The HD antenna didn't do crap

ballmode

Lifer
Aug 17, 2005
10,246
2
0
Go to walmart, buy a phillips 50db antenna

didn't pick up one channel at all. I was able to get some sound but it was drowned out by noise and that "snow/ants fighting" picture.

Meh I'll return it
 

michaels

Banned
Nov 30, 2005
4,329
0
0
I couldn't even pick up my local ABC station that's 5 miles away with that antenna. Dish Network came over and setup a free antenna that picked them up good.
 

Mermaidman

Diamond Member
Sep 4, 2003
7,987
93
91
The indoor OTA antennae don't work well if you have lots of obstructions (hills, trees, buildings). I also learned the hard way.
 

HannibalX

Diamond Member
May 12, 2000
9,359
2
0
Originally posted by: ballmode
Go to walmart, buy a phillips 50db antenna

didn't pick up one channel at all. I was able to get some sound but it was drowned out by noise and that "snow/ants fighting" picture.

Meh I'll return it

Antennaweb is where to start. Anything you buy from Wally-World won't be the best. I suggest getting a TERK antenna and mounting it in your attic or on your roof.
 

Safeway

Lifer
Jun 22, 2004
12,075
11
81
Originally posted by: Pale Rider
Originally posted by: ballmode
Go to walmart, buy a phillips 50db antenna

didn't pick up one channel at all. I was able to get some sound but it was drowned out by noise and that "snow/ants fighting" picture.

Meh I'll return it

Antennaweb is where to start. Anything you buy from Wally-World won't be the best. I suggest getting a TERK antenna and mounting it in your attic or on your roof.

I told the OP to buy a Terk in his original thread. He obviously didn't listen.
 

ColdFusion718

Diamond Member
Mar 4, 2000
3,496
9
81
OP, you might want to check out this thread.

I used the suggestions from it and built myself a Channel Master DB4 clone and was able to receive very good signals for the channels I watch.

I held it up high in my room and got 90-98% signal for all the major channels. I'll be mounting it in the attic tonight.
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
CM 4228 is apparently the one to get.

of course I've got a terk indoor antenna that doesn't do much for me either, bu that's cause I'm in a terrible location.
 

randalee

Senior member
Nov 7, 2001
683
0
0
I have a cheapo Silver Sensor and it works wonderfully. It is out on my roof, however. You have to PLAN these things out! Can't just throw up something and expect it to pull things in.
 

LS20

Banned
Jan 22, 2002
5,858
0
0
i tried 5 different antenna on and off for months

now i have att uverse fiber , with dvr, and could not be happier. DVR PWNZ!
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
I got the Terk antenna from Amazon for $35. Works perfectly- I even get 7 more local "digital only" stations that I didn't even know where out there. Dish Networks local stations suck- no HD and they're super compressed.

The OP probably lives in a zone that is blocked by a large building or something.
 

MrPickins

Diamond Member
May 24, 2003
9,124
787
126
Originally posted by: randalee
I have a cheapo Silver Sensor and it works wonderfully. It is out on my roof, however. You have to PLAN these things out! Can't just throw up something and expect it to pull things in.

My Silver Sensor works wonderfully. I had it on top of my entertainment center, but I recently attic mounted it.

90%+ signal strength at 15 miles from the broadcast towers.
 

IGBT

Lifer
Jul 16, 2001
17,967
140
106
..depends how close you are to the xmiter. I'm in line of sight view of Sutro Tower in SF and I get 35+ channels some in 1080.
 

ghostman

Golden Member
Jul 12, 2000
1,819
1
76
Originally posted by: MrPickins
Originally posted by: randalee
I have a cheapo Silver Sensor and it works wonderfully. It is out on my roof, however. You have to PLAN these things out! Can't just throw up something and expect it to pull things in.

My Silver Sensor works wonderfully. I had it on top of my entertainment center, but I recently attic mounted it.

90%+ signal strength at 15 miles from the broadcast towers.

I live in NYC within 9 miles of the broadcast towers. AntennaWeb tells me that I need antenna type yellow (small multi-directional) and red (medium directional). I hoped that the Silver Sensor would have done the trick since an outdoor antenna isn't an option, but was disappointed that it only picks up 4.1 (NBC). Can anyone suggest a medium directional indoor antenna?
 
Oct 19, 2000
17,860
4
81
Originally posted by: ballmode
I was able to get some sound but it was drowned out by noise and that "snow/ants fighting" picture.
If you are seeing a "snow/ants fighting" picture, then you aren't even trying to pick up a digital signal, which by your title I'm assuming you're wanting digital stations for HD. A snowy picture is a bad/non-existant signal from an analog source. A bad/non-existant digital source will result in a black screen, or severe macro-blocking with garbled picture and/or sound.

Might want to check that you're trying to tune into the correct station numbers.
 

LegendKiller

Lifer
Mar 5, 2001
18,256
68
86
I have Hotwire, which utilizes DirectTV, and I get OTA HD local. How do you "tune" the OTA to get HD channels? I am on UWS Manhattan. I am an OTA newb! Help!
 

dmcowen674

No Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
54,889
47
91
www.alienbabeltech.com
70 miles is tops with the 91XG Uni-Directional Antenna up 100ft.

16.7 db gain

If you live more than 60 miles from the transmitters, you must get as much elevation on the antenna as possible.

Even with its great gain, it cannot pick up signals blocked by the curvature of the earth.

Antennasdirect

Figure 50 ft in height for every 22 miles of earth curvature.