Name:	RickLake -	Reply
Subject:	Digital antenna reception
Date:	10/4/2015 10:43:38 PM

I couldn't take the increases any longer from ComLink and being the off season wanted to try alternatives.  So I disconnected ComLink.  Does anyone use a digital antenna to receive over the air channels?  I am on Little Kowliga Creek near Eclectic.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Digital antenna reception
Date:	10/5/2015 8:13:30 PM

Don't be suckered in to an expensive "digital" antenna.  The "digital" signal transmitted these days rides a radio frequency signal, just like the analog of old.  Your success in pulling in a signal depends on the height of the antenna and the amplification scheme you use.  The closer the signal source your amp is located, the better. That is why satellite receivers have a low noise amp located on the dish itself.

Of course, you won't get any of the cable channels, which you may find unsatisfactory.  i am in Northere Virginia on a temporary job and opted out of cable in favor of broadcast TV.  i quickly found that broadcast TV options are very limiting and ended up watching cable channels on my iPad using our Montgomery Uverse subscription.

Let us know how things work out.

Name:	Samdog -	Reply
Subject:	Digital antenna reception
Date:	10/5/2015 9:17:01 PM

I am near you. I have used an antenna with success. You can get WSFA, WAKA, ETV and if you are lucky WNCF and WCOV.

You will need a good antenna outdoors with a clear shot to the station transmitters.  If you go to tvfool.com you will learn all you need.

Name:	Shortbus -	Reply
Subject:	Digital antenna reception
Date:	10/5/2015 9:51:14 PM

http://antennaweb.org/

you will need the biggest baddest most expensive antenna they make

add a mast amplifier

and then good luck

Name:	RickLake -	Reply
Subject:	Digital antenna reception
Date:	10/6/2015 9:47:29 AM

SamDog, what type antenna are you using?  How high does it reach?  In what direction is your antenna pointed?  My house faces northwest and I'm concerned about all the trees if I point back towards Montgomery.

Name:	Samdog -	Reply
Subject:	Digital antenna reception
Date:	10/6/2015 11:05:44 AM

I have a DB8 Ultra Long Range Multi-Directional Digital TV Antenna paid $99. Trees will be a problem but not as much as a hill. Are you up high or can you get the antenna up high? Go to tvfool.com and put your address in. It will tell you the compass reading to point it. I had to adjust some to get the most channels since they are not all exactly in the same direction. Do you know of an installer? I need to put up an antenna at another lake house and it's too high for this ole man!

Name:	RickLake -	Reply
Subject:	Digital antenna reception
Date:	10/6/2015 11:51:37 AM

SamDog, I don't have any installer yet - still researching and figuring out best way to go.  Assumed I'd do it myself.  If you need help and are close by, I may be able to help.  I know nothing about installing an antenna but am fairly handy

Name:	GregK -	Reply
Subject:	Digital antenna reception
Date:	10/6/2015 12:56:26 PM

Have you tried ROKU?  You have to have internet but it gives you a ton of channels and a lot of sports with Watch ESPN

Just a thought

Name:	Samdog -	Reply
Subject:	Digital antenna reception
Date:	10/6/2015 4:18:32 PM

ROKU is great. Especially netflicks and WatchESPN. But ROKU and antenna combined is really great!

Name:	jalcz -	Reply
Subject:	Digital antenna reception
Date:	10/6/2015 8:25:03 PM

I'm in a similar location, and I had to give up on the digital antenna. I could get about five different stations-- and some of them had more than one channel, i.e. 12.1 AND 12.2-- but the problem was that I could never get more than one or two at a time, and-- even worse-- I could never get a strong signal on any station for more than 20 minutes or so. For reasons I could never understand, the channel I was watching would fade after 20 minutes, sometimes less, and then another station that wasn't coming in would be available.

And since that time limit was 20 minutes, it goes without saying that I never got to see any show in its entirely. So understandably I dumped the antenna and went with DISH (because at that time only DISH offered local channels; I understand that DirecTV now does the same.)

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Digital antenna reception
Date:	10/8/2015 8:03:35 AM

That's what I do with an added twist.  We have a google chromecast device on our TV so I can watch my uverse channels, netflix and amazon prime on the TV.  Only downside with uverse is you can only watch the live channels so some stations will not work.  Don't watch much tv at the lake anyway but that's a pretty good option.