Is it worth buying this?

http://www.buy.com/prod/philips-outdoor-41-element-color-combination-deep-fringe-tv-antenna/q/loc/111/204212076.html

8/27/2008 8:30:55 PM

If you live in Raleigh, just get a free antenna: http://www.wral.com/wral-tv/story/1180307/

also, antennaweb.org

8/27/2008 8:32:34 PM

just get WRAL to send you one for free...if you're far enough to warrant one like that, they'll give it to you with an amplifier (at least, they did for my parents)

8/27/2008 8:33:06 PM

I have an antenna like that on top of my house. When I'm not using it, I get 4-5 channels. With it I get around 30. I'd say it's worth it.

8/27/2008 8:47:50 PM

If you point an antenna towards durham or have a multidirectional antenna you get
4.1-4.5 - PBS

if you point towards garner you get
5 - CBS
11 - ABC
17 - NBC
22 - CW
40 - something....
50 - FOX
and you get the x.1/2/3 channels for most of those stations, but they're generally just weather or SD versions of the main channel

8/27/2008 9:07:26 PM

does timewarner still do free unencrypted HD over cable lines?

8/28/2008 12:05:19 AM

Pretty sure they do... but I'm not sure what the QAM channels you need to tune to are. Most of them are in the 100's.

And for the OP, Check out the Channel Master 4228 (CM4228). Hopefully WRAL will send you one for free, but if not - this thing is pretty awesome.

[Edited on August 28, 2008 at 11:49 AM. Reason : op]

8/28/2008 11:47:02 AM

^^ I think it's mandated by law they give free HD QAM signals if you have basic cable. It's not something you will find on any of their pages, though, because they would rather have you think you need to order digital cable or HD packages instead.

If anyone knows, i'd like to know as well. For some reason, my HD OTA signals have deteriorated over the past couple months (especially NBC - the Olympics were unwatchable), and if I can get HD through QAM, it would be worth the ~$13/mo for basic cable

8/28/2008 11:52:08 AM

If you've got roadrunner, QAM might not be filtered. It's probably worth it to hook your cable to the TV and scan just to see what happens.

8/28/2008 12:10:18 PM

I get

4.1 - 4.5
5.1 - 5.2
11.1 - 11.3
17.1 - 17.3
22
28
40.1 - 40.2
50.1 - 50.3
(I don't know if there are any others available in this area)

with a cheap powered antenna that I got for $30 at K-Mart like 7 years ago. My antenna has a power boost knob for both UHF and VHF. I have to make sure I turn the power boost all the way down on VHF (to the off position) because the digital channels only broadcast in UHF. Otherwise the power boost on the VHF, which wouldn't pick up a TV signal anyway, interferes with my UHF signal reception and I don't get any channels (I might have UHF/VHF backward).

Also lowering the rabbit ears such that they are below the loop deal makes the signal a bit stronger.

[Edited on August 28, 2008 at 12:27 PM. Reason : -]

8/28/2008 12:24:53 PM

^^ actually, i did try that already when I got RR.
no dice.... didn't pick up anything. and the cable-box out near the road where all the filters are is on lockdown

8/28/2008 1:05:51 PM

29 digital channels.

8/28/2008 1:34:39 PM

Quote :

"the digital channels only broadcast in UHF"

Currently this is the case, but after February some stations may move back to the VHF range to occupy their old frequency. Only channels 51-69 are being sold. VHF(1-13) will still be digital TV(although 1-6 may not be suitable).

WRAL(CBS) is not planning to go back to 5, but WTVD(ABC) is planning to go back to 11.

Point is, you might still need a VHF antenna at some point.

8/28/2008 2:37:28 PM

Thanks for all the responses guys!

8/31/2008 11:08:25 AM