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Can you guys help me out while finding antennas for my house?
- Thread starter ganglu12
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You're probably always going to have issues finding signals if you are truly in a rural area. Rule of thumb is to be within about 35 miles of the local broadcast towers... the further away you get, the less likely you will get a signal. Hence why cable became a thing.
Don't spend a mint on an antenna that promises you the world... too many factors reduce signals over the air for them to promise you anything other than emptying your wallet.
Don't spend a mint on an antenna that promises you the world... too many factors reduce signals over the air for them to promise you anything other than emptying your wallet.
If you are in a rural area, then you really should get an external TV antenna, probably a directional one. I wouldn’t waste money on those cheap indoor antennas, which might be good in urban area, but wont work well, if at all, in a rural area. You need a good long range antenna like a Channel Master 100. They aren’t cheap, but I doubt you will receive much if you buy a cheap antenna.
Antenna Signal Prediction
Which broadcast channels can you receive for free? It's time you cut the cord!
You need to find out what your distance to the sources are....
I agree about the frustration of cheap solutions.. A powered rooftop antenna is my next step, as even a bigger yagi recommended by a local expert installer did not bring in everything I want.
OP, you can use a website like Antennas Direct to locate the direction and distance to any TV transmission towers in your area. There are other websites too, you can do an internet search for them. Most of them want to sell you an antenna, so just ignore that and use the site to see how far away the towers are and what the estimated signal strength each should have at your address.
When installing the antenna, try to avoid pointing it through foliage or other obstacles as they can cause interference. The higher you can get the antenna, the better.
Hopefully all of the local TV transmission towers you want to receive from are located close enough to one another that a single antenna can receive them. If not, you can always put up two antennas pointed in different directions and co-phase them to receive in both of those directions.
When installing the antenna, try to avoid pointing it through foliage or other obstacles as they can cause interference. The higher you can get the antenna, the better.
Hopefully all of the local TV transmission towers you want to receive from are located close enough to one another that a single antenna can receive them. If not, you can always put up two antennas pointed in different directions and co-phase them to receive in both of those directions.
One assumes OP is in the US for advice? Different approach in the UK and I assume other countries.
First figure out what sort of signal your channels are broadcast on. If it's UHF (which I'm guessing it will be) then get a roof mounted UHF antenna with as high a gain as possible, something like a Channel Master Masterpiece 100 which has the highest UHF gain I know of (it will also do a good job with VHF which is becoming less common). Mount it as high as possible and pointed directed to the transmitter, you can attach a powered amplifier which may or may not help. If that doesn't work then the reality is you aren't going to be able to pick up the channels you want.
Also make sure you are using good spec coax, quad shielded RG6. There's better stuff than that if you're outside of North America though like WF100. Keep the coax runs as short as possible, splitters will divide the signal strength so try to avoid them.
If you want to get more into the weeds then hit me up and I can put my engineering EEE degree to use. VHF antennas are typically really wide, UHF antennas are typically fixed width but long. Most TV in the US is broadcast using UHF especially since the switchover to ATSC but some stations still use VHF. In places like the UK all TV is broadcast using UHF.
store.antennasdirect.com
Antenna's direct have a really high gain UHF antenna.
Also make sure you are using good spec coax, quad shielded RG6. There's better stuff than that if you're outside of North America though like WF100. Keep the coax runs as short as possible, splitters will divide the signal strength so try to avoid them.
If you want to get more into the weeds then hit me up and I can put my engineering EEE degree to use. VHF antennas are typically really wide, UHF antennas are typically fixed width but long. Most TV in the US is broadcast using UHF especially since the switchover to ATSC but some stations still use VHF. In places like the UK all TV is broadcast using UHF.
Antennas Direct 91XG Unidirectional Long-Range UHF Attic Outdoor HD TV Antenna
The 91XG Uni-directional Ultra-Long-Range HDTV Antenna has 91 elements which truly allow this antenna to have the highest gain of current UHF antennas.
Here ya go. Not the prettiest, but it will work like a champ:
store.antennasdirect.com
store.antennasdirect.com
and this….
Antennas Direct DB8-e 8-Element Bowtie UHF Attic Outdoor HD TV Antenna
The DB8e 8-Element Bowtie TV Antenna has specially-designed brackets that turn to target broadcast towers in multiple directions. Includes mounting hardware.
ClearStream JUICE UHF VHF TV Antenna Preamplifier System
Antennas Direct | ClearStream Juice UHF VHF TV Antenna Preamplifier System increases available signal strength in urban, suburban and rural areas. Get JUICE! Learn more.
and this….
Channels — Watch TV Your Way
Watch and record your favorite programs on every TV and device. A joy to use and simple to set up.
getchannels.com
Agree with Channels.Here ya go. Not the prettiest, but it will work like a champ:
Antennas Direct DB8-e 8-Element Bowtie UHF Attic Outdoor HD TV Antenna
The DB8e 8-Element Bowtie TV Antenna has specially-designed brackets that turn to target broadcast towers in multiple directions. Includes mounting hardware.
ClearStream JUICE UHF VHF TV Antenna Preamplifier System
Antennas Direct | ClearStream Juice UHF VHF TV Antenna Preamplifier System increases available signal strength in urban, suburban and rural areas. Get JUICE! Learn more.
and this….
Channels — Watch TV Your Way
Watch and record your favorite programs on every TV and device. A joy to use and simple to set up.getchannels.com
But for someone having issues getting a signal a directional yagi antenna is far more suitable. The one you suggested is more designed for receiving signals from different stations and will have lower gain than a good yagi antenna.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
OP, many assumptions are being made for you here. You need to share more info for better advice. My suggestions are:
- Use AntennaWeb.org to see if you have a real chance to lock signals you desire.
- The higher your antenna, the better your chances. Rural mountain top almost certainly better than deep valley. Signals won't cut through mountains to get to you if you are in a valley.
- If you find you are too rural, there is no magic solution. Don't be suckered by promises of 100-150-250 mile antennas. Move closer to TV towers or go with streaming services or cable.
- Another thing that is going to influence an antenna recommendation is the results of that AntennaWeb.org scan: any desired channels located on VHF frequencies? If some of yours are, that points to some different antennas than assumptions of UHF-only.
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I have seen a You Tube video by “The Antenna Man” that does pretty comprehensive testing of various antennas. As I recall the channel master was one of best tested antennas. I think there were other good brands and models but don’t remember. As others said, if you are very far from the transmitter you should mount the antenna high and outside. Also, don’t try to split the signal to multiple sets without a good amplifier.
If you are a long way from a transmitter and the signal is weak then it will arrive with a lot of noise.
You can have the best antenna in the world but it will amplify the weak signal and also amplify the noise so you will still end up with really poor results.
If the signal is good but you have a poor antenna then you will see a difference with a good one.
If the reception is bad then you may get good results by changing the position, putting it on a pole high above the house that sort of thing. But still, the original signal must be good.
Otherwise your best bet is to look at alternatives.
A cheap satellite set up will work where I am and most terrestrial channels are free here. A second-hand decoder, a cheap dish (as big as you can because that's going to give the best signal) and a really good and recommended head.
Or, if you have good internet, most places have TV channels over the net these days.
You can have the best antenna in the world but it will amplify the weak signal and also amplify the noise so you will still end up with really poor results.
If the signal is good but you have a poor antenna then you will see a difference with a good one.
If the reception is bad then you may get good results by changing the position, putting it on a pole high above the house that sort of thing. But still, the original signal must be good.
Otherwise your best bet is to look at alternatives.
A cheap satellite set up will work where I am and most terrestrial channels are free here. A second-hand decoder, a cheap dish (as big as you can because that's going to give the best signal) and a really good and recommended head.
Or, if you have good internet, most places have TV channels over the net these days.
In the USA go to this site and it will show you type of antenna for your location, expected channels to get, etc
Antenna Signal Prediction
Which broadcast channels can you receive for free? It's time you cut the cord!
Way back in 2005 I used it, got a channel master deep fringe, use pre-amp at antenna to boost its gain as long coax run into the home, then an amplifier before I split the signal to 4 different home locations.
Proper antenna ground to stake is important for lighting strikes also.
