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How to find WCNY’s Plus Channel

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Find the Plus Channel on TV and get ready for the 46-hour Downtown Abbey marathon

Downton Abbey | Series Six We return to the sumptuous setting of Downton Abbey for the sixth and final season of this internationally acclaimed hit drama series. As our time with the Crawleys begins to draw to a close, we see what will finally become of them all. The family and the servants, who work for them, remain inseparably interlinked as they face new challenges and begin forging different paths in a rapidly changing world. Photographer: Nick Briggs

Time Warner Digital Cable viewers will find WCNY Plus on channel 1277, and Verizon FiOs viewers will find Plus on channel 468.

DirecTV and Dish Network viewers will need to purchase an antenna (or make your own!). We sat down with WCNY engineer Terry Long to get the scoop on home antennas.

Choosing the right antenna

Many factors such as distance from the signal tower, thickness and composition of walls, even trees impact how much signal will reach your TV.

Antenna Sensitivity: Sensitivity measures the weakest signal the antenna can detect.

Gain: The gain of antenna refers to how much signal the antenna will collect.

Terry’s Top Picks

antennas-direct-c4-cjm-20-inch-clearstream-4-extreme-range-uhf-outdoor-antenna-mount-2-600x600Highest Sensitivity

The Antennas Direct ClearStream 4 Extreme Range UHF Outdoor Antenna is hard to beat. The antenna is quite large (20×28 inches) and offers accessories like a booster amplifier. The booster amplifier makes the antenna more powerful, making sure the television signal is as strong as possible. The Antennas Direct DB8e Extreme Range Multi-Directional Bowtie UHF Antenna is even larger, at 50×36 inches, and offers one of the highest gains available to the general public.

 

 

spin_prod_1056062712Medium Sensitivity*

The Antennas Direct C1C ClearStream 1 indoor/outdoor or the GE Attic Mount Antenna may be your answer. Still having trouble getting a signal? Try the Antennas Direct C2 ClearStream UHF Antenna. It’s small enough to try inside near the TV and rugged enough to use on a window frame, deck or the roof. (This antenna was top rated by WCNY Public Media staff during the TV conversion rush in 2009.)

*The strength Terry recommends for most viewers

 

LowLower Sensitivity

The RCA Digital Flat Passive Antenna or the Mohu MH-110583 Leaf 30 HDTV Antennas are not amplified, but give good reception. The Winegard FL5500A Flatwave Amped Razor Thin HDTV Indoor Antenna contains an amplifier. Amplifiers are especially useful for apartments or aluminum sided homes which have difficulty receiving signal. The TERK Omni-Directional Amplified Digital Flat Indoor HDTV Antenna and the RCA ANT1750R Digital Flat Indoor Amplified Antenna are also in this category. If the picture and sound are breaking up, try hanging the antenna on a south facing wall or window. (A picture can be hung over the antenna to hide it!)

 

MAKE008-tMake an antenna

Feeling crafty? Watch this short video to find out how to make your very own HDTV digital antenna at home.

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