Direction to Aim Antenna?

Dukefrukem

Dukefrukem

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Jan 11, 2009
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www.notebookforums.com
How do you tell what the best direction is to aim your antennas for home kits? I lived in Boston for 5 years and had my antenna aimed at the sky from indoors and worked like a charm.

I move out of the city and I placed my antenna 6 feet out the window and reception is still spotty. I really want to avoid buying one of those intense antennas. I'm currently using one that came with a home kit.

Thanks

-Duke
 
MM

MM

Administrator
Oct 9, 2008
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I'm not sure how far away from Boston you are now. I live south of Boston now and I have my antenna aiming west. I have full signal most of the time.
 
Dukefrukem

Dukefrukem

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Jan 11, 2009
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MM said:
I'm not sure how far away from Boston you are now. I live south of Boston now and I have my antenna aiming west. I have full signal most of the time.
Click to expand...

When I lived in Boston, I aimed it at the North. Right now, I don't have access to aim to the West and South. My options are East and North and both don't work.

I didn't realize it would matter this much!
 
MM

MM

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Dukefrukem said:
When I lived in Boston, I aimed it at the North. Right now, I don't have access to aim to the West and South. My options are East and North and both don't work.

I didn't realize it would matter this much!
Click to expand...

Those home antennas are tricky to get correct if you do not have a 100% clear view to the direction that you need.

Keep fiddling with it. It's not like it's cold outside or anything. ;)
 
semipenguin

semipenguin

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Oct 11, 2008
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MM said:
I'm not sure how far away from Boston you are now. I live south of Boston now and I have my antenna aiming west. I have full signal most of the time.
Click to expand...

I thought you lived in Haverhill?...:right:

Better call the realtor and tell them I'm not moving anymore...:worried:

:)
 
limegrass69

limegrass69

Confused
Oct 12, 2008
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When you were in Boston, you probably had the benefit of a terrestrial repeater. Out in the suburbs, you have to rely on the sats. I have a setup in my suburban office, and some days it's perfect reception, and others it is hit or miss. Reception is a bear through those coated office windows. If I had the time and patience, I'd throw an external antenna on our satellite dish and get one of those combiner/splitter setups...but the run is pretty long and I suspect could be problematic. Generally, the northwest direction works best for me.
 
L

leth

Member
Jan 4, 2009
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Southern Ontario
HCLogo said:
Well according to this site I should be aiming my antenna towards Northern Minnesota area (West of me) which would explain why I get questionable reception on the drive home from work (Eastbound) with my dash-mounted antenna. Poo.
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Exactly the reason they recommend roof mounting :)

I was going to try dash mounting on my car as well, but mounting on the roof turned out to be a lot easier than I imagined. It only took me half an hour, maybe less. I was surprised that there's room underneath those rubber mouldings between the edge of the rear window and the body.
 
MM

MM

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Oct 9, 2008
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This is why I just bit the bullet and bought an outdoor antenna. It works great and I have no issues getting a signal.

What's another $40? :)
 
HCLogo

HCLogo

Member
Dec 28, 2008
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leth said:
Exactly the reason they recommend roof mounting :)

I was going to try dash mounting on my car as well, but mounting on the roof turned out to be a lot easier than I imagined. It only took me half an hour, maybe less. I was surprised that there's room underneath those rubber mouldings between the edge of the rear window and the body.
Click to expand...

Can't roof-mount - Convertible
Can't trunk mount - Car is bright yellow and a black sirius antenna would look like crap

:cry:
 
dlynx

dlynx

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Oct 9, 2008
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Michigan.
www.btlsfan.com
xan_user said:
Better to look good than sound good. eh?:rolleyes:

Paint the antenna yellow?
Click to expand...

Painting sounds like the best answer.

But also I've done the smaller square antenna's like this one (not in stock)
SIRIUS Square Car Antenna
before that also make the options a little bit easier (I think this is the one I used, it's a little over an inch square I believe). It's quite a bit smaller then the standard one they ship with receivers now. I haven't had any problems with signal using them.

If there is absolutely no place to put it on the painted surfaces do to the setup I'd try maybe putting it in where the windsheild wipers usually sit and is typically a black surface. You won't get optimal signal from it, but it's still better then trying to pick up a signal through the glass, rooftop, and whatever else may be blocking the signal.

Plus it makes for an easy wire run :)
 
HCLogo

HCLogo

Member
Dec 28, 2008
212
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GTA, Ontario, Canada
xan_user said:
Better to look good than sound good. eh?:rolleyes:

Paint the antenna yellow?
Click to expand...

The antenna would really spoil the look of a stang I think... I'm sure there's another way that will work well. Maybe I'll try moving the antenna to a different location on the dash. I'm really surprised nobody has made an antenna that would be a doughnut shape and fits around the existing terrestrial radio antenna.
 
DJL

DJL

Member
Jan 20, 2009
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I suppose what confuses me is how easy it is to get a signal from the satellites used for a GPS/Garmin inside my car. Why is it so difficult to get a signal for a Sirius antenna outside my car? Does anyone know the answer to this?

DJL
 
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