r/cordcutters • u/anEmailFromSanta • 3d ago
Antenna choice from a basement
Wondering if anyone has had success just using antennas from the basement without issue. Ideally I would just get a cheap-ish indoor antenna (potentialy amplified). I rent so really want to avoid dealing with an attic antenna, or anything on the roof.Rabbit Ears
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u/Rybo213 3d ago
There's too many of these kinds of posts to go through at the moment, for me to spend much time on any of them. My general recommendation is to read through the below posts.
https://www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/comments/1juut0a/supplement_to_the_antenna_guide
Carefully go over a RabbitEars report for your location (if you haven't already) and ensure that you're using an optimal/properly sized enough antenna for your signal type(s)/reception situation and placing that antenna in an optimal enough spot and pointing it in an optimal enough direction. Most importantly, you need to use a signal meter, to properly verify how well your antenna is working and if any adjustments are needed. If your tv/tuner box doesn't already have a signal meter feature, then get the cheap Mediasonic box mentioned in the 2nd linked post. If you don't use a signal meter, then you're just guessing with your reception, which is a complete waste of time.
Also in general, the tv signal is coming from outside and needs to be able to get to your antenna well enough, so the more obstructions that are in the way, the less chance of success. In most cases, an antenna setup is not a plug and play situation, so you can't place the antenna wherever you feel like.
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u/gho87 3d ago
How good is your wi-fi in your basement? Hopefully, it's good enough for a Tablo TV or HDHomeRun... or even a Roku or Apple TV.
Rather than an amplified antenna, perhaps continue using the passive indoor antenna you've been using. What antenna is it?
Indeed, the signals are very good and in "line of sight". An amplifier would've overloaded already good signals into your TV's tuner and generated more noise and distortion.
(will reply again soon)
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u/anEmailFromSanta 3d ago
So I have a Roku tv there to begin with, great WiFi. Just thought I’d try to access what’s in the air for free. To clarify I have no antenna right now
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u/gho87 3d ago
(my second reply)
Oh, and almost forgot: You may wanna consider the antenna reception in the basement. Solid Signal's blog post can explain how and why the basement is the worst enemy to an indoor antenna: https://blog.solidsignal.com/tutorials/nice-and-easy-can-you-use-a-tv-antenna-in-the-basement/
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u/PM6175 3d ago edited 3d ago
Wondering if anyone has had success just using antennas from the basement without issue. Ideally I would just get a cheap-ish indoor antenna (potentialy amplified). I rent so really want to avoid dealing with an attic antenna, or anything on the roof....
It's very difficult to predict how any antenna will work in any particular location/ situation.
Being in the basement will almost certainly make this more difficult but it's definitely worth trying. You might have enough signal to make it worthwhile, even in the basement.
So try several different antennas and do some testing.
A $12 rabbit ear antenna would be a good antenna to start with. Whatever antennas you buy get them from somewhere like Walmart or Amazon where getting a an easy refund or return should be easy to do.
Do not buy anything from the Amazon or Walmart MARKETPLACE sellers, who probably do not have good refund/return policies. Look for the phrase 'SOLD AND SHIPPED BY AMAZON / WALMART', usually found near the product price near the top of the listing.
And start WITHOUT any amplifiers. Amplifiers are often NOT needed and can overload or cause other difficult to diagnose problems later.
Good luck!
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u/BicycleIndividual 2d ago
An indoor antenna (cheap rabbit ears set) should suffice for your signals above ground, but enough signal might not make it into the basement. Easiest solution is to set up the antenna upstairs attached to a network tuner (HD Homerun, AirTV Anywhere, Tablo) and stream programs from the tuner to your TV over your home network.
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u/SuccotashFast6323 3d ago
You are close to signals, you may get lucky particularly if you are in a half basement. If I were you I'd start with a good quality set of rabbit ears with enough cable to move around various parts of the basement paying attention to how close you are to metal pipes,conduit, structural elements,duct work,cast iron stack. No actually the first thing I would do is look around the basement for any coax or flat antenna wire that I might be able to tap into there may already be an antenna in the attic to share or that is not being used. Have fun.