Help in Queens, NY (NYC)
 

Hi Everyone -

I live in Jackson Heights (Queens), NY - 5.5 Miles East the Empire State Building - on the fourth floor of a six-story apartment building, facing the city. The top floor of the building has a direct line of sight to the ESB.

My Signal Analysis

I suppose I am fortunate to live so close to the city and that most all of my channels come in crystal clear almost all of the time, but it makes it that much more frustrating when I can't get anything.

My only real problem is PBS 13. When it comes in, the picture is beautiful, but most of the time it is unwatchable or doesn't come in at all.

I have tried a couple of different antennas. Right now I have a Terk FDTV2A flat digital antenna. It has an amplifier and an FM trap, but I find that it works better without it (I think). It just sits on the window sill and works well, except PBS. On very clear, still days, it comes in OK, but rain and winds cut out reception out entirely.

So here's my question. Do you think that getting an outdoor antenna and mounting it directly outside our window (on our A/C) would make a significant difference? I doubt that our co-op would allow us to put anything on the roof. If not, then is there a significantly better indoor antenna I should try? Should I use the amplifier?

Thanks!

Thanks for the info on in door antennas - that pretty much squares with my experience so far.

But my real question was whether I would benefit at all by putting an outdoor antenna (any kind) up directly outside my window, or if I would really need to run the antenna to the roof to get better reception. I guess this might be impossible to answer, too, but does anyone think it might be worth trying?

All you can do is try: if your window faces the ESB, it may be all you need. If the window doesn't face the ESB, then you may have to go to the roof to get interruption-free reception.

Tv Reception
 

Thank you both!