how to buy a outdoor tv or outdoor Antenna

[kari666]

I'm thinking of replacing my old outdoor TV antenna with one suitable for digital TV. My old antenna is a VHF/UHF combo, with a couple of bent elements and another element missing, and no amplification (it came with the house when I bought it). It gets some of the digital TV where I live, but not all.

My question: Is there any reason to get another VHF/UHF antenna, or should I go with a UHF-only antenna, since digital TV resides in the UHF range? I live in Talbot County and want to pick up the Baltimore/Washington TV stations, plus the ones in Salisbury (I know I'll need a rotator for that).

I have DirecTV with the Balt. channels (no Wash.), but want to have the option of receiving stations in the area that DirecTV doesn't give me. Thanks in advance!

 

[ziggy29]

Digital TV isn't only in the UHF range. It's mostly from channels 7 to 51, with a small number of unfortunate cases where the signal is in "low VHF" (channels 2-6) which is horrible for digital.

If all of the channels you receive are broadcasting on the RF signals from channels 14 to 51, a UHF antenna is all you need (note that channels with VHF "numbers" like channel 8.1 can be in UHF if they broadcast the digital signal over (say) channel 25.

 

[Texas Proud]

Go here to find out what you need... and for which channels...

Address

 

[ziggy29]

Here's another site:

TV Fool

Personally I've found this to be the most accurate.

 

[easysurfer]

Not exactly what's the best approach in looking for an outdoor antenna. But I helped put up this one

GE Futura Digital HDTV Antenna Outdoor - 24769004 at The Home Depot

for a friend and it's very light, and works. Plus it comes with an amplifer that you plug to the cable on the inside, then a power supply to the wall.

I live in a condo and they don't allow installing antennas on the balcony, so I went ahead and just built my own indoor one with plans I found on the internet. The own built one gives great reception that I don't even need an outdoor one.

 

[wolf]

OP

Many years ago, I installed 2 outdoor TV antennas.

One a Winegurard, Frys sells them, Not sure if the quality is the same as when I bought mine many years ago.

also, bought a Radio Shack outdoor antenna.

Today, with everything digital, the Winegurard pulls in more stations then the Radio shack antenna.

Live about 30 miles south of San Francisco.