Waipahu, Hi (Oahu) Antenna Recommendation

[Tim]

TV Fool report: http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...d243404fd05975

Looks like both VHF-hi and UHF LOS signals coming from about 116 and 252 degrees with NM between 37 and 65 for most of the stations.

There is a window facing 192 degrees for an indoor antenna or a patio with LOS in both directions where a small omni-directional antenna could be mounted at a height of about 8 ft.

Could I get some antenna recommendations for both indoor and outdoor antennas that could be used in this location? Mahalo!

[timgr]

Don't know anything about indoor antennas. Maybe you could pick up a cheap set of rabbit ears at WalMart and try it. There are some recs in this thread - http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=15082

For outdoors, you have a lot of vegetation in HI, right? Even though the signal is strong at 8' you may have difficulty if the LOS is obstructed by vegetation or adjacent buildings. 8' is hardly above any bushes, much less the trees or surrounding structures. Why do you want to mount it so low?

I'm not an industry pro, but how about ... for something weatherproof, you could try something like an Antennas Direct DB4 or Antennacraft U4000 with the reflector removed? This would reduce the antenna's sensitivity, but it would receive from front and back. The antenna may pick up 11 and 8, even though they are out of band. If not, add a VHF high antenna like maybe the AD dipole or the Y5713 ... 11 is so strong that you should pick it up on the back side of a Y5713 if you sort-of aim it at 8.

[Tim]

Originally Posted by timgr

For outdoors, you have a lot of vegetation in HI, right? Even though the signal is strong at 8' you may have difficulty if the LOS is obstructed by vegetation or adjacent buildings. 8' is hardly above any bushes, much less the trees or surrounding structures. Why do you want to mount it so low?

The unit is a first floor condo with very limited space to mount an antenna outside. Even with vegetation and surrounding structures I would think outdoors would be better than indoors.

[timgr]

Originally Posted by Tim

The unit is a first floor condo with very limited space to mount an antenna outside. Even with vegetation and surrounding structures I would think outdoors would be better than indoors.

Yes definitely, but it's hard to predict whether that will be good enough. There is a lot of signal in the air, but you also are limited to poor siting for the antenna. I suggest you buy an inexpensive indoors antenna (< $10 typically) and a long cable and try various locations indoors and out. Some experimental data might make the tradeoffs clearer. If you're lucky, you'll get all the stations you want from an indoor antenna. You'll be able to see if reception improves significantly by moving the antenna outdoors, should indoor reception prove inadequate.

[Tim]

Originally Posted by timgr

I suggest you buy an inexpensive indoors antenna (< $10 typically) and a long cable and try various locations indoors and out.

Most excellent idea!