Ways to improve reception w indoor antenna?

nickolasj80 · 02-04-2012, 09:32 AM

Ok, so as far as my antenna goes, all I have at the moment is a GE Amplified Indoor Antenna.

For the most part I get most channels (and their subchannels) without an issue.

However, there are a few which I don't get and would like to see what I can do about actually getting my antenna to receive them.

When I first hooked in the antenna, I did a auto scan, but the TV found no signal on said particular channels. I've tried to go to the channels by manually inputting the numbers (ie, 28.1), but of course, TV shows "No Signal". I've tried moving the antenna to no avail.

Anybody have any ideas on things I can try that might help?

Additional Info:
Market: Denver, CO
Desired Channels:
23.1 - KDEOLD
23.2 - KDEOLD2
23.3 - KDEOLD3
23.4 - KDEOLD4
28.1 - KLPDLD
28.2 - KLPDLD2
28.3 - KLPDLD3

Thanks for any help!

-Nick

NonMcTubber · 02-04-2012, 11:31 AM

Hello nickolasj80 and welcome to these forums.

In terms of helping you, its rather difficult without an exact address TVFool report. It will take five posts for you be able to post.

But its not hard to somewhat guess why you don't receive either real channels 23.x and 28.x with rabbit ears after I glanced at a TVFool generic address report for Denver. As my guess is, that you can't receive either channels with rabbit ears because both are low powered stations that broadcast UHF with a puny 15 Kwatts or less. In comparison, real channel 32 which I assume you receive has a signal power of over 500 Kwatts. Its therefore a no brainer that low powered stations have very limited range.

Your three broad options are (1) To get a better class of indoor antenna, maybe something like a RCAant751 with more signal collection area. (2) To consider a bigger outdoor type antenna installed in your attic. (3) To get a small combo UHF/VHF like the winegard 7694 installed outside.

Without an exact address TVFool report its hard to say more. But it also looks like you have more distant signals coming from many directions, so even an antenna rotor can't be ruled out as an option.

Just my initial take, lets see what others say.

robertva · 02-04-2012, 12:49 PM

Note that for OTA digital television in the US the channel numbers don't always reflect the radio frequency the way it did in the analog TV days. The various sub-channels for 8 (8.1, 8.2 etc) might be located on the frequency that was associated with channel 40 (or 29, 42 etc) during the analog TV period. If you don't pick up sub-channel 23-# with your digital TV's auto-scan you would have to enter the number that was associated with that frequency in the analog period. If the auto-scan didn't detect that channel because the signal was to weak (or the antenna inadequate) you're probably not going to improve the situation though. The manual channel entry is for situations where you did a scan while the antenna was pointed in one direction, but one broadcaster is in another direction (thus not detected because of the antenna aim).

02-04-2012, 09:32 AM	#1
nickolasj80 What is HD? Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 1	Ways to improve reception w indoor antenna? Ok, so as far as my antenna goes, all I have at the moment is a GE Amplified Indoor Antenna. For the most part I get most channels (and their subchannels) without an issue. However, there are a few which I don't get and would like to see what I can do about actually getting my antenna to receive them. When I first hooked in the antenna, I did a auto scan, but the TV found no signal on said particular channels. I've tried to go to the channels by manually inputting the numbers (ie, 28.1), but of course, TV shows "No Signal". I've tried moving the antenna to no avail. Anybody have any ideas on things I can try that might help? Additional Info: Market: Denver, CO Desired Channels: 23.1 - KDEOLD 23.2 - KDEOLD2 23.3 - KDEOLD3 23.4 - KDEOLD4 28.1 - KLPDLD 28.2 - KLPDLD2 28.3 - KLPDLD3 Thanks for any help! -Nick

02-04-2012, 11:31 AM	#2
NonMcTubber High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,292	Hello nickolasj80 and welcome to these forums. In terms of helping you, its rather difficult without an exact address TVFool report. It will take five posts for you be able to post. But its not hard to somewhat guess why you don't receive either real channels 23.x and 28.x with rabbit ears after I glanced at a TVFool generic address report for Denver. As my guess is, that you can't receive either channels with rabbit ears because both are low powered stations that broadcast UHF with a puny 15 Kwatts or less. In comparison, real channel 32 which I assume you receive has a signal power of over 500 Kwatts. Its therefore a no brainer that low powered stations have very limited range. Your three broad options are (1) To get a better class of indoor antenna, maybe something like a RCAant751 with more signal collection area. (2) To consider a bigger outdoor type antenna installed in your attic. (3) To get a small combo UHF/VHF like the winegard 7694 installed outside. Without an exact address TVFool report its hard to say more. But it also looks like you have more distant signals coming from many directions, so even an antenna rotor can't be ruled out as an option. Just my initial take, lets see what others say. __________________ High definition is not the definition of my life. But knowledge is power and HD does have some potential to increase content variety and choices.

02-04-2012, 12:49 PM	#3
robertva Saving my pennies for HD Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 163	Note that for OTA digital television in the US the channel numbers don't always reflect the radio frequency the way it did in the analog TV days. The various sub-channels for 8 (8.1, 8.2 etc) might be located on the frequency that was associated with channel 40 (or 29, 42 etc) during the analog TV period. If you don't pick up sub-channel 23-# with your digital TV's auto-scan you would have to enter the number that was associated with that frequency in the analog period. If the auto-scan didn't detect that channel because the signal was to weak (or the antenna inadequate) you're probably not going to improve the situation though. The manual channel entry is for situations where you did a scan while the antenna was pointed in one direction, but one broadcaster is in another direction (thus not detected because of the antenna aim).