Outdoor TV antennas

[Sparky]

So I ditched Comcast and need an idea on bringing in the local channels. Eventually I will probably get a Roku for the kids. Still have the old tube TV right now.

[StagLefty]

I picked up a digital antenna at Walmart for about $30. Brings in all the local channels-about 32. It may take some positioning as the digital signals seem to be sensitive to location. It's an indoor one.

Just reread that it's an older tv-may need the converter box.

[Sparky]

I picked up a digital antenna at Walmart for about $30. Brings in all the local channels-about 32. It may take some positioning as the digital signals seem to be sensitive to location. It's an indoor one.

My home is made of cinder block so indoor ones have a hard time.

[cableguy11]

I ditched them a couple of months ago, still have internet though, can't give that up! I got an antenna from Costco, I think it was 39.xx, and I just got another one from Amazon. They work great. One is hooked up to my Tivo(that I am finding I don't really need), plus we have Amazon fireTV which gives us access to HuluPlus, Netflix, and Amazon Prime TV. With those we pretty much get everything we need.

-Art

[Ranger353]

...Just reread that it's an older tv-may need the converter box.
I am pretty sure that you will need the converter box.

[cableguy11]

My home is made of cinder block so indoor ones have a hard time.
The one upstairs is in the corner of one window. They antennas that I have are flat http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Ultra-Thin-Indoor-HDTV-Antenna/dp/B00DIFIO8E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429202952&sr=8-1&keywords=antenna

[StagLefty]

My home is made of cinder block so indoor ones have a hard time.

I'm in an aluminum mobile home so positioning is everything.


The one upstairs is in the corner of one window. They antennas that I have are flat http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Ultra-Thin-Indoor-HDTV-Antenna/dp/B00DIFIO8E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429202952&sr=8-1&keywords=antenna

Have the same kind and it works well.

[rbeau30]

I have a Mohu Leaf 50 that I actually have inside on my first floor on a East facing wall I can get 58 ish channels. Granted many are religion and Spanish channels, but many are useful.
http://store.gomohu.com/the-leaf-ultimate-hdtv-antenna.html

I googled around for a Coupon code and got a factory refurbished one for 50% off.

I liked the Leaf so much I want to try the Indoor/outdoor antenna they offer in my attic. This is what I bought:
http://store.gomohu.com/sky-hdtv-outdoor-antenna-open-box.html

I have not installed it yet... but it will feed all the TVs in my house.

[Zman]

Good info on orientation, positioning, types and even roll-your-own (we are in CO, you know). ;)

http://antennaweb.org

Z

[wyome]

I'm rocking this down in the Castle Rock...

https://www.antennasdirect.com/store/ClearStream-C2-VHF-Long-Range-Combo-Complete.html

[def90]

You will need a set top converter box.. at one time you could get a coupon from the government for a free one (or maybe they were $25 or something), no longer.

I put antennas in attics all the time without issues. Look at antennaweb and see what antennas they recommend for your area. In general what they recommend should work though I have found that antennas all pick up different channels in different ways and I usually do a site survey first with a meter to determine what your starting signal strength is for each channel then find the appropriate antenna to get the desired signal. Denver still has a couple channels on VHF so a UHF/VHF antenna will be needed. Eventually the FCC will do away with all VHF channels and everything will be UHF only.

Castle Rock is a ways out. I would start with a medium directional antenna.. Don't get sucked into the indoor amplified Terk antennas and others like them, they suck unless you live within 10 miles of the transmitter. Are you down in the valley? Can you see Lookout Mountain? If you are down in the valley it is possible that you could be in a shadow and not be able to get a signal.

Oops.. just saw you were Lakewood and someone else was Castle Rock.. Green Mtn and the Golden Mesas can still cause shadows in Lakewood though. A small directional might work well in Lakewood.

I would also wait a few weeks until the leaves on the trees are fully out. They will knock down the signal over far distances.

[TheGrey]

I'm bringing this thread back up, because the quality of our channels has gone from good to utter crap. Local channels (2, 13) pixelate, freeze, and sometimes just drop off altogether. As we're in the southern part of Denver, I'm not sure why we're losing our signal. We've got one of those flat digital antennas inside; it doesn't really do squat. It would be nice to watch local TV again. I'm not sure why we've lost channel integrity, but it's frustrating! I've looked at antennaweb and TV fool, and they say different things. I've also read that if you get the wrong kind of antenna, it can interfere with other channels. Do we need an outdoor antenna? Who do I look for to install it? I don't know how to do any of this stuff.

[gnihcraes]

If it matters, I ran local channels with good results on the standard older VHF/UHF antenna I already had in the attic. (outdoor style) Just pointed it towards lookout mtn.

[crays]

Check with bigdee, I haven't seen him post recently, but this is his area of expertise, if memory serves.

[TheGrey]

Thanks, guys. If you have any specs or advice (please use little words and assume I know next to nothing about TV antennas) I would appreciate you sharing your knowledge!
I have looked at both Antennaweb and TV Fool. I understand just enough to know that I don't quite get it.

[SideShow Bob]

And just a "by the way", the analog VHF/UHF television signal, is NTSC format, which the Gubment has all but phased out.
The "new" digital television signal is ATSC format, which. All older analog TV's need the converter box to receive. And the few analog TV stations still broadcasting will be forced to convert to ATSC.

[TheGrey]

And just a "by the way", the analog VHF/UHF television signal, is NTSC format, which the Gubment has all but phased out.
The "new" digital television signal is ATSC format, which. All older analog TV's need the converter box to receive. And the few analog TV stations still broadcasting will be forced to convert to ATSC.

Good info, this. Our TVs are all digital, thank god, which means that's one thing we don't need to worry about.

[bigshane]

I happened upon this (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Eagle-Aspen-DTV2BUHF-DirecTV-Approved-2-Bay-UHF-Outdoor-Antenna/21152494) in a Slick Deals thread a few days ago. $13 and decently reviewed.

[rbeau30]

Channel 2 for me is a little weak. I occasionally get pixelation. I think this is because I have my signal coming in from an attic mounted Mohu "Sky 60". The "wings are oriented in a north/south direction and the coax runs down to my basement where it is split 6 ways on a 8 way splitter.

I really need to get a signal meter.

I think I will have to either get a splitter that has the exact amount of used splits, or get a powered splitter.

Other than that I can consistently get around 53 channels. Granted most are church-related or spanish-speaking.

[SideShow Bob]

Other than that I can consistently get around 53 channels. Granted most are church-related or spanish-speaking.

Well,
you need to find Hea Zues, and learn to speak Spanish.............[Tooth]

[TheGrey]

Channel 2 for me is a little weak. I occasionally get pixelation. I think this is because I have my signal coming in from an attic mounted Mohu "Sky 60". The "wings are oriented in a north/south direction and the coax runs down to my basement where it is split 6 ways on a 8 way splitter.

I really need to get a signal meter.

I think I will have to either get a splitter that has the exact amount of used splits, or get a powered splitter.

Other than that I can consistently get around 53 channels. Granted most are church-related or spanish-speaking.

See, we can pull in a number of channels (mostly religious or Spanish-speaking), but it's inconsistent and our channels drop out completely or freezes and/or pixelates to the point of frustration. Channel 31 is all but a wash, and even channel 2 gets worse as the evening goes on.

It wasn't like this a few months ago.

I think we'll need to get an antenna that can utilize both UHF and VHF signals. And a pole for it.

[TheGrey]

I happened upon this (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Eagle-Aspen-DTV2BUHF-DirecTV-Approved-2-Bay-UHF-Outdoor-Antenna/21152494) in a Slick Deals thread a few days ago. $13 and decently reviewed.

Good price, but it only pulls in UHF.

[def90]

I'm bringing this thread back up, because the quality of our channels has gone from good to utter crap. Local channels (2, 13) pixelate, freeze, and sometimes just drop off altogether. As we're in the southern part of Denver, I'm not sure why we're losing our signal. We've got one of those flat digital antennas inside; it doesn't really do squat. It would be nice to watch local TV again. I'm not sure why we've lost channel integrity, but it's frustrating! I've looked at antennaweb and TV fool, and they say different things. I've also read that if you get the wrong kind of antenna, it can interfere with other channels. Do we need an outdoor antenna? Who do I look for to install it? I don't know how to do any of this stuff.

Leaves on trees.. I'm guessing that the timing of your drop in signal corresponds to the change in foliage from spring to summer. Get your antenna up higher or get a stronger antenna.