Forum Discussion

Ron3rd's avatar
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Mar 25, 2020

OTR Indoor Antenna

Just looking to get local live stations. I know the rooftop antennas work well but is anyone using one of those OTR Indoor Antennas? Don't really want to put an antenna on the roof but was wondering if any of the indoor antennas are worth using.
  • I use old rabbit ears and get many channels. I am within 10-20 miles of the stations.
  • Nothing has changed since the beginning of TV about TV antennas. The bigger the better. The higher the better. Keep the cable as short as possible and use high quality cable. Have a rotator so you can aim at different broadcast towers. A pre-amp at the antenna will normally make a difference. Digital TV didn't change anything about receiving TV signals. There's no "new technology" that magically made a tiny indoor antenna any better today than it was 30 years ago.
  • The S&B we bought after FTng is 'down in a hole' so OTA Channels and Internet is limited.

    Tried a RCA Flat Panel antenna that goes on the wall.
    Plugged into TV I would hold it in different spots while doing multiple scans for channels. Got a few at each different placement but no one place would pick up those that were available

    When FTng had purchased a single array roof top antenna from ACE Hardware and used it hoisted up on top of ladder when RV Roof top didn't get channels
    So I mounted it on top of Two 10' sections of pipe and scanned/re-aimed it until I got 8 digital channels...each with several sub-channels for total of 25 channels we wanted to watch.........deleted roughly 15 other channels that we didn't want or would watch

    Location, terrain & line of sight make/break if/what you can recieve with OTA Antenna be it inside or outside

    Point is......nothing beats HEIGHT when it comes to OTA TV reception
  • It will depend on the distance from you house to the broadcast antennas. I am 33 miles straight line. I have a large outdoor antenna and get great reception but my neighbor has tried a couple of indoor antennas without success.
    My daughter lives 5 miles from the broadcasters and gets great reception with an indoor antenna.
  • Ron3rd's avatar
    Ron3rd
    Explorer III
    Sorry I should have been more clear, I meant for the sticks and bricks.

    I'm dumping cable TV and their constant price increases.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    There are a few "Indoor Antennas" out there. the latest and greatest per the TV ads is good old fashion RABBIT EARS like from the 1970's.. What can I say

    Limited range and if you are living in a metal RV forget about 'em.

    The winegard Sensar IV is my first and only recommendation

    It is amplified (Means stronger signal delivered but it also amplifies noise so this may or may not be a plus) it is HIGHER than any other RV antenna (See notes) and it is directional (Giving it more range) it outperforms a Jack at the same height.

    Height is might . I proved that back one day in 1978 when I was chatting with some far off ham radio operators and another ham tried to join in. he did not make it. HE was running about 160 times the power I was running and he did not make it (I could see his house from the 21st floor observation window) I had the HEIGHT (about 250 feet)

    The only thing better is a Residential high gain antenna mounted on a TALLER mast.

About RV Must Haves

Have a product you cannot live without? Share it with the community!8,796 PostsLatest Activity: Apr 10, 2025