Any Cheap way to increase antenna strength???

superbowl is coming up and i always have trouble getting my CBS HDTV
signal. It is UHF and i live relatively close to the broadcasting
tower. Is there any "cheap" or affordable way to increase my antenna
strength so i can get the superbowl in HD?

Sometimes my CBSHD does work, like sunday during the buick open but
yesterday, i tried it again and it said i was searching for a signal
(i have directv btw and i bought their antenna and they attached it to
my roof).

PLEASE HELP!!! i need the superbowl in HD!!!

btw, i get all the other local stations in HD no problem, it's JUST CBS

wrote in message
oups.com...
btw, i get all the other local stations in HD no problem, it's JUST CBS


You must live in Chicago, where CBS sucks!

hahaha no no, i live in Los Angeles in near Hancock park, but CBS is
just as bad as it is out here. Funny thing is that on saturday when i
did get CBSHD, it was windy outside. maybe on a windy day in chicago,
which is probably everyday, you might get a stronger signal? haha

wrote:
hahaha no no, i live in Los Angeles in near Hancock park, but CBS is
just as bad as it is out here. Funny thing is that on saturday when i
did get CBSHD, it was windy outside. maybe on a windy day in chicago,
which is probably everyday, you might get a stronger signal? haha

There are two approaches: get a better antenna or buy a good quality
pre-amp or amp.

You posted that you put up the DirecTV antenna. Which antenna was it?
DirecTV is known for putting up compact, not very good OTA antenna.
Also, just how far are you from the broadcast towers on Mt. Wilson? Use
www.antennaweb.org with your zip code and enter an antenna height of
100' or 200' just to get a full list of the digital stations.

Getting a higher quality antenna is usually the better route to good
reception. You could get a Channel Master or Winegard pre-amp, but if
you are using DirecTV, I suspect you may have a shared co-axial cable
line with the satellite dish. Yes or no? If yes, this complicates adding
a pre-amp or amp.

The problem with Chicago is the CBS station there, WBBM CBS 2, is
digitally broadcasting on VHF 3 and it is notorious for poor digital
reception. Low VHF (2 to 6) in major cities has proven prone to
electrical interference for digital reception. WBBM will be switching
it's digital signal to VHF 11 after the analog shutdown in February, 2009.

Alan F

On 29 Jan 2007 11:03:43 -0800, wrote:

superbowl is coming up and i always have trouble getting my CBS HDTV
signal. It is UHF and i live relatively close to the broadcasting
tower. Is there any "cheap" or affordable way to increase my antenna
strength so i can get the superbowl in HD?

Sometimes my CBSHD does work, like sunday during the buick open but
yesterday, i tried it again and it said i was searching for a signal
(i have directv btw and i bought their antenna and they attached it to
my roof).

PLEASE HELP!!! i need the superbowl in HD!!!

I've heard that the little antenna that DirecTV sells is crap, Just
get a good UHF antenna, like this one

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_disp...om=Large#xview

and you should be fine.
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

so i guess wrapping some of the antenna beams with aluminum foil
doesn't work like it did on the good ol rabbit ears huh?

On 29 Jan 2007 11:44:10 -0800, wrote:

so i guess wrapping some of the antenna beams with aluminum foil
doesn't work like it did on the good ol rabbit ears huh?

If you're close enough to the transmission towers so that would help,
then probably even the DirecTV OTA antenna should work OK. Have you
checked your cables to make sure all the connections are tight? I had
really bad reception until I found that one cable had actully pulled
slightly out of the end fitting.

Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

On Jan 29, 11:44 am, wrote:
so i guess wrapping some of the antenna beams with aluminum foil
doesn't work like it did on the good ol rabbit ears huh?

If you're in Hancock Park, you're in or close to zip 90038 - about 18
miles from the 'tower'. I'm sitting on the second floor of a concrete
building with a sheet metal roof with a Samsung TS-165 and a silver
sensor antenna on Cahuenga Blvd 2 blocks south of Santa Monica
(90038). KCBS-DT on channel 60 (750 MHz) comes in with no problems.
Your main issue will be reflections (ghosts). A directinal antenna
(like another poster suggested) will likely clear things up for you. I
live in 90274 and have had no problems since I raised the height of
the antenna (5 feet made a BIG difference). Use good wire and get as
high as you can.

GG

wrote in message
ups.com...
superbowl is coming up and i always have trouble getting my CBS HDTV
signal. It is UHF and i live relatively close to the broadcasting
tower. Is there any "cheap" or affordable way to increase my antenna
strength so i can get the superbowl in HD?

Sometimes my CBSHD does work, like sunday during the buick open but
yesterday, i tried it again and it said i was searching for a signal
(i have directv btw and i bought their antenna and they attached it to
my roof).

PLEASE HELP!!! i need the superbowl in HD!!!

If your antenna isn't amplified, get an amplified antenna. I have a Philips
amplified antenna that I got at Walmart for around 35 bucks and it pulls in
signals from over 30 miles away very well. If you are situated so you can
move it outside -- get a long cable and do that. try moving it all over the
place. (I'm assuming you are talking indoor antennas here and your current
setup is not some giant antenna on your roof.)