I've always had a large multi-element TV antenna on the roof with of my own house with a powered amplifier. And, I've always recommended and installed them for my customers.
I've seen them in WalMart and RadioShack. Over the past 45 years, I've NEVER found them to be that good or even JUST adequate. I've wasted my money on them time and time again over the years, hoping that I would find a good one.
On a whim, I purchased this Philips MANT940 off of Amazon.com.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Philips-MANT940-Digital-Outdoor-Antenna/dp/B000VL1QF6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1277605391&sr=8-3"]Amazon.com: Philips MANT940 UHF Digital and Analog Indoor/Outdoor Antenna: Electronics@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21O71DuACOL.@@AMEPARAM@@21O71DuACOL[/ame]
I hooked it up, when I got it in August 2009. It worked OK inside the second floor bonus room. But, I was not really impressed. So, I put it on the shelf.
A couple of days, ago, I had to take the big antenna off of the roof, because the roofers were coming next week to replace it due to hail damage covered by my homeowner's insurance.
So, I decided to set up the Philips antenna in the attic for temporary use.
I kwe that the signal was going to be degraded inside the attic. On that account I looked and found the octogonal gable vent on the side of the attic facing the direction of the majority of my signals. So, I fastened a 1x2 crossbar to the vertical 2x4 that always runs vertical everywhere these vents are installed. Using two long wire ties, the antenna is now permanently attached. Since the screen is fiberglass and the vents are made of thin vacuumformed vinyl sheeting, I kwew that the material was transparent to TV signals.
To my amazement, this little gem received every channel I got with the big amplified behemouth that was outside on the roof and two more from Charlotte, NC, some 60 miles or more away. I even got a very strong good signal on my local CBS affiliate which went back to its original Channel 7 VHF actual frequency. This is supposed to be a UHF only antenna.
Now, I am impressed. In the attic, I'll not have to install masts, grounding wires or worry about weather damage. Customers would be thrilled with these, since they work almost as good as the outdoor ones.
Today, I spent a couple of hours taking down the ground wire and other remnants of the outside install. I'm sold on these NEW "Micro" amplified antennas.
Maybe it's not for multidirectional locations, but this appears to be an easy to install inexpensive option.
Walmart and Amazon sell the renamed model; SDV2940-27.
As does Amazon.com;
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Philips-SDV2940-27-Digital-Outdoor/dp/B001K7ID60/ref=dp_cp_ob_e_title_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1277605391&sr=8-3"]Amazon.com: Philips SDV2940/27 UHF Digital and Analog Indoor/Outdoor TV Antenna: Electronics@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31JJd1xP1hL.@@AMEPARAM@@31JJd1xP1hL[/ame]
They're on the shelves of most Walmarts that I have visited. I believe I saw it there, today, for $38.22.
If it doesn't work for your situation, you can always take it back.
Radio Shack sells and equivalent;
HDTV Outdoor/Indoor Antenna : Outdoor Antennas | RadioShack.com
And,so does monoprice.com
For only $19.94 each when QTY 50+ purchased - HDTV Indoor / Outdoor Antenna | Outdoor HD Antennas
I was skeptical of the reviews and was amazed with my experience.
These vents have been used in most newer houses with vinyl siding throughout the US for the past 15 years or more.
I've seen them in WalMart and RadioShack. Over the past 45 years, I've NEVER found them to be that good or even JUST adequate. I've wasted my money on them time and time again over the years, hoping that I would find a good one.
On a whim, I purchased this Philips MANT940 off of Amazon.com.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Philips-MANT940-Digital-Outdoor-Antenna/dp/B000VL1QF6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1277605391&sr=8-3"]Amazon.com: Philips MANT940 UHF Digital and Analog Indoor/Outdoor Antenna: Electronics@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21O71DuACOL.@@AMEPARAM@@21O71DuACOL[/ame]
I hooked it up, when I got it in August 2009. It worked OK inside the second floor bonus room. But, I was not really impressed. So, I put it on the shelf.
A couple of days, ago, I had to take the big antenna off of the roof, because the roofers were coming next week to replace it due to hail damage covered by my homeowner's insurance.
So, I decided to set up the Philips antenna in the attic for temporary use.
I kwe that the signal was going to be degraded inside the attic. On that account I looked and found the octogonal gable vent on the side of the attic facing the direction of the majority of my signals. So, I fastened a 1x2 crossbar to the vertical 2x4 that always runs vertical everywhere these vents are installed. Using two long wire ties, the antenna is now permanently attached. Since the screen is fiberglass and the vents are made of thin vacuumformed vinyl sheeting, I kwew that the material was transparent to TV signals.
To my amazement, this little gem received every channel I got with the big amplified behemouth that was outside on the roof and two more from Charlotte, NC, some 60 miles or more away. I even got a very strong good signal on my local CBS affiliate which went back to its original Channel 7 VHF actual frequency. This is supposed to be a UHF only antenna.
Now, I am impressed. In the attic, I'll not have to install masts, grounding wires or worry about weather damage. Customers would be thrilled with these, since they work almost as good as the outdoor ones.
Today, I spent a couple of hours taking down the ground wire and other remnants of the outside install. I'm sold on these NEW "Micro" amplified antennas.
Maybe it's not for multidirectional locations, but this appears to be an easy to install inexpensive option.
Walmart and Amazon sell the renamed model; SDV2940-27.
As does Amazon.com;
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Philips-SDV2940-27-Digital-Outdoor/dp/B001K7ID60/ref=dp_cp_ob_e_title_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1277605391&sr=8-3"]Amazon.com: Philips SDV2940/27 UHF Digital and Analog Indoor/Outdoor TV Antenna: Electronics@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31JJd1xP1hL.@@AMEPARAM@@31JJd1xP1hL[/ame]
They're on the shelves of most Walmarts that I have visited. I believe I saw it there, today, for $38.22.
If it doesn't work for your situation, you can always take it back.
Radio Shack sells and equivalent;
HDTV Outdoor/Indoor Antenna : Outdoor Antennas | RadioShack.com
And,so does monoprice.com
For only $19.94 each when QTY 50+ purchased - HDTV Indoor / Outdoor Antenna | Outdoor HD Antennas
I was skeptical of the reviews and was amazed with my experience.
These vents have been used in most newer houses with vinyl siding throughout the US for the past 15 years or more.
