Reddit reviews Antennas Direct 8-Element Bowtie TV Antenna, 70 Miles Range, Multi-directional, Indoor, Attic, Outdoor Applications, Special Bracket to Turn Both Panels, All-Weather Mounting Hardware, Adjustable Mast Clamp, 4K Ready, Silver - DB8e - DB8-E

ABC11 is VHF, and I think it's the only one locally. I couldn't get it at all until I got a VHF antenna to pair with my UHF antenna.

Source, under "Antenna Issues":

> Must be designed for VHF plus UHF (Note: ABC11 is the only VHF channel in the area)

Most HD antennas are probably only going to pick up UHF signals.

I have this in my attic, and had to attach this to get ABC.

I actually have great advice on this! I live in Willowick, which is east of Cleveland. My fiance and I are cable cutters as well, and we have put up an antenna on top of our house. We had a very difficult time getting 19 and 8. After some analysis, we found out that 19 and 8 are pointing different ways, and are different signals (one is VHF the other UHF). Using TV Fool's TV signal locator is a good first start to determine exact pointing locations. Here is the link for that:

https://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29

We also decided to use a preamplifier to boost signal. I do not know if this will help, but I will list all components I used to to my setup. I know it might seem overkill, but I probably have around 40-50 channels, so it works.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4XVOOC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013CGNGY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00

I know what I wrote was overkill, but the main takeaway is that you need to determine where 8 and 19 are located. Also, I would strongly recommend that your antenna be outside. The higher up and the clearer the pathway, the better the antenna will work.

I'm in Commerce, and using this antenna (not kidding) mounted in the attic to pick up ABC and GPB:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004NQMCDK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_SMT7yb954CYNT

It's a cheap plastic piece of junk thing but it works. I primarily have it pointed toward ABC tho. The other Atlanta channels are about 5 degrees of from ABC I think, so this antenna can't get them, and I haven't gotten around to messing with it more.

I'd like to get this one or one like it to pull in from two different directions and get everything, but I haven't gotten around to testing the current setup to see if it'd be worth it:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C4XVOOC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_8TT7yb7NXWQA2

Anyway, there's various sites where you can check to see what your chances are to pull in some channels. On mobile and can't remember if the top of my head.

I'd go for the DB8e. I use it, and it's decent for casting a wider range of reception, which it looks like you might need.

I am in a similar issue. Stations are in two opposite directions and both are behind a hill. I used a bow-tie style antenna and an amplifier. This went from unwatchable to perfect reception. It could be mounted in an attic or mounted outside if the reception is spotty.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4XVOOC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WDR94U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I recently made this post and went with this antenna based on the recommendation in the comments.

I just installed it this last weekend and I'm happy to say that I got almost all of my desired channels. There are a couple that I lost when I made the run to my house distribution box instead of directly to the TV, but all-in-all, I'm happy (no amplifier was necessary).

It's not under $100, but all I can say is that it worked for me. Seeing as you have 2x groups of stations, using the bowtie would work out well for you.

I'd look something like (top down):

--o--/

You got a bit of a tricky situation since you got one UHF major coming from a fairly different direction than three other majors (2 of which are VHF). The above ClearStream would work, however on an outside install you will not be able to as easily detach the VHF dipole for fine tune tweaking (since your depolyment will need all elements to be firmed attached to mast to withstand weather). That said, outside (plus more height) may more than make up for that. And Signal GH can be used to find optimal trade-off (of strong stations vs weak).

Also, if you find you are having to target different directions, this option includes that ability as core feature:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4XVOOC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Note that this is largely UHF with some VHF coverage. However, this gives you the ability to point half of your antenna directly at the VHF stations.

Also, both AntennasDirect and ChannelMaster have helpful staff, whose brain you can pick for free for your situation (recognizing of course that they will recommend their products).

On your run, try un-amped first. If you are running strength and quality consistently 80%-ish or above on your target stations, you should be good to go. (Pre-amp mainly for strength, but fickle tuners may show better quality on amplified borderline signal.) If below 70%, get pre-amp because at some point (e.g., weather) you will drop below 60% and have signal problems.

Antennas Direct DB8e with a VHF Retrofit kit. Point one panel to 82 degrees magnetic, and the other to 140 degrees magnetic. Put the VHF combiner on the panel pointing to 140 degrees. As always, the higher the better.

As far as the wiring goes, yes, you can reuse the existing DirecTV coax and splitters. But if you have an 8 way splitter in, and want to use that many ports, you'll need to replace it with a 4 way distribution amplifier, and terminate the unused ports to prevent RF leakage.

Not all antennas are created equally. If you're really serious about getting the most out of over the air TV, they also make large higher range outdoor bi-directional antennas like this that you mount on your roof where you can point one set of large antennas at one place and the other set at another. It's perfect for Maryland depending on where you live: You can point one or the other at whichever two big cities are closest to you whether that's Baltimore, DC, Philly or wherever else

I got something like this but that's because I live in the woods and all the TV towers were generally in the same direction. The type of antenna you get depends on where you live in relation to the source towers. If you're really close to the towers, you could probably get by with a really cheap antenna. Here's a site that will map out where the towers are and their strength to your location. If the towers are all over the place, you'll want an omni-directional antenna. If they're all generally in the same direction, you can get a directional antenna.

Will this antenna make a difference?
8 Element Bowtie Indoor/Outdoor HDTV Antenna - 70 Mile Range https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C4XVOOC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_3AnbBbBE5ZY2S

Ouch, that's a tough spot.

There's another possibility that some of the folks in /r/Cordcutters have done. You can call a local DirecTV or Dish Network contractor/installer, and hire them to install a TV antenna on the condo roof for about $100. Just google for DirecTV installer, [city], [state].

Because satellite dish guys come around so frequently to condo complexes, management will just let them on up. Buy a TV antenna that doesn't look out of place in a farm of satellite dishes, like the Clearstream 2V(if you have VHF stations also, and they are transmitted somewhat close by) or a DB8e (if you have stations from two directions/cities).

Also, be sure to pick up a preamp so the signal doesn't degrade on the run to your condo.

The satellite installers have access to all the cabling panels, so they can bring the signal directly into your condo.

If you'd like more specific antenna advice for your situation, feel free to post your TVFool report here or in a PM or at /r/cordcutters.

I would have to do a scan, but I have this antenna and love it.

https://www.amazon.com/Element-Bowtie-Indoor-Outdoor-Antenna/dp/B00C4XVOOC/

Its about as powerful of an antenna as you can get and the real nice thing is that the 2 elements can be rotated at different towers. For example I am up near springfield so basically without going to an omnidirectional antenna I needed something that could pick up almost 180* and was finding that especially in the rain this was not working with the other antennas that I tried.

With this one however I have had great luck picking up over 60 channels. I havent bothered mapping them all as many of them are duplicates, but I am quiet impressed with the signal strength and quality.

Its not specifically tuned for VHF, but it will typically pick them up.

http://forums.solidsignal.com/showthread.php/4336-Hands-on-with-the-Antennas-Direct-DB8e-part-2-Testing

If need be, they sell a $15 VFH upgrade kit for it as well.

https://www.antennasdirect.com/store/VHF-Antenna-Kit.html

Thank you for the detailed reply. I think you might be correct with the placing the DVR is the attic. While the house is a cape style so more a crawlspace then attic it is still pretty hot in the summer. The recast is expensive but it seems to be a pretty good solution as I hate station guide charges and already have firetv's on my tv sets and Echo's throughout the house. Going with a HDhomerun and Plex or Tablo might save some money but an integrated solution might save a few headaches.

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There are no close neighbors with antenna's but the ones in nearby neighborhoods are aiming them at Canada or south. I will say though that the antenna's I usually see are the old style and large. I wonder how many are just up there for historical reasons.

​

What do you think of the option of DB8e with retro kit for VHF pointed south and other side directed toward Canada? I would rather go a little overkill and install once, maybe get away without an amplifier.

https://www.amazon.com/Element-Bowtie-Indoor-Outdoor-Antenna/dp/B00C4XVOOC/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1537636619&sr=8-7&keywords=Clearstream+4

https://www.amazon.com/Antennas-Direct-VHF-1-VHF-Retrofit/dp/B00LHFRCMG/ref=pd_sim_23_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00LHFRCMG&pd_rd_r=6905f674-be8b-11e8-8775-61087e003d3c&pd_rd_w=aQg5l&pd_rd_wg=XMnOL&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=18bb0b78-4200-49b9-ac91-f141d61a1780&pf_rd_r=7TKQZWJ7M6FH8BVARK7G&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=7TKQZWJ7M6FH8BVARK7G

Thanks for the reply! I think I can get by with mounting something to the eave and it would be great if I could get both bands in one *modest* antenna. Do you think something like either of the following would yield decent results?

https://www.amazon.com/Element-Bowtie-Indoor-Outdoor-Antenna/dp/B00C4XVOOC/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1550821519&sr=1-3&keywords=bowtie+antenna+hdtv

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SVNKT86/ref=emc_b_5_i

https://www.amazon.com/ClearStream-Indoor-Outdoor-HDTV-Antenna/dp/B002E1UNWS

I like in Berkley, and have no problems with a $15 cheap HD antenna. However, if you watch local sports a lot my family members have bought this

I actually live in Norwalk as well, by Brian McMahon high school. [I have an older single version of this antenna.](ClearStream 4 Indoor/Outdoor HDTV Antenna with Mount - 70 Mile Range https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008PBTPOI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_IpAOybQVG0ANY) it works ok but because it's a single I can only get either New York or Ct news and because NY has it's a much stronger channel.

[I am about to purchase this antenna] (8 Element Bowtie Indoor/Outdoor HDTV Antenna - 70 Mile Range https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C4XVOOC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_InAOyb9KCNGKX), my father in law has it and it's fantastic but you have to put it outside. The first one does work inside in most locations.

Show them this:

https://www.amazon.com/Element-Bowtie-Indoor-Outdoor-Antenna/dp/B00C4XVOOC
http://www.dennysantennaservice.com/1475651.html
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-power-hog-20140617-story.html

Also, add up the cost savings over two years. That should be an eye opener.

As for the the PlayStation Vue, that seems awfully expensive. What channels do they really use? Maybe SlingTV with an AppleTV would work out better. Power wise, the 4th generation AppleTV will only use ~2.4W. It should use less than any other option, except the third generation AppleTV, which unfortunately does not support SlingTV at this time.