Posted: 12/9/2012 3:01:35 PM EDT
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Are the new ditigal style antennas better at picking up signal than the old style (got it in 1997)? We've got a big one up on a 30' tower and either the motor or controller is bad. I was wondering if upgrading would be worth it.
Before the switch to ditigal, we always got stations from Evansville IN and Louisville KY (located about halfway between the two). A couple time, even from Cape Giraudo MO. Since the switch, we get all Evanville stations 91% of the time and maybe 1 station from Louisville's a couple times a year. All the adjusting trying to get consistant reception must have worn something out. We do have Dish, but usually watch CBS and local news with the antenna. |
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Quoted:
Are the new ditigal style antennas better at picking up signal than the old style (got it in 1997)? We've got a big one up on a 30' tower and either the motor or controller is bad. I was wondering if upgrading would be worth it. Before the switch to ditigal, we always got stations from Evansville IN and Louisville KY (located about halfway between the two). A couple time, even from Cape Giraudo MO. Since the switch, we get all Evanville stations 91% of the time and maybe 1 station from Louisville's a couple times a year. All the adjusting trying to get consistant reception must have worn something out. We do have Dish, but usually watch CBS and local news with the antenna. "Digital Antenna" is bullshit. The antenna only cares about RF, not the modulation type. If the old one isn't corroded and your transmission line is not old and inefficient, you should carry on with the existing antenna. |
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What he said.
There's no such thing as a digital antenna or HD antenna. The broadcast type just changed and your old rabbit ears or coat hanger will still pick them up. That does not mean that there aren't some antennas that are better than others but often basic is better. So if your existing antenna is bad but worked well before, just replace it with something similar. |
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The reason to switch to a "digital antenna" is SIZE.
Sometimes, size matters,... sometimes, it doesn't. My old "analog antenna" is HUGE. It is in my attic and completely obstructs access to everything. I put it in the attic so it would not be a visual blight on the appearance of the exterior of my home. I will eventually switch to a "digital antenna" because the "digital antennas" are smaller. Small enough, in fact, that I am going to mount it out of doors. The reason they are smaller is because they use a higher frequency band for digital transmissions (equivalent to the older UHF) and a smaller antenna is adequate for these frequencies. So, you see, there really is a "digital antenna" and it has certain features (small sze) which may be beneficial to you. If your old antenna was on a mast with a rotator, you may still need those, even with the new "digital antenna". 
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Quoted:
The reason to switch to a "digital antenna" is SIZE. Sometimes, size matters,... sometimes, it doesn't. My old "analog antenna" is HUGE. It is in my attic and completely obstructs access to everything. I put it in the attic so it would not be a visual blight on the appearance of the exterior of my home. I willl eventually switch to a "digital antenna" because the "digital antennas" are smaller. Small enough, in fact, that I am going to mount it out of doors. The reason they are smaller is because they use a higher frequency band for digital transmissions (equivalent to the older UHF) and a smaller antenna is adequate for these frequencies. So, you see, there really is a "digital antenna" and it has certain features (small sze) which may be beneficial to you. If your old antenna was on a mast with a rotator, you may still need those, even with the new "digital antenna". It is an antenna designed for higher frequencies. Any higher frequencies, irrespective of the mode of transmission. You need to do some reading, and educate your self. |
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lol
I think you and I are just on different wavelengths here. Did you really miss all those quotation marks I struggled to type into my post? Why would I have bothered to continue using those quotation marks, anyway? Did I mention mode as a reason to switch? What did I say was a possible benefit to a "digital antenna" and how does a "digital antenna" differ from my "analog antenna"? <-- Oops!, there I go again.
P.S. - Thanks for the advice, or did you really just mean that as an insult? Hmmm,...? P.P.S. - I just Bing'ed "digital TV antenna" as a search term and got 27,800,000 hits. AR ._._. |
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Quoted:
Not all stations switched to the UHF band. During the transition period, our local channel 5 used UHF 27 or something for their digital channel. When they turned off analog signals, they switched the digital signal back to VHF channel 5. My UHF only antenna does an adequate job of picking it up.
The reason to switch to a "digital antenna" is SIZE. Sometimes, size matters,... sometimes, it doesn't. My old "analog antenna" is HUGE. It is in my attic and completely obstructs access to everything. I put it in the attic so it would not be a visual blight on the appearance of the exterior of my home. I will eventually switch to a "digital antenna" because the "digital antennas" are smaller. Small enough, in fact, that I am going to mount it out of doors. The reason they are smaller is because they use a higher frequency band for digital transmissions (equivalent to the older UHF) and a smaller antenna is adequate for these frequencies. So, you see, there really is a "digital antenna" and it has certain features (small sze) which may be beneficial to you. If your old antenna was on a mast with a rotator, you may still need those, even with the new "digital antenna". The only time I see a small size being beneficial is if you live near the transmission towers. Digital tuners can be overloaded and not lock into a signal. At almost 30 miles from the antenna farm, I use something similar to this - http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3739596 |