Cut the cord not long ago but trying to get access to local channels now. Don’t want to waste time or money in cheap crappy antennas. What’s the best one?

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Posted by Tony The Tiger

The Woodlands, TX

Member since Sep 2003

2583 posts

Posted on 9/27/18 at 8:01 am to tigamike

Clearstream 4MAX

Lots of variables - distance to transmitters, interference, the location of transmitters (are they in one location relative to your house, or all around you) - all play into the kind of antenna you need. Most of the transmitters I am trying to pull in are in one general direction (directional antenna), so I got this one and it works perfectly. Other antennas I had failed, so I highly recommend it. You may need an omnidirectional antenna if the transmitters are not in one general direction from your home.

This post was edited on 9/27/18 at 8:03 am

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Posted by TigerstuckinMS

Member since Nov 2005

33687 posts

Posted on 9/27/18 at 8:34 am to tigamike

Some local channels may transmit on the VHF band and some local channels may transmit on the UHF band. Make sure your antenna covers both.

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Posted by mctiger1985

Baton Rouge

Member since Oct 2009

3693 posts

Posted on 9/27/18 at 9:10 am to tigamike

Check lowes for this...no personal experience with it though
[url=https://ibb.co/jvejgp]

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Posted by CarRamrod

Spurbury, VT

Member since Dec 2006

57426 posts

Posted on 9/27/18 at 9:22 am to tigamike

I got the 40 dollar 80mile RCA antenna from Walmart. All antennas are HD, even the antennas from the 50s. So don't buy the hype of these 150-200 antennas.

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Posted by Tony The Tiger

The Woodlands, TX

Member since Sep 2003

2583 posts

Posted on 9/27/18 at 9:51 am to CarRamrod

quote:
I got the 40 dollar 80mile RCA antenna from Walmart. All antennas are HD, even the antennas from the 50s. So don't buy the hype of these 150-200 antennas.

Correct that there is no difference between an "HD" antenna and one from decades ago. However, not all antennas are created the same. It is true the OP could spend as little as 20 bucks on a leaf antenna and be done. It is certainly worth a shot. However, my experience is that a leaf antenna, or my 50's era antenna did not work. Nor did the RCA amplified tabletop I placed on top of my ductwork in the attic. I replaced them all with the one I linked, and I am now able to pull in all my locals (and some from Lafayette as well). I can't tell you why this is, but this is my experience.

This post was edited on 9/27/18 at 9:53 am

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Posted by mdomingue

Lafayette, LA

Member since Nov 2010

29982 posts

Posted on 9/27/18 at 10:09 am to tigamike

Where are you located? As some posters have pointed out, HD antenna is a misnomer. There are no HD/Non HD antennas. What you need to know is what frequencies are the stations you want to pick up on. Most HD broadcasts are in the UHF range though high VHF is also common. Low VHs is rare but does happen. Most antennas will do both high VHF and UHF.

Here is a link that may help.

https://tvfool.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29

You put in your address and get these graphic returned