Easiest/best digital indoor antenna and DVR

[Anonymous]

I moved from cable to YouTube TV about three years ago. It’s fine, but the price keeps going up. I really only watch maybe five or six network shows and PBS (yes, I’m oldish) but like recording them to watch later and fast forward through ads. I also have Netflix and Hulu.

So I don’t really need YouTube TV, but what do I need? I saw this thing called Tablo but it’s gotten mixed reviews. Is it worth it or what else? Ideally I need something with a simple setup I can do myself. https://www.amazon.com/Tablo-TV-broadcast-Whole-Home-subscriptions/dp/B0CBVTP5WG/ref=asc_df_B0CBVTP5WG?mcid=d5bd6adfeeab350d89f3ee274d5f94db&hvocijid=10091824104388327324-B0CBVTP5WG-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10091824104388327324&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9052543&hvtargid=pla-2281435182178&psc=1

[Anonymous]

FYI on PBS. Donate to your local station and you get PBS Passport for free

[Anonymous]

We use an AppleTV and the free PBS application for AppleTV. All current PBS shows are free. Older shows require PBS Passport - obtained by donating to your PBS station. We also have and use some news channels with live feeds via AppleTV.

[Anonymous]

Tablo is a tuner combined with a Digital video recording (DVR) capability. Probably your existing TV will work fine if you watch live OTA TV.

You will need an antenna. Use this free website www.AntennaWeb.org to figure out how much antenna you need.

Where we live, adding a ($50) ChannelMaster TV amplifier between the TV antenna and the TV helped a lot.

[Anonymous]

We don’t have a dvr but we do use a digital antenna for local channels. You should know that there is no best antenna. You’ll likely have to try different ones to see which works best for you. Distance to stations, location in your house and interference between your house and station all factor in to reception.

[Anonymous]

I find the fancier the antenna the worse it is. I’ve bought so many but I end up going back to the old school rabbit ears. And be aware there’s no such thing as an HD antenna, that’s just marketing nonsense.

[Anonymous]

You need to find out if the stations that you want to watch are broadcasting on VHF or UHF channels. Most digital television is on UHF. The two bands require different types of antennae. A roof-top antenna is preferred for digital, but a smaller set-top antenna may work, depending upon your location. And, yes, there is nothing special about a "digital" antenna--it is just a regular VHF or UHF antenna.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find the fancier the antenna the worse it is. I’ve bought so many but I end up going back to the old school rabbit ears. And be aware there’s no such thing as an HD antenna, that’s just marketing nonsense.

Replying to my own post, I bought a Core antenna yesterday for $50 and it works great. It looks like a little sound bar and it immediately worked well, no tweaking or anything. I get more channels than I did before, and the existing ones are clear and stable. I got the 80 mile version, not really sure what the difference is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find the fancier the antenna the worse it is. I’ve bought so many but I end up going back to the old school rabbit ears. And be aware there’s no such thing as an HD antenna, that’s just marketing nonsense.

Replying to my own post, I bought a Core antenna yesterday for $50 and it works great. It looks like a little sound bar and it immediately worked well, no tweaking or anything. I get more channels than I did before, and the existing ones are clear and stable. I got the 80 mile version, not really sure what the difference is.

Antennas with more elements or with an integrated RF amplifier will work for a longer distance - as a broad rule of thumb.

[Anonymous]

We put an “outdoor” antenna inside our attic and pointed it roughly in the correct direction (tv transmit towers). This was simpler to install and is working well for us, in a SFH outside the beltway. We get all the local channels, including all 3 PBS stations (WETA, WHUT, & Maryland).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to find out if the stations that you want to watch are broadcasting on VHF or UHF channels. Most digital television is on UHF. The two bands require different types of antennae. A roof-top antenna is preferred for digital, but a smaller set-top antenna may work, depending upon your location. And, yes, there is nothing special about a "digital" antenna--it is just a regular VHF or UHF antenna.

VHF isn't used for TV signals any more. That spectrum was reallocated to emergency services with the changeover to digital OTA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find the fancier the antenna the worse it is. I’ve bought so many but I end up going back to the old school rabbit ears. And be aware there’s no such thing as an HD antenna, that’s just marketing nonsense.

Replying to my own post, I bought a Core antenna yesterday for $50 and it works great. It looks like a little sound bar and it immediately worked well, no tweaking or anything. I get more channels than I did before, and the existing ones are clear and stable. I got the 80 mile version, not really sure what the difference is.

I used to use http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/cm4221.html -- it's still in the attic but I don't use it anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to find out if the stations that you want to watch are broadcasting on VHF or UHF channels. Most digital television is on UHF. The two bands require different types of antennae. A roof-top antenna is preferred for digital, but a smaller set-top antenna may work, depending upon your location. And, yes, there is nothing special about a "digital" antenna--it is just a regular VHF or UHF antenna.

VHF isn't used for TV signals any more. That spectrum was reallocated to emergency services with the changeover to digital OTA.

No. TV signals are still on both VHF and UHF.

It is true that some TV spectrum was handed away from TV, but there are still both VHF and UHF band channels used for over the air TV both locally and across the country.