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Digital Antenna


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#1 robert@lockdown

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Posted 05 September 2012 - 04:44 PM

We are going to dump cable and go to streaming devices.

My only loss is football sunday and fall baseball.

Anyone use a digital antenna?

What model?

How does it work?

Best placed outside like a satellite dish?
Beer has food value, food has no beer value! -Ben Franklin

#2 mac_convert

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Posted 05 September 2012 - 08:54 PM

I am just using an indoor antenna and have relatively good success. Please post what you decide to do as I would eventually like to consider an outside antenna for more reliable service. I cut the cord a year ago August and have been very happy. I have found ways to watch sports online, but it isn't as good as on the television.

#3 chris v

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Posted 05 September 2012 - 09:19 PM

We cut the cord more than a year ago but recently have gone back to cable as our ISP was throttling our Internet. It was so bad we could not watch anything. Funny how once we got cable back the throttling stopped. They're all crooks.

#4 Mike Hilscher

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Posted 06 September 2012 - 03:26 AM

We are going to dump cable and go to streaming devices.

My only loss is football sunday and fall baseball.

Anyone use a digital antenna?

What model?

How does it work?

Best placed outside like a satellite dish?


This site will help you find what you need

http://www.antennaweb.org/Default.aspx

My dad lives in North Folsom on sort of a hill, has an antenna on the roof and can on occasion get almost all Bay Area stations. Pretty nifty.

#5 menicksmom

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Posted 06 September 2012 - 06:42 AM

We switched to antenna this weekend, after having El Dorado Home Theater do all the wiring for us. Got the Channel Master at Frye's for about $70. It's mounted in the attic. We get about 40ish channels....all the network stuff, plus several Spanish & Asian channels, several feeds from SF. We are in Serrano, looking out to Sacramento. My neighbor across the street only gets 2 channels on his, so he bought an amplifier to add to the antenna & gets much more. Occasionally we get glitches and the screen freezes (as it does with a satellite dish during a storm), so we will probably get an amplifier too. The ONLY problem is we have 2 older tv's in the spare bedrooms that AREN'T digital ready (10 year old boxy tv's) so they won't work without a digital converter for $50, so we will just get rid of them & buy a couple small, new tv's.

#6 4thgenFolsomite

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Posted 06 September 2012 - 09:22 AM

We have an indoor digital antenna. It is probably a little unsightly, but it works well. We get all the major networks, plus the digital add-ons (6.2, 3.2, 10.2, 40.2, 58.2, etc.), plus the 29.1, .2, and .3, and spanish and asian channels. The only issue we have is that 6.1, 6.2, 10.1, and 10.2 come in upstairs but not downstairs and 3.1 and 3.2 only comes in downstairs. That's a little frustrating! but its FREE!!!
Knowing the past helps deciphering the future.

#7 cw68

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Posted 06 September 2012 - 09:48 AM

I have an indoor antenna but can't get ABC unless I bring it outside. I don't miss cable except for college football and NHL playoffs. I can stream some things but not enough to make me happy. I end up hitting up friends or, in last weekend's case, sitting at Buffalo Wild Wings for a whole game getting two sodas and an appetizer with my son.

I have been thinking about getting an outdoor unit but after reading this I'm going to look into an amplifier. Definitely not considering paying for TV!

#8 robert@lockdown

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Posted 06 September 2012 - 10:30 AM

Thanks for the feedback. Helps very much!
Beer has food value, food has no beer value! -Ben Franklin

#9 4thgenFolsomite

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Posted 06 September 2012 - 11:20 AM

I have an indoor antenna but can't get ABC unless I bring it outside. I don't miss cable except for college football and NHL playoffs. I can stream some things but not enough to Mae me happy. I end up hitting up friends or, in last weekend's case, sitting at Buffalo Wild Wings for a wole game getting two sodas and an appetizer with my son.

I have been thinking about getting an outdoor unit but after reading this I'm going to look into an amplifier. Definitely not considering paying for TV!


so can you add an amplifier to an existing indoor digital antenna?
Knowing the past helps deciphering the future.

#10 mac_convert

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Posted 06 September 2012 - 05:26 PM

The stations I use are 3.1, 3.2, 13.1, 29.1, 29.2, 29.3, 31, 40.1, 40.2, 58.1, 58.2 upstairs and 3.1, 3.2, 10.1, 10.2, 29.1, 29.2, 29.3, 31, 40.1, 40.2, 58.1, 58.2 downstairs. Right now the antenna must be set in a "sweet" spot because I get 10.1 and 10.2 upstairs and 13.1 downstairs right now. :) Someday when I collect some extra cash I'll have an outdoor antenna installed because that is the most reliable solution to cutting the cord.

We have an indoor digital antenna. It is probably a little unsightly, but it works well. We get all the major networks, plus the digital add-ons (6.2, 3.2, 10.2, 40.2, 58.2, etc.), plus the 29.1, .2, and .3, and spanish and asian channels. The only issue we have is that 6.1, 6.2, 10.1, and 10.2 come in upstairs but not downstairs and 3.1 and 3.2 only comes in downstairs. That's a little frustrating! but its FREE!!!


Yes. I have an amplifier attached to my indoor antenna and the selection is greatly improved with the amplifier.

so can you add an amplifier to an existing indoor digital antenna?



#11 4thgenFolsomite

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Posted 06 September 2012 - 06:46 PM

The stations I use are 3.1, 3.2, 13.1, 29.1, 29.2, 29.3, 31, 40.1, 40.2, 58.1, 58.2 upstairs and 3.1, 3.2, 10.1, 10.2, 29.1, 29.2, 29.3, 31, 40.1, 40.2, 58.1, 58.2 downstairs. Right now the antenna must be set in a "sweet" spot because I get 10.1 and 10.2 upstairs and 13.1 downstairs right now. :) Someday when I collect some extra cash I'll have an outdoor antenna installed because that is the most reliable solution to cutting the cord.


Yes. I have an amplifier attached to my indoor antenna and the selection is greatly improved with the amplifier.


okay, so you're main difference is 13.1 only upstairs and 10.1 and 10.2 only downstairs.

I'm addicted to "Grimm" on 3.1 and "once" on 10.1. Have to move upstairs or down here too depending on the night of the week and which show is on!

tell me more about the amplifier. is it something you attach to the digital antenna? What kind did you get? I want to try it!
Knowing the past helps deciphering the future.

#12 mac_convert

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Posted 06 September 2012 - 07:21 PM

Quirky, huh?!? The amplifier came with my antenna, but I'm sure you could purchase one at Radio Shack or Best Buy. I favor Radio Shack over Best Buy.

okay, so you're main difference is 13.1 only upstairs and 10.1 and 10.2 only downstairs.

I'm addicted to "Grimm" on 3.1 and "once" on 10.1. Have to move upstairs or down here too depending on the night of the week and which show is on!

tell me more about the amplifier. is it something you attach to the digital antenna? What kind did you get? I want to try it!



#13 DougP

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Posted 06 September 2012 - 08:18 PM

okay, so you're main difference is 13.1 only upstairs and 10.1 and 10.2 only downstairs.

I'm addicted to "Grimm" on 3.1 and "once" on 10.1. Have to move upstairs or down here too depending on the night of the week and which show is on!

tell me more about the amplifier. is it something you attach to the digital antenna? What kind did you get? I want to try it!


You may want to try an amplifier that can deal with both over-the-air and cable TV/cable internet situations.

I've been quite pleased with this amplifier as a universal solution:

http://www.techtoolsupply.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=HCDA%2D1FRA

#14 4thgenFolsomite

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Posted 06 September 2012 - 08:24 PM

You may want to try an amplifier that can deal with both over-the-air and cable TV/cable internet situations.

I've been quite pleased with this amplifier as a universal solution:

http://www.techtoolsupply.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=HCDA%2D1FRA


Thanks!
Knowing the past helps deciphering the future.

#15 menicksmom

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Posted 07 September 2012 - 06:36 AM

We are currently a few days into our 30 day trial of Hulu Plus (using Apple tv in one room and my son's XBox 360 in his room) to get tons of network tv shows & movies. It's $7.99 a month. Still cheaper than the $100+ we were paying Comcast.




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