Need Help with OTA antenna installation
 

Hi,

I am planning to install an outdoor antenna in my apartment for OTA
DTV reception. I plan to install the antenna (looks like VHF/lower UHF
for my location - San Diego) on my balcony using a tripod. But, I am
facing two problems:

1. routing the coax into my apartment. Neither can I drill holes
through the apartment walls, nor can I keep the balcony door
permanently open to let the coax in. The "flat" coax option is out of
question too ... as I won't be keeping my balcony door permanently
shut.

2. properly grounding the cable.

I need suggestions on the above two. I guess people who already have
satellite TVs/outdoor OTAs installed in their apartments can provide
suggestions on how this was accomplished.

Thanks,
Vijay.

Need Help with OTA antenna installation
 

Vijay Ramasami wrote:
Hi,

I am planning to install an outdoor antenna in my apartment for OTA
DTV reception. I plan to install the antenna (looks like VHF/lower UHF
for my location - San Diego) on my balcony using a tripod. But, I am
facing two problems:

1. routing the coax into my apartment. Neither can I drill holes
through the apartment walls, nor can I keep the balcony door
permanently open to let the coax in. The "flat" coax option is out of
question too ... as I won't be keeping my balcony door permanently
shut.

2. properly grounding the cable.

I need suggestions on the above two. I guess people who already have
satellite TVs/outdoor OTAs installed in their apartments can provide
suggestions on how this was accomplished.

Thanks,
Vijay.

If the balcony door is the sliding type wood, aluminum channel or
possibly even vinyl trim could be cut to fit the height of the door and
a hole crated in that filler piece for the cable(s). Weather strip could
be applied to the side of the filler against the door to seal the edge.
the door could be held closed against the filler by a piece of dowel (or
even an old broom/mop handle) cut the the proper length (note that such
a device would be more secure than many sliding door locks anyway).

Also check the weather strip between the stationary and moving section
of a patio door to see if it's thick enough for the cable. Use of such a
gap may require cutting the end off the cable and reattaching a new
connector OR briefly lifting the sliding panel off the track.

Need Help with OTA antenna installation
 

On Sat, 21 Jun 2008 08:31:58 -0700 (PDT), Vijay Ramasami
wrote:

1. routing the coax into my apartment. Neither can I drill holes
through the apartment walls.

Dish or cable installer would.

J.

Need Help with OTA antenna installation
 

"Vijay Ramasami" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I am planning to install an outdoor antenna in my apartment for OTA
DTV reception. I plan to install the antenna (looks like VHF/lower UHF
for my location - San Diego) on my balcony using a tripod. But, I am
facing two problems:

1. routing the coax into my apartment. Neither can I drill holes
through the apartment walls, nor can I keep the balcony door
permanently open to let the coax in. The "flat" coax option is out of
question too ... as I won't be keeping my balcony door permanently
shut.

2. properly grounding the cable.

I need suggestions on the above two. I guess people who already have
satellite TVs/outdoor OTAs installed in their apartments can provide
suggestions on how this was accomplished.

Thanks,
Vijay.

Given the nature of the digital OTA stuff, if you may be close to the
transmitters, I would try an FM dipole taped to the inside of the window
glass. This could be connected to a 300/75 ohm balun and then hooked to the
TV. If it fails, you have not spent very much.

Need Help with OTA antenna installation
 

"Vijay Ramasami" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I am planning to install an outdoor antenna in my apartment for OTA
DTV reception. I plan to install the antenna (looks like VHF/lower UHF
for my location - San Diego) on my balcony using a tripod. But, I am
facing two problems:

1. routing the coax into my apartment. Neither can I drill holes
through the apartment walls, nor can I keep the balcony door
permanently open to let the coax in. The "flat" coax option is out of
question too ... as I won't be keeping my balcony door permanently
shut.

2. properly grounding the cable.

I need suggestions on the above two. I guess people who already have
satellite TVs/outdoor OTAs installed in their apartments can provide
suggestions on how this was accomplished.

Thanks,
Vijay.

If there is a normal kind of window to the patio, a 1 inch wooden board with
a hole drilled though it. Close the window on the board. Foam rubber at the
top, like you would with an air conditioner.

Tam

Need Help with OTA antenna installation
 

On Jun 21, 7:41 pm, "Tam" wrote:
"Vijay Ramasami" wrote in message

...



Hi,

I am planning to install an outdoor antenna in my apartment for OTA
DTV reception. I plan to install the antenna (looks like VHF/lower UHF
for my location - San Diego) on my balcony using a tripod. But, I am
facing two problems:

1. routing the coax into my apartment. Neither can I drill holes
through the apartment walls, nor can I keep the balcony door
permanently open to let the coax in. The "flat" coax option is out of
question too ... as I won't be keeping my balcony door permanently
shut.

2. properly grounding the cable.

I need suggestions on the above two. I guess people who already have
satellite TVs/outdoor OTAs installed in their apartments can provide
suggestions on how this was accomplished.

Thanks,
Vijay.

If there is a normal kind of window to the patio, a 1 inch wooden board with
a hole drilled though it. Close the window on the board. Foam rubber at the
top, like you would with an air conditioner.

Tam

Thanks Folks !

One of the suggestions I received was to couple the signal through the
window glass (either using capacitive or inductive coupling). Not sure
whether I can make it work for HD signals, but it seems like it is
worth a try ... There a few patents written on this subject that
appear interesting.

Regards,
Vijay.

Need Help with OTA antenna installation
 

"Vijay Ramasami" wrote in message
...
On Jun 21, 7:41 pm, "Tam" wrote:
"Vijay Ramasami" wrote in message

...



Hi,

I am planning to install an outdoor antenna in my apartment for OTA
DTV reception. I plan to install the antenna (looks like VHF/lower UHF
for my location - San Diego) on my balcony using a tripod. But, I am
facing two problems:

1. routing the coax into my apartment. Neither can I drill holes
through the apartment walls, nor can I keep the balcony door
permanently open to let the coax in. The "flat" coax option is out of
question too ... as I won't be keeping my balcony door permanently
shut.

2. properly grounding the cable.

I need suggestions on the above two. I guess people who already have
satellite TVs/outdoor OTAs installed in their apartments can provide
suggestions on how this was accomplished.

Thanks,
Vijay.

If there is a normal kind of window to the patio, a 1 inch wooden board
with
a hole drilled though it. Close the window on the board. Foam rubber at
the
top, like you would with an air conditioner.

Tam

Thanks Folks !

One of the suggestions I received was to couple the signal through the
window glass (either using capacitive or inductive coupling). Not sure
whether I can make it work for HD signals, but it seems like it is
worth a try ... There a few patents written on this subject that
appear interesting.

Regards,
Vijay.

There are a few 144 and 432 MHz amateur radio antennas for mobile use that
come with small metal circles that you glue to both sides of a window to
make a capacitor. This should work for UHF TV. Even at 144 MHz it does not
work well.

Tam