Monday, November 11
DIY: Local TV and the Satellite Dish The best solution for off-air reception, in a suburban environment where outside antennas are restricted, is to mount a small outdoor VHF-UHF antenna (such as the Radio Shack VU-110) in the attic space of your home and run the cable (RG-6 coax) to the TV set. Orienting the antenna for best reception will give you access to all channels VHF and UHF (not to mention FM radio). Since the whole unit is completely out of the weather, it could last as long as your house, and for around $50, results will be far superior to set-top rabbit ears. In areas where restrictions are minimal, mounting an antenna outside and controlling it with a rotator (RS#15-1225, $65) will allow you to tune in signals from several distant cities in different directions. Investing in a much larger antenna will allow you to expand your horizons to over 100 miles. But, there's a limit. Single, amplified antennas 15 or 20 feet above the peak of your house will be unlikely to get usable signals beyond 100 miles.
