UHF Antennas

cyclone:
I am contemplating doing away with my Time Warner umbilical cord, so I would be interested in your experiences. I am in a bit of a difficult position in that I live on the north side of a hill with the digital transmission towers located south of my house... However, short of trying something out, there's no way to see if I can even receive digital TV over the air. Your experience may help me to narrow down my choices in antennas and/or increase my chances of success. So, yes, please.

RE: UHF Antennas, posted on February 5, 2010 at 10:24:23

Ben Van Dyk
Audiophile

Posts: 833
Location: idaho
Joined: February 9, 2006

I think I have the combo uhf vhf one.I read the facts on uhf.they broadcast 13 to 90 uhf. 13 to 1 is vhf. uhf is better but it requires line of site.vhf does not use line of site.I also use an antenna booster at the tv.

I dont recall getting any vhf channels though.im 20 miles from twinfalls.antenna pointed to twin,reseption is clear.Im glad I read that,next time im on the roof I will make sure no trees are blocking the signal.
mch dvd-a mch sacd & blu-ray concerts rule.

A related question...., posted on February 5, 2010 at 10:28:01
Russell Audiophile Posts: 2008 Location: San Francisco, California Joined: February 24, 2001	I'm looking for a good indoor antenna for OTA digital reception, preferably one that I can buy at Best Buy, Radio Shack, or similar store. This would be set up at my dad's house, where there is pretty good line-of-sight to the transmission towers. Thanks for any suggestions.... Russell

UHF Antennas & Such(LONG), posted on February 5, 2010 at 10:37:37

cyclone
Audiophile

Posts: 158
Location: Missouri
Joined: April 11, 2000

When digital television started our main TV (40" Mitisubishi) was on cable, $85 @ month. We lost cable for a couple of days because of a problem somewhere on the cable between our home and the cable company. So I borrowed an older 4-bay bowtie UHF antenna and RCA DTA800B converter from my son which I had to return later. I had a few 2-bay bowtie antennas but reception with them was not very good in our living room with the RCA Converter. Although I am using a 2-bay sucessfully with a new 19" Digital LCD TV in another room. I decided to drop cable and save money. I researched and decided to buy a Channel Master CM7000 Converter Box. It Outperformed the RCA box, Better reception, plus Better picture (S-Video output) and Better Guide to what's on TV. Then I had to buy a new UHF (all our digital channels are on UHF) antenna. I researched the internet and bought a Antenna Systems DB8 8-bay thinking it would outperform the older 4-bay. Wrong, it did not perform as well, even though it was mounted in the same location. It had smaller elements than the older 4-bay. So then I ordered a Winegard HD8800 8-bay. It performed worse on all the channels than the DB8. While the 2 new antennas are both very good performers, it bothers me that the older antenna performed better. I'm using the DB8 right now but would like something better. Plus I have the HD8800 which I don't need.

RE: A related question...., posted on February 5, 2010 at 10:37:49
Ben Van Dyk Audiophile Posts: 833 Location: idaho Joined: February 9, 2006	indoor antenna is not the way to do it.I tried it at a fiends house.it works but in needs line of site for better reception.I read the facts on it.those uhf channels need line of site. mch dvd-a mch sacd & blu-ray concerts rule.

RE: UHF Antennas & Such(LONG), posted on February 5, 2010 at 10:58:43
Ben Van Dyk Audiophile Posts: 833 Location: idaho Joined: February 9, 2006	I need to read up on the channel master.I would like to have a guide on free tv.is the guide free mch dvd-a mch sacd & blu-ray concerts rule.

Guide, posted on February 5, 2010 at 11:15:39

cyclone
Audiophile

Posts: 158
Location: Missouri
Joined: April 11, 2000

The guide is free and it covers maybe up to a day's programming, I'm not sure though. The guide only covers the channel that the converter is on. For instance, if you are watching 9.1, you hit the guide button and it lists the programs on 9.1 and when you scan to each program listed, it lists the info for that program. By the way, the remote for the Channel Master only operates the converter, it will not operate the TV.

RE: Guide, posted on February 5, 2010 at 12:15:37
Ben Van Dyk Audiophile Posts: 833 Location: idaho Joined: February 9, 2006	thanks I tried to find something on ebay for a digital tv guide for the free channels.did not find anything.I only get 20 channels so it would be nice to see whats on the screen.I was looking at channel master lot of different ones listed. mch dvd-a mch sacd & blu-ray concerts rule.

RE: A related question...., posted on February 5, 2010 at 12:34:06

cfraser
Audiophile

Posts: 2265
Location: Pickering, Ontario
Joined: April 30, 2000

I got an Antennas Direct DB-4 for indoor use. It's meant for outdoors, but it works great sitting behind a couch. I'm up high, good line of sight to Toronto/Buffalo/etc. The reason I chose this one is because it's small (4 bay) and was the *best-looking* biggest antenna I could 'hide'. There is a better similar-sized antenna from Channel Master, the 4221. It is quite ugly-looking in finish/construction compared to the DB-4. Normally that wouldn't matter, but it is in the living room after all... Bear in mind it isn't intended for VHF reception, but gets some.

Edit: oh yeah, they have the much smaller DB-2 too, if you really need to hide it.

Edit again: for whatever reason, Antennas Direct DBx antennas are much cheaper around here than typically in the U.S. Otherwise, I *may* have gone for the CM4221 because it *is* a better antenna for HDTV, but for the same price I chose "looks" and visual quality of construction. The older CMs are reputed to be even better than the current ones. My line of sight is mostly over water, like ~50 miles to the U.S. and 20 miles to Toronto. 1080i broadcasts look pretty much like Blu-ray, much better than over cable where they're further compressed to varying degrees.

"indoor antenna is not the way to do it", posted on February 5, 2010 at 15:23:12

Wendell Narrod

It depends. Location, distance and geography are the determining factors.
I have an attic mounted antenna but I also can get all digital channels, in good quality, with some indoor antennas. I live in Louisville without a mountain in sight. Acquiring a good signal is pretty easy.

RE: "indoor antenna is not the way to do it", posted on February 5, 2010 at 19:24:54
Ben Van Dyk Audiophile Posts: 833 Location: idaho Joined: February 9, 2006	that guy not using that antenna anymore.I may try it.I dont need free channels in the bedroom.but I have everything for the analog tv so I will try it.I guess line of site means no mountians,there are none so It might work.thanks ben mch dvd-a mch sacd & blu-ray concerts rule.

RE: UHF Antennas & Such(LONG), posted on February 9, 2010 at 07:31:16
Rod H. Audiophile Posts: 1531 Location: Oregon Joined: May 18, 2005	We live in a very bad reception area, with hills between the towers and our location. I bought a DB-4. Considering the hills, it works pretty fair. I wondered if I should have bought a DB-8, but it sounds like I wouldn't have gained anything based on your experiences. Since I bought my DB-4, two other neighbors have bought the exact same unit, which I thought was pretty funny.

DB4/DB8, posted on February 9, 2010 at 08:43:08
cyclone Audiophile Posts: 158 Location: Missouri Joined: April 11, 2000	Well I would think that the DB8 would be better than the DB4 but the 4-bay that I used for a while was an older "Catwhisker" brand which has longer active wires on the front and a larger reflector assy on the rear and is no longer sold.

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UHF Antennas

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