Any suggestions for inside antenna for digital tv converter box?

[marlaine8]

Cable has gone up in price again. I just can't pay it anymore. A few years ago, I got a Digital TV converter box--the one with the $40 government coupon--and never hooked it up.
I don't know what kind of antenna to buy. I've looked and they range in price from $20.00 to $130.00.
Any suggestions? I don't want to put an antenna on my roof.

 

[JDUCKY]

1) How far are you from the TV transmission towers? http://www.antennaweb.org/Address.aspx or http://www.hdtvantennalabs.com/location/

2) Do you attic access and the ability to run a cable from the attic down thru the walls to where your TV is (most likely just following the existing cable run).

On the upper end for UHF-only stations:
http://www.channelmaster.com/HD_television_antenna_Channel_Master_CM_4228HD_HDTV_Antenna_s/43.htm

If you're closer to the towers (and they're UHF-only)
http://www.channelmaster.com/HD_television_antenna_Channel_Master_CM_4220HD_HDTV_Antenna_s/46.htm

If you need a mix of UHF/VHF and you're far away:
http://www.channelmaster.com/HD_television_antenna_Channel_Master_CM_2020_HDTV_Antenna_s/50.htm

If you're pretty close but need a mix:
http://www.channelmaster.com/HD_television_antenna_Channel_Master_CM_2016_HDTV_Antenna_s/52.htm

 

[marlaine8]

Wow! I didn't know it would be so hard to set up "free" tv. With the cost of an antenna and labor, I just don't know if it's worth it.

 

[hjohnson6]

DH bought a $15 RCA indoor antenna and we can pick up stations from Cheyenne just fine. We are also picking up a staton from Sterling, CO which is about an hour away. Cheyenne is 17 miles west of us.

 

[JDUCKY]

Wow! I didn't know it would be so hard to set up "free" tv. With the cost of an antenna and labor, I just don't know if it's worth it.

Well, if you live a few miles from the towers, a set of rabbit ears might do ya just fine hooked directly up to the TV.

I actually did that for a while where I live on the west side of town and we're over 30 miles from the towers. But, it was a pain losing reception a fair amount so I got a larger antenna and used some coax cable I have laying around and put an antenna up in the attic and dropped the cable down thru the wall where the cable TV run was and now I can even pick up some stations from Tampa off the backside of the antenna

 

[PrincessSteph]

Our rabbit ears were approximately $20 and were purchased from Target and our box was purchased with the same government coupon that you used. With this combination, we are able to get the major channels from both Cincinnati and Dayton. The channels all come in very clearly.

 

[seashoreCM]

Roughly speaking, the antenna you used prior to the digital and HDTV changeover should work fine with your converter box for getting those stations that came in very clearly way back then, provided that some UHF stations came in clearly using that antenna also.

For stations that came in a little fuzzy way back then, you'll probably need a better antenna now than what you used before.

Do you have an attic? A so called outdoor antenna usually works fine in there.

For most stations nowadays the bow tie or ring on a rabbit ear antenna is what picks them up as opposed to the rabbit ears themselves. The rabbit ears themselves may work but most likely when pushed in short all the way. (The rabbit ears at full length are appropriate for stations using VHF channels (not necessarily matching the channel number in the logo).

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

We don't have cable, just use Netflix. With 3 kids and Netflix limiting you to only being able to watch on 2 devices at one time I decided to try to do the antenna thing. Our TV is newer and has a built in converter thingy.

After lots of research I decided to get the Mohu Leaf indoor antenna. I am a good bit away from major networks (23-40 miles). I realized I was probably not going to get many stations.

When it arrived I hooked it up to the TV in the living room and I got about 4 stations. I dragged the TV and the antenna around the house trying it out at every window, and in one spot I got 20+ stations. I am pleased by that, however it is no where near the living room lol.

Most of what I read says start with the super cheapo antenna you can get anywhere and see if that works for you, and move up if it doesn't.

The most exciting part about the antenna, it has a built in television guide when you hit the info button. Or maybe it is just my tv? I was pretty thrilled to hit that button and see what was on and what was coming on. Little things excite me lol.