at a low point in the yard. Much better than any of the others I've tried. Being thin and flat, it doesn't take up any room at all.
 
Thanks everyone! It looks mohu has a new model out that seems to be getting great reviews. I'll probably give it a try.
 
Update .....

Well after an unplanned career change, I'm now headed for rural Texas. Any recommendations for the 100+ mile pole mounted directional antennas? I'm ~90 miles out of the major TV areas so, indoor antennas aren't going to work. :(

I'm trying to avoid satellite TV (Direct/Dish) so, I'm looking for recommendations for amplifiers and antennas so I can have a good clean HDTV signal off a pole that clears the trees.

TIA,
Sid
 
What's on TV that you can't watch a on your computer ... albeit it might be few days later?
 
First of all, you need an error'net connection. If I get a hard line phone, I guess I could go old school and use a modem. Mom's 128K "broadband" connection is painful enough to cause me to skip youtube at her house. I can't imagine loading a newscast over it. The last Windows OS update I did took several hours to download. The phone company says they can beat that but, at $80 a month for 2Gb service on a 2 year contract, the dish options become a lot more attractive.

Then there is real time weather and news. McDonald's and the library in town are fine for email and brief forum visits but, the library is only open 8:30am-5:00pm T-F and a half day on Saturday and McDonalds in this little town is pretty small so I'm not hogging a booth for an hour or more.
 
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