BEST TV antenna for reception

HB27
HB27 Posts: 1,518
edited October 2010 in Electronics
I'm running "rabbit ears" type antenna for over the air reception and noticing lately the signal is weaker and I'm getting annoying pixilization.

What type of INDOOR antenna would you recommend.

I'm running a Channel Master non-amplified right now.

Harry
Post edited by HB27 on
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  • michaeljhsda2
    michaeljhsda2 Posts: 2,201
    edited October 2010
    Have you tried making your own loop antenna out of RG-6 coaxial cable? If you have some RG-6 scrap laying around make an approximately 18 inch loop.
    SDA SRS 2.3TL's
    Silk Audio MS-90-BT integrated tube amp
    Yaqin MS-20L integrated tube amp
    SDA 2B TL's
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  • HB27
    HB27 Posts: 1,518
    edited October 2010
    No, Just trying out of the box stuff. Amplified isn't any better, flat type, etc.

    Not sure I'm following you on making one. Link maybe? Pics?

    Apartment downstairs.
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  • michaeljhsda2
    michaeljhsda2 Posts: 2,201
    edited October 2010
    Cut an appoximately 5 foot piece of RG6 coaxial cable. Terminate one end of the coaxial with a connector (this part screws into the TV). At the other end of the cable, strip it so that the solid copper wire sticks out about an inch. Form a loop by taking the copper wire and insert it back into the connector between the outer casing of the coaxial cable and the metal connector. Shove it in there as far as you can get it and then use electrician’s tape or such to keep the wire from slipping back out. Attach antenna to TV.

    If you want to get the loop closer to a window you can simply run a longer piece of RG6 from your TV and then attach the loop with a straight connector. I get perfect reception and I live 25 miles from the closest transmitter.

    This antenna will work on an HDTV or if you are using a convertor box.
    SDA SRS 2.3TL's
    Silk Audio MS-90-BT integrated tube amp
    Yaqin MS-20L integrated tube amp
    SDA 2B TL's
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  • HB27
    HB27 Posts: 1,518
    edited October 2010
    michaeljhsda2 wrote: »
    Cut an appoximately 5 foot piece of RG6 coaxial cable. Terminate one end of the coaxial with a connector (this part screws into the TV). At the other end of the cable, strip it so that the solid copper wire sticks out about an inch. Form a loop by taking the copper wire and insert it back into the connector between the outer casing of the coaxial cable and the metal connector. Shove it in there as far as you can get it and then use electrician’s tape or such to keep the wire from slipping back out. Attach antenna to TV.

    If you want to get the loop closer to a window you can simply run a longer piece of RG6 from your TV and then attach the loop with a straight connector. I get perfect reception and I live 25 miles from the closest transmitter.

    This antenna will work on an HDTV or if you are using a convertor box.

    I'm approximately 20 miles from the closest transmitter according to the "Antenna Map" with a "Yellow" recommendation. I actually have a better antenna now than required according to the antenna site link.
    I'll try the homemade antenna now. I have a 6' cable that was originally attached to the Channel Master I'm running now.
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  • michaeljhsda2
    michaeljhsda2 Posts: 2,201
    edited October 2010
    Cool. It's worth a try and won't cost you a penny.
    SDA SRS 2.3TL's
    Silk Audio MS-90-BT integrated tube amp
    Yaqin MS-20L integrated tube amp
    SDA 2B TL's
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,699
    edited October 2010
    Go to this site and see what the dominant frequencies are for your area and what their direction is:
    antennaweb.org
    I checked the general Indy area and it looks like all but two of your stations are UHF. CBS and NBC are still VHF, but they are both high VHF, so many UHF antennas will still pick them up decently.

    I would probably recommend either of these:
    http://www.antennasdirect.com/store/DB2_antenna.html
    or
    http://www.antennasdirect.com/store/C1-Clearstream-DTV-antenna.html

    Technically, they are outdoor antennas, but it they are both small enough to use indoor and will have much better gain in the UHF range compared to rabbit ears.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 27,184
    edited October 2010
    well you can google UHF antenna making and in the past about 75 would show up to show how to make you own out of 2x4's and scrap 12ga home romax wire. other than that I would just bit the bullet and buy an outdoor UHF bow-tie antenna in your case you should get crazy signals on it and will be much better than any indoor antenna. what most people fail to realize is that most homes have a barrier from say aluminum foil faced foam board, metal siding and other such material used in the construction of your home.
    hope this helps

    By the way my antenna is on a 30' tower it's a Channlemaster super deep fringe good to 100+ miles LOVE IT!!!
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  • HB27
    HB27 Posts: 1,518
    edited October 2010
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    well you can google UHF antenna making and in the past about 75 would show up to show how to make you own out of 2x4's and scrap 12ga home romax wire. other than that I would just bit the bullet and buy an outdoor UHF bow-tie antenna in your case you should get crazy signals on it and will be much better than any indoor antenna. what most people fail to realize is that most homes have a barrier from say aluminum foil faced foam board, metal siding and other such material used in the construction of your home.
    hope this helps

    By the way my antenna is on a 30' tower it's a Channlemaster super deep fringe good to 100+ miles LOVE IT!!!

    I'm in an apartment and need an indoor antenna.
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