HDTV Antenna in Van Comparison

[compassrose]

I putting this on the end of a previous thread since I thought it would be silly to start a new one on the same subject. Sorry if it upsets someone because I revived an old thread....

I got TV again. I can't believe it. I really didn't think these things worked. I really didn't think I was near any booster antennas either. I always resisted buying one of these because I didn't think it would work. I have found out that you do not need a "converter box" if your TV was sold after May 25, 2007.

There was an "As Seen On TV" digital antenna for Over-the-Air channels ($15) at Family Dollar (Clear TV). This thing is a hard plastic about the thickness of heavy cardstock paper . It came with a couple of suction cups. I have it stuck in the driver's window. I have it connected to the "antenna in" of an old video source selector that my DVD player is hooked into. The "RF out" coax hooks up to the TV. After putting the TV thru the Autochannel search, I have 4 digital channels and 1 analog channel. The digital channels are very clear. The analog has a lot of static (but still watchable).

To find out what is on (other than using the "info" button on my TV remote), I am using www.tvguide.com which gives the programming.

On the main page under "What's On", click on TV Listings. Choose your provider (I did by zip code) and "antenna" which gave me ABQ listings. Then I chose the OTA line. Then I looked under the "All Channels" tab. I worked thru the channels and clicked on the heart to the right of the individual channels that I could receive. One was a Spanish language channel. Since I do not speak Spanish, I did not click on the heart. Now I can click on the "Favourite Channels" tab and all I see are the channels that I clicked on the heart.

The digital channels I am getting are NBC, PBS, something called NMTHS and the Spanish language one. The static filled analog channel is KASAD/Fox. If I were up in ABQ, I probably would get more. But I'm 75 miles from there. I was only hoping to get PBS. I am pleasantly surprised. Not bad for $15. They had a larger $20 digital "panel" antenna also but I thought it was a bit large. The As-Seen-On-TV Clear TV that I bought is the height of a DVD movie case and about half again as wide.

 

[66788]

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...

there is an "in between" that involves freezing and pixelation, sometimes followed by black screen then normal video until the next signal loss.

Analog signals just got weaker with snow, but always watchable.

 

[jimindenver]

A lot depends on where you are. Here in Denver we get 30 watchable channels and another 30 with Spanish, religion and shopping. It's like having cable lite.

 

[eDJ_]

I've been on my roof this week working on my Antenna.  I'm getting much better reception now.  I used this website and I have an amp on this antenna now.  (amp's can be counter productive if you are in an area with
many Transmitter towers.  Then you can disable external amp's if you are traveling through such an area.

The website "Which way do I aim my antenna" ?   FCC gov DTV TRansmission by zip code

http://transition.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/dtvmaps/

When you type in a zip code, you will get a Map similar to Google's.  There will be a red balloon that you can drag and drop to your location. The Map is scalable so you can just about find your exact location.   When the site loads there will be a list of stations to the left where you can click on them.  They are color coded to show strongest to weakest.  Once clicked a drop down will show the transmission power and compass direction.   Also on the map you will notice a black line appearing from your location to the tower icon.  Thus showing you the direction and distance. (click on the yellow tower icon for distance to your antenna)

For just a few dollars you can make an antenna out of a board and some coat hangers.  The most expensive
part will be the 75ohm balun connector.  That may have to adapt to your TV with yet another adapter depending on your TV.

http://www.tvantennaplans.com/

The 75 ohm balun connector can be had for as little as a dollar for an indoor type to around
4 bucks for an outdoor grade at Lowe's.

 

[jimindenver]

This is the DVD case and binder clip antenna that I use. Same concept, just smaller.  I thought of putting a larger antenna in the attic with a amp but as I said, we get 60 channels here.

 

[Ballenxj]

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

Hey man, thanks for taking the time to post this here. Like I posted to your video, this is some handy information.  Also gave you a thumbs up.
PS, do you know how much power draw the amplified one takes?

 

[compassrose]

http://www.tvfool.com/ signal locators, etc.

 

[ZoNiE]

Funny tidbit of info, if not already posted (I didn't read the whole thread).

Digital TV signals are UHF... Not VHF. Remember the funny lookin bowtie that clipped to the rabbit ears? Yep! that's the one.

Like someone said, a coat hanger is usually sufficient. A loop of wire on an old 75ohm-300ohm matching transformer works very well also. Even better if you toss it up into a tree.

 

[Homeless in Canada]

I have an RCA 751R that is very good. It's small and folds up flat. I eliminated the boom and clamp it to an extension pole that reaches 23 feet. I get all the US networks even at 80 miles.

If you're in a really remote area where the Yagi isn't picking anything up then you might be better off with a UHF panel. But you won't get any VHF channels.

Before buying an antenna it's a good idea to research what stations are actually available and what you need to pull them in.

 

[maki2]

I see lots of antenna connectors as well as a variety of TV HD antennas at the thrift stores. But the local hardware store also carried such things as do stores such as Home Depot and Lowes. I have an antenna amplifier around that came out of an RV. I noticed it was rated for 15v which was just the same as the one that was here in the office space that had a power adapter supply for plugging in into 110. I have also seen those at the thrift stores. Not much OTA signal here in the office space because there is a big hill between it and all the TV antennas in the area, so only 3 channels with marginal reception even though in a large city. The other directions are a large body of water so no antennas out there.