Hi all,

I bought one of those indoor antenna's with the 50-mile range about 2.5 years ago:


I just moved houses out to Cypress, TX to a 1-story. And I'd like to upgrade my HDTV (+4K) antenna to an attic mount with improved range, so I can get all the local channels without spotiness or digital static.

What do you suggest? There are a few on Amazon that promise good things and have good reviews, but I trust TexAgs more.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024R4B5C/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Amplifier-Internet-Booster-PCT-MA2-4PN/dp/B001EKCGT8/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1543260106&sr=1-5&keywords=antenna+amplifier+signal+booster

Is working really well for me elsewhere.

Aggietaco said:

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024R4B5C/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Amplifier-Internet-Booster-PCT-MA2-4PN/dp/B001EKCGT8/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1543260106&sr=1-5&keywords=antenna+amplifier+signal+booster

Is working really well for me elsewhere.

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How does that second gizmo work? Looks like a splitter, but do you run a Coax off a power outlet (the black power to Coax converter thing?) to the splitter/amplifier to boost? That's an odd setup.

It boosts the signal from the antenna. Kinda like the old style arrays. We always used a booster on them with being outdoors, lightning would always get them. Nice being indoors. Worth the expense. I also see they have a 70 mile with good reviews. Anyone with any range experience with these?

SpreadsheetAg said:

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Aggietaco said:

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024R4B5C/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Amplifier-Internet-Booster-PCT-MA2-4PN/dp/B001EKCGT8/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1543260106&sr=1-5&keywords=antenna+amplifier+signal+booster

Is working really well for me elsewhere.

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How does that second gizmo work? Looks like a splitter, but do you run a Coax off a power outlet (the black power to Coax converter thing?) to the splitter/amplifier to boost? That's an odd setup.

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It's an amplified splitter. May not be necessary if you are running short lengths of coax to your displays, but the tool to test whether or not you need amplification is many multiples more than this amplifier. You can have too strong of a signal, but I didn't run into that issue with 25' cables from the splitter to my displays.

You can power it two ways, either with an outlet and dedicated coax in your attic (what I did) or you can send power to it from a display location with an extra outlet and a type of one-way attachment to your coax so that you're using the same cable to send power and receive signal.

Secolobo said:

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It boosts the signal from the antenna. Kinda like the old style arrays. We always used a booster on them with being outdoors, lightning would always get them. Nice being indoors. Worth the expense. I also see they have a 70 mile with good reviews. Anyone with any range experience with these?

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I was pulling networks from Waco in Austin before I deleted them with the antenna "pointed" South. Not sure where the Waco towers are, but that's roughly 100 miles from city center to center.

Aggietaco said:

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SpreadsheetAg said:

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Aggietaco said:

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024R4B5C/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Amplifier-Internet-Booster-PCT-MA2-4PN/dp/B001EKCGT8/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1543260106&sr=1-5&keywords=antenna+amplifier+signal+booster

Is working really well for me elsewhere.

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How does that second gizmo work? Looks like a splitter, but do you run a Coax off a power outlet (the black power to Coax converter thing?) to the splitter/amplifier to boost? That's an odd setup.

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It's an amplified splitter. May not be necessary if you are running short lengths of coax to your displays, but the tool to test whether or not you need amplification is many multiples more than this amplifier. You can have too strong of a signal, but I didn't run into that issue with 25' cables from the splitter to my displays.

You can power it two ways, either with an outlet and dedicated coax in your attic (what I did) or you can send power to it from a display location with an extra outlet and a type of one-way attachment to your coax so that you're using the same cable to send power and receive signal.

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Here's the "power inserter" that I'm describing in the second powering method. This gizmo came in the splitter/amp I ordered, but that may not be the case with all orders.

https://www.amazon.com/PCT-Inserter-MPI-1G-Remote-Amplifers/dp/B005Y12UH6/ref=pd_sim_23_8?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B005Y12UH6&pd_rd_r=4a36337d-f1b9-11e8-964f-c758f514dd56&pd_rd_w=eFHX4&pd_rd_wg=YZvmV&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=18bb0b78-4200-49b9-ac91-f141d61a1780&pf_rd_r=G5ZQYFRCK7P06G71VVCY&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=G5ZQYFRCK7P06G71VVCY

The thing with this flat-style antennas is that many of them(especially the cheap ones) do not receive VHF channels very well. Some of the top channels in the Houston area (PBS, CBS, ABC) are high VHF channels.

Cypress is about 30 miles from the Missouri City Antenna Farm. I would recommend that RCA antenna posted earlier or a ChannelMaster or winegard with a 45-70 mile range. You probably won't need an amplifier with that, but if you have radiant barrier in the attic or tall trees nearby, it could help.

I live about 17 miles from the antennas, so I was using a basic pair of rabbit ears just fine until my toddler trashed it. Replaced it with a "u gotta have" flat antenna from amazon and have had good results. Came with a little amp, but didn't attach it.

If you're in Cypress, you get all locals for free in HD via the Locast streaming app.

Check it out. You'll get:
- ABC
- CBS
- NBC
- Fox
- CW
- PBS
- My20
- Ion
- Multiple Spanish channels

Comet has a dedicated a la carte stream app.

My threada on app:
http://texags.com/forums/38/topics/2990419

http://texags.com/forums/30/topics/2990135

Also, if you have radiant barrier in attic... likely a no go on antenna.

available on Roku?

I can vouch for the amplifier that taco hyperlinked above. I have that exact same amp hooked up to my antenna in the attic.

I bought a cheap Chinese antenna and mounted it in the attic of my 2-story house in Bell County. Pointed it north towards Waco. To get the signal into every room I needed (max run was about 75'-80'), I put the amp in my old DirecTV box (I've cut the cord) mounted outside and had the power run from an unused bedroom. Without the amp, my signal is good most everywhere but the longest runs. With the amp, the picture is crystal clear - far better, IMO, than the local signals I get through my Roku.

SpreadsheetAg said:

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available on Roku?

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Yes, available on Roku.

I've tested it on 4K Roku Ultra.

I use the same antenna as Aggietaco with a different simpler amplifier in Midland and pick up all signals from 15-48 miles away.

My antenna just rests on top of a set of rafters in the attic.

Available on Firestick?

Do you have a dish on your roof already?

If so, it already has coax running to it.

I was able to mount an outdoor antenna to the arm of my existing dish, connect it to the coax and have OTA ready to go in my living room.

sawemoffshort07 said:

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Available on Firestick?

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See below from linked. No go on Fire as of a month ago. Pull up Amazon apps, search for locast to confirm.

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cclearman said:

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Doesn't seem it's on Amazon hardware

CBS channel through Hulu looks like garbage. Was hoping for a solution through Amazon.

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It's on Google/Chromecast/Android, iTunes, & Roku.

You picked the 4th place streaming device.
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3 - 4 years ago, I bought a 60 mile antenna, and was having trouble getting stations not 20 miles from me, let alone stations 35-40 miles away. Back them, streaming wasn't great, and I wanted the ability to record TV on a channelmaster DVR. So, I built single bay Gray-Hoverman antenna that Chipotle linked in an old thread. It worked fairly well, then I added a reflector and it became rock solid.

It's a cheap, easy solution if you want to teach the girls something

Also, I'd still use an amplifier in the attic, and don't forget to terminate any unused coax connected to it. And, of course the reflector will only help if all your stations are in the same general direction. If you have stations on both sides of you a reflector would seriously hinder reception.

Edit: it looks like the site hosting the build plans is gone. You can still view it here: https://web.archive.org/web/20160311184428/www.diytvantennas.com/sbgh.php

See more information about the Gray-Hoverman antenna design here: https://www.digitalhome.ca/ota/superantenna/

Vernada said:

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Do you have a dish on your roof already?

If so, it already has coax running to it.

I was able to mount an outdoor antenna to the arm of my existing dish, connect it to the coax and have OTA ready to go in my living room.

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There was a dish, but I let my dad take it down and use it for his camper - I think he covered it up with roof flashing material.

I can easily go in the attic and install and run co-ax to the existing coax connections - not a problem.

From Cypress, what is the best direction to "point" the antenna pole?

After reading a bunch of reviews, I am down to these 3:

https://www.antennasdirect.com/transmitter-locator.html

From the source: https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps

Ark03 said:

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https://www.antennasdirect.com/transmitter-locator.html

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that RCA Yagi is what I use.

When I was in Houston I easily got all locals.

Antenna : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024R4B5C/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

HDHomeRun Connect : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GY0UB54/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Another vote for the RCA Yagi. I use mine with this amplifier:

RCA TVPRAMP1Z Preamplifier for Outdoor Antenna

The only issues I've ever had with it was picking up certain VHF channels when I had it mounted in an attic with radiant barrier.

Moved the antenna outside, and had no issues picking up any of the local channels.

Currently picking up 60+ channels from the New Braunfels area.

Those that live in Cypress, If you mount the antenna on the roof and point south-ish do you get the channels from B/CS or others north-ish?

I have a leaf in the attic "facing" south and can get them, albeit probably not the best reception.

Also, does this home run thingy eliminate the need for coax to each tv? I have run Ethernet to 2/4 tv's and rely on WiFi for the other two. What is the recommended internet speed?

Can I ask why you'd do this if you have free access to all these channels live on locast app?

Making a DVR server perhaps?

A) bandwidth (multiple devices and my area top speed is 25 mbps)
B) Locast may not be around forever
C) can still watch during an internet outage
D) Outdoor TV, but don't want my devices outdoor necessarily
E) because I can

Aggie MHA said:

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Can I ask why you'd do this if you have free access to all these channels live on locast app?

Making a DVR server perhaps?

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I stream with PS Vue, and it's great, but I missed game 7 of the '17 World Series when my Spectrum internet went down. I bought an ota antenna the next day.

I'm using that same antenna in NE Tennessee, works great! I get all of the locals in perfect HD.

I may have to look at adding the amplifier.

flakrat said:

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I'm using that same antenna in NE Tennessee, works great! I get all of the locals in perfect HD.

I may have to look at adding the amplifier.

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In doing some research, most said that if you don't nee the amplifier, you should go without, as the amplification can have adverse effects on good channels - just depends on your distance from source.

Thanks, looking at the map it doesn't appear I need it.

ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox are 7.6 miles away up on the mountain, so clear line of site from my house.

You're talking to a massive technology tinker here. I get that aspect. I've been tempted to set up a FTA satellite rig for years. I love projects. I like the homebrew OTA DVR options out there. Also, have you looked into HD Homerun?

Living in one of the few areas that Locast works in, I'm excited to turn off PSVue after bowl season and not have to worry about OTA troubles. Unfortunately I'm between 2 towers so I really need a dual antenna set up. Locast will save me a ton of work.

@ World Series, that happened to be on Fox. The vast majority of my live sports are on ESPN affiliates. I had to resort to 4G for South Carolina game (long story).