Q: You've talked about indoor TV antennas in the past. Can you recommend one for me and my situation? We are seeking to pick up local signals from transmitting sites no more than 10 miles away. But we are in a basement apartment and there is a large building between us and the stations. Will any antenna work in that situation? The landlord only provides cable jacks.
Gerry Petersen
A: I don't think an indoor antenna will work for you. I believe the fact that you are in the basement and blocked by buildings will effectively block signals at the frequencies used by TV broadcasters. Of course, I could be wrong. What I suggest is to borrow or buy the cheapest rabbit ear-type indoor antenna you can find and place it as high up in your apartment as possible. If it gets a signal then it might be possible to improve things a small amount with a better antenna. But in my opinion there is very little difference between the cheapest indoor antenna and the most expensive. The big factor is the strength of the signal when it reaches the antenna. If you find I'm correct and you don't get a signal on that indoor antenna, your practical options are limited to cable, or getting your programming over the Internet.
Q: When I bought my HDTV I also needed an HDMI cable. The ones I found in stores were $40 and more. That seemed like a lot for a 4-foot piece of wire. So I found one on the Internet for $3 and it works fine. The guy at the appliance store says I should get the $40 cable -- it would give me a much better picture. Do you agree?
Kee Barclay
A: I do agree -- but with you, not the appliance store fellow. If your $3 cable is working, a more expensive HDMI cable won't work a bit better.
Q: When I turn my 32-inch flat-screen TV on and off, there are clicking sounds similar to a tea kettle cooling down. I have contacted the manufacturer several times and each tech person has a different suggestion, from using a grounded plug (which I do), to rebooting (turning the power off and on manually). What do you think?
Mike Winokur
A: It's impossible for me to know. There are too many possible explanations for that sound for me to guess from a distance. For instance, it could be completely normal. The clicking could be a cooling fan clicking on and off. Or it could come from expansion and contraction as the set heats and cools. But it also could be a real flaw in the TV -- a bad capacitor or a failing power supply. My suggestion: Take the television in for service. It's the only way to find out. And since your TV is a 32-inch model, it should be small enough to be easily transported. I realize it could be a wasted trip if the sound is a normal one. But the stakes are too high -- both for your safety and for the chance of the flaw worsening and destroying the TV -- not to act.
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