Antenna Recommendation - Suburb of Milwaukee
 

First time TV antenna purchaser, went to the hardware store last night and wasn't sure what to get. This is the most confused I've ever felt about a consumer purchase. Glad this site is here to help out.

Here is my report:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...60b536312983db

Some additional information:
- My preference is to use a smaller or plastic cased antenna and mount it outside on the side of my home. If I need a large unsightly antenna, I'll probably put it in the attic.

- Critical channels are ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and CW. Any other channels would be nice, but are not essential.

- Right now it will be hooked up to a dual tuner, eventually I will hook up another one for a total of 4 tuners (Using hdhomerun boxes).

Thanks for your help!

You do not want a plastic-enclosed antenna, ever, as it will turn brittle and crack due to ultraviolet radiation. Now for the good news: all your stations transmit in the UHF band (14-51) (see the "Real Channel" column), and are all very strong (the noise margins are very large positive numbers for your local stations), so you need a modestly sensitive UHF antenna. Two options: mount an Antennas Direct ClearStream 2 outside facing almost due east (80 degerees) or try a Terk HDTVi indoors.

My personal experience with the HDHR says, go for the outdoor install, you'll have more reliable reception. If you record or time shift, the playback will be improved if you can avoid errors that are more likely with an indoor antenna installation.

I was thinking of outdoors as well. The only decent spot inside my home for an antenna would just above ground level, and I worry about snow on the roof interfering with an antenna in the attic.

The clearstream2 antenna looks good, but seems pricey. Since I have a good signal, do I need something that expensive? Would an antenna like the Channel Master 2016 work ok?

Nobody has mentioned the 4 tuners. Will that be a problem at all?

I prefer outdoor, mainly because I don't have a good spot inside and would like to stay out of the attic. Is such an expensive antenna needed? Given the strong signal, would something like the Channel Master 2016 work ok?

Any thoughts about using 4 tuners?

Tv Antennas and Reception
 

The 'pending applications included' for digital stations shows that , WWAZ is transmitting on digital channel 5 and WMLW is transmitting on digital channel 13. The C2 antenna is a UHF antenna and will not receive WWAZ. And may or may not receive WMLW. For a outside roof top antenna , I recommend a Winegard HD7000R. Aim the HD7000R antenna at about 80 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. Here are some antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html. Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.3starinc.com

Tv Antennas and Reception
 

If you will like to try a indoor antenna , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=233. Here is how to aim indoor antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html

The 7000R could work. WWAZ is apparently not on the air, yet. It appears that is has been an Azteca (Spanish) Network affiliate. Discounting the low-VHF, WMLW (another independent, will probably be strong enough, anyway to sneak in. Given the strong signals, a Clearstream 1 would work, too.

For the major networks, a UHF-only antenna is appropriate for the Milwaukee stations. One of the PBS affiliates has an ambiguous status, either on VHF-8 or UHF 36. I don't know off the top of my head which it's active on currently, but as of 8/8/11, VHF-8 was active (ref: Trip's site). If this 2nd PBS station is needed, then a hi-VHF capability is also needed.

When folks call in for advice, they only rarely have requirements for the LD and analog stations. Usually, when they ask for those, its due to either a religious or ethnic broadcast they want to get.

Tv Antennas and Reception
 

To avoid all the if ands and could bees and the sneaking and wondering , Install the HD7000R antenna , it receives all the television bands , VHF low 2 thru 6 , VHF high 7 thru 13 and UHF 14 thru 69. At http://www.amazon.com the HD7000R is $33.22 , the Clearstream2 is $62.90

Tv Antennas and Reception
 

I am here to help people receive more television channels not less television channels. Read and understand about , REAL Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Virtual Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Analog Broadcast Tv Channels , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=695

Tv Antennas and Reception
 

Here is a Analog tv channel. WMKE channel 7 is http://www.americaone.com. Here are references , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WMKE-CA , http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tv...=0&facid=35091

Tv Antennas and Reception
 

Here is a Analog tv channel. WYTU 63 is , http://www.metvnetwork.com. The references are , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WYTU-LD , http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tv...=0&facid=71424

John, please try to consolidate your points. I think the OP has a pretty good idea of what's possible. If you read between the lines, he might like to spend a little more for a uniquely designed antenna. BTW, analog LPTV's days are numbered.

Tv Antennas and Reception
 

Here are tv guides , http://www.zap2it.com , http://www.television.aol.com , http://www.tv.yahoo.com , http://tv.entertainment.excite.com , http://www.titantv.com. Most tv guides list the channels as the virtual channel numbers.

Tv Antennas and Reception
 

Yes , analog tv low power , analog translator/repeater transmission days are numbered , The date to cease all analog tv transmission in the USA is , September 1 , 2015. To day is September 23 , 2011 , September 1 , 2015 is 4 years into the future. And yes it is true that most of the low power analog stations will convert to digital before the last day. And yes it is also true that many full power digital tv stations are buying the low power analog stations and continuing to transmit analog for now and convert to digital later. Either way the low power station is still transmitting and can be received. Read and understand this about , REAL Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Virtual Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Analog Broadcast Tv Channels , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=695

Tv Antennas and Reception
 

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tv...&slon2=&size=9 , The Low Band VHF television channels 2 thru 6 do not look like the channels are going away any time soon.