# Improving Aerial TV reception in my apartment? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 22, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718 "2014-04-22T21:13:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/1 "2014-04-22T21:13:17Z")
I’m cutting the cord and I want to use an antenna for my television. I get six channels in my apartment with a passive antenna. Two amplified models (18 and 25 decibels gain) get no extra channels. Part of the problem is that radio reception is poor inside my unit. I can’t even get AM or SW radio in there. I don’t have a balcony, either. Is there anything else I can do to improve my pickup? Hang a copper wire outside my window? The less ostentatious, the better! Thanks for anyone who has ideas. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/2 "2014-04-22T21:24:20Z")
Generally, with TV antennae, bigger is better and so is higher. Outside is a huge plus. You say you’re in an apartment, so you’re probably limited by space and lack of access to the roof. Maybe someone else has better ideas. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/3 "2014-04-22T21:47:45Z")
go to [http://www.tvfool.com/](http://www.tvfool.com/) click on Check Your Address for Free TV enter your address and height above ground. it will tell you the expected channels, real channel numbers (shows if you want UHF and VHF) and the direction to aim the antenna. you might be able to place a vertical UHF antenna in the window. you could make your own out of some acrylic plastic ( acrylic glass) and wire. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/4 "2014-04-22T21:49:18Z")
Do you know in which direction your TV stations are? If your apartment (and window) are on the opposite side of the building from the TV stations, putting the antenna outside the window won’t help. Are the six channels independent channels, or is that including sub-channels (e.g. 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3)? Do you know what channels you should be getting? You could go to antennaweb.org to see what your reception situation is. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/5 "2014-04-22T21:52:34Z")
This is why apartments should have their own Antenna and RF distribution. You don’t get AM due to noise, it has little noise immunity. The amplified antenna just amplifies the noise. You need to identify whether your missing stations are on the VHF or UHF, and whether your antenna is designed for that… A copper wire hanging outside isn’t great at picking up TV frequencies (VHF or UHF) Higher power antenna are larger … they get more power by being directional. Multiple element antenna can be either where the elements are all in a single plane, or they form a big box. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/6 "2014-04-22T22:04:19Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > Do you know in which direction your TV stations are? If your apartment (and window) are on the opposite side of the building from the TV stations, putting the antenna outside the window won’t help. sometimes your best solution, in apartment building wanting to use an antenna in your unit, is getting a reflected signal off a mountain (or the next building). ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/7 "2014-04-22T22:16:53Z")
So, if TV fool worked correctly, I’m supposed to receive about 20 channels relatively well. I get 5 UHF and one VHF. The channels with the highest signal strength (CBC and CTV; Canada here) are precisely the ones that don’t come in. Someone in my building has a North facing apartment with better signals. I’m facing East. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/8 "2014-04-22T22:22:07Z")
…and sure enough, all the channels eluding me, according to the TVFool map, are in a linear row NNW of my place. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/9 "2014-04-22T22:36:45Z")
if you could aim an antenna out an east window at a building to the SE then you might get a reflected signal. not a terrific or good solution by it could work. ---
**Author:** ![MrKnowItAll](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrknowitall/32/87_2.png) [@MrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/10 "2014-04-23T12:53:11Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > The amplified antenna just amplifies the noise. I was going to mention this. I’ve used a couple amplified antennae that have been huge disappointments. I keep coming back to the rabbit ears, which look a little strange connected to my widescreen, digital television. This option is better in urban, or nearly-urban areas, where the signals are close and strong. I live on the north side of Cincinnati, and have something like 30 stations that I get free and clear. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/11 "2014-04-23T14:46:34Z")
compact all-in-one-piece designer amplified antennas can be very crappy. they might only have one element and so if the signal is weak you might get a lot of noise. you can get better antennas by combining more than one element. a familiar UHF tv antenna is the bow tie. you can combine 4 of them together, in a very specific way, and get a good antenna (i could get some stations at 70 miles inside a house). plans for them are all over the net though most have less than optimum dimensions, materials and construction. putting a signal amplifier (store bought item) after an antenna (home made or store bought) can be a good solution. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/12 "2014-04-23T19:22:17Z")
Just dropping to say I will never stop cussing out the decision to drop VHF and UHF frequencies. Stupidest. Decision. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/13 "2014-04-23T19:31:28Z")
In my case I ran a standard coax cable from the living room to an antenna I had in the bedroom which had a clearer shot at the weaker stations located to the west. This meant the antenna was located at an outer wall, instead of trying to pick up signals through two adjoining kitchens with their metal appliances. Made a big difference. Slightly off-topic, all the reports say the Aereo over-the-air service uses antennas “roughly the size of a dime” that are “located in a warehouse in Brooklyn”. How can they pick up anything with that? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/14 "2014-04-23T19:53:53Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > Just dropping to say I will never stop cussing out the decision to drop VHF and UHF frequencies. Stupidest. Decision. Ever. Can you clarify this? As far as I know, US over-the-air TV still uses the same UHF and VHF frequencies as before the digital changeover. Many stations have moved from VHF to UHF and others have remained on VHF, but it’s the same frequency spectrum.\* Only the method of transmission has changed. - And yes, I know channels 51-69 have been repurposed for other uses such as mobile wi-fi, and I know about physical channels vs. virtual. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/15 "2014-04-23T21:06:21Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Can you clarify this? As far as I know, US over-the-air TV still uses the same UHF and VHF frequencies as before the digital changeover. Many stations have moved from VHF to UHF and others have remained on VHF, but it’s the same frequency spectrum.\* Only the method of transmission has changed. > > - And yes, I know channels 51-69 have been repurposed for other uses such as mobile wi-fi, and I know about physical channels vs. virtual. I believe the poster was simply using shorthand for “Old-style, traditional, reliable, analog format transmission instead of that digital crap.” ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/16 "2014-04-23T21:31:42Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > - And yes, I know channels 51-69 have been repurposed for other uses such as mobile wi-fi, and I know about physical channels vs. virtual. Actually, it’s 52+ that are no longer used by UHF TV stations. (This is one heckuva nitpick, isn’t it?) ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/17 "2014-04-23T21:51:19Z")
in USA channels 70 - 83 went in 1982. channels 52 - 69 went in 2009. channel 51 is frozen in 2011. channel 37 is astronomy. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/18 "2014-04-23T22:02:59Z")
> [@whitetho](#): > > Slightly off-topic, all the reports say the Aereo over-the-air service uses antennas “roughly the size of a dime” that are “located in a warehouse in Brooklyn”. How can they pick up anything with that? For their service in New York, they put their antenna farm a mile or so from the Empire State Building (where the broadcast antennas are), with a direct view of it, giving them an excellent signal source. i don’t know whether that building also includes a warehouse. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/19 "2014-04-23T22:06:58Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Can you clarify this? As far as I know, US over-the-air TV still uses the same UHF and VHF frequencies as before the digital changeover. Many stations have moved from VHF to UHF and others have remained on VHF, but it’s the same frequency spectrum.\* Only the method of transmission has changed. In the markets I get (Detroit, Lansing MI, and Toledo OH), all the stations moved out of the low VHF band (channels 2 - 6). I think most stations did that, although there are a few still there. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718/20 "2014-04-23T22:36:46Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > I believe the poster was simply using shorthand for “Old-style, traditional, reliable, analog format transmission instead of that digital crap.” Meh. I understand many people have problems picking up digital signals, and it depends largely on location, but I’m amazed by the quality of the digital signals in my area. They look better than the old analog signals. I can definitely tell the difference and I’m using an external converter with an old analog set, so I’m still watching everything in standard-def. And I like all the additional subchannels that DTV allows. But again, YMMV. OP, have you checked to see if any of the stations in your area have multiple transmitters? Many stations, including the ones in my area have additional transmitters on a different channel to serve people who have trouble picking up signals from the main transmitter. You might have better luck aiming your antenna at those locations. Antennaweb and TVFool will tell you if you can pick up those translator channels. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-aerial-tv-reception-in-my-apartment/686718.md?page=2)