Antenna Choice help please, Beaver Dam WI

[Coersum]

Hi,

I have been trying to build a homemade antenna for around 2 or 3 weeks (since we moved), sometimes they work and the next day they stop working, or stop giving me a certain channel etc...

I have tried Steath Hawk, Gray-Hoverman (scaled down a bit) and a Small Fractal antenna (like in this video).

I had to scale/modify the Hawk and GH down a bit to fit my target location.

My Situation:
Ground Floor unit of an apartment building. Interstate is just 200 feet away and there is a mount of dirt (about 20' high) along it to lower the noise and a few trees before that.

I have been trying to hide the antenna I made behind a 3'wide x 2' high painting, but if needed the landlord told me I could put a small antenna outside. High spot outside would be 8', inside about 6' high. I could also maybe try to hide it under the upstairs neighbor's balcony but would really prefer to keep it indoor.

Here is the Report from Interactive Coverage Map

Here is the TV Signal Analysis Results

This is to use with an HTPC (might be split to another TV too if I get high enough signal).
The channels I am interested in are the major networks: 3.1 (CBS), 15.1 (NBC), 21.1 (PBS), 27.1 (ABC), 47.1 (Fox) and 57.1 (CW). They are all around 44-46 miles away.

Thank you much for any advice!

PS: I thought maybe of getting an amplifier if it would help but know knowing about it I tried one of those RCA indoor flat amplified antenna and it was worse than the homemades.

[John Candle]

If you are changing the size and length of the metal receiving elements of the home built antennas you are changing the operating frequency of the antennas. Because of the 20 foot high dirt mound and the weak signals at your location you Will need to get a factory built tv antenna. You are lucky because all of the receivable Real digital tv channels are UHF channels. You will NEED to get the antenna up to the peak of the roof , I suggest a peak of the roof eave mount http://www.sadoun.com/Sat/Products/Perfect/PVEM1.gif , No Holes In The Roof with this mount. Be sure and answer these questions--> How many floors high is the apt. building?? Is your apt a end unit?? If not a end unit then where is your apt located?? How many apt's make up the building??

[John Candle]

If your apt. is close to or on the end of the building the I suggest a Antenna Craft U4000 UHF antenna aimed at about 233 degree magnetic compass. The Tv stations in the green and yellow will received. . Read and understand about , REAL Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Virtual Digital Broadcast Tv Channels , Analog Broadcast Tv Channels , http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=695 , Here is how to aim Tv antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html

[John Candle]

Turn the reflector bars of the U4000 to a up and down direction , the length of the antenna. This will make the U4000 antenna in to a 2 directional antenna so as to receive the tv stations in the directions of 99 and 335 degree magnetic compass.

[John Candle]

There is nothing special or magic about these and other home built antennas. The Gray-Hoverman design shown in the picture is not a (Gray) design. It is in fact the original Hoverman design from the 1950's. The original Hoverman design has a high standing wave ratio. Gray , used present day computer modeling to add more metal receiving elements to reduce the standing wave ratio and improve the performance of the antenna. The Stealth Hawk is a Gray-Hoverman antenna cut in half , it is missing the other end of the antenna. And has half the reception ability. Notice the long metal bar at the bottom of the Stealth Hawk antenna , this is what Gray added to both ends of original Hoverman design.

[John Candle]

Can also use a vent pipe mount. Space the clamps as far as apart as possible so as to make the antenna stable. At http://www.solidsignal.com the VMP P-6

[Coersum]

John> Thanks for the replies, however the landlord gave me the ok to put an outdoor antenna as long as it's not too big and can only put it up to 8ft high.

Our apartment is at the end of the building so I have a clear view of the 233deg orientation needed for those stations.

As far as the home made antennas, I figured modifying them would lower their reception, I just tried to make them as close to the original as possible and got pretty good result but not perfect. At some point I got about 75% signal strength on all of the channels I wrote in my original post, but somehow the next day, I had 2 or more channels that weren't received anymore when the previous day all were perfect.... sometimes I even got in the 90% (I was trying to tweak them a lot).

Is there any way something like the Winegard FV-HD30 would work ? I know it's a 0-30miles antenna but I've read quite a few reviews and ppl at about my range had good success with it (of course it could be due to their higher altitude).

I was also looking at the Winegard HD 4400 which is a 30-50miles antenna, I am thinking I might be able to install it or another inside my upstairs neighbors balcony, which would mean having it at about 9-10' up.

Here is a pic of the mount with highway behind and the balcony I am talking about.. the end board is only 3/4 inch thick.


Thanks again for your help.

[John Candle]

So are you saying that the Tv stations are or are not in the direction of the 20 foot hill at 233 magnetic compass?? I suggest putting the antenna on the balcony not under the balcony that is above you. You need all the height you can get. Use a tripod mount to STAND on the floor of the balcony with the antenna mounted on a pipe that is in the tripod mount. Have the pipe as long as possible to get the antenna up as high as possible. Channel Master tripod mount CM 3092. . Here is the Federal Law that says yes you can install and use a antenna on or in the balcony , http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html , this Federal Law has been in effect for 15 years.

[John Candle]

The size of the FV-HD30 is 20.57 inch x 12.98 inch , the HD4400 is the same size as the antenna craft U4000 36 inch x 20 inch , I recommend the U4000 UHF antenna. Radio Shack sells Antenna Craft antennas. Here is a Flat Coax that goes in doorways and windows , at http://www.solidsignal.com , the FC-300LX. Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.starkelectronic.com , http://www.amazon.com , http://www.3starinc.com , http://www.lowes.com

[John Candle]

Install a Winegard HDP269 preamplifier close to the antenna on the mast that the antenna is mounted on. This will supply signal two 4 Tv's.

[Coersum]

I read about the FCC regulation before on a difference post where you told someone that they could, but sadly it says "the Commission amended the rule so that it also applies to rental property where the renter has an exclusive use area, such as a balcony or patio" this is my upstairs neighbors balcony, I have the patio (ground floor). Maybe I read it wrong. I think I may still be able to install one outside up on the roof (I see a dish network sat dish, but cost of that are a bit higher than we would like).

[John Candle]

You read the FCC rule correctly. Some how I thought that you said that your neighbor said you could use the upstairs balcony. And it is also true that antennas can be mounted on a patio or balcony. Any way here is a Tv antenna that looks like a small satellite dish. The Antenna Craft HDX1000. It has a built in amplifier , so no other amplifier will be needed. Yes it can be mounted up high because it looks like a small dish. I am doing my best to help you get broadcast Tv reception. http://www.antennacraft.net/Manuals/HDX1000_manual.pdf , http://www.antennacraft.net/pdfs/HDX1000.pdf

[Coersum]

John> I really do appreciate your help in the matter and I will be looking into the HDX1000. Thank you very much!