[mythtv-users] Indoor Antenna with PChdtv 5500

[Brian Wood]

On Nov 30, 2006, at 12:29 PM, nik gibson wrote:

> I've read of people in apartments using an indoor antenna to pull down
> Over The Air HDTV content.  I'm in Manhattan and I know all the
> antennas are on the Empire State Building but I don't have a clear
> view  (that would cost way more than I want to pay :).
> Is this feasible?  If anyone has a success story about pulling content
> over the air using an indoor antenna please let me know, I'd like to
> verify it works before shelling out $80+ to buy one.
>

I used to live in Manhattan (56th Street and B'Way), back when the  
antennas were all at WTC. In fact I was a transmitter Engineer for  
WWOR for 18 years. I can certainly sympathize with you on the cost of  
housing in the City.

Unfortunately Manhattan is pretty much the exception to every rule in  
the book. Distance means nothing since there are so many reflections  
from buildings. There is really no way to know ahead of time what  
your reception will be like.

But the more directional your antenna is (ie: the higher the front-to- 
back ratio) the more likely you are to pick up just one signal, even  
though the best one might not be in the direction of Empire.  
Unfortunately most indoor antennas are not very directional.

I would either try and borrow an antenna from somebody and see what  
you get, even try just a pair of Rabbit Ears. If you can't do that  
try and get a unit with return rights.

Even if you have a neighbor with good reception moving just a floor  
or two can change things radically. Your reception also might be OK  
on some channels and not others since the antenna locations at Empire  
are not very good after the move to Empire after a certain Tuesday  
morning.