Over the air TV antenna question

[BC38]

https://transition.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/dtvmaps/
I'm about ready to tell Comcast to stick it, but this link shows we would only get 7 channels OTA in my zip code. It's looking like Dish or Direct are my best alternatives...

 

[kwselke]

OTA digital TV broadcasts use the UHF frequencies, thus HD TV antennas do not need the VHF rabbit ear component.

I have been using indoor amplified HD antennas for about six years with great success. I get about 50 channels here in Houston and the local CBS' affiliates three channels/sub-channels are the only ones I consistently have problems receiving.

If I could put the antennas in a window I'm sure I could get better reception. The flat panel antenna under my desk feeds a TV turner card in my computer. That antenna was about $35 at Home Depot. The smaller antenna on top of the bookshelf feeds a dedicated HD TV and was about $35 at Sam's Club six years or so ago. I find OTA broadcast supplemented with online streaming is all I need. If you can put up an outdoor HD TV antenna and are a reasonable distance from the transmission tower you will most likely be shocked by what you can get for free OTA.

 

[smokindog]

Not true about HD being UHF. ATSC (HD) is on both UHF and VHF depending on the market. It is true that most ended up in the UHF spectrum because it was the east populated, it has nothing to do with HD.

Look at www.antennaweb.org and you'll see that even HOU has CBS on VHF.

OTA digital TV broadcasts use the UHF frequencies, thus HD TV antennas do not need the VHF rabbit ear component.

I have been using indoor amplified HD antennas for about six years with great success. I get about 50 channels here in Houston and the local CBS' affiliates three channels/sub-channels are the only ones I consistently have problems receiving.

If I could put the antennas in a window I'm sure I could get better reception. The flat panel antenna under my desk feeds a TV turner card in my computer. That antenna was about $35 at Home Depot. The smaller antenna on top of the bookshelf feeds a dedicated HD TV and was about $35 at Sam's Club six years or so ago. I find OTA broadcast supplemented with online streaming is all I need. If you can put up an outdoor HD TV antenna and are a reasonable distance from the transmission tower you will most likely be shocked by what you can get for free OTA.

 

[billwill]

My son put one in our mtn cabin and we get a dozen or so channels .... and yes they are all in HD. Go figure.


Charlie

Charlie...which one did he install. I need to do something at my place too. Got tired of paying for the deer to watch Dish !

 

[kwselke]

Not true about HD being UHF. ATSC (HD) is on both UHF and VHF depending on the market. It is true that most ended up in the UHF spectrum because it was the east populated, it has nothing to do with HD.

Look at AntennaWeb - Home and you'll see that even HOU has CBS on VHF.

It has been years since I researched it and had no problems with the Houston channels 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 until I moved last year. I just figured my problem with those channels was antenna placement, stand corrected, and do not worry about it. My nephew has an outdoor antenna in his attic and gets all Houston OTA channels perfectly. My sister and B-I-L have indoor amplified antennas and have issues with Houston Public TV's multiple channels. If you have broadband Internet and Wi-Fi streaming devices to supplement OTA TV, in my opinion you'll get the best bang for your buck. If you are a big sports fan you might not be happy with your options. Forty channels and nothing good on or 100 channels with nothing good on, but it cost me $40 a month for 100 channels. I can live with 40 channels for free.

 

[e3mrk]

My Son and I built a HD Antenna from a 2x4 and some Coat Hangars from instructions found on the Internet.The surprising thing is it works pretty good but it is directional.

 

[old tanker]

The most annoying problem with digital signals and directional antennas is the old rotate slowly to get the best picture doesn't work very well. You'll either see a crisp, ghost-free picture or no picture at all. Since it takes a second or so for the signal to process, you can rotate through the right spot without seeing a thing. You pretty much need to know the direction the antenna must be oriented beforehand.

Here's a good site to figure out what you can get from your location.

TV Fool

 

[LVSteve]

Not true about HD being UHF. ATSC (HD) is on both UHF and VHF depending on the market. It is true that most ended up in the UHF spectrum because it was the east populated, it has nothing to do with HD.

Look at www.antennaweb.org and you'll see that even HOU has CBS on VHF.

True here too. The NBC affiliate is down in the low VHF band and the CBS affiliate carrying the Superbowl is in the high VHF band.

I think the reason many of the "HD" antennas have an active component is to make up for their lack of aperture in the VHF bands.

 

[smokindog]

Ya, HD antenna is all marketing. There is no such thing. Everyone I've ever seen is UHF only. Buying an antenna is the same as it was 40 years ago. AntennaWeb - Home

True here too. The NBC affiliate is down in the low VHF band and the CBS affiliate carrying the Superbowl is in the high VHF band.

I think the reason many of the "HD" antennas have an active component is to make up for their lack of aperture in the VHF bands.