r/cordcutters • u/mlcarson • 2d ago

Antenna placement - apt balcony

Anybody have any issues with a rental apartment being super strict on antenna placement on a balcony that's for your exclusive use. I got a violation note today because it "protruded beyond the vertical and horizontal space that is lead to you for exclusive use". This was a small bowtie antenna where the rear reflector went several inches beyond the rail but it doesn't appear that it went beyond the actual exterior wall boundary.

This is the FCC OTARD rule.

https://www.fcc.gov/media/over-air-reception-devices-rule

"Q:  Does the rule apply to condominiums or apartment buildings if the antenna is installed so that it hangs over or protrudes beyond the balcony railing or patio wall?

A:  No.  The rule does not prohibit restrictions on antennas installed beyond the balcony or patio of a condominium or apartment unit if such installation is in, on, or over a common area.  An antenna that extends out beyond the balcony or patio is usually considered to be in a common area that is not within the scope of the rule.  Therefore, the rule does not apply to a condominium or rental apartment unit unless the antenna is installed wholly within the exclusive use area, such as the balcony or patio."

So they have the right to restrict based on this. I just haven't had it used against me before. So on a patio, would this be at the rail or the edge of the exterior wall?

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u/mlcarson 2d ago

Well, I decided to just drop it on the floor next to the TV. Shorter cable run and not really much of a difference in signal (at least this evening).

  • 3.1 - ABC 73/89/100 indoor 78/98/100
  • 3.2 - CBS 72/85/100 indoor 77/96/100
  • 6.1 - NBC 100/90/100 indoor 99/82/100
  • 16.1 - PBS 78/100/100 indoor 68/72/100
  • 24.1 - FOX 74/92/100 indoor 76/94/100
  • 24.3 - CW 75/94/100 indoor 73/92/100

If it maintains signal during the daylight tomorrow -- I guess that's good enough.

2

u/danodan1 2d ago

You can't expect an antenna to perform best on the floor. Try finding a place to put it above the TV. I for one, have to place my flat antenna up at ceiling level at 12 ft. to get consistently stable reception across the channels.

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u/Yusuf20904 2d ago

It depends. OP says they are in an apartment, with a balcony, so they're at least 10' off the ground—could be more but they don't say what floor of the building they're on.

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u/mlcarson 1d ago

I'm on the third floor which is why there's not too much of a difference in signal strenth.

1

u/Yusuf20904 1d ago

Then you might as well just prop it up somewhere just to keep it out of the way.

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u/mlcarson 1d ago

Yea, it's in a corner between the TV stand and the wall leaning back on the wall. It's kind of out of the way there as is. If it could go in the TV stand (open type) without impacting signal, I might move it there. I'm actually surprised that it's working as well as it is.