What do you think of this Bowtie antenna?

[dcapper]

I need to get about 45 miles away. There is no tv stations in my area. No trees. Pretty clean shot.

hXXp://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/30-2430

Any opinions on this antenna?

[Terryl]

First off no live outside links please. (I fixed it)

Now, have you done a TVfool report?

If not go to the site below and see whats around you before you buy something that may or may not work for you.


http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29

And that antenna looks cool, but will it work for your location?

[dcapper]

I have 2 green channels, 6 yellow channels, and 23 red channels. The antenna would be mounted between 12 and 15 feet from the ground.

[Terryl]

Post the TV fool report back here (make it dead like I did yours) and we can take a look at it. (it will not give away your address)

Then we can give you a better idea on whats what.

[runamok]

I got a old motorized outdoor antenna give to me.The cable to turn motor was bad so I turned the pole by had out my bedroom window lol.It was a big bulky antenna but it worked great.I could reach out about 120 miles on good days.Now I got this cheap motorized antenna rated for 120 miles mounted on the same 30 foot pole.Take alook below.


http://www.showmecables.com/product/outdoor-yagi-hdtv-antenna-vhfuhffm-36db-with-rotor-motor.aspx

[dcapper]

hxxp://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d2c152fc5cb831a

Here's my tvfool report. I'm looking to get the southwest channels.

[jvvh5897]

Well, I could not get that link to work even with tt replacing the xx

[dishuser]

The requested report ID is no longer on our server.
that's what I got

[brandy1]

Get a antenna with a electrical booster amplifier,they work great for free local air tv's.

[dcapper]

hxxp://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d2c152fc5cb831a

Try that one

I saw a space at the end of the other post. Sorry.

[dishuser]

same thing

[dcapper]

Figured it out. For some reason it's pasting a space before the a at the end.

hxxp://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d2c152fc5cb831a

I'm sure it works now. Remove the space. It keeps putting it back in.

[Terryl]

Get a antenna with a electrical booster amplifier,they work great for free local air tv's.


Not in all situations and locations.


And if you copy the link then remove the space between the 1 and the a at the end it will work.

Here is another way.

www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d2c152fc5cb831a

[Terryl]

After looking over the TVfool report, it looks like you will need to go higher with the antenna, maybe 30 feet off the peak of the roof.

Here is a horizontal graph of WINK-TV
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d2c152fc5cb831a%26t%3dALLTV%26n%3d5

It shows that the curvature of the Earth is in the way, so higher is better, the antenna you have will work for most of the stations, a rotor would get them all. (all that you can receive at your location)

[dcapper]

Currently I am using this antenna 12' up and I get Wink and MeTV. Those are the two priorities.

hxxp://www.philips.ca/c-p/SDV8622T_27/digital-tv-antenna

This antenna has the little inline 18db amplifier and it seems to work ok but gets fade out. I thought the bowtie one would be much better without dropping a pile of money.

I bought one of these signal amplifiers so I can split it through the house. The longest run is small though. Maybe 40' to 50'.

hxxp://www.ebay.ca/itm/CABLE-TV-CATV-AMPLIFIER-SHAW-SIGNAL-BOOSTER-UHF-VHF-DVR-/120357566208

I haven't received the amplifier yet so I will see if it does anything when it comes.

I'm wondering if the bowtie with an amplifier would be an improvement on the Philips antenna?

[willydilly]

As Terryl said, and I first thought, you are going to need more height in order to get a halfway decent number of channels. I would go with the $20 8 bay bowtie antenna on that same site. I have one installed in Ontario, about 40-45 feet up, shooting south and pick up everything in Buffalo crystal clear as well as everything in between. I've got about 30 HD stations. That's about 110 miles as the crow flies. With the straight 8 bay, you can also pick up channels from the back side of the antenna.

wd

[dcapper]

Thanks for all the replies! There is 3 antennas on MCM. Should I go with the more expensive one or just one of the cheaper ones?

hXXp://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/30-2430

hXXp://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/30-2425

hXXp://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/30-2155

Thanks again

[willydilly]

How did you get 45 feet up?Are you in an apartment?

3 story house plus mounted on the chimney stack.............pretty close to 40-45 feet. On a really clear day I can even get Channel 10 from Rochester, which is well east of Buffalo.

wd

[willydilly]

Thanks for all the replies! There is 3 antennas on MCM. Should I go with the more expensive one or just one of the cheaper ones?

hXXp://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/30-2430

hXXp://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/30-2425

hXXp://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/30-2155

Thanks again

Personally, I'd go with the cheaper one. If it doesn't work out, you can always upgrade. When I first bought mine, I thought I'd need a gain booster, so I bought it as well. After scanning, it was obvious that I didn't need the extra gain, so I returned it.

wd

[dcapper]

Thanks!

Like I said earlier, I have the Philips one and I'm getting Wink and MeTV so I'm happy but the weird thing is, only some tv's are picking up the signals. I'm assuming some tuners are stronger than others? That was why I ordered the 4 way amplifier to see if that helps first before buying a new antenna.

[willydilly]

It's funny how the sun comes into play as well:I live in Burlington,ont & ia hae an 8 bay channelMaster aimed at upstate NY (Buffalo).On a typical evening,my signal strenght for most channels (with or without the winegard preamp) is 80 to 100 percent.At 2 in the afternoon on a bright sunny day,signal strength bobbles between 60 & 80 percent without the preamp, & 70 to 90% with the preamp.For tha reason , I use the preamp.

I have soooooooooooo much to watch and not enough hours in the day. Between OTA, stolen cable, IKS and IPTV on the doorstep, not to mention VHS, DVD's etc. I'll never be without as far as entertainment.

wd

[dcapper]

Update for you friends. Originally I had the cable come from the Philips antenna to the amp about 25' away. Then to the tv beside it. Got 11 channels. Today I ran cables to all the bedrooms and the sunroom. Moved the amp about 40-50' away from the antenna then split it throughout the house. Now I get around 16 channels in all the bedrooms. I don't think I'll need to buy another antenna. This gets me Wink and MeTV. Those are the important channels to me.