Tv antenna recommendations

SoundGuy wrote:
... but most users wouldn't recognize this difference as many stations moved from VHF to UHF during the analogue > digital transition, meaning there are far more now transmitting in the UHF band than used to be the case.

Tom_M wrote:
Actually just the opposite happened (at least in the U.S.). During the period when stations where broadcasting both analog and digital there wasn't room on the VHF band for the digital channels, forcing them to broadcast digital on the UHF band. When the analog was shut down, this freed up the VHF channels and many stations moved the digital to the VHF. There are about 1800 full power TV stations in the U.S. and about 1/4 of these are now broadcasting on the high VHF band.

Here in the GTA ...

WGRZ (NBC) Buffalo - historically on VHF Ch 2 now transmits on UHF Ch 33
WIVB (CBS) Buffalo - historically on VHF Ch 4 now transmits on UHF Ch 39
WKBW (ABC) Buffalo - historically on VHF Ch 7 now transmits on UHF Ch 38

CBLT (CBC) Toronto - historically on VHF Ch 5 now transmits on UHF Ch 20
CFTO (CTV) Toronto - historically on VHF Ch 9 still transmits on VHF Ch 9 ... one of the very few that hasn't moved ****
CHCH (Ind) Hamilton - historically on VHF Ch 11 now transmits on UHF Ch 15

This is just a sampling ... most other stations also transmitting on UHF are newer stations that have always transmitted in the UHF band. In fact, when we examine either TV Fool's listing of stations for this market or this list of Canadian Stations Operating in Ontario we find very few that still remain on either VHF Lo or VHF Hi, the vast majority are transmitting on UHF where the King Controls Jack TV antenna is most effective.

The OP originally stated he had a non-rotatable antenna (which by definition would mean it's omni directional) and asked whether a Jack TV antenna or "other option" would work better. Many automatically recommended the Winegard Sensar IV as the "best" antenna but "best" is not necessarily defined solely by signal gain alone but also by ease of use. Fact is, the Winegard Sensar is an older antenna design originally intended for use in the VHF band that was updated for UHF reception with the addition of a UHF array they refer to as the Wingman, the combination being known as the Sensar IV. However, this antenna array is only able to achieve it's greater sensitivity by being as directional as it is and because of this can be a real PITA to tune in a station and retain it ... personally I'm tired of having to bounce up off the couch to endlessly rotate the antenna every time I change the channel. :M The Winegard Sensar is a proven design but it's obvious the company has lost market share to other systems such as the Jack TV which which works well in the UHF band where most stations are transmitting and because of it's wider acceptance angle which is deemed by many as easier to use. In response, Winegard has introduced their new Rayzar Air which is tuned to maximize UHF reception where most stations are transmitting and should be easier to use because it's bi-directional. As I said, "best" is not solely about sensitivity, it's also about ease of use. ;)