HDTV Antenna in Van Comparison

[2TheStreet]

I got a non-non-amplified and amplified HDTV Antenna and tested both out in my chevy express van camper van.

Here is the youtube video review and comparison: 

Links to get HDTV antennas cheap:

Get Non-Amplified HDTV Antenna here: http://amzn.to/1LUKii3

Get Amplified HDTV Antenna here: http://amzn.to/1Uc4H51

 

[DreadHeadDrifter]

Pretty cool! Definitely helpful I was wondering as to how major the differences of the two really are. Were you able to tell a huge difference in picture quality? I couldn't tell much from the video. Thanks!

 

[myke]

Were you able to tell a huge difference in picture quality?

There shouldn't be any difference in quality. I think the way the HD signal works is you either get it or you don't, there is no in between. It's either crystal clear or nothing at all...

 

[LeeRevell]

Looks good!  Based on your review and looking at the Amazon site ad I ordered the non-amplified round antenna.  Can't wait to see how it works.  Not as many channels down here in the Tallahassee, Florida area, but I hope for good things.  Had used the "digital" rabbit ears type with the converter box on the old CRT TV several years back and it was junk.  Trashed it all and avoided mainstream TV for many years.  Been using only Netflix and Hulu. 
This unit should work with my current flat screen TV/Computer Monitor.  Also being able to use it in my Conversion Van is a big plus!  Good price too, with the free Amazon Prime two-day shipping. 

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

It's true that digital signals are all or nothing.  You either have enough signal to get a picture or you don't.  If you have enough signal to get a picture, AMPLIFYING it won't give you a BETTER picture.  But . . .

Did you notice that the non-amplified antenna claimed a thirty mile range, whereas the amplified antenna claimed a fifty mile range?  If you're forty miles away from the broadcast tower, odds are you're going to get nothing from the non-amplified antenna, whereas the amplified antenna will still give you a picture.

If the test showed about the same quality picture from both antennas, that just means he was close enough to the broadcast tower that amplification wasn't needed.

Regards
John

 

[akrvbob]

Can you please write out two or three sentences telling us the jist of your conclusions?

Bob

 

[SternWake]

TV reception is a funny thing.

Before I insulated my fiberglass roof with foil faced foam, I used to have an antenna near my ceiling and got a few fuzzy stations, after insulation, no reception from inside the Van no matter how strong the signal.

I bought one of those boomerang antennas for a 'flush' roof mount, but when testing it, I found it had horrid reception, and sent it back.

When OTA TV went to digital I bought a new digital 12v TV, then made an Antenna in a tiered bowtie set up.  My Area still uses all the VFH hi stations, 7 to 13, so I added 2 sets of rabbit ears, and this antenna pretty much grabs any available signal, and I would have something like 35 english speaking stations to watch, and more than double that if we include Spanish and Asian language.

I have an F connector through the body of my Van, and this tiered Antenna was on one of those extendable tarp poles.  I would use spring clamps to hold it to my Spare tire carrier, and the Antenna's top would be 14 feet in the air.

Antistealth, but I do not require it.
I would unclamp the antenna and unscrew the F connector and leave the antenna behind when i went somewhere as it is too big and bulky to carry around.
I wanted a travel antenna though. I was willing to lose a lot of stations, and I bought this antenna just to stick onto my F connector

http://www.amazon.com/August-DTA102...sim_23_10?ie=UTF8&refRID=1A13DMWX27K2GA4ZSRA1

I expected only the 2 strongest stations to come in, but I still got over a Dozen stations and some of them at the same strength as my huge antenna 14 feet off the ground.

A later added another F connector to my Solar panel frame, and put another of this same antenna on it.  I have a splitter inside and can choose either antenna, and orient them a bit differently.  Generally the F connector through the metal body of the Van gets better reception.

I have not bothered hooking my huge 14 foot tall antenna to my Van since.

These small telescopic single rabbit ear antennas do not thread on, they are a friction fit.  Mine have stayed put at 85+ mph, and while easy enough to pluck off and walk away with, no one ever has.

I did try an inexpensive Signal booster, inline and close to antenna head, two different products, and both of them caused significantly worse reception.

What makes the biggest improvements in signal quality in my experience, is Using quality RG-6 co axial cable with Quad shielding, instead of rg-59, and making sure the connection ends are pristine.  I use Caig Deoxit to clean the connectors of oxidation and then Caig Deoxit shield to protect them and enhance conductivity.

These exterior F connectors still oxidize out in the elements, and when I notice strong stations are no longer strong, another application of Deoxit on the cable ends usually restores reception, but weather has a huge effect on reception too. 

 I find that a dry atmosphere kills my reception, but foggy weather and I start getting everything.

Running an Autoscan at sunset seems to yield the most stations, but many of these disappear after sundown.

An exterior antenna is the opposite of stealth in most cases, but if one really wants reception in an area with marginal OTA signals, there is no other way.

Also note the position of the van/RV when the antenna makes huge differences.  I can move my van's ass end 1 foot further west and get channel 15 at full strength, but not get it at all before moving.  When I know I want a certain weaker channel on a certain night, I have found which position on the property on which I park has the best chance of getting that signal, and 6 inches NSE or W makes or breaks the reception on certain stations.


Tv antennas optimized for DTV, basically mean optimized for UHF signals, which means smaller Elements, where as VHF low( channels 2-6, now rarely used) and VHF High (channels 7 to 13) require longer antenna elements.

You can see the stations available in your area Here:

http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?Itemid=29&option=com_wrapper

Also know that digital channel 10.1 might be broadcast on actual channel 38 so one would require a UHF optimized antenna for it rather than a VHF antenna that actual channel 10 would require.

 

[Vantastic]

Can u mention your power rig in your van?  solar or not, if so, details?

I had similar success w/HDTV...when it worked, it worked.  Location was
everything.  Free is free...I am more interested in AM for talk radio.

 

[LeeRevell]

Poor reception with digital absolutely can give a bad picture.  I gave up on digital TV some years ago because of the pixelization and freezing I got.  It made watching TV irritating.
With  the newer LED flatscreen TV and better antenna I hope for better performance.

 

[Phreedom]

There shouldn't be any difference in quality. I think the way the HD signal works is you either get it or you don't, there is no in between. It's either crystal clear or nothing at all...

Actually, not entirely. I use one at home at the moment. Occasionally some channels start breaking up where you get odd colored artifacts on the screen (hard to describe without seeing) and the audio will get choppy. It may come back or completely freeze for a few seconds.

 

[2TheStreet]

Pretty cool! Definitely helpful I was wondering as to how major the differences of the two really are. Were you able to tell a huge difference in picture quality? I couldn't tell much from the video. Thanks!

No difference in quality.

 

[2TheStreet]

It's true that digital signals are all or nothing.  You either have enough signal to get a picture or you don't.  If you have enough signal to get a picture, AMPLIFYING it won't give you a BETTER picture.  But . . .

Did you notice that the non-amplified antenna claimed a thirty mile range, whereas the amplified antenna claimed a fifty mile range?  If you're forty miles away from the broadcast tower, odds are you're going to get nothing from the non-amplified antenna, whereas the amplified antenna will still give you a picture.

If the test showed about the same quality picture from both antennas, that just means he was close enough to the broadcast tower that amplification wasn't needed.

Regards
John

As seen in the video the amplified antenna picked up an extra 5 channels over the non-amplified antenna.

 

[2TheStreet]

Can you please write out two or three sentences telling us the jist of your conclusions?

Bob

Sorry about that. I was able to pick up an extra 5 channels with the amplified hdtv antenna over the non-amplified HDTV antenna.

 

[2TheStreet]

I have 1/2" think insulation in my van and refectix over the insulation, maybe the refectix is helping to bring in signal because I get all 27 channels in my van no problem.

 

[2TheStreet]

Can u mention your power rig in your van?  solar or not, if so, details?

I had similar success w/HDTV...when it worked, it worked.  Location was
everything.  Free is free...I am more interested in AM for talk radio.

4 bendable 100 watt solar panels with a 40 amp MPPT solar controller connected to 2 x 155 AH Dry cell AGM deep cycle batteries. Here is the video I did on my solar set-up, however I removed the gorilla tape over the wiring and made custom cables instead:

 

[highdesertranger]

I think if you wore a tin foil cap you could get all the channels. just kidding thanks for the review. highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

so a quick question did you try the amplified antenna without power? does it even work without power? did any of the signals degrade because of more noise/interference with the amp? I ask because I am used to radio and sometimes switching the amp on made the signal worse. anybody besides stern have any experience with outdoor antennas? as I don't care about stealth. funny thing on my buddies motor home he was saying that his tv would only pick up a couple of stations. one day I was looking at some electrical up grades he did and I noticed the antenna feed. his tv antenna feed was plugged into an a box. there was a button on it, so I said what's this button for? he said he didn't know and never even notice it. so I pushed it and a little green led came on and guess what now he gets like 60 channels. so obviously an amp and the antenna barely worked without it. highdesertranger

 

[2TheStreet]

I'm giving away two of these HDTV antennas on my youtube channel. Enter to win today!

Here is the video with contest instructions:

https://youtu.be/yV5u7t9Idm0

 

[LeeRevell]

Actually, not entirely. I use one at home at the moment. Occasionally some channels start breaking up where you get odd colored artifacts on the screen (hard to describe without seeing) and the audio will get choppy. It may come back or completely freeze for a few seconds.

This is called "pixelization".  I even see this on my Mother's Dish TV system when it is storming out.  There is a certain acceptable loss threshold the system must reach before it drops the signal completely.  But no 'snow' like we got with the old analog CRT TVs.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

My antenna experience, I initially bought a set of rabbit ears Phillipps brand .They worked and I could pull channels, I live in a area with poor reception but managed once to get 11 channels parked in a certain spot. Parked where I like to park in the shade, amongst the trees by the river, I only manage 2,3 or 4, I noticed this spring when there was less vegetation I to got more channels. I use to put the rabbit ears on the roof, within a couple of years the weather got the best of them and they broke. I then bought an amplified exterior antenna an RCA, what I didn't realize at the time of purchase was that it was directional so it has to be pointed in the direction of the main signal this is a problem in a van so it never really worked, for me. I know you can get an app for your phone to find signals but it seemed more hassle then I cared to get involved with and I had to run a converter to use it. Now I bought a combination of rabbit ear/ amplified,interior, also RCA this one works on 12 volt so I can plug it into my house battery directly. I can switch it from amplified to non amplified, so I don't have to use any extra power with it although I doubt it uses much. It seems to be working set inside by the rear window. i get a couple of channels but I live in an area with very poor cell and tv reception. I haven't had a chance to test it in a better spot for signals.