Need help before I make the cut from cable

[heep70]

Hi, I am sure this is a question that has been asked more then once. I want to get away from paid cable but before I get all invested in an antenna that may or may not work I would like opinion, thoughts, suggestions or what ever to help me get going in the right direction.

Here is something I did on the rabbitears website. RabbitEars.Info

Also, is there a good signal meter out there to purchase or do I need one?

Thank you

 

[Fringe Reception]

Hi, I am sure this is a question that has been asked more then once. I want to get away from paid cable but before I get all invested in an antenna that may or may not work I would like opinion, thoughts, suggestions or what ever to help me get going in the right direction.

Here is something I did on the rabbitears website. RabbitEars.Info

Also, is there a good signal meter out there to purchase or do I need one?

Thank you

Hi Heep,
You already have a meter! Over-the-air reception is based on signal quality, not signal strength and regardless of what the on-screen meter on your TV set is labeled, it measures signal quality and not strength: the higher the numbers are, the better. Quality refers to a data stream (signal) without additional "information" or noise added to it. Have you tried any antennas yet? From your location I would suggest using an outdoor antenna (or two) mounted above your roof. A 5 element Yagi for high-band VHF and a 4-bay panel for UHF combined with a UVSJ should work well. Good luck!
Jim

 

[heep70]

Hi Heep,
You already have a meter! Over-the-air reception is based on signal quality, not signal strength and regardless of what the on-screen meter on your TV set is labeled, it measures signal quality and not strength: the higher the numbers are, the better. Quality refers to a data stream (signal) without additional "information" or noise added to it. Have you tried any antennas yet? From your location I would suggest using an outdoor antenna (or two) mounted above your roof. A 5 element Yagi for high-band VHF and a 4-bay panel for UHF combined with a UVSJ should work well. Good luck!
Jim

I haven't tried anything yet. I am new and dumb to the whole deal. Just tired of paying big bucks for cable that I don't really use.

Do you have a brand(s) that you talked about above that would work for the average user? I don't know what "UVSJ" is? Like I meantioned I am dumb to it all. I used to use a TV antenna many many years ago. Way before they changed everything to digital. If you got any antenna and equipment names that might be better for my situation That I could look up and start learning about that would be great. Thank you, Greg