[TurboZamboni]

do those wacky looking hdtv attenaes really work? ( the ones that mount on a wall or window)

[Star Traveler]

They are of limited usefulness ... and it just depends on how the reception is and how far away they are and where most of them are grouped.

[867V309]

do those wacky looking hdtv attenaes really work?

I don't know, but I do know my old vhf-uhf roof antenna does a spectacular job.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

No, they suck @ss. Get a good-old rabbit ears and spread those puppies out.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Yes, they do. For local HD chans. My hubby watches....but I despise network news.

[virgil283]

'do those wacky looking hdtv attenaes really work'

No not the best put up one on a pole outside or in the attic and use an in-line amplifier ($20)...

[deoetdoctrinae]

do those wacky looking hdtv attenaes really work? ( the ones that mount on a wall or window)

You may not even need one of those. A cable guy showed me how to make one out of about a 2' length of co-ax. I can get about a dozen HD channels just using that. If you're in a big metro area you should do even better than that.

[smokingfrog]

A DB4 antenna will work for 30-40 miles.

[mrsmith]

If you live in an urban or suburban area you’ll get HD network channels and 10 to 20 other excellent definition channels with a $20 antenna.

Check out the link to antennaweb above.

For the few good cable shows, like Walking Dead, I think you’re stuck though. Downloading them from “link” sites is one option.

[sheana]

I have one of those wacky digital antennas that I use on my boat and it works just fine. I get quite a few channels. Everything else I watch for free, the latest and newest stuff, from free streaming websites by hooking my iPad to my tv.
I don’t pay for anything. Everything is available streaming for free.

[bk1000]

“do those wacky looking hdtv attenaes really work? ( the ones that mount on a wall or window)”

I saw one at a friend’s house this past weekend. I was surprised at how well it worked. The house is about 25 miles from the city and they were able to get most, but not all local stations in HD. Between that and a Roku box you’d be set.
(They couldn’t get the local NBC station, but others were fine)

[Hugin]

do those wacky looking hdtv attenaes really work? ( the ones that mount on a wall or window)

It depends how far you are from the transmitter, the terrain, etc. If you are within 10 miles of the tower you are fine. If you are farther, or have obstructions in the way they may cut out or not get certain stations.

[Nowhere Man]

do those wacky looking hdtv attenaes really work? ( the ones that mount on a wall or window)

Well, dunno but I get great HDTV reception using a set of rabbit ears from 1959 on my 1982 Zenith. I use a Zenith DT-900 converter box to receive HDTV. BTW, I saw the same exact antenna they advertised for HDTV as a do it yourselfer in a Science and Mechanics Magazine, June 1959 issue. Basically it is a huge bow-tie antenna optimized for UHF. I know it can pck up VHF signals but the DIY 1959 antenna is more designed to do that.

[Clinging Bitterly]

You don't need a special "HDTV" antenna and in my opinion the old classic antenna designs work better.

We haven't had sat or cable for a couple years. We are using Netflix and Amazon Prime but honestly we don't use either of them very much. What we are doing is watching a whole lot less TV than we used to.

And not missing it.

[Zathras]

Depends on the distance to the transmitter.

[Company Man]

Go to youtube and search ‘HD antenna comparison’ or similar. You'll find dozens of comparison vids, some are very informative.

[trebb]

...do those wacky looking hdtv attenaes really work? ( the ones that mount on a wall or window)

From what I hear, they are pretty good if you are in an area that allows solid reception. Unlike old style broadcasts, the digital stays rock solid (doesn't go to snow) until it loses enough signal to just stop working. We have an old antenna (circa 1986) on a pole that extends above our roof and it picks up a number of the digital stations just fine even though not "specifically designed for digital".

I f you intend to go the over-the-air route, I would check to see how many stations might be within reach and consider mounting a pole in the ground and attaching it to a eave so it can extend above the roof line for best results.