Is this the right type of antenna? Please help!?

Question

We are looking to get rid of cable to save money but we need an antenna to get in our local channels. They come from various directions in different towns between about 15-and 42 miles away.

I've looked on the antennaweb website and it told me for my address I need a medium directional antenna. It then states "These medium-size, multi-element antennas are the most popular rooftop antenna because of their modest size and ghost-reducing characteristics. These are best used if there are any ghost-producing reflective structures near your location." We are going to be trying to get the digital only channels and our tv does have a digital tuner.

I've looked on various websites that sell antennas but I'm still SO confused. Could you tell me if this one called the "Channel Master 4228 Long-range outdoor rooftop UHF antenna" from amazon would work? If not could someone please suggest one that would? Also confused about what all we need to buy with it?

10 points for best answer, Thanks!

Answer 1

If none of the stations you are trying to get are on VHF your task becomes easier.

The Channel Master model you listed is a good idea. There are others that perform as well for less and more money. In general the 'bow tie' and corner reflector antennas are best for UHF (channels 14 and up). The bow tie offers a more flat response, lower and higher channels all work about the same, and they have good sensitivity. The corner reflector is more directional but may suffer with lower sensitivity on certain channels. You can put up a few antennas and mix their signals to get stations for various locations, send two antennas into two separate inputs on the TV if equipped, or install a rotor which is a motorized mount that turns the antenna to the desired direction you select from a control box. Also if you don't need VHF don't get a multi-band antenna, stick with UHF only, it will perform much better. Check out the Antennas Direct DB4 or DB8, also known as Terrestrial Digital.

Use good cable, RG6 dual shield at minimum, and weatherproof connectors.

If you run into trouble with a particular channel, you can get a high performance yagi such as Sitco Antennas. They are expensive, cover only about 3 to 4 channels, but have a very tight focus and high gain.

Ghosting is usually of little concern with DTV. You won't see any ghosting. But multi-path interference, which is what causes ghosting on analog, can cause difficulty in DTV reception.

Answer 2

if you live in the states, forget about the antenna because in February 2009, all public channels will be broadcasted in digital.  you will need a converter box for that. for more information, i believe the website is dtvanswers2009.com or something like that.

Answer 3

Yes, the Channel Master 4228 will work good.  It can pull in stations as far as 60 miles without a pre-amp.  You need to mount it on the roof facing the direction of your local station's transmitting towers.  Use RG-6 coax cable.  I have a similar antenna, 8 Bay Bow Tie, with a preamp and can get stations from Los Angeles which is 75 miles from my house.  I get all the local 2-13 channels in digital on the UHF bands.  A rotor is optional, but I have mine on a rotor also.

Added info:

An antenna rotator does just that.  It rotates the antenna 360 degrees on your mast or pole.  You have a control unit in the house with an indicator pointing the direction you want to aim the antenna.  Radio Shack sells them.  http://www.radioshack.com/product/index....

More info:

In my case, I have stations in the Los Angeles area and in the Bakersfield area.  If I want to see their digital channels, I have to turn my antenna around to point in their direction.