Help me out with free TV.
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N80
Super Member
Excellent advice, as usual for TBN, thanks guys.
My roofline is very high. The painter rented a man lift! So I won't be going up there to put a pole up.
I think I'll try a small indoor antenna first and see what I get. At one of the big box stores I saw a rather large antenna that is made to go in the attic. Is that something that might work?
My roofline is very high. The painter rented a man lift! So I won't be going up there to put a pole up.
I think I'll try a small indoor antenna first and see what I get. At one of the big box stores I saw a rather large antenna that is made to go in the attic. Is that something that might work?
LD48750
Veteran Member
As I said, my antenna is standing on my deck, no where near the top of the house.
And yes, all your current coax will work, just hook the antenna where the cable used to come into the house.
Just can't run both through the same coax at the same time.
Indoor antennas are no where near as good as outdoor.
RalphVa
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2003
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- 7,885
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- Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Tractor
- JD 2025R, previously Gravely 5650 & JD 4010 & JD 1025R
We're about 6 or 8 miles out of Charlottesville, Va. With rabbit ears, we can get ABC, CBS, Fox & NBC plus 4 PBS channels. Also get 2 weather channels and 3 others via the local CBS and NBC transmissions. Occasionally can get the PBS channels from a completely (and farther away) source.
It's weird though. In our main TV room, it has trouble bringing in ABC and sometimes CBS. Have tried various other devices other than the rabbit ears on it with no success. Rabbit ears work as well as anything. We do have DirecTV (have a Comcast cable into the house, but you cannot deal with them any more after being bought out by some big outfit). DirecTV has the local channels and solved the occasional ABC/CBS access problems.
You don't need boxes, etc. just a cable from the Rabbit ears. Just have to turn the TV selection to "antenna" vs. cable.
Ralph
It's weird though. In our main TV room, it has trouble bringing in ABC and sometimes CBS. Have tried various other devices other than the rabbit ears on it with no success. Rabbit ears work as well as anything. We do have DirecTV (have a Comcast cable into the house, but you cannot deal with them any more after being bought out by some big outfit). DirecTV has the local channels and solved the occasional ABC/CBS access problems.
You don't need boxes, etc. just a cable from the Rabbit ears. Just have to turn the TV selection to "antenna" vs. cable.
Ralph
Redbug
Veteran Member
I have been using an older model of this antenna for the last 15 years or so. Omni-directional and you can mount it upside down in your attic if you want. Comes with the amplifier.
Amazon.com: Winegard MS-3 5 MetroStar Digital 36 VHF/UHF Amplified Omnidirectional Outdoor HDTV Antenna Black: Electronics
Amazon.com: Winegard MS-3 5 MetroStar Digital 36 VHF/UHF Amplified Omnidirectional Outdoor HDTV Antenna Black: Electronics
The larger parts of analog tv antennas, were meant to receive the parts of the television band that has been abandoned, during the digital conversion.
So, while a large analog antenna will work fine for receiving digital tv, the newer designs, take the digital change into consideration, so they are not nearly as big as they used to be.
That being said, there is plenty of snake oil out there. So, beware.
If you are close enough to the transmitter, a piece of bare wire can receive a signal. So, some people will insist the "gimic" stuff works great. Make sure you can return it, if it fails to deliver for you.
So, while a large analog antenna will work fine for receiving digital tv, the newer designs, take the digital change into consideration, so they are not nearly as big as they used to be.
That being said, there is plenty of snake oil out there. So, beware.
If you are close enough to the transmitter, a piece of bare wire can receive a signal. So, some people will insist the "gimic" stuff works great. Make sure you can return it, if it fails to deliver for you.
bunyip
Elite Member
K7LN, I disagree on one small point re coax, I have found that if you don't use quad RG6 it can be (but not always) susceptible to interference from electrical sources, also 'F' connect on splitters and diplexers will eliminate a lot of pixelating when electrical devices are switched on and off.
Not always the case but I like the insurance of not having to do it again.
One major problem we used to encounter was electricians doing antenna installs, they generally seem to have no concept of RF and treat it like house wiring, I have seen coax 'strangled' with cable ties and hate to think what the impedance would be, also work on the more signal the better, saw one install with an amp putting out close to 160dbmv, wondered why the TV didn't work
My own choice of antenna is a log periodic, high gain yet compact, at my place I use a band 3-4-5 which covers the entire digital spectrum with about a 9dbmv gain.
Not always the case but I like the insurance of not having to do it again.
One major problem we used to encounter was electricians doing antenna installs, they generally seem to have no concept of RF and treat it like house wiring, I have seen coax 'strangled' with cable ties and hate to think what the impedance would be, also work on the more signal the better, saw one install with an amp putting out close to 160dbmv, wondered why the TV didn't work
My own choice of antenna is a log periodic, high gain yet compact, at my place I use a band 3-4-5 which covers the entire digital spectrum with about a 9dbmv gain.
robbyr
Veteran Member
And here the wife and I have almost the top package or maybe it is the top package from Directv. And I spend most of my time on Facebook or TBN.
JD15302155870
Bronze Member
You should be able to pick up all the stations from Charlotte and some from Columbia. We live about 6o miles from Atlanta close to I 85 and we pick up all the Atlanta stations and some from Greenville. All we use is the old analog antenna that we put on top of the house more than 30years ago long before digital was available. This antenna will pick up digital stations very well. I have no idea how these new digital antenna will reach. I doubt they would work as well as the commercials promise