looking for some "free lunch" guidance

[steffco]

I am living in a apt in traverse City MI. that faces a large bay to the west and would like ID the best likely set up for a indoor(window?) or smaller outdoor ANT that I could mount on my balcony. I think I can live without cable if I can get the 4 major channels.

This what got to work with.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...cc491753413c0c

I have tried a $70 TERK digital omni directional from BB and a couple of different cheapo rabbit ears from k-mart and they all got the same stations either straight to the TV or by having a digital converter box scan for channels. I have tried moving them around the apt but they seem to do best pointing out a big window to the west.

last night all I could get usable was 9.1-40 wwtv and 9.2 wfqx and a real weak 12.0
This morning while re-scanning i was able to get 27.1,27.2 and 27.3 as well though they are kinda iffy and even worse now since it is snowing.

Any hints, suggestions, directions would be appreciated.

So there are window to the west.

Are there window to the east??

What directions are the balconies??

The best building construction for indoor antenna reception is , wood with wood or vinyl siding and a composition shingle roof.

The following is a - non complete - list of building construction that will reduce or block more signal.

Metal siding , metal backed insulation , metal roof , solar panels , concrete walls , concrete blocks , bricks , big rocks for walls , other apartments between your apartment and the Tv transmitters.

What is the building construction and arrangement of apartments in the directions of the Tv transmitters??

What floor is the apartment ??

What is the top floor of the building??

___________________________________

The following Digital Tv stations/channels are to the east.

WCMV-DT REAL UHF Digital channel 17 ,virtual number (27.1) PBS.

WPBN-TV REAL UHF Digital channel 47 , virtual number (x) NBC.

WGTU REAL UHF Digital channel 29 , virtual number (29.1) ABC.

__________________________________

The following Digital Tv station/channels are to the west.

WWTV REAL UHF Digital channel 40 , virtual number (x) CBS and FOX.

And it looks like a Analog Tv station/channel is to the west , WLLZ-LP . VHF Analog channel 12.
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/WLLZ-LP.

___________________________________

[steffco]

I am on the middle floor of a 3 story single depth building and my balcony faces west.

I do have a window that faces east but the reception from that window does not seen to be any better than from the west (297)facing window with any of the 5 ANTs I have tried. There are trees and rising terrain behind me to the east.

When I try the window to the east I use the existing cable outlets that are in the apt with no amplifier and I get a usable signal from the tower from the west but no signal from the tower to the east.


I am able to get decent reception on channel 17 from the tower to the east with my rabbit ears in my west window and would love to find ANT that would allow me to get the other 2 channels from that tower as well.

I have tried 2 different flat ants, a outdoor double bow tie and another rabbit ear model but the cheap rabbit ear RCA ANT111R has not been beat.

Thanks for the help so far

Put the ANT111R antenna at/in the east window and run a coax from the ANT111R antenna to the Tv.

DO NOT connect to any cable/coax outlets in the apartment.

Aim the ANT111R antenna at about 99 degree magnetic compass direction.

Here is how to aim indoor and outdoor antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Digital Tuners can develop - Digital Glitches - that are not cleared out with a simple channel rescan.

I recommend do a Double Channel Rescan.

http://www.dtv.gov/rescan.html.

You can also put the ANT111R antenna out on the balcony and test reception.

DO NOT connect to any cable/coax outlets.

Connect a coax to the ANT111R antenna and run the coax direct to the Tv.