Antenna Recommendations

DFA · #1 10-11-2005, 12:54 AM

I am looking for recommendations on an indoor OTA HD antenna. I have a new A180 card but have yet to bother with it because of lack of antenna.

The network HD stations I am interested in all come from the same direction so directional type is fine. They are also not too close or too far (22 to 31 miles at 64 degrees). There are a few at about 65 miles and one at 90 miles due North (0 degrees) but not banking on those.

No buildings or structures in the way other than my own interior walls and neighboring houses of same elevation which would be common conditions for any indoor antenna.

I need low profile that will sit on top of 8' entertainment center under 12' ceiling. Low profile is needed for WAF so not to be seen above the 1' fake plant stuff (more like a damn hedge really).

I know there is a lot of good info out there but don't feel up to drilling. It seems Terk pops up a lot but seems rather generic.

Point me in the right direction, so to speak.

DFA

stanger89 · #2 10-11-2005, 05:51 AM

First off, there's no such thing as an "HDTV Antenna", HDTV doesn't require anything special. Now that said you do need a UHF antenna since most HD channels are UHF.

OK, now to the bad news, I really don't think you'll get much of anything with an indoor antenna, at the very least you'll have better luck with an outdoor.

Check http://www.antennaweb.org for an idea what kind of antenna you'll need.

mlbdude · #3 10-11-2005, 06:00 AM

In Florida I am about 50 miles from all of my signals. I started with an indoor antenna (popular radio Shack model). Putting it right by the window I got medium signal from everything. I was actually surprised I got anything. I had to go to a small external directional antenna and get full signal on everything now. I would also recommend just going for a big one in the attic or a small to medium outside. It also all depends on your area.

lovingHDTV · #4 10-11-2005, 07:09 AM

I'm a similar distance from the antenna's where I live. I looked at anntenaweb and found that all channels are broadcast on UFH here so I got a ChannelMaster 4228 ( a big directional antenna), and stuck it in the attic. Works like a charm.

DFA · #5 10-11-2005, 08:29 AM

Right. I know that there is no such thing as an "HD" antenna but was only qualifying its intended use since noisy analog results in "snow", etc. where as poor signal for digital based material results in more serious issues. And I'm not interested in the analog material.

The channels of interest are in the UHF band. Due to CC&R's in my locale, no external antennas can be erected.

I can put it in the attic but brings another problem: I can not run an independent feed down the 12' interior wall because of "fire" blocks in the wall (or at least not w/o great difficulty). So, is it possible to couple the antenna feed into the existing coax cable that is carrying CableCo's stuff? Preamp needed then I suppose.

Mlbdude: Which model "popular" Radio Shack antenna?

DFA

dagar · #6 10-11-2005, 08:52 AM

I'm running with a $35 Walmart Phillips ATSC tuner (actually combo with NTSC). Threw it in my attic and works great; ~22 digital local 'channels'. Don't have an ATSC cap card yet though.

Just make sure you do your homework for what type of antenna you'll need. I needed a narrow directional amp'd.

lovingHDTV · #7 10-11-2005, 08:56 AM

If you live in the USA then you can mount an external antenna, CC&Rs that prohibit external TV antenna are illegal (my HOA also says you can't mount them), but if you send them a link to the FCC webpage.

http://ftp.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/consumerdish.html

I decided against this approach because I did not want to hassle with the HOA (exactly what they wanted me to do

There is a lot of info for this exact thing at

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=45

Just find your local city and there will be lots of info for your particular area. You may even find neighbors that have already figured this out

White94Cobra · #8 10-11-2005, 11:58 PM

I'm using a Terk TV5 and am getting 70% - 100% signal strength on all my my local channels. The furthest transmitter is only about 30 miles away though.

InsertHere · #9 10-12-2005, 02:48 PM

Can someone please answer a quick question on this?:
If I look on antennaweb.org I see certain channels that are listed in the red zone. So, if I get an antenna with only the light green, yellow and green zones shown on the box - does that mean there is no way I'll get the red zone channels using that antenna? I seem to be getting them now with a cheapy indoor antenna, which doesn't have the color zone graphic anywhere on box or documentation.

I dug through the AVS forums, but the info there is overwhelming. Thanks!

stanger89 · #10 10-12-2005, 03:20 PM

You should check out the color map:
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/antenna.aspx?color=R

In short color doesn't work like a stoplight. If you got a dark green antenna, you might pick up the red stations, if you got a light green one there'd be a better chance.

The question to you is, when you say you're getting them, do you mean analog or digital stations? Digitals are a bit harder, mainly because they're generally UHF.

naln · #11 10-12-2005, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by White94Cobra

I'm using a Terk TV5 and am getting 70% - 100% signal strength on all my my local channels. The furthest transmitter is only about 30 miles away though.

I have a similarly styled amplified indoor antenna from RS. Works well- and actually was better than an external antenna I tried mouting out in my balcony. TV Tower is about 25 miles odd from my place!

You need good signal rejection/directional antenna- especially in multilevel apt complexes/ tall building areas etc.

InsertHere · #12 10-12-2005, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanger89

The question to you is, when you say you're getting them, do you mean analog or digital stations? Digitals are a bit harder, mainly because they're generally UHF.

I am getting the digital channels, but the signal strength is not as good as I think it could be with something on the roof.

Naylia · #13 10-13-2005, 05:31 AM

oh no DFA!!!! you've gone OTA!?!?!?!

DFA · #14 10-14-2005, 06:20 AM

Hah, hah!

Not exactly Naylia; hard to get excited about a few OTA digital stations compared to what I can get from FW, at least for now. Just want to experiment a little, have some insurance and really, really hoping that QAM BDA drivers will come around for these cards and Sage to be QAM-capable. That's where the excitement is and want to be ready, "en-shala". Also, want to toy with some of the BDA commands to see what might be able to be done.

So, what is the model of the RatShack amped indoor antenna that seems to work OK for 30 mile reception? That is where I fit in as well.

DFA

Naylia · #15 10-14-2005, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovingHDTV

I'm a similar distance from the antenna's where I live. I looked at anntenaweb and found that all channels are broadcast on UFH here so I got a ChannelMaster 4228 ( a big directional antenna), and stuck it in the attic. Works like a charm.

You just bolt it to the floor with a J-Bracket?

DFA, I'm not sure about the freq ranges of UHF vs Cable, but you could try it using whatever little antenna you get at radio shack, and if you can send the signal over the preexisting wire than bring it back and look at the ChannelMasters.

lovingHDTV · #16 10-14-2005, 10:36 AM

Actually I hung it from the rafters, much eaier to hang it than support it from the floor. It won't tip over when hanging

naln · #17 10-14-2005, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFA

So, what is the model of the RatShack amped indoor antenna that seems to work OK for 30 mile reception? That is where I fit in as well.

Something like this one:- RS Catalog #: 15-1872.
It was supposed to be 39.99 just last week I think- worth checking out at the local store.

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