How do I enhance TV antenna signal? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Prince · 08-30-2003, 10:57 PM

So here's the deal. I don't have my work permit yet, so when my wife says we can't afford cable, all I can do is nod. Therefore we only get the basic channels you don't need cable for.

However, we don't have those rabbit ear antennas, so I have a WinTV radio antenna (coupla wires on the wall) plugged into the TV... I know, it's sad. The signal is really lousy and the image on the few channels we (could) get is grainy. Now, since we're broke-ass cheapskates, I am hoping that someone knows of a cool trick to enhance the signal.

Any ideas?

briana · 08-31-2003, 06:45 AM

not without spending some dough to either buy yourself an antanae or an signal amplifier....sorry.

Brewmaniac · 08-31-2003, 08:42 AM

Depending on how close you are to your tv stations a decent rabbit ear ant. should work if your further out an amplilfied one is best(about $40).
Good luck!

sambocom · 09-01-2003, 11:25 AM

check out a powered antenna, or maybe you can tap into the neighbors cable drop?

Stare At The Sun · 09-01-2003, 04:32 PM

sambo, lol, good idea, tap neighbors cable..

cowlick · 09-02-2003, 08:29 PM

tin foil hats.

We always wear tin foil hats when we watch TV.

IckUber · 09-09-2003, 10:10 PM

Tin FOIL!!! just wrap it around, it will work...

baaa · 09-10-2003, 06:53 AM

tin foil hats aye?
i see a fasion trend in the making

meff · 09-11-2003, 08:11 AM

Either put a antenna on the roof or you're stuck with the rabbit ears.

I have seen antenna systems that use your power lines as an antenna, but I dunno how good they work, and they are quite expensive.

When I didn't have cable I ran a long coax cable from the TV to a piece of metal on my window, it worked pretty well

viejo gringo · 09-12-2003, 06:36 PM

run the wire up the wall as high as you can....wrap about 6 inches of foil around cable----then wrap another 6 inches,

move the foil up and down the cable and also slide them toward and apart from one another---trial and error.---the way we did it years ago....been there ---done that..

skinbag · 09-17-2003, 06:47 AM

Keeping physical contact with the wire works for me. Humans must be good antennae! (I hope that your wire reaches the couch.) Otherwise you could just add more wire or tinfoil. If your old lady is like mine, she'll make you take down the tinfoil. (Yesterday, as a matter of fact.)

bbbbbb555 · 09-21-2003, 09:24 AM

make the wire on your wall as long and high as you can. if you have a bookshelf with metal on it connect the wire to that. it has worked for me once.

Me So Horny · 09-28-2003, 11:33 AM

For the channels higher up (UHF) it's best to use a loop antennae. Some speaker wire with one end spliced together works fine. Split the wire to make your loop.

preluder · 10-01-2003, 11:12 PM

so why is it that touching the antennae works so well?

Prince · 10-07-2003, 12:06 PM

So I went a bought a rabbit ear antenna, or whatever they're called. It also has the infamous "loop". It's Philips Magnavox or something, about 10 bucks plus tax at WalMart.

The thing is, though, that the image is pretty much the same with this antenna as it was without it, in some cases it's even worse.

>

I'm ready to be filled in on the less legal ways now...

08-30-2003, 10:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
Prince /nɑndəsˈkrɪpt/ Location: LV-426	How do I enhance TV antenna signal? So here's the deal. I don't have my work permit yet, so when my wife says we can't afford cable, all I can do is nod. Therefore we only get the basic channels you don't need cable for. However, we don't have those rabbit ear antennas, so I have a WinTV radio antenna (coupla wires on the wall) plugged into the TV... I know, it's sad. The signal is really lousy and the image on the few channels we (could) get is grainy. Now, since we're broke-ass cheapskates, I am hoping that someone knows of a cool trick to enhance the signal. Any ideas? __________________ Who is John Galt?

08-31-2003, 08:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
Brewmaniac Searching for the perfect brew!	Depending on how close you are to your tv stations a decent rabbit ear ant. should work if your further out an amplilfied one is best(about $40). Good luck! __________________ "That's a joke... I say, that's a joke, son"

09-02-2003, 08:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
cowlick Insane Location: Seattle	tin foil hats. We always wear tin foil hats when we watch TV. __________________ "It's a long story," says I, and let him up.

09-09-2003, 10:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
IckUber Funran Location: Norman, OK	Tin FOIL!!! just wrap it around, it will work... __________________ How much is y'all Piolkles?

09-11-2003, 08:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
meff Vanishing, like I do.. Location: Austin, TX	Either put a antenna on the roof or you're stuck with the rabbit ears. I have seen antenna systems that use your power lines as an antenna, but I dunno how good they work, and they are quite expensive. When I didn't have cable I ran a long coax cable from the TV to a piece of metal on my window, it worked pretty well __________________ Toy-like people make me boy-like.

08-31-2003, 06:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
briana Tilted Location: Midwest	not without spending some dough to either buy yourself an antanae or an signal amplifier....sorry.

09-01-2003, 11:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
sambocom Tilted Location: Sunny California	check out a powered antenna, or maybe you can tap into the neighbors cable drop?

09-01-2003, 04:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
Stare At The Sun Eh? Location: Somewhere over the rainbow	sambo, lol, good idea, tap neighbors cable..

09-10-2003, 06:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
baaa Banned Location: ville	tin foil hats aye? i see a fasion trend in the making

09-12-2003, 06:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
viejo gringo Registered User Location: Deep South Texas	run the wire up the wall as high as you can....wrap about 6 inches of foil around cable----then wrap another 6 inches, move the foil up and down the cable and also slide them toward and apart from one another---trial and error.---the way we did it years ago....been there ---done that..

09-17-2003, 06:47 AM	#11 (permalink)
skinbag Registered User Location: Madison WI	Keeping physical contact with the wire works for me. Humans must be good antennae! (I hope that your wire reaches the couch.) Otherwise you could just add more wire or tinfoil. If your old lady is like mine, she'll make you take down the tinfoil. (Yesterday, as a matter of fact.)

09-21-2003, 09:24 AM	#12 (permalink)
bbbbbb555 Crazy Location: New Orleans	make the wire on your wall as long and high as you can. if you have a bookshelf with metal on it connect the wire to that. it has worked for me once.

09-28-2003, 11:33 AM	#13 (permalink)
Me So Horny Tilted	For the channels higher up (UHF) it's best to use a loop antennae. Some speaker wire with one end spliced together works fine. Split the wire to make your loop.

10-01-2003, 11:12 PM	#14 (permalink)
preluder Tilted Location: Houston, TX	so why is it that touching the antennae works so well?

10-07-2003, 12:06 PM	#15 (permalink)
Prince /nɑndəsˈkrɪpt/ Location: LV-426	So I went a bought a rabbit ear antenna, or whatever they're called. It also has the infamous "loop". It's Philips Magnavox or something, about 10 bucks plus tax at WalMart. The thing is, though, that the image is pretty much the same with this antenna as it was without it, in some cases it's even worse. > I'm ready to be filled in on the less legal ways now... __________________ Who is John Galt?