DTV Sucks...in the city. What antenna are you using?

[GTaudiophile]

So I went ahead and hooked up my DTV box on FEB 17. I get all the local channels I want/need and even more. But at least with analog, you use to get some snow and relatively clear sound. Now, with digital, all you get are "blocks" and no sound with weak signal. Such is life living on the lower half of an apartment building in DC.

This is the POS antenna I am using.

Any recommendations on a better indoor antenna to improve reception?

 

[sdifox]

did you check antennaweb?

http://www.antennaweb.org/

 

[mshan]

Zenith / Phillips Silver Sensor is supposed to have superb mutli-path resistance. Monoprice also has an amplified HDTV antenna, but I don't know what type of performance it has.

I'd recommend getting a cheap compass from somewhere like Walmart, say 25 ft. of RG6 coax from Monoprice, then find where you get best reception in your apartment (use antennaweb to find direction signals is coming from).

 

[zzuupp]

"lower half" you could be in multi-path heck for a DTV signal.

Please check antennaweb or tvfool. If you've got enough coax to put the antenna in a window facing the correct direction [towards River Road on the NW DC , Montgomery Count line], that is worth a shot

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: sdifox
did you check antennaweb?

http://www.antennaweb.org/

Yes, you must do this so we can get an idea of how far you are from the transmitters.

And just so you know, there are many satellite users who use an antenna to get their local stations.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: sdifox
did you check antennaweb?

http://www.antennaweb.org/

Cool link. All the major stations are within 4 miles of me.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: sdifox
did you check antennaweb?

http://www.antennaweb.org/

Okay, I've used the "choose antenna" function there.

What do I do with the list it produces?

 

[Muadib]

It should list all the stations you can get, and how far away you are from them. Click on the antenna type of the furthest channel you want to receive. Then tell us what type of antenna it says you need.

 

[heyheybooboo]

I use this outdoor dish from the Shack. Works like a champ - I'm around 20 miles from the broadcast towers.

I believe they were phasing that model out and I got it on the cheap around 3 years ago - then they found out how well it works and jacked the price up $25. I don't even have it on a mast. I bought a $1.00 can of spray paint to match my 'cedar tone' and screwed it to the side of the house in the direction of the towers - 100% signal strength at 30+ dBs.


edit: You have to use the included signal amp or you won't get squat ...

 

[sivart]

For best reception....

1) Outdoor pointing in direction of towers
2) Indoor in attic (my situation and I can pick up stations for 60 miles away)
2) Indoor closest to the window pointing in direction of towers
3) Indoor closest to the wall in the direction of the towers (as high as possible)
4) Indoor near your TV (if 1-3 don't apply)

 

[Mloot]

I use a Winegard 7080p antenna hooked to a preamp on a pole mount outside my house. All my stations are within a couple of degrees of each other, 36 miles away from my house.

 

[Tegeril]

I use one of these just outside of Boston: http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB2_Indoor_antenna.html

I pick up all the locals in Boston including two CWs... the local one about 12 miles away and the one in New Bedford... 42 miles away. And my antenna is indoors, sitting on a chair, pointing out the window in the right direction.

 

[sivart]

Originally posted by: Tegeril
I use one of these just outside of Boston: http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB2_Indoor_antenna.html

I pick up all the locals in Boston including two CWs... the local one about 12 miles away and the one in New Bedford... 42 miles away. And my antenna is indoors, sitting on a chair, pointing out the window in the right direction.

That is only a UHF antenna, so if you have any stations whose frequency is 2-13 (even if their virtual channel is different) you may not pick them up well.

 

[Tegeril]

I pick up every station available in the Boston metro area with it:

2
2.1
2.2
2.101
2.102
4
4.1
5
5.1
7
7.1
25
25.1
26
26.1
27.1
28
28.1
38
38.1
44.1
44.2
44.3
44.4
56
56.1
66
and 68.1

Doesn't seem to be giving any issues. Most of those towers are 12 miles away up to, as I said, 42 miles. I do have a south facing window and all towers are either south or north of me, so that helps.