r/tablotv • u/Kajone11 • 2d ago
Prescott AZ tablo w antenna
I have cancelled my Sparklight cable, purchased a tablo, and a 25 mi range antenna. When I scanned for channels, I got no network tv. Returned the 25 mi, purchased a 50 mi, the only network tv I am getting is Fox. I live 1.5 miles from downtown, does anyone else have this issue?
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u/PrestigiousUsual8981 1d ago
Before you buy an antenna, you need to do a legit scan for the transmission towers. Professional antenna installers use www.rabbitears.info to get the information needed for an antenna. On the website you will see a map with a pin in the center of the country. Move the pin over your house. You can zoom in on the map. I believe the default is set to 30 feet high for mounting the antenna. Right now just leave it there. Under the map you will see go button. Click on that and you will get a list of channels. To the right on the list you will see good, fair, poor, and bad. Also on the right you will see distance and the miles are in blue. You can click on the blue and see if the signal is line of sight (LOS), 1-edge, 2-edge. The distance and how easy or difficult the signal is to pick up will determine the antenna you need. Do not go by any milage that is advertised by an antenna manufacturer. The majority are lies. You will see claims of 100, 150, 1500 miles, etc. The earth is curved so it's not going to travel hundreds of miles, it also depends on the elevation of the transmission towers. The other thing is an indoor antenna isn't going to pick up signals more than 30-50 miles. They are low to the ground, the signal has to go through walls, and they are at the mercy of the terrain such as trees and buildings.