Recently I purchased 3 RCA digital TV converter boxes. When I installed it on my 36 inch Toshiba TV, the reception kept going out. We tried adjusting the rabbit ears antenna to no avail. The instruction manual stated that if the reception did not improve with adjusting the antenna, we would need to purchase a "Smart Antenna".
Please tell me what kind (brand names, types, etc )of antenna that is and approximately how much it will cost.
Thank you for any help you can give me on this.
First, you don't need a Smart Antenna, the manual is simply stating that your converter will use one if you have it. Any standard antenna will work, so there is no need for a coupon to pay for a new one, whether indoor or outdoor depending on your location and distance from each channel transmission tower. Since you don't give details of what antenna you are using, I will assume you have rabbit ears for each converter. Rabbit ears are notorious for poor reception and any metal or persons nearby will change the reception quality. I would recommend a roof mounted external antenna with splitters for the 3 converters if you have the option. If not, use an amplified internal antenna and mount it closest to the channel towers you will watch most and as high as possible. If you can find a smart antenna, which is an amplified indoor/outdoor antenna with a control cable for changing the direction of reception, for a decent price, you can use that but keep in mind that to use the control feature you will need one for each converter. Also, check antennaweb.org for information on digital channels in your area and their direction and distance. Antennaweb.org will also tell you if any digital channel in your area uses VHF frequencies. If they don't then a UHF only antenna will work fine.
Just go to www.tvantennas.com for easy to make plans for the DB4 antenna. You can make this antenna for less than $5.00
and it out performs 90% of the antennas sold in stores. You can also buy a DB4 for $30.00 and up but it is really east to make. There are two links to youtube videos that will take you trought it step by step. Elderly folks and folks with low income or fixed in come can easily make this in an hour or so, At least look at antenna before you sppend you hard earned dollars.
punch (in TEXAS)
First of all, you may not get better signal no matter which antenna you have. Check this page to help with digital reception before you buy a new antenna: http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/Digital_Reception.html
There are a few smart antennas on the market... RCA, Sylvania and Apex and they range from $45 to $90. This page explains smart antennas and has links where you can buy them: http://www.ezdigitaltv.com/Smart_Antenna.html
Good luck!
It's all a money thing, change is good, but if you play you have to pay.
I am in the same boat. My reception is horrible with my rabbit ear antenna. I looked at Wal-Mart for a Smart Antenna but they do not have them and one of the associates said that he went to Best Buy and they do not carry them either because they are not out yet....so I guess just keep your eyes open for someone to carry them.
19,114 views
Usually answered in minutes!
The only thing I worry about is the price that will be put on the smart antennas. In checking out on the internet, anything with the name "Smart" was in the $179 and up range.
When you figure the cost for several antennas, maybe it would be best to just buy a digital TV.
I agree it's all about money. But what about the people that can't afford to pay for those Smart antennas. that means that they won't be able to watch their tvs even if they purchase the converter box. What we need is for the same folks that offered the free converter box cupons to come up with something similar for the smart antennas.
I bought 2 converter boxes, only to find out my rabbit ears are useless to bring in all 5 of my channels. Reading info and today here, it's going on with everyone. Why didn't they mention this or at least offer a coupon for the smart antenna along with the converter box which you have to have! I could almost afford to pay $40 for the converter box, but I can't afford $180 for the necessary antenna.
After having so many problems with the antenna that I was using on my big tv, I switched antennas with one of my other tvs and it worked. Why, I don't know since it was a cheaper rabbit ear antenna. The problem antenna worked on another tv. Maybe since the tv was in another roon, it made a difference. Once in a while we do have to adjust the antenna but for the most part, it works okay.
I resent purchared a DT504 Ditital converter box and in the back goes an attachment for a smart antenna, it attaches into a phone jack like.I need to purchase one.
×