For digital tv converter box (Zenith DTT901 great unit!) what is a good indoor antenna to get? Flat?

Question

I have been pulling in Indiana, sw lower Michigan, and all free Chicago stations or up to 47 channels with a broken coax/ antenna. I've used thick copper wiring in various configurations stapled to my walls and ceiling to get many channels in the Chicago area. Now, I've heard a great indoor antenna for the converter boxes are flat units, with no areals, no metal to adjust. I can't seem to find the names, the stores that sell them, nor any info on these on web sights. If I can pull in easily 35 stations in the Chicago area on the first floor of a an apartment, imagine if I had a half-way descent indoior antenna. By the way, do not respond to this question by suggesting that outdoor antennas are best. I can't put an outdoor antenna oin my landlord's building! I find the best long distance reception seems to be really old antennas with a coax plug-in to go into the converter box.

Answer 1

A TV antenna is looking for a specific frequency or range of frequencies to capture.  If they are detected it will send them to the converter box for decoding.  

A TV antenna has a certain amount of gain built-in by design.  Older TV antenna made before cable generally had higher gain as they had to get UHF stations from great distances.

Some type of antennas work better in specific areas than others.  An indoor antenna generally is NOT as good as an outdoor antenna. The best for you will not be the best for everyone.

For an excellent description of each type SEE: http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/types...

Your specific location is very important, as is the signal strength and the frequency (channel) of the TV station you are trying to watch.

SEE: http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?option=c...

or http://www.solidsignal.com/antenna_selec...

for what stations you can expect to get.

By Federal Law Landlords are somewhat restricted in preventing antenna installations for TV reception.  The FCC has issued specific rules for what is and is not permitted on various rental units.

SEE: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

Answer 2

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