Digital Antenna for Alton area
 

Has anyone tried a digital antenna in the West Alton/Alton Bay area? Do they work? If so, approximately how many channels does it pick up and what stations? Thanks!

Here's a site that shows you what stations might be picked up in your area. You can use the 'change address' link to insert your specific address.

For us in Wolfeboro it indicates our best bets would be ION in Concord, PBS in Biddeford, and Telemundo in Merrimack. We had a digital antenna from our last move, tried it, and the three occasional pictures we got for those channels basically confirms the site's accuracy.

In short, it doesn't look hopeful for over the air reception.

Funny, I put in my address in Laconia and I get the same results!

When OTA went digital, I changed the analog antennae to digital and I used to get WMTW. When they stop broadcasting from Mt. Washington I have nothing. I complained to the FCC and they determined because of my location I need a 60 Ft tower. This is not possible as I am in an HOA. Then they start the bla bla bla about getting a digital box etc. That's when I reluctantly went cable. What a conspiracy!

See https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...hlight=antenna
for past threads.

In West Alton on the north side of a hill we get 6, 8 and 13, including subchannels, from Maine.
On the west side of Welch we get 31 and 41, including subchannels, from Vermont.

Depending on your exact location in Alton you can expect a range from zero to 4 or 5 main channels plus any subchannels. There may be some high on a hilltop locations that can get more channels.

From Rattkesnake
 

9.1 9.2 several 11’s. Several 21’s and 31

9= ABC
11= PBS
21= ION
31=NBC

ALL I NEED AND FREE!
All on an old antenna!

Yes the only thing digital about new antennas is that they are designed for the frequency bands now used for TV. Old antennas: VHF low band, VHF high band and UHF band. Now all TV is either VHF high band or UHF band which are covered by "old antennas" that were both VHF and UHF antennas.

Is this still true ? I am opting out of getting internet and cable over the winter, as that defeats the purpose of getting away. I would like some channels though, so I bought 3x different HD TVs antennas , and aim at Rattlesnake out the window from the Gilford shoreline. No roof unit possible with HOA rules.

From any angle I get 7x stations, antenna plugged in or not.

Antenna TV
Justice Network
Quest Network
Some version of Animal Planet that is called something else
3x Portland stations, 1x is the NBC affiliate, two are local nothing channels.

Am I buying the wrong brand? I imagine not and this is what I should expect. If so I will hope low-def Justice network comes in on clear days and watch Yukon Gold and Appalachian Cowboys on Quest all winter. Father Knows Best on Antenna HD for a change of pace....

But if I can do better please for the love of God let me know how? Even ION would be a step up.

You know, I could go for that, just the basic four channels for free via the broadcast system ….. without the cable or satellite.

Ever since the WTA-women's tennis totally left the Tennis Channel and created their own wta.com for streaming ….. the cable and satellite is not worth it …. plus not having cable and satellite definitely encourages the reading of books, books, books, and great expensive books are available very cheap all over from all the thrift stores, plus the libraries....


and, unlike the tv …..books do not include 20-30 minutes of advertising for each and every hour of broadcast …… lose the cable/satellite ….. go freebie, old school broadcasting?

For $35.99, Amazon has the Vansky outdoor 150 mile motorized 360 degree rotation OTA amplified HD TV antenna w/ 32.8' coaxial cable ….. a one time purchase.

Would it be legal to float a tethered balloon up to the 60' level?

You could bring it back down when you're not there and when high winds are imminent.

I think that's a great idea. Drop your internet and read more books, Please!:D