outside tv antenna?

[porthos]

getting very tired of cable bills. anyone use any antenna type device for tv reception; and what quality of picture and #of stations?

[oneofsix]

You can check here to see what's available in your area- https://antennaweb.org/

We use an antenna for our bedroom TV, rarely watch it these days but pick up 8-10 channels. BTW, we didn't buy an antenna, just using the old one left on the house when we bought it.

[Finster101]

I use an antenna and get about 16 stations in my area. With digital you will find many stations will have subs on their carrier ch20, 20-2, 20-3 and so on. The picture is either good, pixelates or just drops out. No fuzz with digital. I put as big an antenna as I could fit and aim in my attic so as to not have to mess with it in hurricane or high wind situations. Mounted outside I could probably pull in more stations than I do.

[MyFlatline]

The wife bought an antenna recently after we kicked cable to the curb. Can't get anything. That being said, we didn't get much before with UHF, maybe 3 channels. Is there something out there better ? T/V or Reception ..:)

[Smoke4320]

As oneofsix pointed out check antenna.org first. If you are down in a hole/ behind a mountain ie blocked by some obstruction reception distance will be severely limited.
Pay no attention to antennas that state 75/100 miles they lie like car insurance ads
Look at customer reviews closely bigger antenna is not always the answer
I purchased 2 different antennas from 2 different mfgers 2 different styles. 1 for the house and one for the store
Both look like a figure 8 and pull stations 55 miles away

[Dieselhorses]

Digital antenna's have come a long way and depending on your location you pick up as many as 100 stations! For around 60-80.00 on Amazon you can land you a rotating (by remote) antenna that will reach out to 160 miles (once again it depends on your location). The antenna I use in one of the bedrooms costs 8.88 from Wally World and receives 21 stations! Thing is, you only pay for antenna one time!

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

On top of my tall house, I have a large VHF antenna that is 20+ years old, I added a separate Large UHF antenna in 2004, before the digital switch over. I wired them together, although it was suggested to NOT do that, and I use a signal Amp. I am 90 miles from the main TV transmission towers for the Minneapolis area. I get all the local channels...about 40 or 50 of them.

[hc18flyer]

I am about 80 miles from Omaha which has the most stations. We have never had cable, have a large antenna on a 25' tower and a signal amp. We get about 30 stations, a few are duplicates. I used to have a rotor to get stations from other cities, I chose not to mess with it when I replaced the antenna. If may be a good option for you? I plan on looking into the Netflix type options, satisfied for now. hc18flyer

[Tripplebeards]

I've tried the old clothes hanger looking roof antennas. A cheap indoor $25 RCA antenna dose better. I get 17 channels in a 70 mile radius and bought a $39 fire stick. I get so many free movies and channels with the stick it's unreal. There are a lot of free apps that give you movie axis. I also I get Netflix and Amazon prime. You need Internet for the fire stick which you obviously have.

[Jedman]

I have a antenna mounted on my house. It has a rotor that no longer works but it would only get me a few more PBS stations and some are the same as others so I don't fix it.
I get approx. 21 channels.
Where I live there is no cable so I tried a dish for a couple years but got tired of the constant rate hikes that were not suppose to happen and I would spend 1-2 hours on the phone to get the bill fixed then it would happen again in a couple months.
Finally I told them to keep it and have been using the basic antenna for several years now.

Jedman

[Outpost75]

I have a "deep fringe" log-periodic UHF and microwave yagi antenna a roof tripod and mast with Channel Master rotator and receive stations from 5 states. https://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=cm-3020

[Beagle333]

I got a little digital antenna from WalMart that looks sorta like a sharks fin, and I have taped on the top of my extension ladder raised just over the roof line (about 12' up) and it gets me about 21-24 stations to my TV that's out on the porch. All the major networks and a bunch of small ones. I think it was less than $35 bucks.

[WarEagleEd]

We are looking at ditching DirecTV at some point in 2019 and plan on using an HDTV antenna for over-the-air channels and subscribing to a streaming service (e.g. Playstation VUE or Hulu Live TV). I plan on getting a directional antenna (something like this (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0725SK9BP/?coliid=IJR67LGQA52P4&colid=1E38Z9YQU17VP&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)) and mounting it in the attic. You can use the TV Signal Locator at TV Fool (http://www.tvfool.com/)to find your azimuth for pointing the antenna.

The nice thing about a directional antenna is that it can "see" further in one direction than an omni-directional antenna (e.g. a CB whip antenna). Bad thing is that it can't "see" all around it. It's like a flashlight beam compared to a table lamp.

[JBinMN]

We have an old antenna that we got from some friends who were having their roof redone and had decided to go to a dish. Had it about 21 years. We get about 20-25 channels from what the missus says.
I have not watched TV for a long time. Like 20 years, or so. Other than when she might say, "Look at this." about something on the TV that she thought I would find funny or something.

TV does not interest me much.

We live down in kind of a "hole" for TV reception & those ones that are inside do not work well here, so I have the one up on the roof for the missus. That is about all she gets and she seems happy with what she gets to see.

It works and it is free... So it will stay for a while, I reckon. Keeps her happy anyway.
;)

G'Luck with your decision!

[Winger Ed.]

Hard to say without knowing more of your situation as far as altitude, and how far away are the broadcasters.
I'd get a cheap one and just try it. Get it up as high as you can.
There's a few youtube videos of guys making them and putting them in their attic.
If you get a few stations, a higher, bigger fancier one should get a few more.

[razorfish]

As others have said, the effectiveness of antennas depend on where you live and your elevation but in general, you’ll get your best results with a large directional antenna (yagi)

Here’s a link to a fifty dollar antenna that’s worked well for me. Xtreme Signal Long Range Yagi Style VHF/UHF HDTV Antenna (HDB91X) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CX700EY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_dWmjCbMC567ZV


Note, this antenna is big, about seven feet long. I’m a bit biased as my company installs these antennas but we’ve had good results with this particular model.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Hickory]

Checkout Amazon's Firestick.
My friend has it, he says you can get TV stations off your Wi-fi at no charge.

[bob208]

we have one of the figure 8 ones it could be mounted out side. but we have it mounted on a stand about 4' high. it is setting in a window if we have trouble getting a channel in just turn the stand a little. we kicked cable out 8 years ago. don't miss it one bit.

we get about 16 channels. the ones we watch the most are the pbs stations.

[DukeSoprano]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017JEF126/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I get 41 Channels, some are >60 miles away

[HATCH]

May I suggest something else.

Purchase a Roku -> https://www.amazon.com/Roku-Express-Definition-Streaming-Player/dp/B075XN1NZC

Right now its $25 from amazon

You can get YouTube TV for $40 a month. It has locals.
Or if you can live without locals you can get Philo TV for $16 a month. Has 57 channels.
Or Hulu for $40 a month and you have access to live TV and their movies

Keep in mind this is all streaming via your internet.

I pay $124 a month for 100 meg internet, home phone, and the "select" spectrum cable package.
I do not have ANY cable boxes. I use roku devices on all my TVs.
I do not have DVR service which kinda sucks but considering I was paying $190 a month before I will take that savings.

[winelover]

I live about halfway between Little Rock, AR and Springfield, MO. Tried antenna TV, can't pull in anything, watchable.

Cable TV has never been a option. It's either Direct TV or Dish. Dropped Direct TV, a year and a half ago, because their prices were always rising. Went to streaming. Currently, using Amazon Fire TV, in conjunction with Playstation Vue. Saving @ $100/month and don't miss Direct TV, one iota. BTW, high speed internet isn't available, in my area. Only internet option is through my phone provider. We get a maximum of 10 megs, on a good day. No problems streaming.

Winelover

[Petrol & Powder]

Reception of TV signals is a function of terrain, elevation, power of transmitter, location of transmitter, etc.
A Yagi antenna mounted on a high location and aimed correctly will give you the longest possible range but NOTHING will magically make radio waves go through mountains or defeat the curvature of the earth !

Another HUGE misconception about TV signals is the analog vs. digital signal.
Digital is just a different format to encode the signal on the carrier. An antenna that worked for the analog format will work for the digital format; you don't need a "special" digital single antenna to receive digital signals.

I use a cheap little indoor antenna to pick up local stations but due to the terrain I live in my choices are limited. I can receive TV signals from a mountaintop TV site about 10 miles away but I'm shielded by mountains in just about every other direction. The best antenna in the world wouldn't improve my situation.

[Petrol & Powder]

The OP didn't say where he lived.
Terrain has the largest effect.

If you live somewhere that is flat, you can except far better results than if you live in a valley surrounded by mountains.
Over flat ground with a tall transmitter site and a tall receive antenna, you will get the most range.

Good news - Over the air TV is FREE ! Your only cost is the equipment to receive the signal (just like the old analog days) and those costs are a one time outlay for an antenna. For me that cost was a $12 indoor antenna and there was no reason to spend more because more money wouldn't change a thing.
One note about the digital format; there's not much "fringe" area reception. You either receive a strong enough signal to get a great picture and audio or you get nothing. There's not a lot of in between. Once the picture starts to pixilate or the audio starts dropping out, you're on the very edge of what is possible. Unlike analog that had varying degrees reception quality, digital is more of an all or nothing proposition. But in the "All" portion area the quality is excellent.

[GhostHawk]

We did not cut our cable, kept our good internet, throttled cable down to 35$ a month basic plus a DVR, and put some money at Netflix, Hulu, through Amazon Fire Tv.

We watch way more on the fire tv with way fewer commercials, can pause for a phone call or knock at the door. And get way better programing. A lot of good UK stuff including Masterpiece threatre.

We recently spent 6 weeks NE of Hot Springs Ar, and managed without any broadcast TV.
We had the complete 7 series set of Game of Thrones and we watched 2 episodes every knight on average until it was done. Good stuff there.


Wife is currently pulling movies off our walls for the trip to NOLA and then the gulf.
Was thinking Miss/Alabama gulf coast but looking at weather patterns Texas may be better. LA border to Galveston area.

[MaryB]

The wife bought an antenna recently after we kicked cable to the curb. Can't get anything. That being said, we didn't get much before with UHF, maybe 3 channels. Is there something out there better ? T/V or Reception ..:)

If you have good internet this is an option https://try.philo.com/#features I tested it and my 10mb DSL could handle 1080p but it chokes on 4k ultra

[HangFireW8]

The wife bought an antenna recently after we kicked cable to the curb. Can't get anything. That being said, we didn't get much before with UHF, maybe 3 channels. Is there something out there better ? T/V or Reception ..:)Try putting an Amp on that antenna. Many are cheap, $30-60. Also try a directional antenna and point it at the broadcast towers.

I live in the country enough that the cable and internet services refuse to let me see the TV channels from the 3 closest cities, due to FCC regulations and the idea that I am not in their service area. But I can get them all with a UHF directional, a VHF dipole, a cheap Amp, a compass, a map, and some setup time.

[woodbutcher]

[smilie=s: Way back when(pre 1985)before I moved to Tn from Fl,we had no cable service of any kind in the area that we lived in.Used an outside antenna with a signal amp.We were living in Vero Beach.Depending on the direction that the antenna was pointed we got a real variety of channels.West Palm Beach was a snap(65 miles)Miami too(125 miles)Tampa(130 miles)Sometimes Key West(225 appx miles)Daytona(150 miles)also Orlando(115 miles)And very occasionally Jacksonville(250 miles)all this was dependant on weather conditions.But then,Fl is as flat as Twiggy.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[Tripplebeards]

Checkout Amazon's Firestick.
My friend has it, he says you can get TV stations off your Wi-fi at no charge.

That's what I have. You can download tons of apps that give you tv station channels.

[HangFireW8]

That's what I have. You can download tons of apps that give you tv station channels.

A friend has that. The broadcast stations available on those "tons of apps" are mostly ****, poor resolution, pauses and glitches, constantly. But he's beating the system and it's all "free" (after the base cost of the stick and cable Internet), so he's happy as a camper.

I'll take my crystal clear broadcast HDTV, and pay a few bucks for Hulu.

[WILCO]

getting very tired of cable bills. anyone use any antenna type device for tv reception; and what quality of picture and #of stations?

Plenty of indoor antennas. Good picture quality. Multiple channels.

[respiegel]

We got tired of cable and went with Playstation Vue, and now DirecTV Now, I was really pleased with both. We come out miles ahead paying the month the month rate for internet rather than get locked into a bundle with the ever changing price structure.

[T_McD]

Definitely get a dongle of some sort (roku, fire stick, etc). If you are in a decent area an antenna can get local stations. Add Hulu or Netflix and call it a day.