Over the air antenna

[pcostanza]

For those who live in the states and get their tv OTA, is there an antenna you'd recommend? I know many things matter such as inside or outside the city limits and such but if my ISP is going to encrypt their QAM (don't know when, they won't even discuss it) I thought I better look for a good antenna and check things out sooner than later.

[johnsonx42]

I use this one, or one that's very similar (I think mine has 1 fewer loops or lobes, whatever those things are called):

http://www.microcenter.com/product/35661...b-overview

The motorized aspect of it really doesn't work very well, but I didn't buy it for that... all my TV stations are in the same direction (~335 degrees, ~35 miles away).

If you've not had a look already, try http://www.antennaweb.org. It tells you which TV stations you should be able to receive in specific location, where they all are, and how much antenna you'll likely need to receive them.

[pcostanza]

Thanks, yes, been on the web to view suggestions.
Remember when the digital boxes were coming out for OTA and we could get rebates? I bought 2 and I use one at work so I can have local news when needed. I tried the plain old rabbit ears and get 17 of the 24 stations I can get and I only care about 6 of them. If I use this same rabbit ears on my Happuage tuners, I only get 5 total stations. So, a better antenna is needed.I was hoping there would be a strong enough one I could keep indoors so I'll look around.

[johnsonx42]

if you're getting reception that good with simple rabbit ears, an decent amplified indoor antenna ought to work great even for the weaker PC tuner card. Phillips and RCA both have models like that.

it's also useful to know whether you need to receive just UHF channels, or if you need VHF channels too. Hopefully broadcasters in your area have at least abandoned VHF-Lo, those need a much bigger antenna to receive well.

[mikeh49]

A few versions of more or less the same DIY thing:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technolo...tv-antenna

http://www.diytvantennas.com/

One from soda cans, with links to others:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-.../?ALLSTEPS

I built one of the "bow tie" type and it works fine. One of these would give you a benchmark, for not much cash.

WAF is your responsibility, however.

[pcostanza]

LOL, I've seen the last link with the drink can before. I think I could spring for a bit better one. I just wish I knew if and when the cable company plans to encrypt.

[johnsonx42]

It'll probably still be awhile, at least for the basic broadcast channels, and I think they'd have to tell you beforehand.

[ga_mueller]

I did the DIY antenna thing. It was better than any of the antennas I purchased, then returned, to Amazon.... but not good enough. We are 40mi away from the transmitters (SF), all on the same tower. Recording were perfect 95% of the time. The remaining 5%, pixelated, choppy, unwatchable. I believe weather to be the culprit, but could not prove this. The WAF was zero percent. ymmv. I've been on clear QAM since then (basic cable), and bought a DCR-2650 last week (yay NewEgg $59), after confirming with Comcast that a cablecard, used with basic cable, would bring the locals in on HD, with no copy protection.

[Reddwarf]

I use a DIY antenna for dvb-t reception, I built it using a freeware program called YagiDesigner. On the amateur radio websites you can also find programs to design narrow band antennas (tune the antenna to one spesific frequency), you'll have to know the broadcast freuqency(s) but you can choose how much amplification you want in the antenna. Works very well here.

[mikeh49]

A friend used the basic bow-tie leaning on the outside of his house with the antenna farm about 15-20 miles away. Worked great, but this is in Minnesota and there is nothing taller than a cornstalk between his house and the transmitter.