Help with indoor antenna setup

tavish28 · 18-Apr-2012, 3:47 PM

Looking for some help with my setup. I'm in a 3rd floor brick apartment building with windows facing south and west (no balcony, patio, etc). I currently have a Mohu Leaf in the south facing window with a 50ft cable to the TV. The Leaf can almost get all the channels I want, but a few always cut out after a while. I'm really only interested in getting 2 CBS, 4 NBC, 5 FOX, 7 ABC, 9 WOR, 11 PIX, 13 PBS with 2, 4, 5, 7 being the most important. I can't seem to get them all with one fixed location. I have to move the leaf to get a good signal for 2, but then 7 seems to be bad and vice-versa. I'm really tired of moving the Leaf with painters tape every night. I also tried hooking up a PCT 1-port booster and that didn't really seem to help much.
I was wondering if a different antenna or booster would serve me better, maybe something like the Winegard FV-HD30? Would mounting a small outdoor antenna like the HD30 to the top of my AC unit that's sticking out of the window be a good idea? The Leaf can almost get all the channels I want, but a few always cut out after a while.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Report: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...d5bcabd6fc89ff

ADTech · 18-Apr-2012, 3:53 PM

The Leaf relies on the coaxial cable for VHF reception. Tough way to make a living.

Simple rabbit-ears and a U/V diplexer are about your best best bet indoors. The rabbit ears will outperform the FV-HD30 on VHF.

tavish28 · 18-Apr-2012, 4:31 PM

Any recommendation on what rabbit-ears to get? Also, is the suggestion of the diplexer mean I should be using two antennas?

MisterMe · 18-Apr-2012, 4:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tavish28

Any recommendation on what rabbit-ears to get? Also, is the suggestion of the diplexer mean I should be using two antennas?

You need a diplexer only if you are combining separate VHF and UHF antennas. With the signals available to you, there is no need for such a complicated setup. I would recommend a Terk HDTVi. This is a non-amplified VHF/UHF antenna. Place it in a window with a southern view and point your antenna at about 230° magnetic or about 20° west of due south. You may have trouble with WTBY (RF27) and WRNN (RF48) because your apartment building blocks their signals. Everything else in the green should come in strongly.

tavish28 · 18-Apr-2012, 5:47 PM

Thanks for the suggestion. I took a look at the Terk HDTVi and I don't really have a place to set it/mount it in front of the south window. Would it still work well it was a bit further away from the window?
Right now the Leaf is taped to the window. If I get a different antenna I was hoping it could also be mounted to the window, or outside on top of the AC unit.

Electron · 18-Apr-2012, 7:27 PM

Put a http://www.antennacraft.net , HDX1000 OR a http://www.winegarddirect.com , Winegard HD1080 , outside the window aimed to the south west. http://www.amazon.com , http://www.solidsignal.com.

tavish28 · 18-Apr-2012, 7:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electron

Put a http://www.antennacraft.net , HDX1000 OR a http://www.winegarddirect.com , Winegard HD1080 , outside the window aimed to the south west. http://www.amazon.com , http://www.solidsignal.com.

I should have mentioned that a smaller antenna would be preferable. Would the Winegard FV-HD30 (FV-30BB) be that much worse then the antennas mentioned above? I need something easy to mount to the window/AC and maintain a low profile so that someone doesn't complain about it being against building rules, etc.

MisterMe · 18-Apr-2012, 8:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tavish28

... I need something easy to mount to the window/AC and maintain a low profile so that someone doesn't complain about it being against building rules, etc.

Your right to mount a TV antenna is protected by Federal Law. The language is clear and unambiguous. You may find links to the law elsewhere in this forum. However, your home is your castle. Nobody is going to tell you what you can and cannot mount on the inside of a window of your apartment.

Electron · 18-Apr-2012, 8:49 PM

Here is a -> TRUTH <- , the smaller the antenna is for broadcast tv reception the Less signal will be received. The bigger the antenna is for broadcast tv reception the more signal will be received. Here is a -> TRUTH <- there are No Magic Tv Antennas. The HDX1000 is made to 'Look Like' a small satellite dish. Are there a small satellite dishes on the outside of the buildings??

tavish28 · 18-Apr-2012, 9:20 PM

Ok, thanks. I appreciate the help. I'm going to take some measurements and see if I can find a good mounting place for one of the suggested antennas. I do like the design of the HDX1000.

Electron · 18-Apr-2012, 9:39 PM

Here is the Federal Antenna Law. It gives Apartment renters rights. http://www.fcc.gov/guides/over-air-r...n-devices-rule

Electron · 19-Apr-2012, 4:10 AM

Tv antennas receive the best when the antenna has elbow room. Try locate the antenna at a location where there are no close trees blocking the reception to the south west. Try locate the antenna at a location where nearby buildings are not blocking the reception to the south west. Tv antennas receive the best with a clear view of the Tv transmitting antennas.

tavish28 · 19-Apr-2012, 3:16 PM

After taking some measurements I played around with the Leaf last night moving it to the south west most corner of the apartment even though there's no window there. I was surprised that all the main channels came in well, except 11.
I could probably live with this the way it is now, but would something like the Terk HDTVa or HDTVi mentioned earlier work better than the Leaf? The HD1080 wouldn't fit in this corner and HDX1000 is a bit expensive for me.

MisterMe · 19-Apr-2012, 4:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tavish28

After taking some measurements I played around with the Leaf last night moving it to the south west most corner of the apartment even though there's no window there. I was surprised that all the main channels came in well, except 11.
I could probably live with this the way it is now, but would something like the Terk HDTVa or HDTVi mentioned earlier work better than the Leaf? The HD1080 wouldn't fit in this corner and HDX1000 is a bit expensive for me.

You are not receiving WPIX (RF11) because it broadcasts in the VHF band whereas the Leaf is primarily a UHF antenna. signals unlimited told you that it relies on the coax as the receiving element for VHF.

You have received several recommendations. Each of the recommended antennas will have better reception than the Leaf. You did not receive a recommendation for the Terk HDTVa. This is an amplified antenna. With so many strong signals available to you, the aggregate power received by the antenna may saturate the amplifier making things worse.

tavish28 · 19-Apr-2012, 4:43 PM

Thanks again. I will give the Terk HDTVi a try. It should work well in this new location.