Author Topic: Looking for a TV antenna that works (Read 13793 times)

Slow_lane · « **on:** April 18, 2013, 08:21:59 am »

My brother has to watch his spending and has done away with his TV cable connection. I am trying to help him try and find an antenna that will preform well in his situation.

He lives in an apartment Montreal Suburb. He is on 2nd floor of 3 floor apartment building. His balcony face North towards a highway. He can opt to use an outdoor antenna as long as it is not too big. He has an old TV with a digital converter box. I do not think his TV set up can handle HD broadcasts... But I have no idea about that.

I know he has a dish antenna now but is not having any success with it. He gets only 2 stations. I have not seen the antenna but it may be a cheap POS. All I know is he bought it at Crappy Tire. But it could be his location may be part of the problem.

I would like to know if anyone has had a good experience with an antenna that they would recommend we try.

tpl · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2013, 08:27:00 am »

Has he used tvfool to see what he should be able to get?

wing · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2013, 08:55:22 am »

Need to know address or close enough address to determine if he is facing the proper direction to get anything. In a building depending on location the signal could be completely blocked.

Without knowing anything I'd suggest picking up something like this: http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=C2&d=Antennas-Direct-C2-ClearStream2-Outdoor-Digital-HD-TV-Antenna-(C2)&c=TV%20Antennas&sku=5374800112

Frontier1 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2013, 09:26:03 am »

I am going in that direction as well, nice weather will be here soon I hope and I'm installing an antenna 68 feet up. I am not going to pay anymore to watch something totally dominated by commercials, no more, I will now get all these commercials for free!!! I get all I need with Netflix and Hulu, very pleased with that so far.

redman · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2013, 09:45:14 am »

If you want to go with the tried and true, I would suggest either Channel Master, Winegard or Antenna Direct. I have a CM (in box still btw)

random006 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2013, 11:17:41 am »

Quote from: slybry on April 18, 2013, 08:21:59 am

My brother has to watch his spending and has done away with his TV cable connection. I am trying to help him try and find an antenna that will preform well in his situation.

He lives in an apartment Montreal Suburb. He is on 2nd floor of 3 floor apartment building. His balcony face North towards a highway. He can opt to use an outdoor antenna as long as it is not too big. He has an old TV with a digital converter box. I do not think his TV set up can handle HD broadcasts... But I have no idea about that.

I know he has a dish antenna now but is not having any success with it. He gets only 2 stations. I have not seen the antenna but it may be a cheap POS. All I know is he bought it at Crappy Tire. But it could be his location may be part of the problem.

I would like to know if anyone has had a good experience with an antenna that they would recommend we try.

Is he north or east of Mount Royal? I once used an online website and found a bunch of free OTH HD signals available to me, ALL coming from the south or west of my location. I'm located to the west and south of the mountain, so in theory it would be a piece of cake to get the signals.

dkaz · « **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2013, 11:37:44 am »

I got a cheap amplified antenna from Walmart, $20-30, worked great here in Vancouver, got all the local stations in crystal clear HD. This was many years ago. I'm sad I'm living in a place that does not have direct sight to the HD towers. Shaw HD is ok but I can notice the compression artifacts. Telus HD should be ashamed for calling their signal HD.

redman · « **Reply #7 on:** April 18, 2013, 01:45:20 pm »

Ever consider TV-MAXE. You will need internet access.

dr_spock · « **Reply #8 on:** April 18, 2013, 08:40:33 pm »

I got a cheap amplified Kross antenna from Factory Direct and stuck it in my attic. It works pretty good after some proper aiming.

http://www.factorydirect.ca/Canada-Ontario-/Electronics__Home_Office_/Tvs/Other_Tv_Accessories/KR0055/ANT-02___ATN-55_Kross_Atn_Amplified_Outdoor_Hdtv_Antenna_6973180130772/0

mwqa · « **Reply #9 on:** October 04, 2013, 07:47:33 pm »

So I decided to replace the $20 antenna from La Source and buy a $150 Antennas Direct ClearStream 2V from an Amazon.ca supplier.

This one: http://www.amazon.ca/Antennas-Direct-C2-V-CJM-ClearStream-Outdoor/dp/B00AXEPW10/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1380929618&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=clearstream

I hooked it up tonight.

I used to have only these channels:

2-1 Radio Canada (CBC French)
6-1 CBMT (CBC)
10-1 CFTM (TVA French)
12-1 CFCF (CTV)
17-1 Tele-Quebec (French)

but now I also have these

3-1 WCAX (CBS)
3-2 WCAXtra
5-1 WPTZ (NBC)
5-2 CW-MeTV
15-1 Global TV (was intermittent to nonexistent before)
29-1 Canal Savoir (French)
33-1 Vermont Public Television (PBS)
33-3 VPT Create
33-4 VPT World
35-1 V (French)
62-1 CJNT CityTV Montreal

Excellent!

Question for the tech savvy ... I bought a 25 foot coaxial cable, which is too long. I probably only need a 15 footer. Would the signal be better with a shorter cable?

wing · « **Reply #10 on:** October 04, 2013, 08:23:02 pm »

No that's not enough matter

EV Dan · « **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2013, 08:34:10 pm »

Quote

Looking for a TV antenna that works

- to answer the question in one link:
http://www.channelmaster.com/EXTREMEtenna_CM_4228HD_s/43.htm
if you get too many channels

then a similar one with half the "whiskers"
if just a few, then have the guy move to the other side of the building.
p.s. most amplified antennas sold for under 100 bucks wont work.

tpl · « **Reply #12 on:** October 04, 2013, 08:55:04 pm »

If you can do a bit of DIY then go to www.digitalhome.ca and search on Gray-Hoverman. All kinds of cheap ways to make it and has great performance.

Ex-airbalancer · « **Reply #13 on:** May 13, 2015, 03:30:28 pm »

I was thinking of ordering this antenna from Costco and give a try
http://www.costco.ca/Digiwave-ANT7286-Ultra-Clear-Digital-Outdoor-Antenna.product.100160308.html

tortoise · « **Reply #14 on:** May 13, 2015, 03:39:34 pm »

Have you looked up what channels you can get? Based on your location, might be overkill.

I bought the $25 CT model and was shocked that it pulls in CBC, Global, CTV and TVO. There are other channels that roof top set would probably get since the other tower is to the south and and the TV is at the North end of the house. But whatever, for $25 I get hockey and golf. That's all I was interested in.

dkaz · « **Reply #15 on:** May 13, 2015, 04:02:10 pm »

I've built something like this:

About $10-15 in material (insulated copper wire, exposed copper wire, and a TV transformer), soldering iron, and some kind of fasteners is all you needed. It's works way better than a lot of antennas available commercially.

Ex-airbalancer · « **Reply #16 on:** May 13, 2015, 04:41:59 pm »

Quote from: tortoise on May 13, 2015, 03:39:34 pm

Have you looked up what channels you can get? Based on your location, might be overkill.

I bought the $25 CT model and was shocked that it pulls in CBC, Global, CTV and TVO. There are other channels that roof top set would probably get since the other tower is to the south and and the TV is at the North end of the house. But whatever, for $25 I get hockey and golf. That's all I was interested in.

We are about 100 km from CN tower , about 50 km to the U.S. More interested in news then sports

Ex-airbalancer · « **Reply #17 on:** May 20, 2015, 08:26:11 pm »

The antenna came in today , put it on a 10ft abs pipe and hook up to the TV , did not even aimed it , getting 30 channels

Mark

wing · « **Reply #18 on:** May 20, 2015, 08:48:34 pm »

That's the right shape. 30 channels is awesome.

Ex-airbalancer · « **Reply #19 on:** May 20, 2015, 09:12:40 pm »

Quote from: wing on May 20, 2015, 08:48:34 pm

That's the right shape. 30 channels is awesome.

Do not know how good some are here list
Wgrz HD nbc 2-1, -2, -3
Wives hb cbs
Cblt CBC
Wkbw hd abc
Laff
Escape
Cfto Ctv
Chex CBC
Wned-HD PBS
Think
Tvo
Wnlo the cw
Bounce
Cblft CBC French
C11, global
Wutv fox
Tcn
Grit TV
Wuhf fox
Get TV
Cits
Wnyo
Get TV
Ion
Qubo
Ion life
Shop
Qvc
Hsn