I think this is hardware, but it might well be general discussion or off-topic. I won't be offended if it gets moved. And my searching didn't find one, so.
what observations have people had on the choice of antenna, whether indoor, outdoor, or amplified?
Any particular brands that work well, or to be avoided?
I've got a general assumption that running two or four tuners, and after a splitter the television at that, is going to tax the signal more than just feeding straight to a television.
At the moment, I have an RCA ANT4WHE1, about ten bucks at Walmart. It gets the closest stations well, but there is no feasible non-ugly place near the television and rack that lets it get weaker ones, so unless the amplifier I just order works, it will go back.
Also, RCA's app to find direction is quite limited--it only works on stations that, for whatever reason, they chose to include. So it includes a station 90 miles away, but not one just a few miles a way with channels my wife wants.
at the moment, I'm only connected to the television, with parts still arriving.
antenna selection discussion
Moderator: Forum Moderators
Re: antenna selection discussion
Antennas usually involve compromises. The 'best' one depends on your exact circumstances. Enter your address in one of the signal estimating web sites and come back with the results.
The only hard and fast rule is that outdoor antennas mounted high up are superior to all indoor antennas. Depending on the construction of your home, around half of the otherwise available signal is attenuated by building materials.
Craig
The only hard and fast rule is that outdoor antennas mounted high up are superior to all indoor antennas. Depending on the construction of your home, around half of the otherwise available signal is attenuated by building materials.
Craig
Formerly the MacPorts guy.
Re: antenna selection discussion
To the OP,
I went with a GE antenna and mounted it in the attic. See here https://www.amazon.com/GE-29884-Outdoor ... 73786&th=1
From the school of hard knocks, make sure you get good reception before you amplify or split the signal. So, I recommend using a TV to continue testing signal strength and put the antenna in the right place to start with.
I also went with the GE amplifier and 4-way splitter combo (exceptional results). See here https://www.amazon.com/GE-4-Way-Distrib ... UH1SE&th=1
Finally, TV Fool is what I used and it was very helpful for directing the antenna. See here https://www.tvfool.com/
Hope this helps.
I went with a GE antenna and mounted it in the attic. See here https://www.amazon.com/GE-29884-Outdoor ... 73786&th=1
From the school of hard knocks, make sure you get good reception before you amplify or split the signal. So, I recommend using a TV to continue testing signal strength and put the antenna in the right place to start with.
I also went with the GE amplifier and 4-way splitter combo (exceptional results). See here https://www.amazon.com/GE-4-Way-Distrib ... UH1SE&th=1
Finally, TV Fool is what I used and it was very helpful for directing the antenna. See here https://www.tvfool.com/
Hope this helps.
Re: antenna selection discussion
A $40 RCA from Walmart arrived yesterday, and is working well:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/RCA-Amplifie ... /752836166
it's a soft flexible pad, probably a foot and a half by a foot. We now seem to get everything clearly (well, as clearly as some of those over compressed channels can get [but the blocks are nice and clear
]).
UPDATE: it only gets the weaker stations in the evening, getting nothing in the morning and afternoon.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/RCA-Amplifie ... /752836166
it's a soft flexible pad, probably a foot and a half by a foot. We now seem to get everything clearly (well, as clearly as some of those over compressed channels can get [but the blocks are nice and clear
]).UPDATE: it only gets the weaker stations in the evening, getting nothing in the morning and afternoon.
Last edited by dochawk on Sun Feb 05, 2023 11:44 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Re: antenna selection discussion
I found another to avoid.
Amazon's "PBD WA-2608 Digital Amplified Outdoor HD TV Antenna with Mounting Pole"
it worked nicely at first during indoor testing.
However, it seemed to come and go.
After two days of putzing around, I happened to brush the input cable, and suddenly the channel came in.
Further investigation showed that the two F connections were loose, presumably not soldered firmly to the board inside!
So it's going back for build quality.
also, it's a *lot* of plastic to be facing the southern sun in the high desert, where 117 is a common summer temperature . . .
Meanwhile, I noticed that from much of my front yard, I can actually *see* the tower with the weaker station my wife wants! (8.2 miles away on a mountaintop). From my family room , though, in addition to being blocked by multiple house walls, it's blocked by a newly constructed multi-floor school building across the street.
So, with cable already going out to my front yard, I took the first $10 antenna and stuck it on the aimed antenna , at the end of 40 feet of an old RG6 cable with a clear line of sight and no amplifier--and they all came in beautifully.
So I'll look for a fairly small and inexpensive outdoor antenna that can hang from the rafter of my porch roof, and pass cable through the garage and attic to the living room.
Amazon's "PBD WA-2608 Digital Amplified Outdoor HD TV Antenna with Mounting Pole"
it worked nicely at first during indoor testing.
However, it seemed to come and go.
After two days of putzing around, I happened to brush the input cable, and suddenly the channel came in.
Further investigation showed that the two F connections were loose, presumably not soldered firmly to the board inside!
So it's going back for build quality.
also, it's a *lot* of plastic to be facing the southern sun in the high desert, where 117 is a common summer temperature . . .
Meanwhile, I noticed that from much of my front yard, I can actually *see* the tower with the weaker station my wife wants! (8.2 miles away on a mountaintop). From my family room , though, in addition to being blocked by multiple house walls, it's blocked by a newly constructed multi-floor school building across the street.
So, with cable already going out to my front yard, I took the first $10 antenna and stuck it on the aimed antenna , at the end of 40 feet of an old RG6 cable with a clear line of sight and no amplifier--and they all came in beautifully.
So I'll look for a fairly small and inexpensive outdoor antenna that can hang from the rafter of my porch roof, and pass cable through the garage and attic to the living room.