i was wondering if any of u people out there know of a REALLY GOOD tv antenna??..one that has REALLY GOOD reception that picks up ALL the broadcasting live regular channels no problem and is able to view the channels clearly with no statics and stuffs....i wanna buy a really good one or decent enuff....
tv antennas??..
- Thread starter Tommie
- Start date
Scooterpig
Member
Where abouts are you may narrow it down to who can reply..
X-bayed director elements, and lots of them (the X format is actually not that great in terms of results for the TOTAL amount of metalwork, but delivers the most gain and directivity for a given single boom length).
I don't know if you have frequency groups where you are, but in the UK, there are channel groups of A (channels 21 - 33 or thereabouts), B, C/D, and oddities like K - there are also "wideband" that cover all the channels.
A channel grouped antenna has better performance (gain, directivity, side/rear rejection) over its channel set, but is pretty well useless outside of it - the wideband gives up some performance, for full channel coverage.
With extra channels (5) and DTV - wideband is becoming the standard anyway.
I don't know if you have frequency groups where you are, but in the UK, there are channel groups of A (channels 21 - 33 or thereabouts), B, C/D, and oddities like K - there are also "wideband" that cover all the channels.
A channel grouped antenna has better performance (gain, directivity, side/rear rejection) over its channel set, but is pretty well useless outside of it - the wideband gives up some performance, for full channel coverage.
With extra channels (5) and DTV - wideband is becoming the standard anyway.
Any of the Terq products are pretty good. Just look for the one that is for your specific needs.
Recommendations are like *ssholes. Everybody got one. The best thing you could do is take the names of products that have been mentioned in this post and do a google search. Get the specs and compare. What's great for me may not be the best for you. Do the homework yourself and you'll find the right one.
It also depends, can you get hold of a coverage map to see if you are in a strong signal area, a weak signal arewa. or a "normally outside of coverage" area.
The vertically stacked X or "bowtie" designs with a large grid reflector, tand to be good for rejecting rear and side reflections , and vertiacal (aircraft flutter) reflections, but the relatively wide beam can be a mixed blessing - good if you have two transmitter sites that are not completely on-axis.
In the conventional long boom designs, more elements are generally better, but you need a sturdy mast to avoid excessive wind-rock, especially in Florida!
If you are in a weak signal area, where gain matters most, I'd also consider using a masthead preamp, as this compensates for cable losses that can never be recovered by a preamp at the bottom of the cable.
Remember, if the signal is snowy (noisy) but otherwise ok, you need more gain.
If the signal is clear but ghosted, you need more directivity, or possibly some adjustment in postioning/aiming - a preamp will never help ghosting
The vertically stacked X or "bowtie" designs with a large grid reflector, tand to be good for rejecting rear and side reflections , and vertiacal (aircraft flutter) reflections, but the relatively wide beam can be a mixed blessing - good if you have two transmitter sites that are not completely on-axis.
In the conventional long boom designs, more elements are generally better, but you need a sturdy mast to avoid excessive wind-rock, especially in Florida!
If you are in a weak signal area, where gain matters most, I'd also consider using a masthead preamp, as this compensates for cable losses that can never be recovered by a preamp at the bottom of the cable.
Remember, if the signal is snowy (noisy) but otherwise ok, you need more gain.
If the signal is clear but ghosted, you need more directivity, or possibly some adjustment in postioning/aiming - a preamp will never help ghosting
umm whoa....im not an expert tv antenna guy....im clueless as what u just said man....i just hate having them cheap tv atennas at wal-mart or something and i would always have to **** with the antenna just to get a channel....but it never is clear....always staticy....just want a really good simple plug in play antenna u know??..plug in back of tv and plug in power all set to go u know those kinds....or r all those kinds gay kinds??..man i dont know i wanna watch tv....but i can even watch tv!!..they actually have lots of regular channels here....this probly wont help but im frum sheboygan, wi..
i dont know what kind of signal i have here....i live very close to lake michigan will that affect me??..sorry if im asking stupid questions but if u can give me the sites to that x bayed whatever antenna it is....ill go look it up....
and if u can maybe u can tell me like what i need or something....thanx for the help so far man....appreciate it....
i dont know what kind of signal i have here....i live very close to lake michigan will that affect me??..sorry if im asking stupid questions but if u can give me the sites to that x bayed whatever antenna it is....ill go look it up....
and if u can maybe u can tell me like what i need or something....thanx for the help so far man....appreciate it....
If the problem is static (snow, sparkles, noise) rather than ghosting (multiple images, horizontally displaced) then the signal is just weak - a lot less trying than cleaning up a ghosting problem.
http://www.antiference.co.uk/extra.htm - that's the X-bayed style illustrated
http://www.antiference.co.uk/tc.htm - And thats the ordinary style
If the cheap ones don't work well enough, then you need at least twice the elements, possibly more
http://www.radioshack.com/category.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=CTLG_003_001_002_000&Page=1
And a masthead preamp
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=CTLG_003_001_003_001&product_id=15-2507
A bit pricey though, but it depends.
PS. The use of VHF confuses things, in the UK, TV is only on UHF, so all the elements are the short ones.
Those really big beasts are really two or three antennas in one - the VHF sections (larger) do not contribute to UHF performance.
Do you use channel numbers below 21 ?
Is there any local transmitter information?
http://www.antiference.co.uk/extra.htm - that's the X-bayed style illustrated
http://www.antiference.co.uk/tc.htm - And thats the ordinary style
If the cheap ones don't work well enough, then you need at least twice the elements, possibly more
http://www.radioshack.com/category.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=CTLG_003_001_002_000&Page=1
And a masthead preamp
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=CTLG_003_001_003_001&product_id=15-2507
A bit pricey though, but it depends.
PS. The use of VHF confuses things, in the UK, TV is only on UHF, so all the elements are the short ones.
Those really big beasts are really two or three antennas in one - the VHF sections (larger) do not contribute to UHF performance.
Do you use channel numbers below 21 ?
Is there any local transmitter information?
well the channels here that say in the newspaper that r broadcast channels r 2,4,5,6,10,11,12,18,24,26,30,32,36,38,58....local transmitter information??..
uhh im not sure about if they have that here....maybe they do but i have no idea....j/w for the 1st 2 sites of the antennas that u put up....them big antennas....do professional people install those for u and u pay them??..
uhh im not sure about if they have that here....maybe they do but i have no idea....j/w for the 1st 2 sites of the antennas that u put up....them big antennas....do professional people install those for u and u pay them??..
All those channels?
That's a VHF and UHF setup, and wideband too.
If it's a tough area to get a decent signal in, then it may be a specialist job - you can buy the fittings, wall brackets, chimney lashings, but with VHF channels included (2-12), the size and weight are getting rather scary.
An installer should also be able to give you an idea what size you need.
If an antenna only has the short elements, it will not cover the low channels at all.
I don't know anything about VHF, other than that a "small" VHF antenna is as big or bigger than a large UHF one, as TV in the UK has been UHF only for many years.
That's a VHF and UHF setup, and wideband too.
If it's a tough area to get a decent signal in, then it may be a specialist job - you can buy the fittings, wall brackets, chimney lashings, but with VHF channels included (2-12), the size and weight are getting rather scary.
An installer should also be able to give you an idea what size you need.
If an antenna only has the short elements, it will not cover the low channels at all.
I don't know anything about VHF, other than that a "small" VHF antenna is as big or bigger than a large UHF one, as TV in the UK has been UHF only for many years.
woody
1
Guess I'll jump in.You need a uhf/vhf tv antenna.The first Radioshack antenna (or similar)in that link will be good.A rotator(rotor) is best used too, to prevent ghosting,and zero in on signals.If you're using an indoor antenna,and need to move it around to get different channels,that is your proof you need the rotator.
Omniderictional antennas are to be avoided,as they will always have problems with ghosting,that can't be corrected.An amp is a good idea if you are in a rural area away from strong local signals.
Why not go to a good TV shop in your area for recommendations?They can tell you what is required for your location.
Omniderictional antennas are to be avoided,as they will always have problems with ghosting,that can't be corrected.An amp is a good idea if you are in a rural area away from strong local signals.
Why not go to a good TV shop in your area for recommendations?They can tell you what is required for your location.