Recommendations on HD antenna

[Doppel]

I think I am finally ready to cut the cord.

http://www.antennaweb.org tells me that I have 10 channels available to me within 16 miles for the furthest, with the transmitters within a 75 degree arc from my house.

Antennaweb says for these three "colors" of channels I need (green is only one, the others are split between red and blue):
Green: Medium Multidirectional Antenna
Red: Medium Directional Antenna
Blue: Medium Directional Antenna with pre-amp

I don't want to run new lines in the walls, so the location for this is outside, using the coaxial currently used by my satellite, which is mounted onto my second story deck. The cable goes 30' into the basement where it splits to the various TVs.

Looking on amazon there are either pretty small antennas like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Antennas-C2-V-...utdoor+antenna

or: http://www.amazon.com/GE-24769-Outdo...utdoor+antenna

or ghastly huge (but well rated) outdoor ones like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Antennas-DB8-E...+range+antenna

Given the size of these, I can mount a small one on a modest mast on my deck, taking it probably 12-14' off the ground, or I can mount that behemouth underneath the deck, but it will only be about 3' off the ground.

I have no trees anywhere, house is on a mild hill, but there are houses directly in the direction of most of the channels...

 

[mshan]

http://www.dennysantennaservice.com/ez_hd_tv_Antenna.html

 

[Anonemous]

http://lifehacker.com/5829379/make-your-own-hdtv-antenna-using-aluminum-foil-and-cardboard

 

[Josh123]

I canceled our satellite contract this month. We've been using one of these to pick up our local channels and it works great, especially for the price.

I don't think it's made for outdoor but thought I'd let you know.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2576004&cm_sp=

 

[bearxor]

I used one similar to this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...M?tag=at055-20

It worked well, but I don't think it'd pick up in a 75 degree arc. Mine didn't. I ended up with a Channel Master 4228 that I just put on a pole on my apartment patio.

I'd recommend either of these:
http://www.amazon.com/FDTVO-Directio...L9Q/ref=sr_1_5
http://www.amazon.com/Terk-HDTVO-Amp...HQ/ref=sr_1_10

 

[Centauri]

If you wind up going indoors - the greatest thing in the history of ever;

http://www.amazon.com/Mohu-Leaf-Pape...ords=mohu+leaf

 

[soulcougher73]

If you wind up going indoors - the greatest thing in the history of ever;

http://www.amazon.com/Mohu-Leaf-Pape...ords=mohu+leaf

This is what I have. Great products, works great.

 

[OutHouse]

thre is no such thing as a HD antenna.

the marketing of that drives me crazy. your out of the box rabbit ears will pick up the digital signal its the converter/TV that makes your picture HD.

 

[OutHouse]

nevermind

 

[Vic Vega]

As was already said "HD" is marketing nonsense.

Most over the air TV is UHF.

You can build a UHF antenna out of coat hangers.

Some channels are VHF and need an amplifier which is trickier (but not by much).

I built one just like this about 5 years ago - it sits in my attic and works great.

http://youtu.be/Mdch9xZSkKo

Cost? Maybe $10? About 30 minutes build time.

 

[TwiceOver]

I really wish my FOX and NBC stations would go OTA HD. Sigh...

 

[Anonemous]

That Mohu and the paper thin antennas are similar to the cardboard/foil antennas that I was building 4 years ago. Didn't know they could make so much money with a laminated paper/foil antenna.

All you need is foil/cardboard/tape(or staples) and a Balun ($2-3 at a hardware store/radioshack/frys).

 

[xalos]

I made one using a decent sized pcb and etched out a fractal design.

 

[bearxor]

As was already said "HD" is marketing nonsense.

Most over the air TV is UHF.

You can build a UHF antenna out of coat hangers.

Some channels are VHF and need an amplifier which is trickier (but not by much).

I built one just like this about 5 years ago - it sits in my attic and works great.

http://youtu.be/Mdch9xZSkKo

Cost? Maybe $10? About 30 minutes build time.

Yeah, that's basically what my CM4228 looks like. But I'd take the CM and $50 out of pocket over that terrible looking thing any day of the week. I don't care even if it is in an attic. I'd still know it was there.

 

[Svnla]

I got one like this when it was on sale for less than $10 = http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82576004&cm_sp=

 

[Anonemous]

Another option for an 'antenna' is to use the screws on the electrical outlet as the antenna.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huaNWZQL6Nw

 

[sixone]

If you wind up going indoors - the greatest thing in the history of ever;

http://www.amazon.com/Mohu-Leaf-Pape...ords=mohu+leaf

I returned mine. It wasn't any better than the one I bought at Radio Shack.

 

[bearxor]

you could always just use a paper clip and see what kind of reception you get with that. If everything comes in mostly ok with occasional drop outs, you may be able to get by with one of the really basic antennas.

 

[Doppel]

Another option for an 'antenna' is to use the screws on the electrical outlet as the antenna.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huaNWZQL6Nw

couldnt get the screw to work but currently have the coaxial hooked into the ground wire behind the faceplate to see if it would work. It does and I have two channels using the house an an antenna just a test though, I will hook up something real shortly.

 

[Anonemous]

couldnt get the screw to work but currently have the coaxial hooked into the ground wire behind the faceplate to see if it would work. It does and I have two channels using the house an an antenna just a test though, I will hook up something real shortly.

2 channels welp... I remember with the panel antenna I made it could receive 90% of the channels depending on orientation (even ones that were 100 miles away, received LA channels in SD). FOX for some reason was a pain to get so it was either get all the other channels or just get FOX.

 

[Doppel]

I am hoping a real antenna does much better

 

[SSSnail]

I'm with the ”build my own antenna out of wire hangers” crew. Just google it dude, works better, or just as good as the crap you'll buy.

 

[Anonemous]

I am hoping a real antenna does much better

Comparing my home made panel to a Zenith UHF antenna, there wasn't much of a difference in channels except cost, time, and materials.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=322759

http://www.amazon.com/Zenith-ZHDTV1-...pr_product_top

I just did it for fun since all it required was tape, cardboard, aluminum foil, and a balun instead of the coat hanger one which require wire cutters, coat hangers, drills, screws, bolts, and a piece of wood.

edit: Huh, that foil antenna link disappeared for some reason. I guess they wanted to capitalize on the idea and make $$ from it (mohu/paper thin antennas).


edit2: Here's another easy antenna to build: http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-and-cheap-indoor-TV-antenna/

 

[Doppel]

I ordered the clearstream 2v, but got impatient waiting, plus wanted as a test to see how well the home made one worked, so I built the stick-looking one (not the box one), and I have all my local channels in HD now. Is indeed too ugly to have outdoors, but I may find use for it upstairs depending on what setup I go with. Thanks for the ideas!

Called directv a moment ago and dropped a couple of receivers, will drop the entire thing shortly I think.

 

[RelaxTheMind]

I made that same coat hanger one and it did better than the $100 amplified one i borrowed from my sister. it is ugly though but it is also in my attic.