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A New TV Antenna for HDTV?
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Q. Hi i live at 182 ______ ave. Portland Maine. I have done a bit of research online and your website helped me realize that maybe i don't need a new fancy dancy antenna. I already have a huge antenna in my attic with the weird old brown tv wire. I was wondering is it possible to reuse that antenna with some sort of amplifier? and if so what sort of configuration would you recommend? thanks, Noah
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A. As you've already learned there is no such thing as an HDTV antenna.
I suggest that you replace the old wire with coax cable. Install the AP 8700 TV antenna mast mounted preamplifier to supply 1 or 2 TV's or the AP 8780 to supply 3 or more TV's. Make sure the narrow end of the antenna is pointing Northerly. You will need a matching transformer to convert the antenna output to coax cable if it is currently 300 ohm (wing nuts). If the antenna is a VHF/UHF TV antenna it should work fine for digital/HD reception.
If you would like step by step detailed information on how to install the equipment, or if I can assist you in anyway, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Best Regards,
Denny Duplessis
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.Q. I just got an HDTV and was told I'd need a special TV antenna for it. When I hooked it up it did get some HD channels. So what gives????? I'm lost cause I'm getting some channels that I wasn't supposed to get without an HD antenna. My zip code is 16401 Erie county Pa. Hope you can tell me what I need. I'd like to get as many channels as possible but I don't know where to shoot for a real good antenna. Thanks for your help!!! Greg
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A. I don't know who told you that you need an HDTV antenna but there's no such thing as an HDTV antenna. It's just marketing hype being used by some unscrupulous TV antenna manufacturers and dealers to separate people from their hard earned money. In other words try to get people to buy a new antenna for the HDTV when the antenna they already have will work. You may want to visit Best HDTV TV Antenna for more information on this subject.
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All of the major networks ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and PBS are available digitally at your location from Erie. The transmitting towers are located in the same direction to your East - Northeast. A few of the signals are rather weak at your location because there is a hill in the path to the transmitters. To receive all of these channels will require a combination VHF/UHF antenna. Currently all of the digital/HD signals from Erie are on the UHF band (14-69) however, at the time of the analog shutdown in February of 2009 NBC channel 12 currently broadcasting their digital/HD signal on UHF channel 52 will move their digital/HD signal to there analog vacated channel 12 VHF position. At that time to continue to receive NBC a VHF/UHF antenna will be required.
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Your best bet for consistent quality reception at your location is the UP 7 TV antenna. This antenna is designed to provide excellent reception on channels 7 and up. Since the lowest digital/HD channel in your area will be 12, this antenna is a perfect choice. Along with the antenna I suggest the Winegard AP 8700 antenna preamplifier. The antenna can be installed in a stationary position with the narrow end of the antenna pointing East - Northeast to receive all of the Erie digital/HD stations.
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Best Regards,
Denny Duplessis
TV Antenna Source 1-800-528-9984
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Denny you Rock!!!!!!!!!
I think this info is awesome! I looked at one of the charts and I seem to be in the Red/blue/violet area and thought I needed the 7082 or 7084 antenna. What I was trying to accomplish was getting channels from Ohio area and some from Canada. What I'm thinking about doing is deleting the outside antenna and putting it up in the attic. I have no brick foil wrap or aluminum siding so I thought this would be a safer bet instead of climbing 30 ft in the air on a steep pitched roof. I really need your advise on this one.
Signed
One Happy Antenna Guy P.S. Never listen to tv people at Walmart
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You would need the 7082 or 7084 antenna if there were going to be digital/HD channels below channel 7, but most areas will only have channels 7 and up.
What I would do is install the antenna in the attic first, don't go through any trouble routing the cable etc... Just put the antenna in the attic, hook-up the preamplifier, get the cable to the TV as easy as possible and try it. If it works in the attic great, if it doesn't then the effort was minimal and it will have to be installed up on your roof. I would say there is a better then 50% chance you will get great reception with the antenna in the attic.
Like many retailers, the people at Walmart are only repeating what they have heard. Like one U.S. Senator stated, "Because of misinformation the digital transition is a train wreck waiting to happen" I receive a lot of emails from people that have been told by cable and satellite companies, that there won't even be any free over the air TV at all, because they're turning it off in February 2009. Talk about misinformation.
If you need anything else just let me know.
Denny
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Hello & HELP, I live about 25 miles from town zip code 36701 I have had Directv for years and I am tired of paying for tv when I do not watch it that often. I would like to get an antenna so that I no longer have to pay to watch tv. Will you please advise me on what I would need. It is pretty flat land where I live and I do not have any very tall trees close to my single story home. Please advise me on what I need. This is totally new for me and I do not understand the digital changes that are going to be made but I would like to make sure that I have everything I need for when that change takes place I will still have a working tv with NO bill.
Thank you so much for your time.
PAULA __________
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A. I will do my best to help you every step of the way. Right now we are in the middle of what is being called the digital transition. During the transition TV stations are required to broadcast both analog and digital signals. The biggest difference in the two kinds of reception is picture quality. With analog reception the picture can range from excellent, to good, to very poor, depending on the signal strength of the station and the TV antenna system being used to receive the stations. If the analog signal is weak, your forced to watch a less then perfect picture. Digital reception will be different, you will either get picture perfect reception, or you won't get any reception at all with a narrow area where the signal will go in and out called pixelation. If the digital signal is to weak you won't get anything at all, not even a snowy picture. This is why it's so important to choose the proper TV antenna and equipment, one that will get a strong signal even in times of poor reception conditions.
To receive the new digital signals doesn't require any special type of antenna, but it will require a TV with a built-in digital tuner, or a set top digital tuner for your analog TV. Most people believe that you have to purchase a wide screen HDTV to get the digital signals, this is not true. Although HDTV's will get the digital signal because they have digital tuners, there are standard size TV's with digital tuners for much less money.
On our website is a page called Best HDTV Antenna if you haven't already, I suggest that you visit it. You can find a link to it at the top of our home page. It has more information on this subject that you may find useful.
The TV antenna I recommend for your location is the Winegard HD 7082P. This antenna will provide consistent quality reception for both the analog and the digital signals. Along with the TV antenna I suggest the Winegard AP 8700 preamplifier. The TV transmitting towers are in different directions from your home and this will require an antenna rotor to aim the antenna to the appropriate direction. I wish I had a simpler, less costly solution for you, but I'm confident that anything less will not provide consistent satisfactory digital reception at your location. The fact is, in just over a year that's all we'll have is digital reception, so I have to look to the future when I offer a recommendation.
I'm here to help you, if you need it.
If you have any further questions, or would like detailed information on the installation procedures of this equipment, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Best Regards,
Denny Duplessis
TV Antenna Source 1-800-528-9984
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Q. 'm confused by all the info on the web about HDTV antennas. After reading your site and going to //www.antennaweb.org, I'm sending what I hope is the information you need to point me in the right direction.
Address: _________________ Ln. Mustang, OK 73064
Number of TV's: 2 HD, 1 Analog - planning on a total of 4 HD
Digital/Analog: Both until signal is turned off.
Outside or Attic: Prefer Attic due to high winds, sever thunderstorms and occasional heavy snow.
Our location is SW of Oklahoma City.
According to antennaweb the majority of towers that we receive signals from are N.E.(aprox 18 miles away), the rest are East to S.E. The ones to the East and SE we receive sometimes(seems like at night)
A major airport is due west.
We have a wireless internet antenna on the roof - south side pointed SW.
We currently have indoor antennas on each TV, with good digital reception on 4-6 channels, one(ABC is never good) the analog reception on the HD's is ok. The analog tv has snow all the time.
I would prefer not to have a rotator.
Any other info you need - please let me know.
Thanks in advance for your help, Larry
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It is true there is a lot of confusing and false information on the internet about HDTV antennas. The fact is HDTV antennas don't even exist.
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I examined your reception conditions and here is what I found. All of the digital/HD transmitters are located to your North - Northeast except TEL 29.1. This station is a very low powered station to your East - Southeast. All of the remainder of the stations are all to your NNW.
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The absolute best choice for your location is the miniMAX TV antenna. I had this antenna designed to my specification for locations just like yours. I think you can mount it in the attic and get great reception as long as there are no signal obstructing materials such as aluminum siding, foil faced insulation, brick, etc... in the path to the transmitters. In the unlikely event you do need to mount it outside don't worry this antenna will hold up to nearly anything. I just received an email yesterday from a man just outside of Tulsa who reported his miniMAX to his disbelief made it through the ice storm.
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Along with the antenna I suggest the Winegard AP 8700 preamplifier. I don't believe any additional amplification will be needed to supply all 4 TV's with signal. If we find additional amplification is needed a DA 25 distribution amplifier installed just ahead of the signal splitter will do the trick. I would hold off on the DA 25 I doubt that you will need it.
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The TV antenna can be mounted in a stationary position with the narrow end pointing NNW.
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I am very confident that this equipment properly installed (I'm here to help if you need it) will provide you with excellent reception for both analog and digital/HD signals.
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Best Regards,
Denny Duplessis
TV Antenna Source 1-800-528-9984
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Finally installed antenna and hooked up first TV - couldn't believe the difference!! The antenna is in the attic just like I wanted and the reception is great.
Thanks for the great advice and product
Larry ____________
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That's what I like to hear. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done!Take Care,
Denny
TV Antenna Source
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