HDTV Antenna pros, what do you think of this one? - Page 2

**Lzen** · 08-31-2007, 09:31 AM

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B0007XDI54

I'm taking back that POS RCA that I bought from Walmart because it broke on me. What do you guys think of this one? I know I can get it much cheaper online, but I want it today.

**Lzen** · 09-01-2007, 08:40 PM

Yeah, I believe channel 13 here in Topeka is actually UHF 44 in digital.

Well, I took the original antenna that I bought at Walmart (a Phillips, btw) back and got a refund. I bought an RCA with 45db amplification at Target. It took a lot of adjusting, but I managed to get all the digital local channels. The only thing is the CBS affiliate (WIBW 13) comes in at under 70% sometimes. For now, that seems to be good enough to get a steady picture. I am afraid this will be a problem on a stormy day, though. I guess I just won't be able to watch the Chiefs in HD on those bad weather days.

Also, why is there no Fox affiliate in HD in Topeka? That is fooked. And Dish says the locals don't allow them to offer me the locals in HD. That is BS.

**BigMeatballDave** · 09-03-2007, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lzen

And Dish says the locals don't allow them to offer me the locals in HD. That is BS.

yeah, I recently upgraded to HD, and Dish told me the same thing. Well, they just said they weren't available.

**Lzen** · 09-16-2007, 04:43 PM

Ok, I'm getting a little tired of this. On a sunny day, this little amplified 45dB RCA indoor antenna works fine most of the time. But if it's a bit cloudy, the damn signal keeps going in and out. I'm thinking perhaps a good outdoor antenna would be a better option. Any suggestions for a good outdoor antenna?

JBucc · 09-16-2007, 04:50 PM

BOOOOOOOOOOOO

JBucc · 09-16-2007, 04:50 PM

Oh shit, thought I was in the game thread, lol. Disreguard that boo.

**Skip Towne** · 09-16-2007, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lzen

Ok, I'm getting a little tired of this. On a sunny day, this little amplified 45dB RCA indoor antenna works fine most of the time. But if it's a bit cloudy, the damn signal keeps going in and out. I'm thinking perhaps a good outdoor antenna would be a better option. Any suggestions for a good outdoor antenna?

See my post #4 on this thead. With an analog device higher and bigger is better.

**Lzen** · 09-18-2007, 09:02 AM

I found my solution.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=family

I put a 5' mast onto my chimney and now I'm in business. Hooked up this thing last night and all my local over the air digital channels were coming in at 95-100% signal strength. With the little indoor amplified RCA rabbit ears, I was only getting 65-75% on good days.

Best of all, this little antenna was only $30. I did have to buy coax cable for it, a chimney installation kit, and a mast. But it is well worth it. For around $100, I now have a very strong reception. No more signal loss in the middle of a play.

**Manila-Chief** · 09-21-2007, 02:48 PM

Skip and et al,

I have not made the HD plunge, yet. Gotta couple questions for all who will reply:

1. With DTV will I save money by having an antenna for local stations? I know there used to be a separate price of about $5.00 for locations but not sure that is still true?

2 As for as viewing programs, how does DTV work in conjunction with a local antenna? Will I have physically go make the switch whenever we watch local channels?

I'm considering this antenna:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Phili...oductDetail.do

We have plenty of space up in our attic and I would just lay the antenna up there ... will that work or will it have to be level?

Thanks guys in advance.

**Lzen** · 09-26-2007, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manila-Chief

Skip and et al,

I have not made the HD plunge, yet. Gotta couple questions for all who will reply:

1. With DTV will I save money by having an antenna for local stations? I know there used to be a separate price of about $5.00 for locations but not sure that is still true?

2 As for as viewing programs, how does DTV work in conjunction with a local antenna? Will I have physically go make the switch whenever we watch local channels?

I'm considering this antenna:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Phili...oductDetail.do

We have plenty of space up in our attic and I would just lay the antenna up there ... will that work or will it have to be level?

Thanks guys in advance.

Nice of Skip to answer you. I don't know what DTV charges so I can't say for sure. I do know that Dish Network charges $5 a month for locals so I imagine DTV probably has a similar charge. Frankly, I wish I could just drop the locals from DN and the extra charge altogether. My UHF antenna works very well. Unfortunately, the local Fox affiliate does not have a digital signal.

The way mine works is that there is an additional tuner on the receiver for the antenna. So, there is no physical switching; just a matter of changing to the over the air channels. NOTE:The initial setup did require that the tuner search for the local channels.

As for the antenna, it looks like a good one. I think you should be able to do that with no problems.

dtebbe · 09-26-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lzen

I found my solution.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=family

I put a 5' mast onto my chimney and now I'm in business. Hooked up this thing last night and all my local over the air digital channels were coming in at 95-100% signal strength. With the little indoor amplified RCA rabbit ears, I was only getting 65-75% on good days.

Best of all, this little antenna was only $30. I did have to buy coax cable for it, a chimney installation kit, and a mast. But it is well worth it. For around $100, I now have a very strong reception. No more signal loss in the middle of a play.

Make sure you run a ground wire down from the mast to a good ground rod. Trust me on this one, it's worth the effort....

DT

**Lzen** · 09-26-2007, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtebbe

Make sure you run a ground wire down from the mast to a good ground rod. Trust me on this one, it's worth the effort....

DT

Already did that. Thanks.

**Manila-Chief** · 09-26-2007, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lzen

Nice of Skip to answer you. I don't know what DTV charges so I can't say for sure. I do know that Dish Network charges $5 a month for locals so I imagine DTV probably has a similar charge. Frankly, I wish I could just drop the locals from DN and the extra charge altogether. My UHF antenna works very well. Unfortunately, the local Fox affiliate does not have a digital signal.

The way mine works is that there is an additional tuner on the receiver for the antenna. So, there is no physical switching; just a matter of changing to the over the air channels. NOTE:The initial setup did require that the tuner search for the local channels.

As for the antenna, it looks like a good one. I think you should be able to do that with no problems.

Thanks for your reply!!! That was helpful.

Another question:

My Dad has Dish. He lives in West Alabama, Dish gives him local stations that are only in Ala. and most are 100 miles away. There are a couple stations that are only about 30 miles away but they are in Miss. They would give more of his local news and especially weather news when storms come through since they are Southwest of where he lives. But, Dish will only give the Ala. stations.

I looked at his Dish receiver the other day when I was down there. It does have a connection for an "over the air" local antenna. I looked on his remote for the Dish and didn't see a button for switching to an antenna. If we were to get him an antenna do any of you know if we will have to get another receiver from Dish? Or do you know how it would work?

**007** · 09-26-2007, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lzen

I found my solution.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=family

I put a 5' mast onto my chimney and now I'm in business. Hooked up this thing last night and all my local over the air digital channels were coming in at 95-100% signal strength. With the little indoor amplified RCA rabbit ears, I was only getting 65-75% on good days.

Best of all, this little antenna was only $30. I did have to buy coax cable for it, a chimney installation kit, and a mast. But it is well worth it. For around $100, I now have a very strong reception. No more signal loss in the middle of a play.

Are you able to pull in ANY of the KC channels with that?

The whole FOX thing ticks me off.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 09-26-2007, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manila-Chief

Thanks for your reply!!! That was helpful.

Another question:

My Dad has Dish. He lives in West Alabama, Dish gives him local stations that are only in Ala. and most are 100 miles away. There are a couple stations that are only about 30 miles away but they are in Miss. They would give more of his local news and especially weather news when storms come through since they are Southwest of where he lives. But, Dish will only give the Ala. stations.

I looked at his Dish receiver the other day when I was down there. It does have a connection for an "over the air" local antenna. I looked on his remote for the Dish and didn't see a button for switching to an antenna. If we were to get him an antenna do any of you know if we will have to get another receiver from Dish? Or do you know how it would work?

1) Either you can search for local channels through the dish and use the receiver as a tuner or

2) You can turn the dish off to access the channels.

**Lzen** · 09-27-2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

Are you able to pull in ANY of the KC channels with that?

The whole FOX thing ticks me off.

It only has a range of about 60 miles. Sunday morning, I got up on the roof, unbolted it, and aimed it east, northeast. The best I could pick up Fox 4 out of KC was in the 50s percentage wise. Not good enough to be of value.

If you want to pick up KC stations, you will have to buy one of those huge old fashioned antennas.

08-31-2007, 09:31 AM
Lzen Supporter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Jan Quadrant Vincent 16 Casino cash: $1860692	HDTV Antenna pros, what do you think of this one? http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B0007XDI54 I'm taking back that POS RCA that I bought from Walmart because it broke on me. What do you guys think of this one? I know I can get it much cheaper online, but I want it today.
Posts: 41,497

09-01-2007, 08:40 PM	#16
Lzen Supporter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Jan Quadrant Vincent 16 Casino cash: $1860692	Yeah, I believe channel 13 here in Topeka is actually UHF 44 in digital. Well, I took the original antenna that I bought at Walmart (a Phillips, btw) back and got a refund. I bought an RCA with 45db amplification at Target. It took a lot of adjusting, but I managed to get all the digital local channels. The only thing is the CBS affiliate (WIBW 13) comes in at under 70% sometimes. For now, that seems to be good enough to get a steady picture. I am afraid this will be a problem on a stormy day, though. I guess I just won't be able to watch the Chiefs in HD on those bad weather days. Also, why is there no Fox affiliate in HD in Topeka? That is fooked. And Dish says the locals don't allow them to offer me the locals in HD. That is BS. __________________ If at first you don't succeed ...skydiving is not for you.
Posts: 41,497

09-16-2007, 04:43 PM	#18
Lzen Supporter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Jan Quadrant Vincent 16 Casino cash: $1860692	Ok, I'm getting a little tired of this. On a sunny day, this little amplified 45dB RCA indoor antenna works fine most of the time. But if it's a bit cloudy, the damn signal keeps going in and out. I'm thinking perhaps a good outdoor antenna would be a better option. Any suggestions for a good outdoor antenna? __________________ If at first you don't succeed ...skydiving is not for you.
Posts: 41,497

09-16-2007, 04:50 PM	#19
JBucc MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Casino cash: $10004952	BOOOOOOOOOOOO
Posts: 12,016

09-16-2007, 04:50 PM	#20
JBucc MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Casino cash: $10004952	Oh shit, thought I was in the game thread, lol. Disreguard that boo.
Posts: 12,016

09-18-2007, 09:02 AM	#22
Lzen Supporter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Jan Quadrant Vincent 16 Casino cash: $1860692	I found my solution. http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=family I put a 5' mast onto my chimney and now I'm in business. Hooked up this thing last night and all my local over the air digital channels were coming in at 95-100% signal strength. With the little indoor amplified RCA rabbit ears, I was only getting 65-75% on good days. Best of all, this little antenna was only $30. I did have to buy coax cable for it, a chimney installation kit, and a mast. But it is well worth it. For around $100, I now have a very strong reception. No more signal loss in the middle of a play. __________________ If at first you don't succeed ...skydiving is not for you.
Posts: 41,497

09-21-2007, 02:48 PM	#23
Manila-Chief Supporter Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Memphis/Miss Casino cash: $10006883	Local antenna and DTV question Skip and et al, I have not made the HD plunge, yet. Gotta couple questions for all who will reply: 1. With DTV will I save money by having an antenna for local stations? I know there used to be a separate price of about $5.00 for locations but not sure that is still true? 2 As for as viewing programs, how does DTV work in conjunction with a local antenna? Will I have physically go make the switch whenever we watch local channels? I'm considering this antenna: http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Phili...oductDetail.do We have plenty of space up in our attic and I would just lay the antenna up there ... will that work or will it have to be level? Thanks guys in advance.
Posts: 2,152