Can aluminum siding interfere with HDTV OTA signal?

[ScottFern]

My house has full aluminum siding all around it. Now I have been considering an HDTV card for my computer, and I was reading that it might not be worth it if you have aluminum sidings?

Also, does anyone have T-Mobile/Cingular and does your reception suck inside houses with aluminum siding? Mine is pretty bad.

On a good note, I think we are moving soon!

 

[Gibson486]

Well, aluminum does act as a sheild for most radio signals.... but i don't think it would really effect so badly that you will loose your signal entirely.

edit...wait...you are talking about HDTV....i thought you were referring to your cell phone....anyways....from what I know, HDTV is recieved through coaxil cable...how would the surrounding of your house affect that? Anyone?

 

[electricJ]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
Well, aluminum does act as a sheild for most radio signals.... but i don't think it would really effect so badly that you will loose your signal entirely.

edit...wait...you are talking about HDTV....i thought you were referring to your cell phone....anyways....from what I know, HDTV is recieved through coaxil cable...how would the surrounding of your house affect that? Anyone?

He might be talking about receiving digital channels via OTA signals.

 

[dwcal]

How's your UHF TV reception in the house? If you can get UHF channels, HDTV OTA should be ok. I don't know how good an antenna you get with the HDTV card. I have this antenna and it works great.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001FV36E/

 

[ScottFern]

Yes, I was referring to Over The Air HDTV not the coxail.

Anyway, I was also asking about cell phone reception as well. I just wanted to know in general if aluminum siding interferes with reception of cell phones, HDTV OTA signals.

 

[icelazer]

Not sure on this one, just a note though, if you're going to attempt OTA HDTV, you need to pickup either a "Silver Sensor" antenna (very small, made by some overseas manufacturer) or a helical antenna for better reception.