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23-Jan-2012, 9:33 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5
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Which indoor antenna to buy
I live in Salinas, Ca. I have Directv with an HD DVR. Directv does not offer the local channels (Fox, NBC, CBS, ABC) in HD. The local cable company, Comcast, and DishNetwork both do have the local channels in HD. I contacted Directv and looks like they will not have the local channels in HD for a long time to come.
Seems it will cost Directv a lot of money to convert these to HD. So with two HD televisions, we can't watch the 4 local channels in HD, only in standard format.
So I either switch to DishNetwork or find some device that will allow us to be able to watch all of the local channels in HD (when you watch an NBA game in HD on TNT and then watch a game on sunday on NBC in standard format, it is a huge difference).
I did the TV Fool Signal Analysis and it said we can get 3 of those 4 stations with just an indoor antenna.
I was reading about the Terk Technology HDTVi UHF/VHF HDTV Indoor Antenna as a possible solution. Does anyone have any suggestions on an indoor antenna so we can get HD on our local channels?
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23-Jan-2012, 10:00 PM
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#2
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Greater Seattle Area
Posts: 4,773
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The HDTVi is a very good indoor antenna... http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=2828
Successful reception with an indoor antenna depends on several factors including signal strength and building construction/materials. Please review " Guidelines when asking for help". An accurate prediction of your local signal conditions will help us understand your situation.
Is your home sided with masonry, stucco or metal? Is there foil faced insulation in the walls? These type materials will pose a significant challenge to reliable indoor reception.
__________________
If the well is dry and you don't see rain on the horizon, you'll need to dig the hole deeper. (If the antenna can't get the job done, an amp won't fix it.)
(Please direct account activation inquiries to 'admin')
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23-Jan-2012, 10:03 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10
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GS3, you should post a link to your TVFool analysis so the more knowledgeable people here can assist. Without the analysis it will be difficult for the experts here to recommend a new antenna or to assist in with your current antenna. Also post your home type, is it brick, does it have metal siding, how high up will the antenna be mounted, if attic mounting why kind of roofing does the house have, etc. All will have a factor in how well an antenna used indoors can receive.
All that said I have the amplified version of the Terk indoor antenna (HDTVa). Because of my location it doesn't work well so I'm looking for a better one (have a running thread about it here in the forum) and have ordered an Antennacraft U8000. For antennas that are within 10 miles of my location the Terk HDTVa seems to work well, beyond that it will depend on the terrain and other factors. I have found that the Terk HDTV indoor antenna must be oriented towards the TV station antenna location you wish to receive for it to work properly. Which means you could be moving the antenna from time to time depending on which station your trying to watch at any given time.
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24-Jan-2012, 6:37 AM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5
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24-Jan-2012, 6:41 AM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5
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Thank you for your comments.
The outside walls are stucco. There is foil insulation inside the walls. I hoped to just have an indoor antenna like the Terk HDTVi.
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24-Jan-2012, 7:07 AM
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#6
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Greater Seattle Area
Posts: 4,773
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You have two major groupings of stations, one to the NE and the other to the SE.
If you can locate the HDTVi so it has a view through a window while aimed at the stations of interest, you'll probably do well. On the other hand, an indoor antenna shielded by the foil and wire mesh will have a tough time.
Are you willing to consider a small outdoor antenna system? You would not need a large deep fringe antenna, there's plenty of easy to receive signals available to you. I'm thinking something on the order of the Antennas Direct CS2-V
__________________
If the well is dry and you don't see rain on the horizon, you'll need to dig the hole deeper. (If the antenna can't get the job done, an amp won't fix it.)
(Please direct account activation inquiries to 'admin')
Last edited by GroundUrMast; 24-Jan-2012 at 7:10 AM.
Reason: link for CS2-V
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24-Jan-2012, 2:32 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,832
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Tv antennas and Tv reception
The TERK antenna must be the HDTVi not the HDTVa. Aim the indoor antenna at about 14 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim indoor antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. . For a outdoor antenna , install a ANT751 antenna above the roof , aimed at about 14 degree magnetic compass.
Last edited by Electron; 1-Mar-2012 at 6:25 PM.
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24-Jan-2012, 4:21 PM
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#8
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Greater Seattle Area
Posts: 4,773
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Electron
The TREK antenna must be the HDTVi not the HDTVa. Aim the indoor antenna at about 14 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim indoor antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. . For a outdoor antenna , install a ANT751 antenna above the roof , aimed at about 14 degree magnetic compass. |
An aim point of 14° seems counter-intuitive. I'm not saying you're wrong... simply asking, 'what's the thought process?'
__________________
If the well is dry and you don't see rain on the horizon, you'll need to dig the hole deeper. (If the antenna can't get the job done, an amp won't fix it.)
(Please direct account activation inquiries to 'admin')
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26-Jan-2012, 1:34 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,832
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Tv antennas and Tv reception
Indoor rabbit ear type antennas are two directional antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. Aiming one side or the other of a rabbit ear type antenna at about 14 degree magnetic compass will position the rabbit ear type to receive the greatest number of stations to the , north west , north east . south east and south west. When the rabbit ear antenna is aimed at 14 degree magnetic compass , the rabbit ear type antenna is all so aimed at about 202 degree magnetic compass. Put a popcicle stick on the radar map , and the length of popcicle stick is the rods of a rabbit ear type indoor antenna. Either end of the popcicle stick is the part of the antenna antenna with the least reception. Now turn the popcicle stick around like a compass and see what direction produces greatest number of tv stations to receive. And this is also a balancing act of the strongest tv stations and the angle of reception and the weaker tv stations and the angle of reception. The greater the angle of reception off to the sides of the two directions of the rabbit ear type antenna the less reception will take place. So it is best to put the stronger stations at more of a angle and the weaker stations at less of a angle. . The ANT751 is a small antenna that works Very Much Like a indoor rabbit ear type antenna , so the same applies.
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26-Jan-2012, 1:47 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,832
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Tv antennas and Tv reception
And this is also a balancing act of the tv stations that one will like to receive and tv stations that one will not like to receive. One can position the popcicle stick to get a stronger signal on the tv stations that one will like to receive and a weaker signal on tv stations that one will not like to receive. Or one can aim the antenna any ol which way and receive what ever.
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30-Jan-2012, 3:04 AM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5
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Thanks for the advice
Thank you both for all of your advice. I'm going to try an indoor antenna first so I bought the Terk Technology HDTVi UHF/VHF antenna. So I can see the channels on the guide on my Directv remote, I bought the Directv AM21 Off Air Tuner. Both should arrive next week and I'll let you know how it worked out.
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30-Jan-2012, 11:57 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,832
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Tv antennas and Tv reception
Something else you need to know. There are Real Digital Tv Channels and Virtual Digital Tv Channels. As an example , KCBA-DT 13 = the Real channel is 13 , 13 is what is received by the antenna and the tuning device. The Virtual channel is Not a real channel it is a virtual channel 35.1. A few tuning devices can display the Real Channel , most can not and so displays the virtual channel. The main reason but not the only reason for virtual channels is the channel number before the digital conversion was as an example 35. The tv station kept the now old 'legacy' channel number of 35 even though the tv station is now transmitting on 13. Some tv stations choose to stay on the same channel , as an example , KSBW was transmitting analog signal on channel 8 , and when the tv station switched to digital the tv station switched off the channel 8 analog transmitter and switched on the channel 8 digital transmitter. And here is a mind twister for you , the Real channel 8 is the real 8.1 channel and the 8.1 that is listed as the 8.1 virtual channel is a virtual channel. Real is real and virtual is virtual.
Last edited by Electron; 1-Mar-2012 at 6:32 PM.
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29-Feb-2012, 6:32 AM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5
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Success
I bought the DirectV off air Tuner and Terk indoor antenna. I have the antenna sitting on top of my entertainment center and put the dipoles straight up at slight angles. Doesn't look great but gives amazing results. Antenna if facing tower which is not far away. For NBC, CBS, Fox I'm getting about 60% strength. ABC less. But I'm happy with HD now on these channels. It's a big difference. I want to get the antenna up into the attic so could get more signal strength possibly. Thanks again for the info you passed on.
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29-Feb-2012, 6:53 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,832
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Tv antennas and Tv reception
The rods of the antenna will receive better with the rods close to the horizontal position. Have you tried the aim direction that I recommended??
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