Topic: best digital TV antenna
Richard 's photo
Sat 11/13/21 04:07 PM
Edited by Richard on Sat 11/13/21 04:07 PM
any one using one for free over the air broadcasts.
I have bought several for urban use, and even tho the towers are less then 15 miles away. I cant receive. prior to digital signals, I was getting 15 analog channels.
in my van out side the city, I can get 23 channels including HD.

any one have a suggestion for cleaning up urban digital reception ??

nice1for_u's photo
Sat 11/13/21 05:04 PM
Digital OTA broadcasts get the best reception with line of sight towers. If there is obstructions or hills etc between the antenna and tower, reception signal degrades. Basically with top of the line equipment, about 80 miles is the limit due to curvature of the earth. You will need to research your area and the frequencies the possible antenna stations to match to the antenna you use. Signal amps are great for distant stations or long cable runs BUT they can overpower the signal for close stations and you will lose those.

no photo
Sat 11/13/21 05:06 PM
I'm 50 to 80 miles away from TV broadcast towers and I pick up 30 channels using an old annlalog antenna. Some have "T" connected two digital
antennas, and if possible run coaxial cable outside to a high point where you won't get interference from metal buildings.

no photo
Sat 11/13/21 05:12 PM
I was using an indoor antenna for a short time. It was good for about 15 channels.

TxsGal3333's photo
Sat 11/13/21 06:18 PM
Not sure the brand name of the antenna I bought.. But got it at Walmart it picks up to 80 miles away..It is a inside antenna paid under $40 for it. With just the antenna I get all the local channels plus several more..

Since I have internet I bought a Wifi modem and put Roku on all of my tv's.

With the Wifi I can get a lot of free channels..

By putting those on my tv's I save $130 a month in cable bills.. Best thing I ever did..

Of course I had to buy a antenna and Roku for each tv.




maybwecan's photo
Sun 11/14/21 08:27 AM

Not sure the brand name of the antenna I bought.. But got it at Walmart it picks up to 80 miles away..It is a inside antenna paid under $40 for it. With just the antenna I get all the local channels plus several more..

Since I have internet I bought a Wifi modem and put Roku on all of my tv's.

With the Wifi I can get a lot of free channels..

By putting those on my tv's I save $130 a month in cable bills.. Best thing I ever did..

Of course I had to buy a antenna and Roku for each tv.






Cut the cable TV cord years ago...only internet service now...

My smart TV which is a few years old can receive wifi...input source selections includes its own "smart channel" which consists of many apps including the most popular ones (NETFLIx, YOUTUBE, etc)...many are FREE and do not require subscription or payment...

I often do not need to use my ROKU because the smart channel option has many of the same apps and are not affected by any dispute between ROKU and a specific app.

Richard 's photo
Wed 12/01/21 10:55 AM
thank you everyone ..

part of my problem is, i'm in an apt, that dont allow exterior antenna's. another problem is I'm in an industrial zone, so theres a lot of power lines and transformers.
you all have given me somethings to think about.
I've used everything from 30 mile flat antenna's to 90 mile multi directional antenna's.

on somee days if I'm lucky, I can get a few channels (5-12) on others I get nothing but static. or a blank screen. overcast days seem to be best (atmaspheric bounce??) I have powered signal enhancers, but they dont seam to make a difference.

thanks for the help.

TxsGal3333's photo
Wed 12/01/21 11:24 AM
Even with my inside antenna at times it will not give me the channels due to static or blank screen and all I have had to do it move the antenna around on those days and it picks them up..

Richard 's photo
Mon 12/13/21 09:59 AM
thanks,
I;m kinda limited as to how much I can
move it around.
and still have it in or by a window with the best open view.
but ive been trying that ,as well as different types /
I just got a 100' eithernet cable. Ill try hooking up my blu ray to my motem, to see what kinda free access I can get with it. Im not verry tech savy on this. but Im willing to try.

TxsGal3333's photo
Mon 12/13/21 10:20 AM
Actually the one in my living room is not even near a window it is up above the door frame and picks up better then the ones I have in my bedroom or office which is by a window..

Richard 's photo
Wed 12/22/21 01:16 PM
thats interesting Txsgal.. my walls are pretty thick. insolated. wire stucco exterior, plastered sheet rock interior with metal railings and covered walkway. not the best.
old fashioned radio waves worked pretty good. befor digital, I had great
analog reception. my bedroom faces away from towers, and also has a car port blocking clear sky
the gov. public broadcasting seems to have a real strong transmitter. guessing that, because I can get it pretty good sometimes.

Richard 's photo
Mon 12/27/21 11:02 AM
Edited by Richard on Mon 12/27/21 11:07 AM
it is snowing. and I've got 3 channels back CBS fox and charge.
weird thing,, I flipped the flat antenna from thw black side to the white side set at the same angles. as I had tried before. and I put the holder on the top part so it is now also upside down, as well as backwards. dont know how long it will last (might hust because of the heavier cloud cover?? . but do find it interesting.
I have not had time to run the Ethernet cable .. from my modem to my blue ray. people say theres a lot of free stuff that dont need subscriptions. but I'm not finding it yet. with my PC. even my hulu account that use to be free when it first came on line, is not any longer.