bubinga
Well-known member
I can't put it on the roof. Unless I mount it outside a window somehow.
Digital TV antenna
- Thread starter isuhunter
- Start date
My suggestion go check out your address with the websites suggested and see approximate what towers are available and what antenna are recommended. Get a pre-amp if you need to. (Not distribution amps)
I think that quad advertise as 75+ miles or something but that number is for ideal condition. But at least you can mounted it out the windows, I think it still come with a mount similar to the satellite dish style but smaller sizes.
**** There are also apps that can help you if you have some what smart phone with GPS and compass capability. I used the app called "Antenna Point" on iphone, I think it is available on android platform also. WIth android there are plenty more choices. just search "antenna", even ones for satellite TV... satellite pointing, I don't have android any more so can't confirm yeah/nay...
I think that quad advertise as 75+ miles or something but that number is for ideal condition. But at least you can mounted it out the windows, I think it still come with a mount similar to the satellite dish style but smaller sizes.
**** There are also apps that can help you if you have some what smart phone with GPS and compass capability. I used the app called "Antenna Point" on iphone, I think it is available on android platform also. WIth android there are plenty more choices. just search "antenna", even ones for satellite TV... satellite pointing, I don't have android any more so can't confirm yeah/nay...
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Old Man Roger
Well-known member
It’s a dvr from Amazon. It gives you a free guide and can record broadcast tv. No monthly charge.
HenryAZ
MEMBER EMERITUS
Antenna Web does not correctly interpret line of sight when making recommendations. If you have a true, unobstructed line of sight to the transmitters, you can easily use an antenna smaller than their choice. I do have that line of sight (even at 68 miles distance) and use a smaller antenna to draw in the PHX stations perfectly.
For pointing your yagi antenna, TV Fool is the best site to use. Input your GPS coordinates, and it will provide exact compass bearings to your transmitters.
And if you can find a cooperative specimen, a hawk will add about 5db of gain.
For pointing your yagi antenna, TV Fool is the best site to use. Input your GPS coordinates, and it will provide exact compass bearings to your transmitters.
And if you can find a cooperative specimen, a hawk will add about 5db of gain.
da_offroadnut
New member
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2008
- Messages
- 3
Of all the versions I have gone through my current setup is performing the best. 1 Antenna plugged into a silicon dust quattro, that is plugged into my network. I run a plex server, it picks it up and we watch all live TV through it using firesticks. Plex has a dvr and will detect and delete commercials. If and when as it does time to time my internet goes down, we can still watch the 20
tb of movies/shows I have on plex or live TV.
tb of movies/shows I have on plex or live TV.
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
I like that they have a lifetime subscription for their premium service. If my Recast box dies I will definitely check out Plex.
jeremymayf
New member
Yep, have had Plex for the last 5 years or so, it isn't perfect--occasionally have a quarter of a game just disappear, makes you question senility when you find yourself wondering I don't remember that touchdown....but for the most part the Plex DVR is very good and they are endlessly updating and fine tuning the software. Couldn't imagine going back to watching commercials at this juncture
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
Do you get the dvr with the free version, or just the premium?
da_offroadnut
New member
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2008
- Messages
- 3
The one time premium payment gets you the DVR and hardware transcoding ability. I serve my plex server to a few friends outside my house, so it was needed for my situation. You can Always sign up for free version, then keep an eye on ypour email because once or twice a year they will do a deal for premium for 85.00 bucks, i saw the discount 3 months after I signed up.
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
Nice
jeremymayf
New member
As da offroadnut noted, I believe you have to get premium to unlock special features like dvr and casting outside your house network. I paid the full price--$100 or maybe $120, very satisfied with purchase. We're the last stop for internet in our area which is great bc we live in the woods AND have high speed internet. It's also a drag bc we're the last to get it fixed when it goes out. Over the years we've accumulated a pretty large library of movies and shows we occasionally rewatch. With Plex, it's all housed locally on the computer and can be watched on any tv/laptop/tablet etc. Of course, we're SOL when the power goes out....lol
andyvh1959
Well-known member
My in-laws live about 15 miles out of Green Bay, so local channels are no issue, if they had something more than rabbit ears on the the TV. FIL is not one to spend money on "free" TV signals, he goes back to the days of the three local Green Bay stations you could get on any TV. So he certainly won't spend bucks for cable, or a new streaming setup. Their house does have a satellite dish from the previous owner, and it has coax from the dish base to multiple locations in the house. I have seen youtube videos of people mounting a new style small antenna from the receiver arm on the dish, claiming it gets a wide selection of TV channels, local and many more. Any truth to this? Or all ****? Anyone done this with results to report?
But these days of DTV versus the old analog signals means would an antenna really be any more effective if the dish is used to direct whatever TV signals are available?
But these days of DTV versus the old analog signals means would an antenna really be any more effective if the dish is used to direct whatever TV signals are available?
NakeDiesel
Well-known member
Funny, I did this yesterday for my mother in law. Bought a 70 buck digital figure 8 antenna. Tried it in the house first. Got 7 channels. Home shopping and Spanish channels. Took it up on the roof, zip tied it to her satellite arm, connected it to the satellite coax and she has 57 channels on both of her tvs.
23ford
Well-known member
I bought a round white plastic antenna from ebay for the shop set it outside on top of a cabinet
58 channels
58 channels
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
I don’t have any real practical experience on the matter, but from what I’ve read, splitting it degrades the signal. And the longer the cable the more it degrades. Again, this is just what I read.
andyvh1959
Well-known member
Right. At least there are inexpensive signal amplifiers to install inline from the receiver to the TV. But to get the most signals I'd have to mount a Digital signal TV antenna versus just using the current older style antenna they have on the roof. At least its a part of the roof easily accessible and I could get them a digital antenna to at least get them a consistent signal.
Currently we'd be at their house watching a baseball or football game and the signal keeps dropping out or pixilating so much there is little to actually watch. FIL is the tight-wad type to not spend the money per month for a cable/dish/streaming option. He just wants a TV signal like he remembers from 30 years ago,....free, maybe five channels. Sound like for a one time purchase I can get them multiple channels with a consistent signal.
Currently we'd be at their house watching a baseball or football game and the signal keeps dropping out or pixilating so much there is little to actually watch. FIL is the tight-wad type to not spend the money per month for a cable/dish/streaming option. He just wants a TV signal like he remembers from 30 years ago,....free, maybe five channels. Sound like for a one time purchase I can get them multiple channels with a consistent signal.
bubinga
Well-known member
Do you have a link to the one you got?
larry4406
Well-known member
Make sure you are getting or have the right antenna for your TV viewing area.
Learn the difference between real channel and virtual channel. Channel 7 might actually be 7 but 4 might actually be 43 for example.
When you learn the real channels for your TV viewing area, you will know if you need UHF, VHF-Hi, VHF-Low, or some combination. In the example above 7 real would be VHF-Hi while 43 real would be UHF. If the old antenna where VHF only you should get 7 but SOL on the UHF band and vise versa.
Real channel info is your guide to antenna type. Then distance and direction come in to play to refine your choice.
I have a UHF antenna as well as a VHF-Hi for my area. I had to select 80+ mile stated range due to fringe I’m in. Mines on the roof with a roof booster.
TV Fool is quite dated but useful. Rabbit Ears is useful also. Both can help you learn what might be available to you as will as angular coordinates and distance from your location.
23ford
Well-known member
HenryAZ
MEMBER EMERITUS
If the older style on the roof is the directional, multi-element antenna (a yagi), it will work just fine as long as it also has a UHF element. The only difference between it and a "digital" yagi is that it has elements you do not need (VHF-Low), and being the longest elements on the antenna they add size and wind load. The digital yagi elminates those longer elements, but is otherwise the same type of antenna, nothing special about its being "digital".
I use this Winegard HD7694P antenna. It is only rated for 45 miles by Winegard and AntennaWeb, but since I have a true line of sight to the PHX transmitters 68 miles distant, I pick up all of the PHX stations perfectly, with no amplification. Winegard also makes yagis for longer distances, but line of sight plays an important role. Prior to getting that, I had an older style (larger) antenna that was working fine with digital broadcasts, but its size made it heavier and more subject to the sometimes high winds we have here.
A TV signal is a TV signal, analog or digital, which is why the older style antennas work just fine (if oriented correctly). I have been using that Winegard for 14 years now, since the switchover to digital broadcasting.
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bubinga
Well-known member
TY
larry4406
Well-known member
I have the DB8E UHF antenna and the add-onVHF antenna.
www.solidsignal.com
store.antennasdirect.com
Antennas Direct UHF 8-Bay Bowtie TV Antenna Extended Range (DB8E)
Need long range reception but don't want the 14ft TV antenna? Meet the DB8E from Antennas Direct. Learn More!
www.solidsignal.com
Antennas Direct Hi-VHF TV Antenna Reception Kit
Easily add VHF signals to your antenna with this easy-to-install kit.
store.antennasdirect.com
BD55
Well-known member
Nearest tower to us is 60mi. Built this from coat hangers on a 2x4, aluminum foil on a sheet of cardboard for the reflector, and had a 300-75 Ohm balun in one of my garage junk drawers. Cost maybe $5? Threw it up in the attic (ranch style house with plenty of homes right in the way) and it picks up 50+ channels easily.
andyvh1959
Well-known member
Thanks for all the input. Since my in-laws house is about 18 miles southeast of Green Bay (four channels) and 120 miles due east of Wausau (three channels). Would I need to re-aim the dish in the direction of the major local channels source point?
I live roughly 40 miles north of Detroit and my zip code search turned up 1 station?!? That doesn’t sound right, does it?
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
In-laws live in Milford, near the GM Proving Grounds. They use one of those transparent window antennas and get all of the major network stations (most are near Southfield).
Thanks for the tip!