To take a gimmick from another retailer......something you wont hear at Radio Shack
"WOW! THATS A LOW PRICE!"
"WOW! THATS A LOW PRICE!"
Radio Shack prices....OUCH!
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Interesting that this thread started when I'm looking for a replacement OTA antenna for my hail damaged antenna. Yep, Radio Shack use to be the place to go for electronics but I avoid going there.
They just renovated the Staples I go to in Manahawkin, NJ. The printer paper and ink was in the front of the store and now they moved them to the very rear of the store. Right in the front of the store they have a large display of cell phones and IPODs.
It seems that Staples is going the Radio Shack route and pushing cell phones and accessories.
mikelib
It seems that Staples is going the Radio Shack route and pushing cell phones and accessories.
mikelib
OTA antenna @ The Shack:
See the manager, and ask what OTA antenna they have in the back, even if they're not complete.
In the last five years, I got two nice ones:
- a foot-diameter flying saucer with two-foot wings on each side (great for 40 mile range)
15-2181 pdf
- their Lo/Med/Uhf long range antenna VU-190XR 160" long, and rated at 190? miles!
150-2156 .
Both had long since been discontinued.
The flying saucer was totally complete, even down to a powered amp. And free.
The long-boom antenna was supposed to be missing a few bits of trivial hardware. And free, too.
Often their District Managers will tell the store manager to clean the place up, and get rid of everything in the back that's not current product.
When that happens, you can clean up too, if you are on good terms with the manager. - :up
(I've known mine for 20 years!)
See the manager, and ask what OTA antenna they have in the back, even if they're not complete.
In the last five years, I got two nice ones:
- a foot-diameter flying saucer with two-foot wings on each side (great for 40 mile range)
15-2181 pdf
- their Lo/Med/Uhf long range antenna VU-190XR 160" long, and rated at 190? miles!
150-2156 .
Both had long since been discontinued.
The flying saucer was totally complete, even down to a powered amp. And free.
The long-boom antenna was supposed to be missing a few bits of trivial hardware. And free, too.
Often their District Managers will tell the store manager to clean the place up, and get rid of everything in the back that's not current product.
When that happens, you can clean up too, if you are on good terms with the manager. - :up
(I've known mine for 20 years!)
I'm on good terms with my local Rat Shack mgr so when I asked about outdoor antennas he let me in the back room....which brought back memories...down to the chicken wire "security" fence that I put up 
That antenna shows out-of-stock at radioshack.com. Or is it a ploy to get my email address?
I might just buy a shack antenna just because we have a radio shack here. I was looking at the Phillips antenna that is sold at the local Menards but the reviews I've seen weren't too flattering.
I've been looking at reviews on other green zone antennas but it's so time consuming. I might select an antenna in a couple of weeks. Performance is more important than price. We have a CBS affiliate only 10 miles from here but it's difficult to impossible to pick it up even with the antenna pointed straight at it while the 2 HD stations 35 miles away look real good ( with an undamaged antenna, of course).
Oh, and my insurance will pay up to $140 to replace the antenna.
Also, I've noticed that very few places show the reception color codes for their antennas. I'm referring to the color codes that you'll find at antennaweb.com.
Oh, and my insurance will pay up to $140 for a new antenna. :up
dang its on sale too....
I just went into my local store. Works great for all stations which are 30-35 miles away
I just went into my local store. Works great for all stations which are 30-35 miles away
I still go to radio shack once in a while!Last time was to buy a couple of 15ft USB cables with built in amps in them to use with my web cam to monitor my TV while on the garage roof adjusting for peak Q.I do remember when i think radio shack was at its prime buying 1000 and 1 electronic project kit,a couple of shortwave receivers!which i still have and tools like soldering irons, volt meter,pliers,etc.Anyone remember the days when you went to RS with a couple of vacuum tubes and used the tube tester.
Oh, and my insurance will pay up to $140 for a new antenna. :up
then you should upgrade to a mac daddy one
what does the tvfool report show? I trust that a little better than antennaweb
Uh oh, they closed the local Radio Shack without my permission. I guess I'll have to have it shipped to me. Nearest one is 90 miles away.
then you should upgrade to a mac daddy one
what does the tvfool report show? I trust that a little better than antennaweb
What's a mac daddy one?
johnny I think he just meant a giant one. But, fyi, if you have ever tried to put up one of those 10-12'long boom antennas alone, you know what kind of beach they can be. Last one I got like that, I felt like I was trying to install a pre-built tree house by myself.
yeah a big one
But some of the newer ones are better if you dont need 2-6. They dont put those long rods on there so the newer ones arent as wide
example
this is the upgrade one of what I have (and its only 51 inches wide)
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3928468
this one has the 2-6 option for it
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3740641
112 inches wide
I'm in the market for an OTA antenna for a couple of stations from Baton Rouge, about 70 miles away. Lowes only has the 65-mile antenna, so I guess I should at least try Rat Shack before I go with Solid Signal...
Tron
Are they VHF or UHF?
I bought an antenna just for a VHF HI station that is 72 miles away and works great. Thread on the subject
http://www.satelliteguys.us/digital-over-air-ota/212228-best-antenna-picking-up-1-distant.html
post 9 has the link for the antenna I got from SS
Are they VHF or UHF?
I bought an antenna just for a VHF HI station that is 72 miles away and works great. Thread on the subject
http://www.satelliteguys.us/digital-over-air-ota/212228-best-antenna-picking-up-1-distant.html
post 9 has the link for the antenna I got from SS
One of the best (readily available consumer) combos available would be the Antennas Direct 91XG for UHF, and an Antennacraft Y10-7-13 for VHF hi (7-13). (or one of the other manufaturers 10 element VHF hi antennas) With the use of two antennas, you keep the length down, which also helps if you need a rotor to turn it. Then a hi-gain, low-noise pre-amplifer with separate UHF and VHF inputs, and just as important a tower or some way to get the needed height. UHF signals are line of sight and you need to overcome the curvature of the earth. Now, be sure to see if you have any channels in the 7-13 range, as if you only need a UHF antenna, then eliminating the VHF hi antenna reduced the load greatly. In my area, 70 miles is common for TV signals, but so are deep fringe antennas and 40ft-75ft towers. Terrain, station power output, and your antennas ability to see over any trees or hills (antenna height) has a lot to do with the reception of distant signals.
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