Outdoor Television Antenna

Which one is the best out door antenna for very low signal areas ?

It's best to go to: http://www.antennaweb.org and put your specific location information into the "Antenna Selection" option. This will tell you exactly the best type of antenna needed for your specific location, what channels you will receive, the need for amplification and the direction you need to turn your antenna to receive thoses channels.

Additional details: Be carful of any antenna labeled HD or UHF only. Not all digital channels are broadcasted in the UHF frequencies. I was surprised to find out that two digital channels will remain in the VHF range in my area. Your area may have the same issue. Buying a HD antenna or Bow Tie antenna that only receives UHF signals can leave you with a system that can not receive all of your digital channels. That is why it is so important to use the web site: http://www.antennaweb.org to find out what frequencies your digital channels use and what antenna is best in your specific application. The antenna Gilloz recommends is a good antenna, but it is ONLY a UHF antenna. Any answer which does not take into consideration the specifics of your unique location is just BS.

2008-05-17 06:16:28 by chris77

The Antenna Pros AX-969 Spectrum 6 is one of the most powerful outdoor HD TV antennas with a built in rotor. This video shows you how to assemble ...

Outdoor is always better. Higher is always better. Bigger antenna is nearly always better, though past a certain size it makes no worthwhile difference. The elements of the antenna must be cut to suit the TV channels you want to watch. A couple of yards wide for the few VHF TV channels left, a foot or so wide for the UHF channels.

Signals inside a house can be quite weak. Moreover people moving round inside can absorb or reflect the signal causing constant changes in the signal strength which shows up in picture and sound distortion. With digital TV these things are not as bad as they once were but even a digital TV needs a decent signal.

An outside antenna has a stronger signal to pick up, can reject interfering signals from unwanted directions and is not nearly so much affected by things moving about.

If you cannot have an outside antenna, the next best place is in an attic or ceiling where people moving about below do not affect it as much.

2008-07-05 04:23:27 by joseph gian p

Price: $119.00 $15.94

Solid construction with water-proof capability
Channel: VHF1-12 UHF21-69
Rotation speed: 2-4 rounds/min
Frequency: 45-860 MHz Gain: 22-38dB Rotation: 360°
Support full 360°rotation using the infrared remote controller included in the package

I always wondered if tv antennas picked up stations (wavelengths, frequencies) or what ever using the entire length of the elements or is it just the tips of the elements that does all the work? The same for radio as well. For example, could you slide a piece of plastic pipe down over a radio antenna on your car and just leave about an inch or two exposed at the top...Would it pick up stations just as good both ways? Likewise, could you make your own tv antenna completely out of pvc pipe..Build it to the exact dimensions of a store bought one except out of plastic pipe and just insert a 1 or 2 inch piece of aluminum into the very tips of the elements and attach the wires running inside the pipes? And one more quick question....Why are all tv antennas made out of cheapo light weight tubular aluminum that twists, bends, and breaks when the 1st stiff breeze comes along? Is it just so they can keep selling more antennas or is it just the weight factor or what? Why does it have to be tubular and aluminum? Wouldn't one work just as well if it were made of solid welded steel rods for example? (as long as you had a strong enough pole or tower to support the weight of course)

>using the entire length of the elements or is it just the tips

The entire length.

>could you slide a piece of plastic pipe down over a radio antenna on your car and just leave about an inch or two exposed at the top

The radio waves go through almost all plastics. The plastic will absorb some of the signal though.

>Build it to the exact dimensions of a store bought one except out of plastic pipe and just insert a 1 or 2 inch piece of aluminum into the very tips of the elements and attach the wires running inside the pipes?

The wires inside the pipe will act as part of the antenna.

>Why are all tv antennas made out of cheapo light weight tubular aluminum

Some antennas have been made from plated steel. Home made TV antennas are commonly made from copper wire or steel coat hangers.

Aluminum is common because it doesn't rust, is fairly easy to work with, is relatively cheap, and is has a good strength to weight ratio.

>.Why are all tv antennas made out of cheapo light weight tubular aluminum that twists

Some antennas are flimsy. That's because they are cheaper to manufacture that way. Aluminum antennas can be designed to be quite strong but they cost more to manufacture and weigh more; most buyers want cheap & light instead.

>Why does it have to be tubular

Tubular structures typically have the highest strength to weight ratio. In general, a tube has the highest strength for a given weight of material. The TV signals only travel near the outer surface of the tube, so electrically a tube works just as well as a solid bar.

>Wouldn't one work just as well if it were made of solid welded steel rods for example?

It would work fine (if properly designed!) if you didn't kill yourself installing it.

2009-01-21 05:03:33 by jondough

Price: $753.99

Weatherproof construction
Impedance of 300/75 ohm
Very flexible aiming characteristics
Range of up to 70 miles or more
Works up to 70 miles or more from transmitters

I have tried rabbit ears but because I live 50 miles or more from the signal point, they wouldn't work.

The kind of antenna you need depends on how far you are from the antennas and whether they are all located in the same direction. In some extreme cases, two antennas are needed, pointing in different directions. If a long cable run from the antenna to the TV is needed, then a mast mounted amplifier may be needed. Don't get an antenna that will barely work, because reception changes with weather changes and time of the year. Be aware in advance that it's not unusual for an antenna to work well at most channels, but fail completely at others. It's the nature of digital TV to either work or not work. Unlike analog TV, there's no snowy in between. I'm including several links to helpful sites.


http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.asp x

http://www.hdtvantennalabs.com/index.php

http://www.hdtvsolutions.com/HDTV_antenn as.htm

http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/programming/ broadcast.php

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display. asp?main_cat=03&CAT=&PROD=ANC367 1

2008-01-10 16:44:28 by Billy W

Both of my converter boxes work, but the reception on both televisions breaks up constantly. It's unwatchable. I cannot place an antenna on the roof. I live in a condo where our homeowner association bylaws prohibits it. What is the solution besides paid cable or satellite service?

Look up FCC OTARD.

Your association may not be able to limit your right to install a reasonable outdoor antenna.

2009-01-29 07:20:53 by Eciak C