docj wrote:
This is a situation in which a bare wire can work fine, but a properly sized antenna usually, but not always, will work better. Electromagnetic radiation (TV signals) have specific wavelengths (around half a meter for the signals in the TV band). An antenna the receiving elements of which are approximately this length or multiples of it will have higher gain (ability to receive) than will an arbitrarily sized wire. The OP's improvised antenna will work fine as long as the signal strength is reasonably high.
if you're close to the faucet, you don't need a hose.
My USB tuner came with a 15" whip antenna and a coax connector. It couldn't pick up many local channels at all, while the bowtie coat hanger rig got most of them, and with the Radio shack amp, the 4 dipole bowties caught 'em all up in the attic.
And the winegard amplified batwing/wingman with the radioshack cable tv amp picks up signals from 70 miles off. I got NO from here in BR
