Is it still tailgating if you only use an antenna?

The 21-22 NFL football is scheduled to start on September 9, 2021. That means that if you’re reading this on the day I published it, you have only a few weeks left to build a killer tailgate setup. But you may be asking yourself, what if I don’t want satellite TV?

Well, that’s a big question.

I think we all agree that DIRECTV, with its NFL Sunday Ticket package, is the key to an awesome tailgating setup. With the right satellite dish, you can have a virtually limitless tailgate setup. But hey, that might be moving too fast. You might be just starting to dip your toes into the world of tailgating. You might not be ready to commit.

And hey, that’s fine too. At Solid Signal, we’re here to help you make your dreams come true. And I mean, YOUR dreams. If your tailgate dream is a system that would make a sports bar owner drool, we’re here for it. If you would just rather watch the pregame on a TV in the truck bed while you’re waiting to go in, that’s great as well.

And that brings up the title of this article.

Yes, it’s still tailgating.

And by the way, it’s still tailgating if you don’t have a tailgate. If you show up in your RV and set up the grill and a TV, that’s still tailgating. Tailgating is what you want it to be. It’s the experience of being with other people around the time of the game that matters, not the details.

Besides, in a lot of cities, local NFL games are carried on your CBS station. If all you’re looking to do is get the pregame where you are, why not save a little money? It’s true, you won’t get the entire Sunday Ticket experience, but it’s still football, right? And that’s a good thing.

Choosing an antenna for your tailgate rig

Obviously you don’t want a big, spiky 11-foot-long antenna for your tailgate setup. I recommend something like an Antop UFO antenna. It stows away easily, mounts to any post or pole (like a stake you put in your pickup truck bed) and it plugs into any 110 volt power source to give you incredible performance without the need to aim it.

This antenna should get great reception up to 60 miles from the broadcast towers, and that’s going to be enough range for you to sit in the parking lot of the stadium. You’ll need a few other things, like an inverter if you don’t have a source of 110 volt power, and of course the TV. With just those things, you’re on your way to a lifetime of entertainment!

Get what you need from Solid Signal

Our team can help you build a tailgate setup that’s perfect for you. Shop for what you need at Solid Signal, or get advice from the experts! Call us during East Coast business hours at 888-233-7563. If you’d rather have us contact you, fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you, usually within 24 hours!

 

About the Author

Stuart Sweet
Stuart Sweet is the editor-in-chief of The Solid Signal Blog and a "master plumber" at Signal Group, LLC. He is the author of over 10,000 articles and longform tutorials including many posted here. Reach him by clicking on "Contact the Editor" at the bottom of this page.