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Old 9-Apr-2014, 9:49 AM   #1
rolfeskj
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Radio Shack Antenna, are they good, will they work for my area? HELP

I saw a few antennas at Radio Shack for reasonable prices. I am going to mount it in my attic. Would these antennas work for my location, are they any good?

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...5b9453236cbf83

Seems to recieve everything but rang seems low for a 85" antenna:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...tent=CT2032189

I like the size of this one and it says it has a huge rang:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...tent=CT2032189

This one says its for attic installation and again I like the size, its only $40 on amazon, and seems to be my favorite so far:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...tent=CT2032189

Any other thoughts for an attic mounted antenna that would work for my area under $40? Thanks.

Last edited by rolfeskj; 9-Apr-2014 at 9:59 AM.
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Old 9-Apr-2014, 11:31 AM   #2
No static at all
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The HBU 22 is a good fit for the signal strengths in your area. (I am assuming you are just looking for Baltimore) As far as working in the attic.....it will likely work, but may require some experimentation with placement for reliable reception.

I bought an HBU-22 cause it easily fits in the car & find it a very good antenna for it's size. (Yes, I'm an antenna geek) I was very surprised that it actually picks up some Baltimore channels in the attic of my house. Channels 45 & 54 are 2 edge & 55 miles away.
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Old 9-Apr-2014, 11:41 AM   #3
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Basicly I am just looking to get as many channels as I can get. It will be a scondary TV in a guest bedroom that I dont want to pay for a extra cable box for.
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Old 9-Apr-2014, 11:54 AM   #4
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Skip the AC9. It's an all-band antenna and you don't need low-VHF (that's what makes it so wide).

The GE antenna is a PITA to assemble and it is restricted to attic-only usage. Once assembled, it is a decent performer on UHF and mediocre on high-VHF.

The HBU22 is probably your best bet of that group as NSAA suggested.

"Ranges" are mere estimates, they are not promises, guarantees, or anything else.
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Old 9-Apr-2014, 12:06 PM   #5
teleview
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http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=14064.

Attics and inside of buildings Are Not a reception friendly environment and Never Will Be a reception friendly environment.

Yes start with the HBU22 antenna in the attic aimed at about 260 degree magnetic compass direction.

If reception situations happen in the attic that are not resolvable with antenna aim adjustments and antenna location adjustments in the attic.

Then move the HBU22 antenna to Above the Peak of the Roof in such a manner that the Roof and Attic and Building are Not , obstructing , impeding , blocking , reception in the directions of , South West , West , North West , North.

Install a , http://www.antennacraft.com.

HBU22 antenna.

Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing.html.

Use a Real and Actual magnetic compass to aim antenna , do not trust a cell phone compass.

Last edited by teleview; 9-Apr-2014 at 7:31 PM. Reason: Clarify information and typos.
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Old 9-Apr-2014, 12:23 PM   #6
rolfeskj
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ADTech View Post
Skip the AC9. It's an all-band antenna and you don't need low-VHF (that's what makes it so wide).

The GE antenna is a PITA to assemble and it is restricted to attic-only usage. Once assembled, it is a decent performer on UHF and mediocre on high-VHF.

The HBU22 is probably your best bet of that group as NSAA suggested.

"Ranges" are mere estimates, they are not promises, guarantees, or anything else.
Is there a better sub $40 antenna for my application that I should be looking at?
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Old 9-Apr-2014, 2:39 PM   #7
rolfeskj
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Quote:
Originally Posted by No static at all View Post
The HBU 22 is a good fit for the signal strengths in your area. (I am assuming you are just looking for Baltimore) As far as working in the attic.....it will likely work, but may require some experimentation with placement for reliable reception.

I bought an HBU-22 cause it easily fits in the car & find it a very good antenna for it's size. (Yes, I'm an antenna geek) I was very surprised that it actually picks up some Baltimore channels in the attic of my house. Channels 45 & 54 are 2 edge & 55 miles away.
Does the HBU 22 fold down? I need to get it into my attic which is roughly a 2'X2' hole in my ceiling.
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Old 9-Apr-2014, 3:42 PM   #8
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Yes, the Antennacraft antennas will easily un-fold & re-fold. That is one reason I like them for attic installs (& the back seat of my Toyota too!!)
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Old 9-Apr-2014, 4:08 PM   #9
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They come folded up small in a small box. You should have no trouble getting it through that opening.

I installed an HBU22 at my inlaws' house, and it's been working fine out in the weather since before the analog switch-off in 2009. Snow, ice, etc. Still looks and works like new. I currently have the directional FM antenna (FM6) and in my last house had the turnstile Omni (FMSS, I think), all of which have been fine. In case you're unsure of the brand.

Their web site doesn't seem to work all of a sudden.
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Old 9-Apr-2014, 4:14 PM   #10
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Great, just ordered one, HBU22. Thanks.
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Old 9-Apr-2014, 8:24 PM   #11
teleview
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The AntennaCraft web site

http://www.antennacraft.net

looks like AntennaCraft no longer has the , .net , domain name.

If , antennacraft , is typed into the , google or yahoo search box , the antennacraft.net , will be found , however , clicking on it , will say the domain is no longer active , April 9 - 2014 , however as recent as 1 day ago it was working.

I typed in ,

http://www.antennacraft.com

and that works Ok.

I called AntennaCraft on the phone and the guy I talked with says he has been at AntennaCraft since August and it has always been , .com

and he does not know any thing about the , .net

Last edited by teleview; 10-Apr-2014 at 6:23 AM. Reason: Clarify information and typos.
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Old 10-Apr-2014, 1:48 AM   #12
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For fun, go to whois.com and look up both domain names. You'll see who actually owns Antennacraft.

It looks like their .net domain was still online as of the 21st of Feb since that's the last entry at archive.org

I remember about four years ago, I found that our old terrestrial-digital site was still out there after it should have been gone for two years. Our web guy had to put a redirect on the old domain so that it forwarded to the new domain.
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Last edited by ADTech; 10-Apr-2014 at 1:57 AM.
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Old 12-Apr-2014, 4:10 PM   #13
rolfeskj
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What direction should I aim my new antenna?
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Old 12-Apr-2014, 4:12 PM   #14
teleview
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As I stated in post #5 , Aim the antenna at about 260 degree magnetic compass direction.

The aim direction is the same , in the attic or above the roof.

As Always , the starting antenna aim direction is the -->Starting antenna aim direction.

The aim of the antenna can be adjusted for best reception.

Most Digital Tv's have a Signal Strength Meter and some Digital Tv's also have a Signal Quality Meter.

Last edited by teleview; 13-Apr-2014 at 5:48 AM. Reason: Clarify information and typos.
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Old 14-Apr-2014, 11:03 AM   #15
rolfeskj
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Hooked up the antenna last night. I receive 49 digital channels. Works great, thanks for the help.
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