TV Antenna

[buckeye]

Has anyone tried out the XiumAir TV antenna? The add was in one of my magazines this month and I was curious if anyone has used or knows of someone who has one.

Basically my wife and I are finishing up on the building of our new house. I am currently getting ready to install the DSS for our main TV viewing, but need something for the "local" networks. I used quotes around "local" since the closest station is an NBC affiliate almost 30 miles away. The ABC, CBS and FOX affiliates are probably 45 miles away. I have no access to cable and thanks to the Recent satellite acts, it will be difficult to get distant networks.

As such, we are looking for antennas that may be able to pick up some stations. The real problem is that I don't want a large mast around our new house and this XiumAir thing looked fairly neat. I could put it on the same pole I install the DSS system.

I look forward to any response you all may have. I'm pretty sure most of your responses could be summarized by "There is no such thing as a free lunch," but you never know.............


Jim

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>...XiumAir TV antenna...</font color=blue>

I hadn't heard of this brand...

But, you can install a regular antenna up in your attic... it will not be unsightly, won't weather... but directional depending on home placement... /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

If the walls are still open in your home... you can install RG59 cable and outlets throughout... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[ddl]

If you go to a local TV store, not best buy and such but a real local tv shop, they can tell you what works in your area. They may have special cut antennas made your area. Check with them before you buy.
Dan L

 

[Wingnut]

my stepson has installed several of those "inside-installation" type antennas and had success ... but based on my esxperience the answer is " depends on the footprint those local stations put out ". They're all basically line-of-sight and hills and large trees sure play havoc with signals. I have a station that less than 30 miles away that is all snow and another that's 45 miles away that's clear as a bell. I'm just in the process of putting up a tower to get the antenna higher yet (and mount all the weather equipment) because I hate snow!

 

[Ozarker]

<font color=blue>'you can install a regular antenna up in your attic"</font color=blue>



I thought my dad was the only one who did that. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>...a real local tv shop, they can tell you what works in your area. They may have special cut antennas made your area...</font color=blue>

That's a real good idea... but stop at an 'ole timer's shop... cause most of the newer guys have never installed antenna's because of the cable... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

We used an outfit called "Antenna-Craft" that custom designed units for the major cities throughout the US...

 

[gws]

Your 45 miles out, but how is the signal in your area. What is the topology of the land. if its reasonably flat and the signals are high power then a mid range directional antenna will do. If you have a lang run from the antenna to the TV a pre-amp may also be needed.

 

[BB_TX]

We are 32 miles north of Dallas. We use Dish satellite and get all the local Dallas stations over the satelite service, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, PBS, and all the independents.

 

[heehaw]

dish network seems to be pretty easy to get the nbc/cbs/abc stations from anywhere they have access..what DSS service are you using??
heehaw

 

[mbsil]

Antenna selection is a very simple thing. Antenna performance is dependent upon one thing and only one thing...number of elements. Many manufacturers base their antennas on mileage ranges, i.e. 90, 110, 120, etc. Don't use this as your only selection criterion. If you are 45 miles away from the transmitters, don't just go buy a 50 mile antenna.

TV antennas have two components - the VHF elements and the UHF elements. They are often rated separately. For example an ant. that is rated 120 miles VHF will normally be rated for 90 miles UHF.

Be aware of the locations of the transmitters (towers) that you want to receive. In many cities the VHF stations (older licenses) are clusterd together on the edge of town. The newer UHF stations tend to be more scattered and may have transmitters on top of buildings downtown. I mention this because you will want a rotor. The rotor lets you turn the antenna to zero in on the tower you want to watch.

You may be able to get a larger antenna and rotor inside your attic. I've installed dozens that way and had excellent results.

 

[fishman]

When I got DirectTV, I had them install a Terk brand antennae for the local channels. It basically attaches to the dish and goes in through the LNB(?) feeds. Anyway, the concept was good, but the thing doesn't work for me. I get much better reception with a desktop powered antennae (actually I get great reception).

Perhaps I got a bad unit. Don't know, and haven't crawled up on the roof to take it off to get my $50 back.

 

[ddl]

my antenna is in my atic but the attic is at ground level since I live ina earth home.

Dan L

 

[patrickg]

Listen to the antenna in the attic crowd. Far superior to most of the "snake oil" that uses house wiring, mounts on the dish, or is indoor rabbit ears with an amp. I'd recommend the largest (most elements) ant that will rotate in your attic. As the higher the gain (signal pulling power) the more directional and hence the more need for precision aiming.

They don't make antennas with enough gain to receive VHF or UHF through the earth cover on an earth sheltered residence. If you are lucky and there is a station (or are stations) basically to the south of you (assuming standard passive solar orientation of the earth sheltered domicile) you could aim an ant south through a window.

And finally, to the fellow real close to cable but can't get conected. Can you band together with some neighbors and run your own cable? For a guerrilla installation you would would need a cooperating subscriber. Who knows maybe the company would allow you to conect??????

Patrick

 

[DavidInNH]

I have an expensive antenna with a rotor on the roof an have never been able to get decent reception with it. I don't have cell-phone or pager reception either. Its actually kind of nice...

I now pay $5.95 a month to get all of the local stations via DirectTV. The reception is much better, I get stations that I could never get before (I finally get to watch the current Star Trek series) and I don't have to flip between local and sattelite. They have really improved the local access over the last year.

-david

 

[centex]

Gimmick TV antennas work the same way as the magnets that you clip on your gas line to increase the gas mileage on your car. Talk to your neighbors and the local TV shops to find out what is required in your area.

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>...Gimmick... magnets that you clip on your gas line to increase the gas mileage on your car...</font color=blue>

What...? They really don't work... /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[ddl]

the antenna was in the attic when I bought the home. My roof is wood not earth and by the way I get my local stations through the dish network. But the antenna did kinda worked. Some one mentioned an amp to boast the signal, everytime you amplify tv signals, the video degrades. Amps are tpo be used to make up for line loss not weak signals. Recieving tv signals is more art then sience.

Dan L

 

[PitbullMidwest]

<font color=blue>We used an outfit called "Antenna-Craft" that custom designed units for the major cities throughout the US... </font color=blue>

Antennacraft is the largest manufacturer of outdoor antennas in the country. Call their 800 number and they will tell you the local distributor and recommend an antenna for your area. Here's a link to their <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.antennacraft-tdp.com> website</A>.

Save your money on all of the "amazing new" antennas, they just don't work as well as a conventional design.

 

[Ozarker]

Thought I would add a little useless information.

When I was living in Germany back in the 70's, I moved into an apartment building that was undergoing a renovation. The apartment I rented was finished and it had a place in the wall to hook up the TV antenna wire. The owner told me it wasn't finished yet so I would have to use the rabbit ears on the TV for now. I got fair reception of German TV but really bad reception of Armed Forces TV (AFN). It was OK if you didn't mind watching Dallas in German.

After being there a few weeks I saw some workmen carrying metal rods up to the attic and they were doing something up there. I went up to see and they were installing the rods into the roof structure. It was the antenna for TV reception. What they did was turn the entire roof of the building into an antenna.

When they were finished, the reception was fantastic. I got all stations, including AFN, better than the cable I had in Georgia.

 

[Tdog]

I'll add my useless information.

When I moved in 9 years ago, there was an antena [vhf & uhf] on a mast on the roof. We got lousy reception. Almost no NFL on Sundays [which around here is usually OK].

Then, when I got DISH, the installer told me our local channels would be available in about a month. Well, It's 24+ months later & no sign of locals yet - - I guess New Orleans is not large enough a market to implement the local channels. And, I'm told there will be a charge for local channels, when available, & another charge if I want the PBS stations.

Well I got tired of waiting & went to the local TV shop a few monts ago & got him to come take a look. He told me I could improve a lot by just replacing the existing antena, however, I went a step further & got a directional rotor installed too. Also, I had him run risers from under the house into additional rooms.

So I spent a little money, but the picture is now fantastic. And I can pick up stations in other surrounding metro areas, if we play with the rotor.