another basement apt question

[dhawk312]

Like many of the other posts I've seen here, I just moved and am temporarily in a basement apartment. After being cable free for a while (thanks to Roku and Netflix) I decided to put together an HTPC for OTA broadcasts. I cannot have an outdoor antenna at my apt so I pulled out my trusty indoor Terk HDTVa with amplifier and hooked it up directly to my W7MC HTPC via Hauppauge tv tuner. As I have a directional antenna I pointed it in the direction of the closest and best coverage area. I get about 15 channels, including ABC, CBS, and Fox but not NBC. I really want to get all 4 of these stations--I don't care about receiving any of the other channels (e.g., PBS, CW, MyNetwork). Here is my TV Signal Analysis:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...81a3f106ba28ea

As you can see the NBC tower is slightly (about 2 miles) further than PBS 19.1, for which I get near perfect reception. I also get very good reception on CBS and FOX which are about 25 miles away with 1Edge. If I move the antenna slightly then I lose ABC, but do not gain an additional channels.

Any suggestions?

[John Candle]

Are there any satellite dishes or other antennas on any of apartment buildings? The reason I ask is because there are some tv antennas that look similar to small satellite dishes. And some that look like a strip of plastic.

[dhawk312]

There is a satellite dish on the backside of our building facing toward channels 27 & 11. However, it is not attached to the building. It is attached to like a 4 feet tall pole close to the building. I have not seen dishes on any of the other buildings.

I spent quite a bit of time playing with the antenna's position and I've been able to get a strong (yellow to green in W7MC) but inconsistent signal from NBC (41.1).

What kind of antenna did you have in mind?

[John Candle]

Please Know that Tv transmissions are not like cell phone transmissions with cell phone towers every where. Tv transmission and reception is best when it is line of sight between the transmitting tower and receiving antenna. There are not tv transmitting towers scattered every where like cell phone towers. Any thing less then line of sight is - less then line of sight -. And the reception will be less. You are doing well to get as many channels as you are in the basement. Here is a antenna that looks similar to a satellite dish , Antennacraft HDX 1000. Please note that this antenna and other small outdoor antennas are a compromise on reception. Here are two of several places to buy tv antennas http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.antennacraft.net , http://www.channelmasterstore.com , http://www.winegarddirect.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.warrenelectronics.com

[John Candle]

Read and understand , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=695 , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=233