[Scan-DC] O/T: HDTV Outdoor Antenna Recommendation?

[Alan Henney]

I've had terrible frustration with so-called HDTV antennas.

I tried several compact indoor/outdoor fiberglass models with included 
amplifiers.  I was completely frustrated and disappointed!

As an experiment, I took an old 800 MHz 3db mobile cell phone antenna with 
an "F" adapter and that did better -- even with no amp.

Then I tried the old-fashioned bowtie directional antenna which restored my
faith in antenna sales companies.

I ordered the Antennas Direct DB8 from Solid Signal:

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=DB8&d=Antennas-Direct-DB8-UHF-HDTV-TV-Bowtie-Antenna-(DB8)&c=TV%20Antennas&sku=853748001088

Living in Takoma Park, in my case, I point the antenna toward NW DC and it
even gets my favorite MHz networks in Virginia, which fortunately is in that
same direction.  Most of the time it works ok.

The antenna was struck by a tree limb last year, breaking the "F" connector 
from the antenna.  Both Antennas Direct and Solid Signal sent me a 
replacement connector part -- FREE!

The antenna won't perform miracles, but I too wonder what else I can do to 
improve my TV reception.

Alan

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Thomas P. Clouse" <tom at clouse.com>
To: "Scan DC" <scan-dc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2011 10:30 PM
Subject: [Scan-DC] O/T: HDTV Outdoor Antenna Recommendation?


> Anybody have any positive recommendations for an exterior HDTV VHF & UHF
> Antenna?  I am about 13 miles north of the Friendship Heights transmitters
> and my interior antenna just doesn't cut it.