Quote:
Originally Posted by fool
...
There is also an old antenna on the roof put up by previous owner (pre-2009) so I guess it was used for analog signals. I have to check it's wiring and experiment a bit.
Can I improve my setup, still keeping it simple, or just stick with current cheapo antenna?
|
If that "old" antenna is still on the roof, then the first thing that you should do is to see how well it works. That is, how many channels do you receive with it. You see, the only thing that an antenna does is to receive RF signals. The set of RF signals that broadcast today's digital signals in Boston is a subset of those that broadcast the analog signals in the Boston area in days of yore.
With the "old" antenna connected to your TV, scan for AIR or ANTENNA channels. If make a note of all channels that you receive and all of those listed in your TVFR that you do not receive. If you receive a channel clearly with your "old" antenna, then there is nothing that a new antenna can do to improve the situation. For those channels that you don't receive, you should determine why you don't receive them before you consider a new antenna.
It may be that the antenna is pointed in the wrong direction, the broadcast tower is too far away, you are suffering from multi-path signals, or some other reason that may or may not be solved by a different antenna.
Based on your TVFR, I doubt that you need a new antenna. You have numerous signals at your address what should be easily be receivable by the most modest of outdoor antenna and even by indoor antennas. If there some channels that you want but cannot receive, then do the following:
- Describe your antenna by either exact model or give model of a similar antenna from Winegard or Channel Master.
- In what direction is your antenna aimed?
- List any significant signal obstructions and their directions from you near your residence. These include tall buildings, trees, etc.
- List the call letters and RF channel numbers of the stations that you want to receive but cannot.