Who has experiences with (OTA) Over-the-air digital HD antennas?

I picked up the Winegard FreeVision Indoor/Outdoor HDTV antenna a few years ago and had it professionally installed in my attic. Orientation and height are critical to HDTV reception success.

I also used http://www.antennaweb.org/ to help with orientation and antenna selection.

I use WMC on Windows 7 with WtvWatcher to strip any commercials.

I'm quite satisfied. Your results may vary based on your location relative to the towers.

I bought an inexpensive HDTV antenna online - paid less than $20. It was one that sits on top of the TV, like old-school bunny ear antennas. I live 20 miles outside of Boston, and I know that our PBS station, WGBH, has 3 or 4 different HDTV channels, so I thought I might pick up something. Well, I didn't have any luck with it. Nothing but total static, no matter how I moved or adjusted the antenna. Not even a blip or change in the static. Nothing. Little ventured, little lost. But I couldn't get it to work at all.

I installed a Terk HDTVO Antenna, and the picture quality was indeed a step up -- much better than basic/extended cable, and better than even the premium "HD" cable for some channels. The downside was that in inclement weather the signal would sometimes deteriorate, cutting out entirely for 10-20 seconds at a time, and after two years one of the vanes on the unit broke.

After some research, I subsequently bought and installed a Winegard HD7084 antenna. It did require a little more work to put in (we first had it mounted using a Winegard SW-0010 tripod, and then moved it to a chimney mount when our roof was replaced), but the reception and picture quality have been flawless, year 'round through every thunderstorm and blizzard.

I second the recommendation for the use of AntennaWeb to correctly aim the antenna, for which you'll need a good compass. (I used and can recommend the Suunto M-2.)

With a digital antenna and a streaming video service (e.g. Netflix), cable TV bills are thankfully a fading memory in our house.

I had the mohu leaf antenna for the past few years and have been very happy with its performance. I received all of the major networks and many other channels as well. It is important to note that the antenna must be repositioned to pick up stations coming in from different directions.

I went through 4 HD antennas before finding the $15 Monoprice indoor antenna. It's been rock solid for me, no need to move it or adjust it to re-tune for different channels. No dropouts even in rain. It receives all channels listed in my area on antenna web that are yellow or red. Blue/violet channels do not work (these are the furthest away).

it has a built-in amplifier that you plug in. and the amp is in the correct location for best performance (it's built into the antenna itself).

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=109&cp_id=10901&cs_id=1090101&p_id=4729&seq=1&format=2

They make other antennas that are wall-mount or outdoor mount, but i'm in good enough area not to need those (but other antennas were still terrible). Monoprice also sells through Amazon where you can get Prime shipping but the price doesn't always match their web site special.

TV antennas pull in radio signals. Each TV channel responds to a specific radio frequency, Analog, digital, HDTV signals are all transmitted by selected frequencies. If your old 1960's UHF roof antenna worked well for your old analog TV, it will work (maybe great) for HDTV broadcast on that channel.

"HDTV Antenna" is nonsense. What counts is that you get an TV antenna that matches the radio frequencies (TV channels), available in your area.

If you want to find out more about OTA TV you 'MUST' visit the Digitalhome.ca website. There you will find about absolutely anything about OTA TV, even how to build your own TV Antenna, that will outperform anything on the market.

Watch out, I got hooked to that forum.

cheers, Sanberdino

One More!

To find all available TV channels for your particular area (works for USA and Canada -- ZIP CODE and Google Map coordinates), use "TV FOOL's Signal Locator" on the TVFool.com website.

  Sanberdino

I have a giant old Channel Master (a yagi directional, agree about HD antennas being nonsense) and amplifier and have been watching HD OTA since ~2001, what little was available back then. I have distance issues and the edge channels can be patchy, but I get the 4 majors, lots of PBS, and some Independents. Picture is excellent and of course the sound is another key, I channel it though my receiver using an optical connection. Sports and movies can be great that way.

Go ahead, do it and cut the cord, augment with streaming and enjoy ditching the monopoly.