Need help choosing an indoor antenna

[crushrush]

I am only interested in the channels in green. I would like to get an indoor antenna.

Here is the TV fool report:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d8d1703c932123b

I live in an all brick home.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[John Candle]

http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=233 , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html

[Dave Loudin]

You will need VHF/UHF capability now and after Canada's digital transition in August. A Terk HDTVi (the non-amplified version) will be the best at getting a clean signal, but you could start with a bare-bones loop and rabbit ears combination, again with no amplifier, that should cost no more than 15 dollars or so.

[John Candle]

Many Canada Tv stations are transmitting digital Now and more are changing to digital as time goes along. The August 2011 date is when the Full Power stations are to have completed there digital transition. There are many Low Power stations that will not be changing to digital after the August 2011 date. . Here is more inflammation , http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/105462 , http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/home-accueil.htm , http://www.friends.ca , http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum . Read and understand about , Real Digital Tv Channels , Virtual Digital Tv Channels and Analog Tv Channels. http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=695 . The , Real , Virtual , Analog , is true for both the States and Canada.

[crushrush]

Thanks for the info. I picked up the Philips sdv5119/27 from Walmart. It worked great on my upstairs TV. But the signal was much weaker on the main floor TV. I will pick up a Terk antenna and see if that improves my reception on the main floor.

[John Candle]

You can put a indoor antenna on the 2nd floor in a location where the Tv transmissions are strong and run a coax cable down to the location of the Tv on the first floor. It also helps to put the antenna at a window that has more exposer to the Tv transmitters. . If you will install a roof top Tv antenna such as a simple small Winegard HD7080P all channel antenna or Channel Master CM3016 all channel antenna or Antennacraft HD850 and point it at about 10 degree magnetic compass you will receive the Tv stations to the , north west , north east and south east.

[crushrush]

My house is already connected for cable so the coax cables are already in place. I would like to split the signal from the antenna on the second floor and send the signal to my TV on the first floor and to my TV on the second floor.

The maximum signal strengths range from 67 to 92% when I attach the antenna directly to my second floor TV.

I was wondering if I can use a cheap 2 way splitter or if I should use an amplifier.

[John Candle]

If are using indoor tv antenna do not split the signal from 1 indoor tv antenna to 2 Tv's. Use a separate indoor antenna for each Tv. Both of the indoor antennas can be upstairs where the signals are strong , from one of the indoor antennas a coax cable can be connected to the downstairs Tv if it is a fairly short run of coax. You can also have one of the indoor antennas downstairs and have the indoor antenna close to a window that has more exposure to the Tv transmitters. If you go with a outdoor antenna on the roof then use the coax wiring in the house with a 2 way splitter. A amplifier will not be needed with the outdoor antenna. DO NOT connect the antenna or antennas to the coax wiring in the house if it is connected to cable tv companies active cable line or satellite Tv.

[John Candle]

It is Ok to read and understand the article about indoor Tv antennas and amplifiers. The situation I am suggesting with using a indoor Tv antenna upstairs connected to the downstairs tv is , if the separate antenna on the second floor can be located above the downstairs tv in such a way that a coax can be 'dropped down'. It does require creative thinking , I should not have said any thing.

[crushrush]

Thank you for your help. I was able to run a line from the 2nd floor to the first floor and the reception is great. An antenna for each TV did the trick.