Antenna explanation
Since the subject of HD antennas comes up here occasionally, I just couldn't resist posting this link: http://money.cnn.com/gallery/technology/innovation/2013/08/07/worst-tech-lies/5.html
Forum Discussion
I use both the Winegard batwing with Wingman and the Jack antennas. My observations are that the batwing does much better on the VHF channels and the Jack does better on UHF but poorly on VHF.
I am a retired TV broadcast tech and was heavily involved in the installation of equipment for the digital transition. To call a TV antenna a digital antenna or a high definition antenna just adds to the confusion. Most antennas that are used today are no different from antennas that were used decades ago. The most common antennas used today are broadband combination VHF/UHF. During the transition from analog to digital, TV stations were required to broadcast both analog and digital signals. Almost all stations transmitted digital on the UHF band because there was no room left on the VHF band. At that time many people bought "High Definition" antennas which were nothing more than a standard UHF antenna. The very same UHF antenna you could purchase decades ago, except the new one now has "High Definition" plastered all over the box. Once analog was shut down this opened up channels on VHF and many stations started broadcasting digital on there VHF channel. All that was required was to basically install a digital modulator into what was previously the analog transmitter. No changes had to be made to the existing transmission line or antenna. The main advantage to broadcasting on VHF rather than UHF is the power needed. VHF requires much less power to cover the same area as UHF. The station that I worked at was pumping out 1,000 kilowatts for UHF. When they switched to VHF the power they needed to cover the same area was 40 kilowatts. VHF is not going away as was stated earlier, so don't through out that VHF antenna.
I am a retired TV broadcast tech and was heavily involved in the installation of equipment for the digital transition. To call a TV antenna a digital antenna or a high definition antenna just adds to the confusion. Most antennas that are used today are no different from antennas that were used decades ago. The most common antennas used today are broadband combination VHF/UHF. During the transition from analog to digital, TV stations were required to broadcast both analog and digital signals. Almost all stations transmitted digital on the UHF band because there was no room left on the VHF band. At that time many people bought "High Definition" antennas which were nothing more than a standard UHF antenna. The very same UHF antenna you could purchase decades ago, except the new one now has "High Definition" plastered all over the box. Once analog was shut down this opened up channels on VHF and many stations started broadcasting digital on there VHF channel. All that was required was to basically install a digital modulator into what was previously the analog transmitter. No changes had to be made to the existing transmission line or antenna. The main advantage to broadcasting on VHF rather than UHF is the power needed. VHF requires much less power to cover the same area as UHF. The station that I worked at was pumping out 1,000 kilowatts for UHF. When they switched to VHF the power they needed to cover the same area was 40 kilowatts. VHF is not going away as was stated earlier, so don't through out that VHF antenna.
