How I find local TV air wave signals

[Jusplainwacky]

Perhaps this isn't something novel, but I thought I'd share how I find local TV stations using my antenna.

I discovered two issues in trying to find local channels;

One is that the King TV antenna is very directional, and if the antenna isn't pointing directly at the broadcast station, the antenna won't pick it up.

The second thing is, I have a TV that scans for stations and then stores them. If the antenna isn't pointing at the station, it won't find any...so I'd move the antenna (to who knows where), hope for the best, scan again, only to again no stations found. I'd repeat this and finally give up.

What I did was Google "location of local stations" and I found a website where you put in your location and it will give you a list of stations, the distance from your location, and magnetic direction in degrees. This website is located at;

https://www.channelmaster.com/pages/tv-antenna-map

Using my Iphone compass app, I can determine where the degrees are and then point my antenna in that direction, lining up the antenna to the direction on my Iphone.

I spent a lot of time trying to find stations just guessing where to point my antenna, and normally not finding any; once I pointed the antenna to one of the stations listed, I found 13 channels.

I booked marked the website so I look up local stations anyplace I go.

Hope someone finds this useful.

 

[Jusplainwacky]

First,
I saved the site.
Thanks.

Second
IT SEEMS TO HAVE CAPTURED YOUR HOME ADDRESS. REMOVE THE LINK AND PUT IN A NEW LINK.

THANK YOU!! I corrected it

 

[16ACE27]

Get the APP called Antenna Point. It uses your GPS location and shows you att transmitting antennas on a map, and you use your phone to point in the right direction for your antenna.

 

[Chateau_Nomad]

I've used the antenna point app for years. I have an OTA antenna in the attic at home, and that's what I used to aim it at "the big city" transmitter towers 30 miles and generally northwest of us. I do the same in the motorhome.

 

[Jusplainwacky]

Get the APP called Antenna Point. It uses your GPS location and shows you att transmitting antennas on a map, and you use your phone to point in the right direction for your antenna.

I'll have to check it out. Does it give the magnetic degree location?

 

[16ACE27]

I'll have to check it out. Does it give the magnetic degree location?

A magnetic north pointing compass is in the upper LH corner of the display.

 

[Quit RVing]

I use the “ TV Towers USA” app. Find it in the App Store.

 

[16ACE27]

I use the “ TV Towers USA” app. Find it in the App Store.

Apple only and not free.

 

[Quit RVing]

Apple only and not free.

You get what you pay for...

 

[ducksface]

You get what you pay for...

Unless you've used the free app we're typing about...
How would you know that?

 

[MJC68]

RCA Signal Finder or Winegard both have a free app that work well.

 

[Jusplainwacky]

You get what you pay for...

You get what you pay for...

1. That is not always true. Just cause a person may pay a lot of money for something doesn't mean it's superior.

2. The information ACE provided is useful to those that don't have an Apple phone, and may not want to pay for an APP when there are others just as good if not better, and free.

 

[Chateau_Nomad]

All of the data/information is available for FREE if you are willing to dig around to find it. You're paying for someone to do that for you and organize it into a useful format.

"Free" apps usually come with strings... you watch an ad, features are missing, etc.

 

[Jusplainwacky]

I get a kick out of the comment "you get what you pay for"...what comes to mind is the Tesla cyber truck...garbage can on wheels.

 

[Quit RVing]

Geez. There is a tough and angry crowd here.

I'm sorry I tried to offer an alternative and suggest an app that has worked PERFECTLY for me for many years.

You can be sure I won't do it again.

 

[ducksface]

Geez. There is a tough and angry crowd here.

I'm sorry I tried to offer an alternative and suggest an app that has worked PERFECTLY for me for many years.

You can be sure I won't do it again.

It wasn't about your recommendation.

It was your remark, unwarranted, about the lack of value of something you know nothing about.

It was the equivalent of
I'm rubber you're glue....

 

[SGilbert]

Upon reading this thread, I checked the Apple App Store and downloaded 4 apps that'll check out in 2 weeks:
--TV Antenna Compass USA
--Free TV Project
--Antenna Point
--NoCable: OTA Antenna

THANK TO ALL!! This has been a royal PIA for a long time.

One thing I found easier is that I felt tipped an arrow on my inside antenna knob. Makes it easier to know where it's pointing!

 

[Quit RVing]

It wasn't about your recommendation AND YOU KNOW IT.

It was your remark, unwarranted, about the lack of value of something you know nothing about.

WHAT REMARK? All I did was recommend the TV Towers app. Then some other jerk responds with a snarky “Apple only and not free” remark. Evidently my recommendation was just crap as far as he was concerned.

I responded with “You get what you pay for.” which you evidently find offensive for some reason. Good grief.

I don’t get it, but I sure won’t be offering any more suggestions any time soon.

 

[ducksface]

Get it pointed to a known entity before making that mark.
Then you'll know if the antenna is a side-shooter or straight-shooter and you'll be within a degree or two of being dead-on.

 

[ducksface]

WHAT REMARK? All I did was recommend the TV Towers app. Then some other jerk responds with a snarky “Apple only and not free” remark. Evidently my recommendation was just crap as far as he was concerned.

I responded with “You get what you pay for.” which you evidently find offensive for some reason. Good grief.

I don’t get it, but I sure won’t be offering any more suggestions any time soon.

Was his input anything but eloquent and exact?
I'm pretty sure he was exact and succinct and nothing else.


MY retort does require a bit of intuition and reflection.