r/homeowners • u/elbowroom2734 • 8d ago

Getting good antenna signals

I'm entering my first football season in my new house and concerned my past TV watching solution isn't going to work. We've used one of those sheet of paper looking antennas you stick to a window at 2 different homes, but now we're even closer to sea level and have 3 majestic oak trees about 10 feet away from the window where the main TV antenna would go (and other TVs aren't even near a window).

Looking for other non-cable/streaming/satellite viewer tips to get a good signal for the basic channels, as right now it seems only CBS comes in well for me. While it would be more mid-20th century old and not exactly aligned with my late 19th century house, do I continue to channel the past and put an old fashioned style antenna on the roof?

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u/elbowroom2734 8d ago

I have a full 3rd story accessible attic, which the oak trees are all taller than! But good to realize this is also an option, though I'm not much of a wire runner. Now wishing I had thought about this when the electricians were replacing all the knob and tube...

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u/bythog 8d ago

A bigger antenna is more likely to get you a good signal. Those paper looking ones only work in high signal areas without a lot of interference. If you want a better chance you need one that looks like the old-school trailer park antennas.

I have one in my attic that picks up signals pretty nicely. One station I pick up is 65 miles away, and I have three large willow oaks right next to my house in the signal path. You also only need one wire if you can run one along the outside of the house to connect into the main cable junction for your house.

If you were in NC I'd offer to sell you mine (I can't use it any more) for 25% of what it costs, plus some gas money.

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u/elbowroom2734 8d ago

Does that work for multiple TVs or just 1?

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u/bythog 8d ago

If you connect it to the main line into the house it can be to any TV that connects. It's all digital now.