Amplified Antenna

We have a cabin up in a rural area deep into the woods. Right now on our analog TV, we get 1 station. I think this is a VHF station. We got the digital converter, and now all of the sudden we get no stations. I am wondering if an amplified antenna will fix the problem or if were are going to have to place an antenna on the rooftop.

If you don't have an external antenna, try one. It sounds like you need a good sized one. Don't get a small, amplified one. A digital signal is all or nothing. You get a good clean signal or you don't see it at all. The analog signals will appear as a snowy or noisy signal but you know they're there.
If the big external antenna doesn't do the trick you could try an amplifier. Don't get a cheap one as frequently they make the situation worse because they distort the signal.
If that doesn't work, do as the other answer suggests and get a satellite dish.

2008-07-13 11:27:11 by Brandon S

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I have Dish and do not yet wish to invest in a hi-def receiver and package. For the few hi-def shows that I would like to see I use an indoor antenna. Local stations come in great. There are some stations that are coming from about 50 miles away and I do not want to install an outdoor antenna since I may switch to satellite hi-def next year.

Would an amplified indoor antenna do any good or are they just gimmicks?

I am using one, not sure if I needed it for HD, but i did for SD tv.

As to channels 2 thru 6 not being used for HD, That is BS, In my viewing area, I have HD channels 2 & 5. And according the the station engineers, "We have no knowledge of our frequencies changing" a large amout of money and equipment has been invested in making the change".

2008-09-04 09:28:54 by Barkley Hound

I found a 'Phillips HDTV Indoor Amplified Antenna' but can't understand from the description if it is to make a HDTV get better reception -OR- I hope, to make a 'regular' TV into an HDTV. Can someone explain. Also, if it is like I hope (to make a 'regular TV into HDTV', I also can't understand how you hook it up to the TV (it is the indoor kind). ?Is is like a cable type connection?
Thanks for reading

It's simply an amplified TV antenna, nothing more. There is nothing about an antenna that makes it "HD" or "digital" or "analog". An antenna is a dumb piece of metal that is cut for a particular frequency. Beyond that, it doesn't care what it is receiving. Slapping "HDTV" on an antenna is marketing hype.

If you want to still use your old analog TV to view digital Over The Air signals, you need a converter box. These retail for about $50 - $75. The US Government is offering $40 coupons to help with the expense. You may apply for no more than two coupons at http://www.dtv2009.gov .

Note that the converter boxes are for Over The Air reception only. If you have a Digital TV, cable service or satellite service, you do not need a converter box.

If you are using a converter box, you will need a good antenna. The one you now have may be good enough. Visit http://www.antennaweb.org , put in your ZIP code and you will get a list of stations in your area, suggestions on antennas for your unique situation and information on where to aim them.

I hope this helps. Please return and select a Best Answer from all of those submitted.

2008-07-14 10:14:50 by dandyrandywhitetruck

i bought a tv antenna for a hdtv and im trying to get hd over the air but cant get a signal on any channel... do i need a stronger antenna?

An amplified antenna can help you if you have a relatively weak (but detectable) signal that you need to send down a long cable run and/or to multiple devices. If you hook up three TV's to an antenna and lose your signal, then an amplifier may help.

If you're not getting a good signal on a short or medium length run (<10 ft) to a single TV, than an amplified antenna likely won't help you. Your noise level is so high that the amplifier will not improve the signal to noise ratio.

If you're trying to get an over-the-air (OTA) signal, you may need to get a larger, more sensitive antenna, and you may need to place it outside.

go to www.antennaweb.org for details on antenna types and signal directions.

BTW, your apartment complex or homeowner's association cannot prevent you from using an outdoor antenna if you need one to get OTA broadcasts. If you're getting digital signals, like HDTV, then you're allow to place the antenna wherever you need to get a signal, even if it's visible to every one of your neighbors.

For apartment dwellers, the additional caveats are that you cannot mount anything permanent to the building unless you get permission, and you can be prevented from using an outdoor antenna if the complex provides you with a building-wide antenna connection or cable signal at no charge.

2007-10-09 14:21:17 by kcfan974

i have this small old 1995 TV, and I want to keep it.
if i buy an amplified antenna, do i still need to buy a DTV converter box?

They are two different things.

An antenna (amplified or not) receives signals from the air. You need an antenna whenever you want to receive free Over The Air TV. Digital or analog doesn't matter to an antenna.

A converter box converts the digital TV signals for use on an older analog TV. Converter boxes require an antenna.

So, you need the converter box AND an antenna. I'm not sure if the amplified type is the best choice. The best antenna for you depends on how strong the signals are at your house. Visit http://www.antennaweb.org . Based on your zip code, it will suggest the proper antenna using a standardized color code that you can take to the store.

2009-02-21 22:34:56 by J-L A