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roof hdtv antenna

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by snoopy, May 31, 2015.

  1. snoopy

    snoopy Senior Member

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    Now that Openband is optional, I'm thinking about installing roof hdtv antenna. Does anyone have any experience / recommendation on what company I can hire ? Thank you.
     
  2. z28lt1

    z28lt1 New Member

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    In my previous house, we did a roof antenna and used Fairfax Antenna. http://fairfaxantenna.com/
    This was probably 7 years or so ago, so I can't comment on how they are today, but it was upfront pricing and a quality install.
     
  3. snoopy

    snoopy Senior Member

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    I got a quote of $450. Any recent homeowner's experience / price ? Thank you.
     
  4. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    450??? What does it include and what channels would you get?
     
  5. snoopy

    snoopy Senior Member

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    It would cover getting antenna installed on the roof to receive over the air HD channels ( mostly local channels ) and having it feed to outlets installed by openband.

    I'm thinking of cutting the cord ( now that we can opt out of openband ) and just need local channels to view live sports. I would do not need or want to pay around $60 - $80 for cable when I only watch sporting events and movies ( via Netflix ). That was my thought in getting roof antenna with one time cost versus monthly cost for cable.
     
  6. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    Do you know if the builder installed one of those Smurf tubes in your home? I think most of the builders were putting either a blue or grey plastic conduit up the middle of the house or around the NID for cable management.

    What I did in my townhouse back in 2004 near Vestals Gap was to buy a UHF multi directional antenna, check the coordinates on antennaweb.org and got an idea where the signals were coming from. I used a simple mounting bracket from an old satellite dish and mounted it inside my attic near the Smurf tube. Then I "lubricated" the cable with dish soap as I fished it down from the attic and through the conduit to the cable panel in the basement.

    Once you connect the cables you now have a video source to distribute to all cable wall outlets for free. It was a fairly easy install and if you have a basic level of knowledge around this stuff could be worth doing yourself.

    I would even offer my antenna and mount to someone wanting to try it themselves. I am cheap and would sell for a six pack! I could even be hired.

    Alternate plan would be to cable run outside the house and into the same area where Openband cables come now... and add another one into the house possibly.[​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2015
  7. Mike-and-Kim

    Mike-and-Kim Member

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    What we did was an internal attic UHF antenna and small preamp to a silicon dust network tuner. Total cost under 150 and allows you to record using windows media center.

    The ultimate of course is an external antenna.

    There was an Ethernet hookup in the attic already (along with coax). Van Meter SF.

    We get a ton of channels - and better quality picture than Verizon or Comcast

    We also have an internal antenna for FM radio and can pull stations from Baltimore - 91.5 WBJC is fantastic.
     
  8. pauleyc

    pauleyc Member

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    I had a similar antenna to the one Dave posted and I just hung it on a nail in the attic .. no problem w/ reception. Highly recommend the silicon dust units also. Their new software will make a NAS a DVR and plex is integrating the channel so the only box you need is a streaming device (roku, fireTV, etc..).

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1275320038/hdhomerun-dvr-the-dvr-re-imagined

    You can also add a tuner to the XBOX ONE. Microsoft is going to release an update to allow DVR capabilities on the console, probably since they are killing media center. Only rumor at this point ... http://www.theverge.com/2015/5/6/8559043/microsoft-xbox-one-tv-dvr-feature-rumor
     
  9. snoopy

    snoopy Senior Member

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    It is good to have choices. Cut the cord or not. Get satellite service or not. Stay with Openband or not.
    Leaning towards cutting the cord as of now.
     
  10. J Williams

    J Williams New Member

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    I second Fairfax Antenna. They put an antenna on my roof last year and it has been great. The price may be high, but it is one time and very quickly pays itself off. There is another, older thread that discusses antennas and channels.
     

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