Hi, I searched online but could not really find a direct answer. I need some advice. What I’d like to know is, if purchase another TV antenna with XXX number of miles on it, is it possible to get more channels, or is the number of miles all BS? I’d appreciate your honest opinion. I’ve seen some nice inexpensive ones, and I’d like to get some ideas. Thanks…
What is the distance you are talking about to the main TV antennas in your area? I am about 30 miles from city center and use a powered antenna and can get all the listed channels in my area. I had a non-powered on and could not pull in everything. I also made sure my antenna was pointing towards the city center (South for me). I had it pointing West behind my tv and moving it helped alot too.
1 Like
… it depends who is selling it.
A reputable company with history in Antenna Mfg, will accurately (mostly) report the range of the antenna.
Companies like “pingbingding” that offer miracle antennae with ranges exceeding 150 miles - ALL BS. 100%, fresh, hot, steaming BS.
If you’re in the US you can use:
to find your exact location and list all the available transmitters in your area, along with a reasonable expectation of reception possibilities. From that - if you post the image you can generate from the site - we might be able to make a solid recommendation.
Basically you want to stick with traditional antenna designs like:
Yagi
Log Periodic
Bow Tie with reflector
Parabolic <---- not used much, if at all any more due to cost and size.
The companies you can trust are:
Antennas Direct
Channel Master
Wineguard
and a FEW others.
Most antennae these days are designed to catch customers, not signals.
The antennae that work have already been designed (50 years ago), and since physics and the laws of the universe do NOT change, all ‘New and Improved’ designs promising reception that is clearly over the horizon (over 60 miles) are run by Chinese Snake Oil (or Rhino Horn) scammers and you are advised to ‘Steer Clear’.
If you’re close enough to see the light blinking on the tower - a coat hanger will work fine (and probably your dental work).
If the light is not visible - you’re going to need a TVFool report (or similar) and a decent antenna.
3 Likes
If you’re just looking for a straight up recommendation, these RCA Yagis have been stellar. They are directional though, so if you have towers in multiple directions then you’ll need another antenna or a different style. Check out tvfool.com to see and for aiming. You can put multiple antennas together, you just need an antenna coupler for the coax and 2 lengths of coax that are the same.
TV Antenna - RCA Outdoor Yagi Satellite HD Antenna w/ 150 Mile Range (70+ Miles from Broadcast Epicenter) Attic or Roof Mount TV Antenna, Long Range Digital OTA Antenna for Clear Reception, 4K 1080P https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0024R4B5C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_df8DDbV3KFDWP
1 Like
An antenna with a higher mileage rating will 1) provide a stronger signal for stations you currently receive, and 2) potentially let you receive additional stations from more distant locations.
Note that many antennae are highly directional. Being “off beam” by just a few degrees can affect reception strength of even strong stations. With such an antenna you would not receive stations unless the antenna is pointed in the correct direction, even if the station is well within the mileage rating of the antenna.
Reception also depends on transmitter frequency and transmitter power. If a station is broadcasting on a VHF channel (2 - 13), but your antenna only receives UHF channels (14 & higher), you will not receive that station. Also, if a station broadcasts at too low a wattage, its signal may not reach your location, irrespective of the mileage rating of your antenna.
If you are in the US, visit https://antennaweb.org. Select “Click here to start” and pop in your address. It will show on a map what stations are in your area, distance, channel assignments, etc. It is a sponsored site, so you’ll also see links to antenna manufacturers & such. You never enter your name, e-mail, etc, so they can’t spam you, etc.
Example: I have a 60 mile rated antenna (Amazon). Most of the transmitters are located ~20 miles from my house at 210 degrees (180 being due south).
One station is located 8 miles away, northeast of my house. I cannot receive it because a) it broadcasts at a relative low power, and b) is is off the backside of my antenna.
The rest of the stations are located on the same two hills south of town. I pull in the major network stations just fine. However, reception of some of the independent channels is poor due to their low power transmitters.
Weather and foliage also affects reception. My neighbor has a large tree in his yard, in direct line of sight to the transmitter location. Reception for weak channels is better in the fall after the leaves drop.
2 Likes
Indeed. A traditional Log Periodic/Yagi blend. 70 miles - if it’s on a 100’ tower over land as flat as a billiard table - but yes… a solid choice. 35-50 miles is reasonable.
I can’t begin to describe the level at which that would annoy me… lol
I’d build a diapole and patch it in to recover that one.
I have the one below (DB8) aimed directly at a (mostly) destroyed (lightning, 5 years ago) PBS translator 3 miles from here, broadcasting at a blistering 14 watts - to get 75% with:
I have a bunch of antennae - I used to live nearer civilization - and it took the biggest gun I had. If there was another one off the backside - I’d have something aimed at it.
2 Likes
Yeah, no doubt. Antenna height, terrain, tx power, weather, etc. all play a part. You’re correct those ranges are like perfect, ideal conditions. Much like MPG ratings on cars or battery life on your phone lol
2 Likes
14 watts! They need to work on their pledge drives. 
Fortunately, I do not have to take such measures. The station broadcasts infomercials in Spanish, which I do not speak, so lack of reception is not a worry.
OH! well…
We are out here in the armpit of the known universe, WV-PBS is broke, the fact they keep putting duct tape on that broken transmitter to keep it going is, frankly amazing, but they do keep it running at least 70% of the time.
For that I’m grateful, but not enough to contribute to a pledge drive. They’ll have to better earmark those lobbyist/kickback funds to aim more in the direction of infrastructure as opposed to Administrator Yacht improvements.
They just got over $7M from lottery surplus (from me - one way or another we pay), rumors of upgrading several transmitters, one near here, may facilitate an improvement at some point - if a large chunk of that money isn’t ‘misappropriated’ in some way.
I have no reason to be optimistic.
2 Likes
Thanks guys!!! You’ve been extremely helpful!! I’m just dumbfounded that with today’s innovations, having an antenna is just as complicated as it was yesteryear!! @JuiceWSA I kinda feel like my mom right now, when I was little, I remember my mom spending $100s of dollars on these alien (spaceship like saucers) antennas that didn’t do sh*t, and from what I’m reading in this thread, nothing has really changed much LOLOL. So many companies are simply scam artists, and it makes me upset that these very companies are legally able to get away with what they do.
Once again, I deeply appreciate your help and honest answers. It’s wonderful to be a member of a community that’s willing to take the time to help each other (and knowledgeable.).
Nope. There are some constants in the universe. The above is one of them (poor, Mom) and the other is shortly after Marconi sent that first radio signal people, smart ones, figured it all out and designed some reliable antennae.
There’s a limited number of ways to skin this goose (antennae design) - and pingbingding doesn’t have a clue how to go about doing it:
(I suggest full inner BS bladders, full head enclosure, installed under chest waders - the BS is deep)
If you care to share that “Fool” report image, and mention the antenna you have now, we can see what you have going on over there.
When I was 8 - in the early 60s - the antenna Dad got at Monkey Wards to watch that Heathkit TV he built was really bad. A neighbor (Ham) and I built one out of stuff he had laying around and that started something that ruined, or changed my life.
I’m thinkin’ about it…
lol
@JuiceWSA are you a HAM by chance? Was gonna ask, you strike me as one lol. I have a general license myself but not doing much with it :-/
No. I needed more mystery and suspense in my life, so I Pirated 11 Meters, have friends all over the world and family in some places (yes, I know about all of them - related by religion/not blood).
It was/is way more fun than FCC controlled shenanigans, probably not any cheaper, facilitated a good job for many years and taught me what not to buy when shopping for a TV Antenna.
… and I have the RF burn scars to prove it…
I don’t understand much about the mechanics of antennas, but from what it looks like here, I’m better off with an “outdoor” antenna, which is not practical or not likely I’ll get. I wish there was a away that PLEX can work with PLUTO. That would solve a LOT… LOL
You have an attic or some other space to hide one? Mine is in the attic and works ok, sometimes have some signal fade but where you’re at the signal should be ok I’m hoping for what channels you’d want. Looks like vast majority are to the south west.
You are now the envy of every broadcast TV refugee on the planet.
With that RCA antenna above you could saturate your viewing experience with more channels than you can watch. Put that thing in a closet, or attic, or tucked away somewhere outside.
ALL your ‘possibles’ are line of sight and under 10 miles away. If the exterior covering of your abode isn’t metal, or the roof isn’t metal, you should be good to go.
No, a ‘pingbingding’ won’t cut it. Don’t even go there - in honor of your Mom.
3 Likes
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL When I purchased my HDHomeRun, they gave me what I interpret as a cheap antenna. They still haven’t told me the range on it. It’s a flat model# GENANT10BK. However, location DOES make a difference. I tested this same crappy antenna at work, and I almost got 4x as many channels. That’s why I kept asking about the “miles” on the antenna. The amplifier I received I guess was too strong (I guess). I had to take it off It works much better without the amplifier, but I have less channels. I’m eyeballing this one now https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V531JNT/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A4348SJCH4KRU&psc=1
PS:
Just because an antenna sez it’s for outside, doesn’t necessarily mean it has to go outside…:
Now, that probably wouldn’t pass muster in a second story apt with a WOMAN living in it with you, but me and two cats didn’t have any problem with it and I received a station from 64 miles through some extremely dense Hardi-Planks.
If you have the itch - scratching it can be made to happen…
2 Likes
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL You’re way too funny!! We usually hear the joke of women and cats. It’s never about men and a bunch of cats… That was a major wench you threw… LOLOL
1 Like
