I went to antennaweb and it seems to indicate that the furthest signals are only 23 miles away. Most of the time I get picture and audio on the 23 mi signals but occasionally they go weak and pixalish. These happen to be the most important signals to me. I live in a 12th floor apartment with plenty of buildings around me as I live downtown. An outside antenna is not an option. Do the amplifiers really help?
I am in zipcode 44308.
Quality of your antenna is primary! It can only amplify what your picks-up. If a window is in the right direction and your option, have you considered a âwindow antennaâ? I have no experience with them, but they are designed specifically for mounting in windows. Although what you have is capable, considering your limitations for placements, you may consider a different (more serious) one.
Amplifiers can strengthen a weak signal but they wonât fix a âcrappyâ signal. If that window faces the direction of the towers you need to get signal from youâre in great shape. If there are tall buildings in the way or the towers are in the opposite direction or scattered all around you, then things could be a lot more difficult.
First and most importantly, you canât post a picture of a cute dog without letting us know his name. Thatâs like internet law or something.
Secondly, weâve got a great antenna buyerâs guide that should help you pick a newer, more powerful indoor antenna:
When youâve got a new one, try mounting it higher up in the window. Many âflatâ indoor antennas come with sticky tape strips that make this easy.
Weâve also got installation tips here:
Try one of these. I set this up inside, when first bought and pulled in a lot of stations. Comes with a stand / pedestal for indoor use. If you have a window facing the best direction, it may help, might even do wonders.
Is that the antenna in the windowsill? What model of antenna are you currently using?
BTW - I love the angle of the photo. I feel like we are in a Batman villainâs lair:
My dogâs name is Reese. He was a friendâs and they said they didnât have time to care for him so he ended up winning my heart and all his issues live with me nowâŚlol. I looked up this antenna, bought it off Amazon it was inexpensive. It is a GE 33676 according to my order list. Bought it to use with a converterbox I gave up on because they were unreliable and crashy. When the antenna works well its pretty perfect.
I have one of these, it does work well. You could give it a try and return it to Amazon if it doesnât work.
http://store.gomohu.com/leaf-50-indoor-amplified-hdtv-antenna.html
Supposedly this one works better because it is a larger. I normally would recommend going straight to a big antenna like the Clearstream 4V, but thatâs not really practical for apartment use.
I thought the GE 33676 only has a ranger of 15 miles.
Iâve had a winegard fl5500a and it worked great for channels up to 30-35 miles away. It comes with a power amplifier. But it does come with a fixed length 5 foot coax that can be expanded if needed.
It looks like it might be on sale for $40 (with discount) at amazon. Stick it to the window with some duck tape and your in business.
Iâm with Zippy on this one. I highly recommend the Winegard if you are looking for a flat antenna. It outperforms other flat antennas I have tried.
I might have missed it, but what direction is that window âpointingâ? Be as precise as possible in your answer, please.
According to tvfool.com, in your Zipcode, best-case, you should be able to get excellent reception on 11 DTV channels, and 1 Analog channel, plus âmarginalâ reception on another 5 DTV channels, plus another 1 Analog channel.
And remember, that is the BEST-CASE. YMWV. (Your mileage WILL vary!)âŚ
Also keep in mind that a few of your channels are actually STILL on VHF; so make SURE than any antenna you choose ACTUALLY HAS VHF Capabilities (MANY, MANY, MANY âDTVâ Antennas are actually just UHF Antennas, and they will likely NOT pick up ANY VHF channels).
It looks like the majority of your strongest signals are coming from Cleveland, OH, which is NNW from your location. So, if that window has a nice SOUTHERN view, you might as well FORGET IT!
I still have to put my âvoteâ in for an Antop 400-BV (make sure you get the 400BV, because it has two VHF âdipolesâ that stick out the sides. It is a bit pricey (~$125 from Antop-Direct, with no tax and free shipping), but comes with an Amplifier, 30 ft. of RG-6 Coax, and best of all, it has an integral BASE, which makes it able to STAND ON A TABLE or SHELF. But, as I said, if that window faces South, and you have a whole BUILDINGâs worth of Apartments (in YOUR building) to the North, then the whole thing is probably an exercise in futility, sorry!
https://antopusa.com/product/smartpass-amplified-outdoor-hdtv-antenna-flat-panel-big-boy-at-400bv/
Disregard the Price. They NEVER charge that Direct. But they do on Amazon⌠
They are highly regarded on this forum (and many others). Just do a little searching for 400BV or Antop, and youâll see what I mean. By the way, my personal research let me to the 400BV even before I knew it was so popular!
The user lives on the 12th floor of an apartment. This probably means the living space is surrounded by concrete which significantly reduces reception. Maybe to the point where signals are only available close to the window.
There are many more expensive antennas that might pick up more stations. Itâs all a matter of what you are willing to pay and what additional stations the higher price will receive.
Hereâs one that works great. I guess it depends on a lot of things but this works really great for me.
Which is why I asked which way the window was FACING!!! And why I said (rightly), that if their window was facing AWAY from pretty much 100% of the Towers to the NNW of their location, that it was unlikely that ANY indoor antenna would pick up squat.
Youâve got to consider ALL of the conditions; not just some of them.
Friend said North with a hint of east, but how do I find out? Never got satelite because I was told wrong side of building.
The TV also happens to be on that side of my livingroom.
Well, do you have a Smartphone? If so, I know that iOS has a BUILT-IN âCompassâ App. Hereâs how to use it:
https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/compass-iph1ac0b663/ios
I would imagine that Android either has a similar Built-In App, or a Free one on the Google Play StoreâŚ
Hereâs a free one that gets good reviews:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vincentlee.compass&hl=en_US
With the Compass App Running (duh!), Just walk over in front of the window, facing it, then, holding your phone flat (horizontally), in front of your chest, with the top edge facing the window. Now read the direction off the Display.
Or, if you donât have a smartphone or tablet, then any place that sells Sporting Goods (Walmart?) will have a real compass you can purchase for $5 or less (probably far less).
Thatâs what coax cable is for⌠As long as you stay at about 30ft or less for the total cable length, you will be fine as far as signal-loss through the cable (especially if you get an antenna with an Amplifier). If the antenna already comes with a non-detachable cable, you can buy an adapter to hook up two pieces of coax together at Walmart or anyplace that sells electronic stuff. The adapter will cost < $5 too, and will look like a short ( about 1/2 inch) long threaded rod (but with the center-piece for the center-conductor of the Coax)âŚ
BTW, if you friend was right (N with a hint of E), then that would work out, because, if you have a freestanding antenna, like the Antop you can âangle itâ to point more âWestâ inside the window. But if the window is instead pointing generally SOUTH, make sure you save the sales receipt for ANY antenna you buyâŚ
So despite being marketed at a new-fangled HD Antenna, itâs only Some HD antenna? If you get a TV antenna âŚyou have to confirm it is capable of getting any possible DTV channels?
