Five TV Antennas To Avoid Buying When Cutting the Cord

In this video I discuss five indoor and outdoor TV antennas cord cutters should avoid buying. These antennas are known to perform poorly and are unlikely to get your reliable reception of ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and other local over the air channels. Please share this video so others can be saved from the scam that is the "HD digital antenna."

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[AntennaMan]

You can find a list of recommended antennas below:
📡 Do you have reception problems? Consider a custom antenna recommendation from me at the link below:

[puddintang]

Remember when all we needed was a wire coat hanger for antenna reception? 📺💸

[arthurparker]

THANK YOU FOR TELLING THE TRUTH! I work for a TV station, we get calls weekly about poor reception. Most are due to people having UHF-only indoor antennas. In our viewing area are two high-band VHF channels. Your recommendations are the same as I give viewers. Broadcasters provide free TV, once you install a good antenna, there are no monthly bills from broadcasters, only from cable TV and satellite TV providers!

[howardkerr]

" Many problems included at no extra charge. "

Love that.

[AdhamOhm]

My parents' house still has the antenna they originally bought back in the late 1980s. I'm not sure of the exact model, but it looks similar to a Channel Master CM-5016. It's still going strong almost 35 years later and it got even better when I helped them replace the old twin-lead cable with a balun and RG6 coax. I talked them out of getting an entire new antenna because it's still in good shape, and I feel like anything they'd buy now wouldn't be nearly as good or last half as long as this one has.

[richtrost]

I'm glad you've punctured the marketing myth of an "HD Antenna". Antennas only function is to convert electromagnetic radiation to voltage with elements sized for a specific frequency band. The antenna doesn't give a hoot if it's a HD TV signal or Morse code. The VHF/UHF antenna we had for our first TV set in the 50's would be perfectly acceptable for today's HD television. So called HD antennas are a marketing scheme aimed to take advantage of the unwary.

[kingstonagainstcorruption]

I went thru several cheap antennas until i got a Clearstream 2V from Amazon in 2012. Walmart then started selling them but that version was a cheaper built version but still works. I get 50+ channels from knoxville tenn and im 40 miles away. Its now 2024 and im still happier than a cat covering it up with my antenna! Started out with about 14 channels and the stations keep adding more channels every year or two! Who needs Comcast???

[edwardpate]

Hard to beat the great old rooftop antennas from the 60's with a rotator like I remember helping my dad put up back in the day. Later when my parents moved I helped him put a full size one in his attic and still going strong for my sister and brother in law 40+ years later.

[johnlawfourtyfyve]

I did this work while in college in the 1970s. You know what you are talking about and are speaking the truth. I admire you for having this page. There are too many scammers selling junk that doesn't work and will turn into rust within rust within months. How I would love a Finco "Bed spring" on a nice tower today.

[MichiganPeatMoss]

Isn't it incredible how this was already worked out by reputable antenna manufacturers well over 50 years ago? This is a topic that has regressed over decades because so many people went to cable TV in the 1980s. Great videos like yours getting the cord-cutters "back on track" after skipping several generations.

[PaulEbanks]

Antenna Man… This dude and his passion helped me cut the cord a few years back. I haven’t had a second of regret from the shared perspectives or equipment suggestions. For the record… I stuck with his perspective and suggestions 90+% of the time. Wicked mad props and a massive thank-you to Antenna Man for helping a confused and massively overwhelmed brother out. ✊🏾

[HighSpeedNoDrag]

I am now 55 and have subscribed to cable TV around 2.0 years during my adult life. I suppose I am a Cord Cutter with zero regrets. Thank You Antenna Man, Master!

[colonelbuckshot]

The first antenna you destroyed with a hammer is actually a great antenna, I have had that model in my attic for 10 years and it still works great, it brings in over 6o channels with great stability, I agree the rotator is crap which is why you should not install it outside unless you are satisfied with pointing it in one direction and receiving those particular channels. I only paid $20 dollars for mine.

[Surfer-mhgf]

I bought an amplified 6-foot dipole (each pole is 6 feet) amplified rabbit ears antenna 20 years ago at Fry's before digital came online. I put it in my picture facing in the direction of the transmitting antennas which are located 70 miles from where I live. It works great. I get more channels than I have time to watch.

[mytoosents]

I've had the first one over 3-4 years now. Still working very well. The advantage of being able to remotely turn it is a great plus, especially when 20° below zero out. Rotater may catch a fit once in awhile, but so far, still operating. In the Chicago area, Ch. 2 (CBS) since day 1, could NEVER receive properly until I got this. Ch. 2 now locked in with no problems. And yes, a sludge hammer will destroy your BEST antenna, .... Duh!

[Craighetfield]

You know I been following ur channel for a few months now and I like how you are persistent and enthusiastic about ur passion .. keep it up ! 🤟🏽

[flybabyw]

Hello Tyler, glad to see someone within the younger generation has had enough sense to look into antenna theory and knows the difference between bullshit and practical application of antenna's and the signals you want to pick up. Also, I see commercials on TV where the advertisers say due to a government mandate you can now get full HD TV for free and are selling nothing more than a small antenna capable of only picking up the closest broadcast stations. What a crock of crap. Being a person from the older generations, we grew up with broadcasting still in it's infancy and know better. I have passed along much information to my kids and grandkids so they have the knowledge. However, it is nice to see some honest information getting out to younger people that will actually help them. By the way, my old channel master TV antenna which is up in my attic with a pre-amp gets me around 70+ channels of non-compressed signal. Problem is, only so many channels and certain programs are in 1080P let alone true 4K.

[explosionmage]

Your channel is useful for cordcutters.

[collinnunez]

I installed the second antenna on my chimney almost two years ago and so far it has not failed and has given great reception. I am very happy with it.

[jeffandjoannbauer]

I'm glad I caught this video before my Amazon order processed. It just saved me $20. Thanks, man.