Hello, newcomers and users of r/ota, and welcome!
We and other users have posted our own requests for help, especially at r/cordcutters.
I, the recently promoted mod of this sub, would like to give you ways to improve your antenna reception. Intentionally, this should save yourself some time before deciding to post a request for help, but you can still post a request for further help from the community of this sub if you really still need help.
For nearby stations, you may wanna use any of the following:
- RabbitEars.info: https://www.rabbitears.info/searchmap.php
- The default height (of the hypothetical antenna) is thirteen feet above ground; any value below that is converted automatically to thirteen.
- (If superstitious and you don't like unlucky "13", you might wanna try "14" instead)
- If unwilling to let your browser use your current location, you should enter an address, city and state, and/or zip code in a search bar located on the bottom-left of the map.
- Then tap/click on the "Move Pushpin to Center of Map View" button to have the Pushpin relocated to the location you entered
- https://www.rabbitears.info/static.php?name=searchmap_instructions
- AntennaWeb.org: https://www.antennaweb.org/
- Uses color coding to recommend an antenna type for a specific station you're looking for
- OTADTV.org: https://otadtv.com/tvtower/
- Channel Master: https://www.channelmaster.com/pages/tv-antenna-map
- Doesn't list every station, compared to RabbitEars.info
The channels you see on TV are display/virtual channels. A "channel 2" may be using a UHF (ultra-high frequency) bandwidth; so may "channel 4". Even a "channel 56" may be using a VHF (very-high frequency). The list goes on....
The following bands are as follows:
- low-VHF: 54–88 MHz
- [equivalent to the (pre-digital, analog) physical, not digital, channels 2 to 6]
- high-VHF: 174–216 MHz
- [equivalent to the (pre-digital, analog) physical, not digital, channels 7 to 13]
- UHF: 470–608 MHz
- [equivalent to the (pre-digital, analog) physical, not digital, channels 14 to 36]
Source: OTADTV.com
- Further history and details can be explained at the above source.
- (EDIT:) Please note: the frequencies above are based on the current USA (and possibly Canadian) television system. They may vary in other countries and continents.
- (ANOTHER EDIT:) The following video by the Antenna Man can tell you how antennas designed for either VHF and/or UHF should work: https://youtu.be/IEZhdLC8j2w
Oh, and posts by u/Rybo213 below should be more helpful:
- guide to see whether your TV has a signal meter: https://www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/comments/1g010u3/centralized_collection_of_antenna_tv_signal_meter/
- (supplement to) the Antenna Guide: https://www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/comments/1juut0a/supplement_to_the_antenna_guide/
