Mohu Antennas for OTA... UPDATE 7/29/15!
Resource for finding YOUR local OTA channels via Zip Code/Address:
TVFool.com
For cable-TV and satellite prisoners who are thinking of "cutting the cord," there are so many antennas to choose from and recommendations, it can be mind-boggling. This is my cord-cutting experience in a difficult signal location.
I've been thinking of cutting the cord, so I picked up a
Mohu Leaf Ultimate omnidirectional flat antenna from my local
Sam's Club for $49... might also be found in your local Walmart store. This model has its own amp and a 50-mile range for UHF and 20-mile range for VHF. Mohu has another omnidirectional antenna called
the Sky ($149.99) with its own amp and 60/45-mile range, designed for roof-top or attic install. I also got one of those from
Walmart online for the same price.
They're easy to test since they're quite small and light and come completely assembled... just add the separate amp/cable that comes with them. Being available at a Walmart store or online is a bonus... ship to home or store and return to store.
My Location
I'm in a single-story house with basement, equidistant between two DMAs with transmitters south and north of me. LOS to the south has one 1200' mountain, and tall trees.LOS to north is similar, with an added ridge in between.
TVFool identifies 38 OTA channels/subchannels within
physical range of my location, 45-60 miles to the towers, 23 channels from south, 15 channels from north. I receive 27 channels through my Leaf and all 38 with my Sky antenna. Those channels include low-powered NBC to the south (20KW) & north (48KW). My reception includes 6 ION channels which my wife/CFO loves... it has a main channel with recent-series and not-so-old movies, "Life" channel, cartoon/animal/learning channel, and 3 SHOPPING CHANNELS (SHOP, QVC, HSN)!
The location of my Leaf antenna is unusual,,, taped to a basement window. As many are prone to say here, "that'll never work (so don't even try it)!" I started with my Sky antenna screwed into the brick exterior near the same basement window, essentially at ground level, eventually moving it to the peak of my roof.
Mohu Leaf Ultimate (Indoor, Amplified, Omnidirectional)
I tested the Leaf first to feed one of my three upstairs TVs connected via RG59 coax with no splitters. The Leaf comes with its own amp and a 16' coax. Of course, this antenna and amp go
inside the house.
I taped the Leaf on a south-facing window in my
BASEMENT where my old cable TV line enters the house. It's just a small opening
at ground level thru concrete block and brick siding...
NO LOS TO NORTH!
Since the basement window faces south, I was hoping the Leaf would capture the southern DMA directly, while the 2-story vinyl-sided house next door (~50' away) would bounce the northern signals back toward my window. Otherwise, there's ~70' of my house blocking the north LOS from the basement!
Surprise! With the Leaf and using only the Mohu amp, I got 27 channels, 21 direct from south and 6 bounced from north...
from basement window with no LOS to north!!!
Mohu Leaf Ultimate - Inside On South-Facing Basement Window Feeding Single TV thru ~50' Coax, No Splitters, 27 Channels in Summer (Full-Leaf) ... (that's Xmas lights hanging down)
Mohu Sky (Attic or Outdoor, Amplified, Omnidirectional)
The Sky comes with its own amp and a 30' coax that has a waterproof boot on one end for connecting to the antenna. I didn't use Mohu's coax since I was able to use the ~35' of the cableco's RG6 coax that goes into my house at the basement window. Of course, the Mohu amp connects to that coax
inside the house.
I tested the Sky to see if it could feed my two main upstairs TVs and eliminate the Leaf on one TV (see above). The Sky worked for all those two TVs through two 2-way splitters and ~150' of existing RG59 coax inside the house.
I attached the Sky on south-facing brink wall on the right side of my house, ground-level, next to an aluminum downspout, near the basement window where the Leaf is installed. It got all my expected channels except signal strength fluctuated on some of them.
Mohu Sky - Outside on South-Facing Wall At Ground Level, Right Side, Feeding 2 TVs thru ~150' Coax & 2 splitters, 38 channels in Summer (Full-Leaf)
