FM Antenna dilemma...renting a house!

[Radio-X]

I have a Sony XDR-F1HD which I have absolutely fallen in love with. I use the supplied dipole and tacked it up on the wall. Good reception!

...But I don't want good reception, I want great reception!

What should I do? I have the following options:

OUTDOOR:
1) Mount on old Directv (4' above ground) pole and run through cable system
2) Mount on roof and risk the subdivision and landlord having a hissy fit.
3) Attach vertical portion of dipole right outside my window

INDOOR:
1) Keep dipole as is, oriented N-S to null out a large FM tower within eyeshot
2) Mount some sort of antenna in attic and fish the cable into my bedroom
3) Go for one of those "amplified" antennas that I have found to be 100% worthless
4) Rabbit ears

Some background:

- Bedroom is on 2nd floor and has a window facing south
- I have analog, digital, and internet going through my current cable system. I think any attic/roof install will require me to feed the cable into a new jack.

Your recommendations are welcome and appreciated!

Radio-X

 

[nd2023]

You are allowed by FCC laws to erect an antenna on any property you own.

 

[eskipper411]

You are allowed by FCC laws to erect an antenna on any property you own.

But he doesn't own the property, just ask the landlord and he/she might say yes.

 

[Tom Wells]

Mount a dipole on the roof, but (hopefully the ridge runs in a favorable directiion) LOW, about 2-3 inches above the peak.
If you are lucky no one will notice. Most subdivision covenants are trying to avoid huge TV antennas and 10m beam antennas
on 60 foot masts. An unobtrusive antenna, even if noticed later, will give you the advantage of showing you are trying to
preserve the spirit of their (illegal) covenant. DO NOT ask any official connected with the subdivision first, and ask the landlord
to also keep mum about it with the subdivision unless the issue arises.

Renting always has this issue, but you can try to show the owner the FCC law which permits you to erect any antenna as neccessary to achieve reliable communincations. This law is usually only invoked by amatuer radio opeartors, but I don't think the law permits a subdivision to have any say in what kind of communications my be deemed "necessary".
Nor do I believe this law specifies two-way communications.
It may also be necessary to inform the subdivision that their rules run contrary to Federal law on this matter.
They have a right to fight it, but you have th law on your side.

You may have to satisfy the owner that you will excercise due care to not do any damge to the roof.

As much separation as possible from existing cables should be made, as digital noise will otherwise limit your
signal/noise ratio, and any chance of using an amplifier. Any place they might have to come near each other should
be at a 90 degree angle, avoid any parellel runs, and by all means use a separate, new jack.

 

[ddsparxx]

If there's a chimney, then you may be able to mount the dipole there, probably the best thing to do. Or mount the antenna inside the attic. I would avoid nailing anything onto the top of the roof where the water could get into the wood frame of the attic.

 

[kenglish]

Unfortunately, the FCC OTARD Rules do not include antennas for radio broadcast signals...Satellite dishes, MMDS dishes and Internet antennas are covered, along with regular TV antennas.
I guess the FCC figures that only video and broadband matter to people.

So, you'd have to tell your landlord that it's "ONLY" a TV antenna, and hope they can't tell the difference ;D .

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

Of course, nothing in the law says the landlord can't let you do more. The OTARD rules just say what the minimum is that they have to allow. A small omni-directional FM antenna is not very obtrusive. And, even a big old "TV" antenna is legal.

(Funny,....I wonder what loophole the SatRad people use? It's satellite, but it's not TV. And, it's digital, but it's not broadband. And, even though it's satellite, it ain't a dish either....Anybody in the complex have XM or Sirius with an outside antenna?)

 

[Tom Wells]

If there's a chimney, then you may be able to mount the dipole there, probably the best thing to do. Or mount the antenna inside the attic. I would avoid nailing anything onto the top of the roof where the water could get into the wood frame of the attic.

That would be the beginnings of the "look" the restrictive covenant is trying to prevent.

By all means, NO NAILS. I'm thnking little angle irons with standoffs attached by adhesive of some sort, and 10 gauge wire cut to a 1m dipole.

Just now see kenenglish's reply...wonder when such a distinction was created? There was none back when I took FCC laws class.
At that time it was simply "antennas as necessary to provide reliable communications", or worde very close to that.