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How good are amplified indoor HDTV antennas?
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03-05-2011, 03:48 AM
I've tried a few-- the Philips MANT510 is the best IMO.
I don't know if they're still made but there ought to be some new/old stock out there. They went for around $40 new. Here's one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400198734431 
03-05-2011, 04:13 AM
There's no way an indoor antenna will come close to the performance of a roof antenna. Perhaps you have crappy twinlead cable instead of coax, corroded connections, and/or the antenna is pointed incorrectly. Amplifiers will not help if you have a poor signal in the first place. The first thing I'd suggest is to figure out what antenna type you have and get it aimed correctly. I'm also wondering if it is the proper type, since "rods pointing out in every direction" doesn't sound right. For most TV antennas, there should be a long horizontal boom with rods sticking out sideways from the boom. The sideways rods should be shorter on one end (the end of the boom that should point at the station) and longer on the other end.
03-05-2011, 04:13 AM
How good is the SIGNAL you're receiving?
If the signal is poor, there won't be much for the antenna to work with.
03-05-2011, 04:45 AM
Ammo -
What works great for someone else will have absolutely no bearing on what you need, unless you are lucky and it coincidentally just works. There are way too many variables that affect reception. 500 people could post glowing reviews of an antenna, but if it's wrong for your situation it'll "suck." You need to be aware of such things as: 1) tower locations and distance 2) any relevant terrain or tropo issues Goto a place such as http://www.highdefforum.com/local-hdtv-i...ception-9/. Don't show up there until after you've got a tvfool.com report that includes a guesstimate of your antenna's height AND you used your exact home address. Don't be afraid to share that info! Other forum members will look on Google Maps, street view to help identify issues in your immediate vicinity. 3) Include some data such as, "I get these channels OK but not this one." Post the signal level percentages you're getting, as shown on the TV. Keep a log---it helps to have numbers when battling the voodoo. 4) Be aware of, and refer to channels by their RF (real) channel, not by their familiar station ID, which has been kept for historical and marketing reasons but probably moved up into the UHF range at the digital switchover. Very few VHF channels exist today. The tvfool.com report will reveal the true channel numbers, your TV will not unless the virtual and real channel numbers coincidentally happen to be the same.
03-05-2011, 01:04 PM
You know this by now.
An amplified antenna can clean up a slightly poor signal. But it has to get the signal first. Unless you live in an area with a strong signal, amplified antennas are hit and miss, and more miss than hit. Since most amplified antennas are small, the chance of getting a signal are much poorer, in the first place. When you see "long-range" outdoor antennas, the elements are larger, greater in number, and make for a more efficient signal catcher in the first place. As deck points out, getting an antenna for the appropriate band is very important. Most rooftop antennas are strongest in VFH reception, because that was the most common signal. And since most of the new digital signals are in the UHF range, an antenna that gives strong UHF performance will serve you better. Rooftop antennas are directional, so aiming them for the stations you want most is also very important. A lot of antennas have some UFH elements, and even a VHF only antenna will probably give better performance than an indoor antenna of any flavor. If you can, check the connections and elements for corrosion, along with the lead-in cable. Examine your outdoor antenna and cable. Aim it for the stations most important. If necessary replace it with one with better UHF performance, if that's where your channels are. Last but not least, you can add signal amplifiers to outdoor antennas. Those can actually (but not always) make a big difference.
03-05-2011, 02:30 PM
If you change to one on the roof they say tis one is hard to beat.
http://www.channelmasterstore.com/Digita...4228hd.htm  Our rooftop antenna was up there when we moved in and has a rotor still works believe or not. When the cable goes out, which it rarely does anymore, I just switch inputs and away we go, crystal clear HD network stations. Recently I had some tell me that you had to have an HD antenna to pick up HD OTA, I to explain to them that that just not true our antenna has to at least 20 years old. BTW: I'm still running the antenna with the old 2 wire antenna wire not coax ;-) The only time I've had trouble while using the antenna is with 15 mph winds or higher.
03-05-2011, 02:35 PM
Amplifier made all the difference in the world for my rooftop reception.
If I unplug it I lose half the stations I can get - and that's in good weather. Aiming is important. It can also create a dilemna if you have stations in many directions. Neither of my TVs can "add" a station manually - have to do a tune search. Move the antenna and you get a new list. I tried the outdoor antenna inside and in the attic ( I really didn't want a pole on the side of the house nor an a-frame on the roof, but I found the closer I got to being above the close proximity treetops improved reception. Any of the antenna manufacturers have sites that will help you determine the distance and antenna size you will need based on that distance. Can't get a signal through a mountain, so if you're in a hollow height off the ground will help - maybe. I could use another 20-30 feet of height on my antenna but I don't want to look at all the guy wires that will be required for support.
03-05-2011, 05:10 PM
That Channel Master antenna comes with some controversy - http://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master-422...xt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
I'm going to try the smaller brother.
03-05-2011, 05:47 PM
Ken Sp. wrote: I made that antenna as well for my EyeTV Hybrid & it works better than anything else I've tried. |
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