Suggestion for Antenna

[Neil41487]

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d03f38e3638cf63

I live on the 4th floor of an apartment building and the analysis says I should be able to point an antenna roughly south (parallel with my windows) and pick up channels in Boston roughly 48 miles away.

I'm looking for a suggestion on what antenna would be good for this application that won't disrupt the building, as I'm renting. I'm also looking for ways to mount the antenna.

Thanks,
Neil

[John Candle]

When you look out the window from inside the room , are you looking south?? Is there a balcony for your apt. on the south side that faces south??

[Neil41487]

The "TV" room window faces west, but its huge. No balcony.

I was thinking of having the antenna hang off of the window sill facing south, if its directional.

[GroundUrMast]

Provided that the window is not equipped with a metal screen or conductive film...

The Antennas Direct CS4 comes to mind. It's appropriate for outdoor installation but can be used indoors, at a window. It may be a bit easier to look at than the electrically similar DB4, and panel antennas by Antennacraft, Channel Master and Winegard.

Facing 220° through a window should provide a full line up of networks.

[John Candle]

Is the south facing wall a wood frame wall with wood or vinyl siding?? The reason I ask is that metal siding , concrete walls , thick bricks , stucko wire can reduce or block tv transmissions. Tv signals pass more easy through wood and vinal siding. Have you tried any indoor antennas??

[Neil41487]

I'm unsure of the materials, I know its at least vinyl siding on the outside. Its a new construction as of 2007, so I imagine it's mostly just wood.

I tried some RCA antenna from Walmart just to see if it would work, but that was limited to 25 miles, which is out of the range of any stations.

I've looked into Terk directional intennas that I planned on hanging outside the window parallel to the building so it faced the correct direction.

[John Candle]

This antenna is mounted on the outside. The antenna looks like a small dish. I recommend the Antennacraft HDX1000 , http://www.antennacraft.net/Manuals/HDX1000_manual.pdf . The antenna can be turned when mounted on the curved pipe to the direction of the Tv transmitters and then tighten the clamps on the back of the antenna. Here are places to buy Tv antennas and etc. , http://www.antennacraft.net , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.3starinc.com , http://www.digicircle.com (http://digicircle.com)

[John Candle]

Read and understand about , REAL Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Virtual Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Analog Broadcast Tv Channels , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=695 . Here are some but not all free Tv guides , http://www.zap2it.com , http://television.aol.com , http://tv.yahoo.com , http://tv.entertainment.excite.com , http://www.titantv.com , http://www.tvzap.com

[Neil41487]

I realized that I tried the antenna on an old 13" TV and the OTA signals require a tuner now. I'm bring my HDTV up to the new place this evening and will try again. My TV model is LNT3253H (Samsung, ~5 years old), which should be fine without a digital converter.

Some more details though; I plan on using an HDHomeRun as my tuner, and a HTPC with WMC on it as my DVR/Media Manager. I'll connect the antenna signal directly to the tuner.

Any more questions feel free to ask. I can also take pictures of the view out the window to get more opinions.

-Neil

[John Candle]

The answer is NO. Omnidirectional directional antennas indoors do not work well , the reason is all the signal reflections (multipath) indoors , and having a omnidirectional amplified indoor antenna amplifies the signal reflections and makes the reception even worse. If you will like to try a standard indoor type antenna then try one of these , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=233 . These standard rods and loop type indoor antennas have been around for a very long time , the reason is they work , and the fancy wiz bang antennas fail. For your location extend the rods out length ways on a north south line. And adj. the rods to a low V shape. The antenna will receive better close to window that is in the direction of the transmitters.

[John Candle]

A truth about wiz bang antennas , they usually sell for more money. It's about the money , it's not about getting the best Tv reception.

[Tower Guy]

I'm looking for a suggestion on what antenna would be good for this application that won't disrupt the building, as I'm renting. I'm also looking for ways to mount the antenna.


I'd be thinking of a flower box hanging from the sill. On the end of the box facing SSW I'd mount a C-1 antenna.

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=C1&d=Antennas-Direct-C1-ClearStream1-Outdoor-Digital-HD-TV-Antenna-%28C1%29&c=TV%20Antennas&sku=853748001316