Anyone in 21220

[fkneon]

got my hdtv (mitsu ws-55511) last friday. with a $20 powered jensen indoor antenna that i happened to have in a closet i was able to get hd channels 13 (38) and 2 (52). saturday & sunday we got 26+ inches of snow dumped on us, now i can't get any HD channels, i'm stuck watching comcast and their sh*tty pictures.

is anyone else in 21220 or close by (specifically, i am in bowley's quarters, maryland). if so, what kind of setup are you using? what antenna and what kind of results?

[BigJohn]

I'm over by the White Marsh mall. I have a powered antenna in my attic (a run of coax brings it to the basement). When I first set it up, the ends of the tube pointed east/west, and I got all four networks plus NBC out of DC and sometimes a Philly station. I didn't get PBS. I moved the antenna to point notheast/southwest and now I get PBS and the other four local networks, but nothing farther away. I'm ok with it.

In addition to OTA, I have Comcast HD. The only benefit there is HBO HD, and it's lacking CBS and PBS. But HD HBO movies are worth it.

The snow has impaired the reception on PBS a bit, making it more pixelated, but no change on the others.

Try moving your antenna around, then have the TV memorize channels again. First try moving it so that if your antenna has arms or ears, have the area between them face the spot that splits the difference between TV hill and Owings Mills.

[fkneon]

thanks for the reply. i will try moving my antenna around tonight when i get home from work. the antenna i have is: http://www.jensen.com/antenna/910.asp I'm not sure if that is multidirectional or not. I'm new to this whole scene so thank you for your patience and suggestions.

It was suggested to me from my Boss (who also has an HDTV) to try some of the cheap antenna's from Radio Shack (bow-tie, ??) before spending much money on a "real" outdoor antenna.

Do you have any further suggestions on decent "indoor" antenna's for our/my area? I will try running coax from my attic to the basement (where the tv and current antenna are located) and try moving my antenna up there to see if I get any better results, however, I've got to get out and get more coax before I can do that.

[BigJohn]

Do a search on antennaweb.org to find out what you need and where to point it. You'll probably be ok with what you've got since you're within 50 miles of the transmitters. I overdid my antenna when I bought it (could have got something cheaper), but I have few regrets because it pulls in so much, so well. It's a Terk TV55.

Simply moving your antenna to the highest point in the house will improve your reception. It was no small task to run the coax for me; drill a hole in the eave, run it down the siding (it tucked in to the edges nicely), then punch a hole in the outer wall of the basement and thread the wire through. You have to be committed to having a plugged hole in your basement from then on. I wish Comcast was offering all the stations so that I could have avoided all of that OTA stuff.

[fkneon]

fortunately, i've run coax from two bedrooms up the wall into the attic, then down the walls and into my basement already.. so i will travel the same path from the attic down, all inside my house when i make this next run.. i wanted to run some new electric anyway, since the hairdryer insists on blowing fuses, i will give it it's own :) this will just give me incentive to get on the job, and i'll pull both cables at once.

thanks again for the input. now i'm just realizing (since it's a powered antenna) i'm going to need electric in the attic as well. i'll probably just replace the attic light with one of those lightbulb outlets with the built in electric outlets to go along with it.

of course, running all cables through the house and extension cords ahead of time first, just to make sure it'll all be worth it :)

[fkneon]

I ran coax up in to my attic tonight, and hooked up a $5 non-powered antenna. I was able to get in FOX, CBS, NBC and ABC so now i'm on top of the world!! Thanks for your help man!

[BigJohn]

Now I feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Maybe it's just the alcohol.

[fkneon]

it's weird.. i am able to get all 4 channels in some time.. then, without moving the antenna around in my attic, i am able to get in 3 channels (example: two nights ago i was able to get in channels abc, nbc & fox-- then last night i was able to get in nbc, cbs & fox)... now it's just weird that one night i can get some stations, then the next night i get different reception, and i never moved the antenna!!

Well anyway, I have a new antenna on the way.. Lance KW4S.. it looks like a bread rack to me. They tried to sell me one at the Big Screen Store for $100.. I picked it up online way cheaper! I'm going to try the reception with it in my attic first.. and later if need be (when the weather warms up) I'll have it mounted outside on the roof.

[billw]

fkneon,
I spent many years in 21220. I lived in bowley's quarters for many years. I lived on Burke and then moved to Seneca Harbor.
My brother lives in Town and Country.
I shoot APA 9 ball for the boathouse.

Sound familiar?

Anyway, let me know how you make out with your antenna.

[fkneon]

awesome. i'm in carroll crest.. i am new there, moved in just before christmas.. prior to that i was living in rosedale!

i'm waiting for the new antenna to show up in the mail .. then i'll be certain to post my results!!

i notice my cell phone reception there is awful (spends more time with no service than it does working).. and i'm glad my tv reception so far is much better :)

[billw]

the only phone service that works down there is Verizon....

At least that is what I experienced.

I really liked it there....it took alot of persuation to move to Harford County.

Like I said, I have friends and family in bowley's quarters so I am there at least once a week.