Search results for "Combined antennas"

[…]hits the sweet spot of price and performance if you can’t use an outdoor antenna. Indoor TV Antennas to Avoid I would avoid the super-cheap $10 antennas that you see on TV infomercials. Those will not give you as many channels as the Leaf unless you have really strong TV signals in your area. Take a look at the reviews on Amazon to see what I’m talking about. So, save money and get a quality antenna to start with. A VHF TV Antenna You Can Mount Indoors The Station Finder will tell you if the channels in your area are […]

The easiest way to get live local news in real-time during disasters is often from broadcast TV news coverage. A TV antenna might seem like an anachronism; something no longer needed, especially with the plethora of streaming services available today. But, in the past year or so, I’ve been so glad to have access to free broadcast TV through my antenna. The reason is this: Broadcast TV is the most reliable medium for getting real-time news in times of crisis, surpassed only by a battery-powered radio (because that will work even if the power goes out). Cable and Internet Infrastructure […]

[…]and 13.1. Keep in mind though, that antenna location was optimized for channel 7.1. By moving the antennas around, I was able to get all of the networks on both antennas. It does show that the strengths and weaknesses of these antennas are slightly different. So, if you’re using the Leaf and have a marginal channel, then it’s possible the HD Smart Bar might be able to pick it up (the reverse is also true; the Leaf might pick up a channel the HD Smart Bar has trouble with). To be thorough, I re-tested both antennas in different areas of […]

[…]work (sometimes the FCC Site goes down), enter your zip code into the Transmitter Locator by Antennas Direct. You should be able to get stations within the first circle using an indoor antenna: How to Interpret the Station Finder Results In general, you should be able to receive most of the green channels using a good antenna and some experimentation. How to See Which Direction to Point Your Antenna To see which direction the TV signal is coming from, click on the station’s call letters on the left side of the map. The map will then show the TV transmitter […]

[…]Since then, I’ve moved to Los Angeles and have amassed a collection of different types of indoor antennas. I figured it was time to re-test my TV antennas to make sure I’m still recommending the best ones. After all, what worked well in Providence might not work well in Los Angeles, right? The Antennas So, here’s what I’m calling the “great antenna shootout”. I’ve taken a representative selection of different types of indoor TV antennas and tested them in my condo. These are the ones I tested: These represent some of the most popular types of antennas from some of […]

[…]refined DVR solutions). Check out my full review of the Mediasonic HOMEWORX converter box. Antennas Once you have the converter box, you’ll need a broadcast TV antenna. Before buying anything, enter your zip code into the Station Finder and make sure there are signals in your area. If there are, here are some low-cost indoor antennas that I recommend. Can You Use a Roku With a Tube TV? Yes, but you’ll have to use the 2018 Roku Express+. It’s the one with the three RCA cables on the box: On Amazon, you’ll have to look under “other sellers” since this is an older model. […]

[…]tightly together, probably to hide the design. But, you can see the faint outline of two bowtie antennas. I’ve outlined them below for clarity. This type of antenna is known as a wide-band printed bowtie antenna. This is a traditional TV antenna style, although the dimensions were carefully chosen by Mohu for optimum reception. A Comparison Just to compare, here’s a photo of a Winegard FlatWave Amped antenna. It’s clear so you can easily see the design: So, not all flat antennas are created equal. Conclusion So there you have it! The original Mohu Leaf is a dual wide band […]

[…]is grounded properly for lightning strikes. Having said that, I do like the outdoor antennas from Antennas Direct ❯❯, Channel Master, and Solid Signal. Q: How can I get more broadcast TV channels? A: You’ll get the most channels with an attic antenna or outdoor rooftop antenna. If you are not able to set up a rooftop or attic antenna, try these tips with your indoor antenna. Q: Why did I lose channels? A: This is a very common question now with the “FCC Repack” going on. Basically, the FCC has re-arranged the TV frequency spectrum to make more room for wireless […]

[…]that, then an amplified indoor antenna might help. I would recommend one of these indoor amplified antennas: You can read my full review of the Antop HD Smart Bar Antenna here. If You Have Long Cable Runs… This case mostly applies to when you’re using an outdoor or attic antenna, and you’re driving multiple TVs in your home. You’ll probably have a long cable run. That’s when an amplifier can be necessary. You’ll probably want a stand-alone distribution amplifier with several outputs. It should be placed at the end closest to the antenna, NOT at the end closest to the […]

[…]on my Roku to view live or recorded TV on the Tablo. In case you’re wondering why I use separate antennas for my TV and for my Tablo. Well, the Tablo is great for recording but not so great for channel surfing. It takes a long time to switch between channels using the Tablo. I like the ability to turn my TV on and instantly surf around. I could have used my downstairs antenna for both my TV and my Tablo, but I had the extra antenna, and I had this set up for an experiment, so I just left […]

[…]the FCC’s Over Air Reception Devices Rule and know your rights when it comes to mounting TV antennas. Cost: An Amazing Value Let’s talk about the best part of this experiment: the cost. The Channel Master Stealthtenna 50 is a metal antenna that sells for only $29 from Amazon!! That is cheaper than many plastic indoor antennas! I am very impressed with this small and insanely inexpensive antenna!! It’s only two feet long! Get it on Amazon here: Grounding Note that any time you permanently mount an antenna outdoors, you should ground the shield to your home’s earth ground. Here’s some info […]

[…]much better unless you live far from all stations. (In full disclosure, I have received free Mohu antennas for review purposes, but I have also received lots of other free antennas that I don’t recommend as much). Connect your converter box to your TV, then your antenna to your converter box.  Follow the instructions that came with your converter box, and you’ll be set to watch the broadcast channels in your area. Tweaking the antenna position to get all of the available channels takes some work. You can follow my tips in this article. 2. Roku Express+ 2018 Edition Roku […]

[…]Santa Monica (near Los Angeles, CA) For more details on my personal indoor TV antenna setup (which antennas I use, and where I put them), see this article. How many channels can you get in your area? Please comment below – […]

I was at my parents’ home with the TV on in the background when I noticed something interesting: their “HD” picture quality was terrible compared to my own TV with a broadcast TV antenna. They had satellite TV from DISH Network. I have always said on my site that cable and satellite dish providers compress their TV signals, resulting in WORSE picture quality than you can get with free broadcast (Over-The-Air) TV. But I thought this picture quality was ridiculously bad! I snapped a photo of the local ABC station’s logo, then went home and did the same on my […]