Cheapest HDTV antenna

[blackbird3216]

I recently bought a new 22inch lcd tv, and despite clicking problems, i love it. However, now i want to have some HD content on my tv so i thought "why not get one of those antennas to get over the air reception". Can anyone help me find the cheapest but great antenna that'll work with my tv(it has builtin tuners).

I know this is going to come up, but i don't wanna build one because the "balun" part costs about $7 at radio shack, and i think it might be possible to get one premade cheaper than getting the materials(includes the balun, washers, metal hangers)

[Malik112099]

any antenna can pick up HDTV over the air

[Foo228]

I made a topic about this a few months ago

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165220

First, you should cheap which antennas broadcast the signals your looking for in your area

Then purchase an antenna (ever hear of the saying "you get what you pay for"...it factors in alot in these kinda "investments")

[CoffeeEdge]

You can get TV antennas for like, $5 at Big Lots.

[mogamer]

I wouldn't get the cheapest antenna if I were you. I bought a cheap Phillips and it worked like crap. I found a Terk at Best buy for around $50 and it works a lot better. But really no indoor antenna will be great. I ended up getting a roof antenna installed for $400 and it's fantastic. If a roof antenna doesn't work for you, get the Terk from Best Buy or online.

[SlammedNiss]

I installed a ChannelMaster 4228 last year in my parents' attic and it works awesome. It's $80 from Crutchfield + shipping, so under $100.

[twanky]

any old rabbit ear antenna is more than sufficient.

[gwaki]

I made one by taking a tv cable and attachign a bolt with a nut to the end

[SlammedNiss]

any old rabbit ear antenna is more than sufficient.

I'd like to know where you guys are living where rabbit ears works great. My parents are about 45-50 miles away from the tv stations, and they first tried one of those fancy set-top antennas and couldn't pick up squat.

[pun123]

go to http://www.antennaweb.org and check how close you are. that will help with which kind of antenna you will need. I tried indoor first and they were horrible. bought a $40 outdoor channel master and I pick up all channels clear in my area.

[Dem Pyros]

A paperclip works really well (seriously)

[Fuzi0n]

A paperclip works really well (seriously)

Haha, I just tried that and it picked up channels. I got some analog and a few HD. For the most part the HD channels come in nicely.

Edit: I spoke to soon, the HD channels for some reason wont display in widescreen even when I tell it too. Eh

[SlammedNiss]

A paperclip works really well (seriously)

That's how I picked up stations when I lived in Phoenix. I was too cheap to pay for cable or satellite then.

[life.exe]

All of my stations are between 30-40 miles from me and a cheap $5 antenna from the Dollar Store gets all stations for me.

[blackbird3216]

i live in NYC, where all the tv signals are broadcast. I tried the paperclip, doesn't work, but i probably did it wrong. What way do i have to put it in? Just stick in a part of it inside or something?

[Foo228]

First, you should cheap which antennas broadcast the signals your looking for in your area


*check not cheap ;)

[Kfoster1979]

I have this
http://www.amazon.com/RCA-ANT111-Basic-Indoor-Antenna/dp/B000HKGK8Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1205260233&sr=1-3 (http://www.amazon.com/RCA-ANT111-Basic-Indoor-Antenna/dp/B000HKGK8Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1205260233&sr=1-3Bought)

Bought it for 7.00 at Wal Mart; However, I do have issues getting 2 HD channels but they are 25+ miles away.

[Malik112099]

i took a 5 foot wire and shoved the stripped end into the coax center conductor and then put in my mini blinds and i get hd channels just fine

[blackbird3216]

wow, these rediculous stuff actually works?

Any other suggestions? I tried simply pluggin in a coax cable and i got 2 channels, not good quality though.

[espy605]

wow, these rediculous stuff actually works?

Any other suggestions? I tried simply pluggin in a coax cable and i got 2 channels, not good quality though.

Depends on a lot of factors, but if you have a decent signal in your area and your walls aren't blocking them (i.e. your TV is near a window) it actually does work. You have to remember most of the coax cable is insulated in some way, which is designed to block interference, which in this case is actual broadcast signal you want to receive. This is why a paperclip can work, it's completely stripped and will pick up anything.

[Richard Longfellow]

A lot of reception depends on elevation and surroundings, not just distance to the tower. In a big city, for example, TV reception is blocked by the buildings, unless you're lucky enough to live on the top floor of a high rise.

I tried a bunch of different types of antennas when I dropped my cable, and the best cheap one I tried was the $5.99 old loop and pole type sold in the generic orange package at Big Lots. If you're 30+ miles from your towers, though, you may need an attic mounted Channel Master as mentioned above.