TV Fool  

Go Back   TV Fool > Over The Air Services > Help With Reception

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 16-Jul-2017, 4:52 AM   #1
saddleback
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
Antenna for Apartment Balcony in Orange County

Thanks for your advice in advance.

I recently moved into an apartment complex in southeast Orange County and didn’t realize that I was moving to an area that was difficult to receive OTA TV from the LA Stations because of terrain challenges.

Here is the link to my TV Fool Report:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...e6a4b458708825

The channels I am hoping to get are 7 (ABC), 11 (FOX), 9 (KCAL), 36 (NBC), 43 (CBS), 48 (PBS). The other channels are not very important to us.

Due to apartment regulations, I can only have a tripod mounted antenna on the balcony or an indoor antenna. The attached photo shows my second-floor balcony on the left. It seems from the report the channels I am looking to receive from the Mt Wilson transmitters are at 314 degrees magnetic north. I believe my compass tells me that I would need to point the antenna in-between the 1st tree at the forefront of the picture and the side of the apartment building. The cable run from the TV to the antenna would be approximately 15ft.

The indoor antenna that I currently own is a Terk HDTVAZ, it has worked well at our last couple of houses but due to the terrain challenges I think I need to pursue an outside antenna. The Terk antenna is similar to this one sold on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Terk-HDTVAZ-A.../dp/B0007MXZB2. With the current indoor Terk antenna we can barely receive channel 11 (Fox LA) at night or channel 10 (ABC San Diego) at night.

I recently finished grad school so we are on a budget, but do you think there would be an outdoor antenna I could put on my balcony that could pull in the TV stations we would like to receive? I think I can buy a cheap used tripod that would work for an antenna off of craigslist or I could jerry-rig something together. We are hoping to avoid paying for Sling TV, Direct TV Now, cable, etc.

Thanks for your suggestions!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg TV Fool Balcony Post Picture.jpg (197.2 KB, 576 views)
saddleback is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-Jul-2017, 12:36 PM   #2
JoeAZ
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 413
You have multiple concerns with reception. What directions does your
balcony face? If the other building is partially blocking your already
weak signals, it will be nearly impossible to get reliable reception.
It is both interesting and telling that you are getting Rf 10 from S.D.
and Rf 11 from L.A. which are in opposite directions. At least one of
those signals is reflected to your current antenna. Not a good sign.
The close proximity of other structures also does not bode well for
reception. Of course, you don't want some huge monster of an
antenna creating an eyesight. Whatever antenna you decide to try
and experiment with, be certain you can return it for a full refund.
You might consider the Antennas Direct DB4e.
JoeAZ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-Jul-2017, 3:20 PM   #3
rabbit73
Retired A/V Tech
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: S.E. VA
Posts: 2,747
Welcome to the forum, saddleback

Thanks for the photo.

It is the real channel number that determines what antenna is needed.

VHF-Low, real channels 2-6
VHF-High, real channels 7-13
UHF, real channels 14-51

The virtual channel number (like 5.1) is a holdover from the analog TV days to maintain the identity of the station, and is what the TV displays.

The DB4E is primarily for UHF channels, but 7, 11, and 9 are on VHF-High. The DB4E doesn't have much gain on VHF, but it might be OK for 36, 43, and 48.

For 7, 11, and 9 you could try an MCM 30-2475 and combine it with the DB4E with a UVSJ UHF/VHF Separator-Joiner.
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/produc...-2475-/30-2475
UVSJ
https://www.antennasdirect.com/store...Combiners.html
NOT the MCM 33-2230

An alternative to the two antenna system would be a UHF/VHF combo antenna like the Winegard HD7694P.

You will need to use a preamp like the RCA TVPRAMP1R. It has two antenna inputs that eliminate the need for a UVSJ. I use it with a GE 34792 Attic/Indoor antenna, but my signals are stronger than your signals.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/RCA-Anten...ifier/14554631

If I were there, I would first try the 30-2475 and the preamp for 7, 11, and 9.
__________________
If you can not measure it, you can not improve it.
Lord Kelvin, 1883
http://www.megalithia.com/elect/aeri...ttpoorman.html

Last edited by rabbit73; 16-Jul-2017 at 6:28 PM.
rabbit73 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-Jul-2017, 2:25 PM   #4
saddleback
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
Thanks so much for your suggestions.

The balcony faces north and east. The side of the balcony that is facing the other apartment building in the picture is north and the other side of the balcony is east.
saddleback is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Go Back   TV Fool > Over The Air Services > Help With Reception


Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 10:55 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright © TV Fool, LLC