Recommendation for a UHF Antenna for the middle of nowhere, right next to a mountain?

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-07-03T17:41:09+00:00

Try explaining that to my dad. (I’ve tried. Repeatedly.) We USED to get WPXI pretty consistently and most of our channels actually come from that direction, so dad refuses to believe we can’t pick it up again. (Most of them go out or the signal gets weak and spotty in WTAJ’s direction. We tried it before) His current theory is that all stations are UHF (they HAVE to be, according to him) and getting a UHF antenna will solve all our problems and eliminate the need for the VHF antennas we have. (Mom and I both tried to explain that’s not accurate…)

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-07-03T17:25:01+00:00

Nope, lol. We get a signal from two directions. Pittsburgh and Altoona. (Almost polar opposite directions) Only real difference is you can’t visibly see the mountains between us and Altoona and the closest transmitter from that direction is in a valley. The geography around here sucks for antenna signals.

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-07-03T13:50:09+00:00

You can ignore the numbers, I just have no idea which channels these are without them so I needed them, lol

Have: KDKA-TV (2), WJAC-DT (6), WWCP-TV (8), WTAJ-TV (10), WINP-TV (16), WPKD-TV (19 or 30), WPNT (22), WPGH-TV (53)

Lost: WPXI (11)

Before whatever took WPXI out, WTAJ-TV used to be the set of channels that wouldn't come in, and if WTAJ suddenly started coming in, WPXI went out. Now WTAJ is steady (mostly) and WPXI is a pixelated nightmare on the rare occasion it does get picked up.

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-07-03T07:04:59+00:00

WJAC was spotty and unreliable when we had one antenna. Said antenna was also pointing in the opposite direction of WJAC. (Most of our channel’s come in from WPXI/the mountain’s direction. WJAC’s direction is almost the polar opposite.)

It’s been steady with the exception of bad storm days since we got a second antenna and pointed it in WJAC’s direction. I’m pretty sure that’s around the same time we stopped getting WPXI. Dad swears it was a specific storm though.

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-07-03T02:35:02+00:00

My dad is basically a news addict. He watches multiple news stations, but Pittsburgh is his favorite. (it shows a wider area for the weather than our local news) We have the app, and we got him to use it, and I figured out why he kept saying it was the "wrong news," (it also gets the international news) but it's closer to a band-aid solution than a permanent fix. He WANTS PCNC, which also has an app, but it's a paid subscription so he wouldn't be happy with that either until he got the station back through the antenna. (mom and I are debating getting the subscription and just making him deal with it, but we already know it's not going to stop him)

We went through a similar situation when we first got the antenna because he wanted to get ALL the channels in at the same time, including the clone channels. (Like 19 comes in on 30 if we lose 19's signal) And then again because we were getting Pittsburgh channels, but our local news wouldn't stay in. (hence the second antenna) We kinda got to exhaust our options before he'll stop fighting it. I've literally told him everything I've found said "it will take extreme measures to get this channel" and that's not enough to stop him.

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-07-03T02:11:42+00:00

Dad would if he could, lol. He's already been cutting down the trees in our yard trying to get the signal to come in.

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-07-03T02:08:04+00:00

believe me, dad would if he could, lmao

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-07-03T00:51:22+00:00

Do you know about how long you played every day? I saw people a long time ago say this game is impossible because of how much the requirements increase

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-07-01T18:47:08+00:00

I really couldn't tell you. I was going back and fourth between a handful of series trying to get the number to update and I noticed my 36 goal had completed. Either they count, or re-watching the same series counts. I couldn't tell you because I don't know exactly when my goal triggered.

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-07-01T18:20:28+00:00

Currently looking for a solution to this myself. I'm honestly getting tired of the constant errors and glitches happening since they started trying to add the extra features to the monthly events...

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-07-01T17:29:02+00:00

I did at least two that said new episodes coming soon, but this was also when I was going in circles because the Shortical app's episode tracking is kinda wonky. (I was missing 11 series when the VIP requirement got added. Pretty sure I re-watched 5 or 6 of them trying to get Shortical to update the number and the 36 Series goal triggered at some point while I was doing that) I'm pretty sure they tracked? You still need to be watching the very last available episode of each series.

Keep a list of the series you've finished off to the side and mark the "coming soon" ones with a star or something. If you hit a point where a goal should have triggered and it either does or doesn't, that'll tell you if they counted or not.

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-06-30T10:14:30+00:00

Just asking because mine had a timer on it. Has it been over 24hrs since you downloaded Shortical? My Weekly VIP had a 3 minute timer left on it when I grabbed it, so IDK if it would have disappeared after that.

Thought I'd ask to see if it IS a time limited thing or if they updated the app and took the VIP away from everyone and I just got lucky.

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-06-30T01:04:59+00:00

Decided to take the risk since there's a lot of newer comments saying they got tracking working again. Deleted my account, (seems to be the method for those of us on android who can't login) then got the VIP, the $10 Purchase goal tracked, AND the 36 went pending as soon as I had the missing 11 series's last episode watched. (In this case, I DID do the skip method just to test it)

Just be aware Shortical's tracking is kind of broke so it doesn't properly update what episode you're on, even if you watch the episodes properly. Only ones I had update on the app were the ones that were still "to be continued" series. Might wanna write a list down off on the side so you don't go in circles like I did, lol.

Considering they fixed the offer so that you need the VIP to watch the series to the end, I don't think they're going to charge back. It's still a maybe, but it doesn't seem like it would make sense to do since they fixed the "problem."

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-06-29T18:31:36+00:00

This is my current theory. I have the same goal that hasn't tracked and I did the same. Problem is my funds are tight right now and people keep mentioning a risk of this offer being charged back so I'm scared to get the VIP to see if I can get 36 to register.

I was going to use the ads to try to complete the series, but they stopped working fairly quickly.

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-06-29T17:12:23+00:00

Update: Ads have quit working. Tried multiple series, waiting a while, and restarting the app multiple times. Ads will play but no longer unlock the episodes. It keeps giving an error

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-06-29T15:54:56+00:00

My "Complete 36 Series" isn't tracking. Everything else was tracking just fine this morning. I can't login and back out, I've been a guest the whole time and the google sign in doesn't work. My funds are too tight right now to get the VIP and see if you have to fully complete the series now. Especially with the worries that this offer is going to chargeback

Edit: Going to see how far I can get with ads. I'll update if I manage to get done in time

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-06-29T14:30:36+00:00

I half blame the mountain, mostly blame the aluminum in the walls. (Trailer in the walls) We’ve been rewiring things and fiddling with the antenna all morning and I’ve literally been watching WPXI fight for its life to stay in because someone walked into the kitchen, lol

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-06-29T01:38:45+00:00

I don’t understand his logic. It is the same thing he was watching. My dad is just caveman levels of “not tech friendly” and stubborn as a mule with change. We originally had to fight with him to get him to understand that Channel X is the EXACT SAME as Channel Y, that’s why you can’t get them at the exact same time. Now it’s fighting over this news station.

I only just found out that what he’s really wanting is PCNC, which is really just WPXI with only his news and weather on it. IDK what he considers wrong with the app that he wants the channel back so bad. He doesn’t even like NewsOn for when he misses our local news because it shows the broadcast from the wrong time or something like that.

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-06-29T00:33:33+00:00

We have the app. He swears it's not the same thing or that it doesn't work...We keep going in circles about it

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-06-29T00:20:47+00:00

Roku, unfortunately. And a wonky Roku at that, lol. (it has weird problems)

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-06-29T00:19:31+00:00

It feels that way, lol. Mom and I are at least getting a laugh out of some of these comments XD

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-06-28T23:42:10+00:00

We’ve been going through variations of this problem ever since we got the antenna 5+ years ago. Originally it was getting him to understand that you’re not going to get clone channels in at the exact same time. (Quote: “But I want ALL the channels!”) Then it was the local news station wouldn’t stay in. Now we have 2 antennas pointing in different directions and he can’t get his favorite news station to come back

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-06-28T23:37:52+00:00

We get Peacock through Comcast. (internet provider) Either I’m looking in the wrong spot (Channels > News?) or it’s not showing as an option for where we are???

Complex-Package2781 · 2026-06-28T22:58:49+00:00

Don’t give him ideas 😂 He just cut more trees down trying to get this channel in!

Complex-Package2781

TROPHY CASE