Infrastructure as antenna

Thread Starter

SolarFun

Joined Oct 16, 2009
16
I'm ready to abandon my cable provider and install a TV antenna in hopes of getting free (almost) HD reception. I live on the sixth floor of a high rise building in Ottawa, Canada and the condo rules prohibit exterior antennas. A friend suggested using either the building plumbing or the ground circuit of our electrical service for an antenna. I remember using a hot water system for an FM antenna about 50 years ago and I had to attach a resister (I think) to my antenna wire so as to avoid stray current entering my radio. I'm loath to try anything until I get some advice about protecting my electronics from whatever current my be present on the pipes or the ground circuit. Any advice?
 

Papabravo

Joined Feb 24, 2006
21,158
In general infrastructure makes really crappy antennas, but who knows with a little magical thinking and a stroke of luck, good things might happen. You could start with a folded dipole made of 300 Ω Twin-lead. Works for FM radio and it might work for TV as well.
 

crutschow

Joined Mar 14, 2008
34,280
Does your condo face the broadcast station antenna? How far away is it? You might be able get reception with a good indoor antenna since you are on the sixth floor. If you have a spare room or crawl space you might be able to use an outdoor type antenna.
 

JohnInTX

Joined Jun 26, 2012
4,787
My sister-in-law in a ground floor townhouse stuck one of these between two books on a shelf and gets great reception. It depends on your distance from the transmitter site.

BTW: You can order a similar one on line if you are not near a Costco.
 

tracecom

Joined Apr 16, 2010
3,944
It depends on your distance from the transmitter site.
Exactly. HDTV antennas can be small compared to VHF antennas. And you don't have to put your antenna outside. I can get reasonable reception with the little dipole (shown in the attached photo) placed next to the TV, and I am 15 miles from the closest transmitter.

If you need more gain, do a search for "coathanger HD antenna".
 

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Audioguru

Joined Dec 20, 2007
11,248
TV transmissions in Canada are all digital UHF today. Does your TV decode digital TV?
Look at the small antennas in Google Images.
You can use one of those inexpensive antennas indoors (but it ain't pretty).
 

Externet

Joined Nov 29, 2005
2,201
What materials are in your dwelling walls; concrete or wood sticks and paper ?

I use indoors a Shakespeare 2020 antenna on top of a bookshelf. Can be found cheap at used boat stuff stores.
 
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