HDTV Antenna recommendations

[Jp8819]

Looking at picking up a HDTV antenna for local channels and was curious if any of you had ones or type you would recommend or stay away from. Looks like there are all kinds of options. Powered, non powered indoor and outdoor. Ones that rotate.

Ideally would like to mount one inside if possible but if range is alot better putting it outside I will.

Also can you split the signal to multiple tvs ?


Thanks

 

[Ferrisfan]

I have this one mounted indoors in a basement. It does well enough for supplying stations when I am on my elliptical machine. I cannot pick up all the channels that the FCC map says I should be able to, but I bet I could if the antenna was mounted outdoors or higher in my house. To my knowledge, every antenna signal can be split to multiple TVs.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NCV2MQB/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[noway2]

Outdoors will get better reception because there is less attenuation.

In order to receive the image you still need X milivolts of signal above the noise floor. Putting the antenna outside, turning it towards the transmitter, etc all help. You can split the signal, but you'd be better off to amplify it first unless it's really strong. Again, you need a minimum of signal to recieve it. Digital helps here because it's a go / no go as long as it's strong enough.

Your location says Greensboro so you'll get 2, 8, and 12 quite readily. Some of the Raleigh area stations may be iffy. You'll likely pick up a few others and low power stations too.

There isn't really a whole lot of magic to an antenna. It is a piece of wire whose geometry, mostly length, is such that it's tuned to pick up certain frequencies. You can get directional antennas with more elements that enhance the signal if your facing the source.

One thing you will want to do is get a good low loss coax. The digital TV signals operate on the UHF bands and cable loss becomes significant.

 

[Button Pusher]

I have an older tv antenna in the garage attic with a smaller hd antenna, makes no difference really,
the frequency is UHF and both will receive that frequency allocation. They are attached to an amplifier combiner that
feeds two RG-6 coax runs. Should internet go down I can easily watch local stations.
You can have a directional antenna, just like the older TV type or omni directional, it receives equally
in a circular pattern. To aim the directional antenna, just like an arrow, narrow towards the TV towers.
Higher is always better but sometimes it is a compromise.

Here is link to map of transmitter locations to help you aim the antenna.

https://nocable.org/hd-antenna-coverage-map

 

[Ikarus1]

depends on if you're looking at get signals from a single direction or not. And how far you are away from those stations. The Mohu Leaf type is an omni that work stuck on windows or walls. Most of the stations in my area are to my west, so something like an old school Yagi type would work. If you are in the middle of a bunch of stations, then they make omnidirectional ones like RVs have. All of that stuff is out there.

Put your zipcode in the search at Antennaweb and it will tell you which direction is which transmitter. https://www.antennaweb.org/Address

 

[S4f]

I use one of the window mounted one,
Works well for me, pixilates during bad weather on some channels, but direct would go out completely so I'm still better off

 

[Ikarus1]

I use one of the window mounted one,
Works well for me, pixilates during bad weather on some channels, but direct would go out completely so I'm still better off

that's the limitation of digital...when its clear, it's crystal. When its not, its unwatchable unlike a little analog "snow" it is a hard cutoff. The FCC reshuffle that's happening will probably only make it worse

 

[Jp8819]

Thanks guys good info and links. Looking at some of the sites posted looks like most of the locals are in the 15-20 mile range east or west since I am in se corner of guilford county but some raleigh stuff shows 40 miles. Raleigh is not a deal breaker but would be nice. Sounds like a powered or amplifed omni might be best type if I do not want to get into rotating one with decent rg6 cabling.

Attic mount would be my prefrence but can take it to roof if need be to get higher.

 

[NCMedic]

We started with a Mohu Leaf stuck on the wall, worked fairly well.
I put the 1byone HDTV antenna off Amazon in our attic, split it to both TVs and we get 35+ channels, I'm able to get all the Raleigh channels and some of the Greensboro ones on a good day.