One antenna setup that works in our area
  With analog broadcasting set to end February 17, 2009, people are beginning to pay more attention to their TV antennas. Here are some things to know:
  • If you have cable or satellite service, it will continue uninterrupted. You don't have to change anything.
  • Any TV's you have that don't have cable or satellite, but instead rely on "rabbit ears" or an outdoor antenna, will be affected. You will no longer receive signals from most of your stations.
  • You will need a new TV or digital converter box if you have an older TV that's hooked to "rabbit ears" or an outdoor antenna. There's more here.
  • After February 17, the "signal-rich" get richer and the "signal-poor" get poorer. Here's what that means. If you have reasonably good signals now, you will get great digital signals with better quality and new channels. But if you have snowy or ghosted signals now, you may get nothing at all. That's why you may need to upgrade your antenna.

So here's a good antenna upgrade strategy:

  • First, plug in your DTV converter box or new TV to your regular old antenna and see what you get. Many people will do just fine; others will find that they lose channels.
  • If you can't get most or all of your channels, do this antenna upgrade: Get a ChannelMaster 4228HD with the 7777 amplifier and a rotator. Get help installing it if you need it. This combination is well proven in Shenandoah Valley installations.
  • Make sure the antenna is pointing in the right direction by entering your address at www.tvfool.com and printing out the charts it will generate.
  • Finally, if you want an antenna and equipment strategy that will give you a surprisingly cable-like experience, try the rig below:
  Channels received by this setup one block from Bridgewater College:

3.1 ABC Harrisonburg – HDTV
3.2 FOX Harrisonburg – SD
3.3 ABC Winchester – SD
3.4 MNTV Harrisonburg – SD
6.1 CBS Richmond – HDTV
6.2 24-hr Richmond weather – SD
8.1 ABC Richmond – HDTV
12.1 NBC Richmond – HDTV
12.2 24-hr Richmond weather – SD
23.1 PBS Richmond – HDTV
23.2 PBS Richmond – SD
23.3 PBS Richmond – SD
29.1 NBC Charlottesville – HDTV
29.2 24-hr. Charlottesville weather – SD
29.3 CW Charlottesville – SD
35.1 FOX Richmond – HDTV
35.2 Richmond – SD
51.1 PBS Staunton – HDTV
51.2 PBS Staunton – SD
51.3 PBS Staunton Hispanic interest SD
65.1 CW Richmond – HDTV


This is one antenna setup that is known to work in Bridgewater. The top antenna, a ChannelMaster 4248, points to the southeast to pick up Charlottesville and Richmond stations. The lower antenna, a Winegard Sensar, points northeast to pick up Harrisonburg's TV3. The two antennas are combined with a ChannelMaster Join-Tenna. It takes TV3's digital signal, actually broadcast on UHF Channel 49, and combines it with all other channels coming from the other antenna.
  Important notes for those who would like to give this antenna setup a try:
  • If you are happy with your cable or satellite service, stay with it. Although they are very reliable once installed, antennas take some time and effort to set up right.
  • Installation locally is available from Timberville Electronics (and no, your webmaster doesn't get any commissions on this -- I'm just a satisfied customer.)
  • The channel lineup I get -- elsewhere on this page -- uses the best digital receiver and video recorder currently available, the DTVPal DVR. It records and plays back in high definition and includes a program guide with no monthly fees.
  • For a more on antennas, go to www.plainmoney.com/antenna