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HDTV antenna

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
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I'm *thinking* of terminating my cable TV service.

I wondered if any BCF members use over-the-air HDTV. And if so, what antenna do you use?

There are gazillions on the market. Just looking for personal experiences. I could get the stations I need with a roof top (or attic) antenna, per service map at:

https://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=8e037cca56f06f

Thanks.
Tom
 
I tried out a friends inexpensive indoor antenna (guessing $50 range, sorry don't know what it was) from Best Buy and it worked great, simple, flat about 8"x11", HD clear as cable. Got more channels than I thought, but show stopper for my wife was no access to cable sports. I've talked to campers who have had improved reception using a power booster with their pole antenna in more remote areas.
Maybe go to Wally World, try one out and return it.
 
We have a roof top one installed in our attic - pleased so far, about 15 channels. I just went to my local electronics store and picked one - under $50. there are likely Direct to Air stores in your community but, buying an antenna is (IMHO) a little like buying a thumbdrive or some such thing - you go to the store & shop by price as they are all basically the same.
 
Thanks gents. I've tried a couple of "indoor" antennas, with ranges of up to 50 miles. Not a single station detected.

That's why I'm hoping an attic or roof top antenna will help. I don't live in a "city" - but more like ...

Down_In_The_Valley.jpg
 
I've been a holdout for broadcast TV all along, and am about to throw in the towel. Sorry, I do not remember the name of the antenna, it's a common design, supposed to be omni-directional. Shaped like a disc, maybe 3" thick and 20" in diameter installed lying horizontal -- mine is on a post perhaps twenty feet off the ground. Despite being only a dozen miles from the nation's capital, even though I get a fair # of channels, the image frequently breaks up (pixelates IIRC) or freezes. More likely to happen with minor channels or ones further away, but sometimes the local ABC, NBC or CBS affiliates. This is the 3rd or 4th antenna since the digital conversion, none have eliminated the problem. Disclaimer: I have a lot of trees.

It's nice not having a cable bill -- but if I'm careful I think I can get phone/internet/TV for what I'm currently paying for a phone line and an internet connection -- the TV would effectively be free.
 
I use an antenna I got from Radio shack several years ago when I first got an HD TV, most of the time works great and I get all the surrounding stations. This one has a built in booster that plugs in, cost about $35 as I recall. But the things to remember with an antenna are that you either have a great signal or nothing, unlike the old analog days there isn't much in between like the snowy or fuzzy signal you could have then. And weather and large objects between you and the transmitter can disrupt the signal causing loss. I've learned to live with it rather than pay the high cost of cable.
 
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