Q. I recently bought an indoor amplified HDTV antenna and wanted to know how to setup the channels because for some reason my hd tv isnt detecting any channels. Does the antenna angle have to be precise? Am I missing something? And live in a 3rd story apartment facing north if it means anything. What direction do the dipoles and rind have to face? Please help me out with tips or anything.
, thanks
, thanks
A. The subject of antennas for digital television (DTV) is incredibly complex, and there are many ways to go astray. Regrettably, indoor antennas are high on that list.
The large quantity of indoor antennas for sale at all kinds of stores may lead you to believe they actually work well. They really don't unless you are quite close to the TV transmitting towers. It's very rare for any viewer to get all desired channels with an indoor antenna of any type. It's almost as rare for anyone to get more than a very few channels with regularity. 60 years ago good TV reception was achieved with an outside antenna mounted as high as possible, and nothing really has changed as far as good antenna design goes.
A huge confusion factor in all this is the fact that most TV stations no longer transmit on their familiar channel numbers, nor in the same TV band (VHF or UHF). Most of them are actually transmitting on UHF; even those with VHF channel numbers like 2 - 13. That makes a big difference in your antenna--VHF antennas suddenly don't work well on channels with VHF channel numbers. It's downright maddening to the uninformed viewer.
The telescoping rods in your indoor antenna are for actual VHF signals, and there are some in almost every metropolitan area. If an indoor antenna is going to work at all for you, you want those rods extended nearly horizontal and broadside to the direction of the TV transmitter. Inside a building, you may find that optimum reception comes by orienting the antenna in what seems to be a wrong direction, but you simply have to use trial and error to find the best position.
With stations transmitting on UHF (the majority), your indoor antenna needs to have some type of UHF element, such as a round loop or small horizontal bars, like a tiny TV antenna. Again, orient the antenna with the bars broadside to the expected direction.
Some indoor antennas have only the 2 rods; no UHF element at all. If that's your antenna, you're pretty much dead on UHF reception.
One thing that may help you is getting the best indoor antenna available, and the experts generally agree that the one in the link below tops the list. If I was in the market for an indoor antenna, I wouldn't consider anything else. Good luck.
The large quantity of indoor antennas for sale at all kinds of stores may lead you to believe they actually work well. They really don't unless you are quite close to the TV transmitting towers. It's very rare for any viewer to get all desired channels with an indoor antenna of any type. It's almost as rare for anyone to get more than a very few channels with regularity. 60 years ago good TV reception was achieved with an outside antenna mounted as high as possible, and nothing really has changed as far as good antenna design goes.
A huge confusion factor in all this is the fact that most TV stations no longer transmit on their familiar channel numbers, nor in the same TV band (VHF or UHF). Most of them are actually transmitting on UHF; even those with VHF channel numbers like 2 - 13. That makes a big difference in your antenna--VHF antennas suddenly don't work well on channels with VHF channel numbers. It's downright maddening to the uninformed viewer.
The telescoping rods in your indoor antenna are for actual VHF signals, and there are some in almost every metropolitan area. If an indoor antenna is going to work at all for you, you want those rods extended nearly horizontal and broadside to the direction of the TV transmitter. Inside a building, you may find that optimum reception comes by orienting the antenna in what seems to be a wrong direction, but you simply have to use trial and error to find the best position.
With stations transmitting on UHF (the majority), your indoor antenna needs to have some type of UHF element, such as a round loop or small horizontal bars, like a tiny TV antenna. Again, orient the antenna with the bars broadside to the expected direction.
Some indoor antennas have only the 2 rods; no UHF element at all. If that's your antenna, you're pretty much dead on UHF reception.
One thing that may help you is getting the best indoor antenna available, and the experts generally agree that the one in the link below tops the list. If I was in the market for an indoor antenna, I wouldn't consider anything else. Good luck.
Can a Direct TV antenna be used for over the air HD?
Q. Getting ready to buy a house with a Dtv antenna already installed. My HDTV requires an antenna. Would like to know if the antenna works for local channels without the service.
A. It can't. It's a satellite antenna. OTA is a completely different set of frequencies and therefore a completely different antenna design. One can't be used for the other.
Can I hook up an antenna digital converter box to cable and receive digital cable channels?
Q. I currently have one built-in HDTV that receives over the air digital channels without a cable box. I was wanting to know if I bought a digital converter box for my analog TVs would they pick up digital cable channels?
A. No, the air converter wasn't designed for cable use. You need to get a box from your cable company.
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