Winegard HD8200U Platinum VHF/UHF HDTV Antenna (65 Miles+, Digital, 4K Ultra High-Def Ready)

After deciding to cut the cord from satellite TV, I researched until I found this antenna which I bought through Amazon, which arrived ahead of schedule. The box is HUGE so make sure you have somewhere to put this until you're ready to install it though. I had to wait to find someone to install the antenna for me, since I'm partially sighted and am not able to climb the roof to do this type of project. Once we found someone a few days ago, he got the antenna put together and up to replace the beat-up old antenna that was on the house since the stone-age, and in short order it was all connected and is now working very well. Keep in mind I have a single story house and am hampered by several trees in the way between me and the direction of all the Los Angeles TV stations I want to receive, so the installer pointed the antenna slightly upwards to aim it at the clearest spot in the cluster of trees. We are about 9 miles from Mt. Wilson so we get most of the channels even with rabbit ears, but there are too many problems with pixelation in bad weather or when someone is walking in the room, problems we now don't have. here's what's interesting about setting up this antenna. The guy knew how to install the antenna but for whatever reason he read map instructions wrong and thought the signals were to our south, not north. The peak signals are at 348 degrees (11 to 12 degrees to the left of due north). he was sure the map was correct and when I looked at the map I saw what he was talking about and have no idea why they pointed him the wrong way. Just for grins and giggles we fired up the TV with the antenna pointed wrong and it still picked up most all the channels, but a few major ones were missing. That's amazing for a highly directional antenna pointed exactly opposite where it should be. Once redirected, i was able to pick up all channels, and the ONLY channel that simply won't come in well is a very low-power ch. 10, which only has 3,000 watts ERP, so that signal comes in very pixelated no matter what we do. No major loss there. Everything else comes in fine with plenty of signal to spare, so the installer was able to split the signal three ways to run in my office, my wife's office and the living room, without using a signal amplifier. Then even in the living room, I use a small signal amp because I'm feeding the TV and a DVD recorder with built-in tuner, and still get plenty of signal. Now I'm a happy camper because I have very good TV reception throughout the house and I'm sure that antenna should last for many years to come, probably till long after I'm dirt-napping.I've been told this antenna is overkill for this metro area, and maybe it is, but I wanted a dynamite antenna that would be up to the task of giving us studio-grade video throughout the house, and considering I have no more monthly TV bills, I'm happy with my decision about this antenna.Just as a test we did rotate it around, wondering if we would get San Diego stations from here, but they are 110 miles from here and are not going to come in unless we increase height and amplify the signal more. But for our reception area, this works extremely well. I trust a name like Winegard and can recommend this model.

As part of a recent state to state move, I decided I was tired of paying Time Warner almost $200 a month for Triple play. I was happy to find out my new address had fiber optic internet available with a speed suitable for streaming video for $40 a month. Added Netflix and Hulu Plus for another $15 and Magic Jack for phone. So now for less than $50 have almost all the programming I had before. Only thing missing was local channels.Antennaweb.org showed I was 32 and 40 miles from two transmitter arrays in Nashville with them about 25 degrees apart. One of the more important channels was low UHF so I needed a dual band antenna. I read the reviews and decided on the 8200U. I knew it would be more antenna than I really needed, however I planned to install in my attic and wanted to ensure it would overcome any attenuation due to shingles.The day of scheduled delivery I spent running the 150 ft coax from splitter in outside box that feeds the 6 plugs inside to the location in the attic. FEDEX delivered about 3pm with no damage to the 8-10 foot long box. Its about 8 inch by 8 inch by 8-10 feet long and pretty light. Carried into attic area no problem and opened it up. Good, easy to follow instructions written by native English speaker included. Assembly was fairly easy only slightly complicated by space in my attic. Got it together and layed itmon insulation pointed in general direction and ran a scan on TV. I got 19 stations good quality with a few more showing pixelation. Back in the attic I added a RCA 24dB amp I pickedmup at walmart for $25 1 foot from antenna and pulled up map f3om antennaweb showing lines to transmitters from my house and used that to aim antenna (still laying on insulation). I re scanned and now get 39 channels! Perfect reception and no pixelation on any channel and get 4 major networks plus sub channels. A lot moremthan expected. Very happy with purchase.Notes: HUGE Antenna! If splitting signal use an amp close to antenna. That way you amplify clean signal. Well made antenna, good directions. I selected one day shipping and payed the extra $10 and glad I did. Got FEDEX instead of UPS, which explains the good condition I received antenna. Now just need DVR......