Small(er) Indoor OTA Antenna with good VHF-Hi coverage

HDRoberts · Oct 8, 2013

I have a friend that just got married and moved into a small apartment. He is OTA only, and I was trying to help him get an indoor antenna that would work. I gave him my old RCA ANT150, a loop/rabbit ear combo with a built in amplifier. He gets all the main Cleveland channels save one, WOIO, which broadcasts on rather low power on channel 10, and also has interference problems from another channel 10 on the other side of Lake Erie. Unfortunately, with many antennas, including that RCA, VHF response is rather poor as most channels move out of them for the digital transition. Are there any small indoor antennas out there that still do good at VHF-hi that are not particularly expensive?

His apartment does not really have an exclusive use area for an outdoor antenna, so the solution needs to be indoor, and look somewhat decent. The good news is he apartment is on the east side, while transmitters are to the south east, so he does have a window that faces them, but a bit askew.

TVFool analysis attached.

boba · Oct 8, 2013

Depending on his apartment an HBU22 might be usable inside. Iceberg was able to mount one in a closet and get his local channels.

A Winegard HD-1080 mounted in the window might also work.

HDRoberts · Oct 9, 2013

boba said:
Depending on his apartment an HBU22 might be usable inside. Iceberg was able to mount one in a closet and get his local channels.

A Winegard HD-1080 mounted in the window might also work.

Thanks. I'm thinking a HBU22 might be a bit big for his apartment. I actually use the HD-1080 as my antenna (mounted outdoors on my old Dish 61.5 mast) and get all channels reliably. But I don't know if his wife would be pleased. I couldn't mount it flat against the window as the signals come in at about a 45 degree angle. But I could bring it up.

How about the Winegard SS-3000, or one of their Flatwave models? Any word on how they do at VHF-Hi?

boba · Oct 9, 2013

HDRoberts said:
Thanks. I'm thinking a HBU22 might be a bit big for his apartment. I actually use the HD-1080 as my antenna (mounted outdoors on my old Dish 61.5 mast) and get all channels reliably. But I don't know if his wife would be pleased. I couldn't mount it flat against the window as the signals come in at about a 45 degree angle. But I could bring it up.

How about the Winegard SS-3000, or one of their Flatwave models? Any word on how they do at VHF-Hi?

Iceberg mounted the HBU22 in a closet near the ceiling, at 8mi. from towers and how many walls between antenna and towers what would be the reception? The HD-1080 placed flush in the window might be surprising. I have no experience with the flatwave models but most indoor and "new HD" antennas are designed for UHF over VHF reception. With cochannel interference from another channel 10 it is going to be trial and error hopefully with few errors.

Kraven · Oct 10, 2013

I'd like to see a pic of the HBU22 in the closet. an HD-1080 flush against the window might be good.

Bob2011 · Oct 12, 2013

That HD-1080 has no positive gain on VHF(-4 db) but would probably do fine at 8 miles LOS. A pair of rabbit ears with the length adjusted for channel 10 should work but with the mulitpath interference in a typical apartment building it can be a crapshoot.

I picked up a Terk HDTVa amplified indoor antenna at a yard sale for $5 and it does surprisingly well. The VHF side is still just a pair of amplified rabbit ears though.

Mr Tony · Oct 12, 2013

Kraven said:
I'd like to see a pic of the HBU22 in the closet.

I'll take one tomorrow and post

Mr Tony · Nov 26, 2013

so it took me a month to get around to it......but here it is

waylew · Nov 26, 2013

Nice hat rack

Jim5506 · Nov 26, 2013

If you have a high ceiling, it would make a good art-deco piece for the living room.

boba · Nov 27, 2013

Is that what they called a coat hanger antenna in the fifties?

Neat way to get reception and hide it from the living area.

KEVIN_224 · Dec 3, 2013

Is that shelf behind it metal or plastic? Also, how do you not bang into that, taking out your shirts, jackets and what not?

As for VHF channel 10, I know the feeling here in Hartford/New Haven. Somehow, an ancient VHF-rod only indoor antenna works for me! I have it near a south-facing second floor window. I get the UHFs surprisingly well (with Rattlesnake Mountain in Farmington 5 miles away or less, I had better get them!). WTNH-TV (ABC) channel 8 of New Haven uses channel 10 for their digital. As for the antenna, it's needed, since it's the only way I get the locals in HD anymore. Thanks for nothing Comcast! :rant:

(P.S. The antenna is resting [barely] on the top of a 24" Toshiba LED HDTV from 2011.)

Mr Tony · Dec 3, 2013

KEVIN_224 said:
Is that shelf behind it metal or plastic?

metal.

Also, how do you not bang into that, taking out your shirts, jackets and what not?

its up about 7 feet in the air. Also its depth perception as I can get to most of the shirts in the closet. There is a good 5 feet of shelf space that you dont see
As for the jackets...they are for show. If you notice one of them says "93" on the arm......you figure that one out

Titanium · Dec 7, 2013

Had you thought about using three or four small screws into the ceiling and suspend the antenna? Open up the floor space by removing the tripod mount.

Mr Tony · Dec 7, 2013

nah. The tripod method works fine. Its far back enough it doesnt bother me. I can get behind there with no issues. Just did it yesterday to get the xmas decorations

Mr Tony · Apr 6, 2014

Here was my updated "antenna in the closet" setup. Reason it "was" is this is in my old place (I'm no longer there)

Got a 8 bay antenna as a special from Solid Signal and a separate VHF antenna. And if you look close yes the one element of the VHF is gone. I had to cut the antenna back about 6 inches to fit it in the closet.
At the bottom is a simple 2 bay UHF antenna. The VHF antenna is split. Each output runs to a UVSJ. The 8 bay is one on the UVSJ's which went to the Tivo. The 2 bay is on the other and went to the bedroom tv. Why not split the 8 bay and go to both tv's? Well I got the 2 bay UHF at goodwill for 1.99 so why not use it

Mr Tony · Apr 6, 2014

Iceberg said:
Here was my updated "antenna in the closet" setup. Reason it "was" is this is in my old place (I'm no longer there)

my new location I could easily get by with rabbit ears but instead I have the HBU22 on the roof.

Small(er) Indoor OTA Antenna with good VHF-Hi coverage

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