Methods and apparatus to position antennas

1 . A mobile device comprising:

memory;

machine-readable instructions; and

programmable circuitry to at least one of instantiate or execute the machine-readable instructions to:

estimate signal strengths of one or more broadcast signals at a first position;

assign weights to the one or more broadcast signals based on user preference;

adjust weights to the one or more broadcast signals based on duplicative content;

combine the weighted signals strengths to form a receivability score;

recommend a user place an antenna device at the first position based on the receivability score;

receive an ultra-wide band (UWB) communication from the antenna device;

determine the antenna device is located at a second position based on the UWB communication;

update the receivability score based on estimated signal strengths at the second position; and

report the receivability score to the user.

2 . The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first position and the second position are within a same building; and

the programmable circuitry is to:

recommend the first position before the user begins a search to place the antenna device; and

repeatedly update the receivability score and report the updated receivability score as the user moves throughout the building during the search.

3 . The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein to recommend the first position, the programmable circuitry is to:

determine a set of receivability scores corresponding to a set of positions within a building, the set of positions including the first position;

determine the receivability score corresponding to the first position is the highest within the set; and

provide a visual that points the user towards the first position.

4 . The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein:

the one or more broadcast signals are transmitted by broadcast towers; and

the programmable circuitry is to estimate the signal strengths based on one or more of:

distances between a current position of the mobile device and the broadcast towers;

performance characteristics of the broadcast towers; and

obstructions between the current position and the broadcast towers.

5 . The mobile device of claim 4 , wherein the programmable circuitry is to determine the distances between the current position of the mobile device and the broadcast towers using Global Positioning System (GPS) data.

6 . The mobile device of claim 4 , wherein the programmable circuitry is to determine the obstructions based on topological data.

7 . The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the programmable circuitry is to:

maintain a list of broadcast towers that transmit broadcast signals receivable by the antenna device; and

prompt, in response to a change of broadcast towers on the list, the user to move the antenna device.

8 . The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein:

the UWB communication is a first UWB communication;

the programmable circuitry is to:

determine, based on a second UWB communication, the antenna device has moved from the second position to a third position; and

prompt, based on a determination that a distance between the second position and the third position exceeds a threshold, the user to move the antenna device.

9 . The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein the programmable circuitry is to determine the distance between the second position and the third position after the user has selected the second position for the antenna device.

10 . The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein:

the antenna device is a first antenna device; and

the programmable circuitry is to recommend, based on one or more receivability scores, that the user obtain a second antenna device, the second antenna device predicted to receive one or more broadcast signals with higher signal strength than the first antenna device.

11 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions to cause programmable circuitry to at least:

determine a receivability score based on estimated signal strengths of one or more broadcast signals at a first position;

recommend a user place an antenna device at the first position based on the receivability score;

receive a first ultra-wide band (UWB) communication from the antenna device;

determine the antenna device is located at a second position based on the first UWB communication;

update the receivability score based on estimated signal strengths at the second position;

report the receivability score to the user;

after the user has selected the second position for the antenna device, determine, based on a second UWB communication, the antenna device has moved from the second position to a third position; and

prompt, based on a determination that a distance between the second position and the third position exceeds a threshold, the user to move the antenna device.

12 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein:

the first position and the second position are within a same building; and

the programmable circuitry is to:

recommend the first position before the user begins a search to place the antenna device; and

repeatedly update the receivability score and report the updated receivability score as the user moves throughout the building during the search.

13 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein to recommend the first position, the programmable circuitry is to:

determine a set of receivability scores corresponding to a set of positions within a building, the set of positions including the first position;

determine the receivability score corresponding to the first position is the highest within the set; and

provide a visual that points the user towards the first position.

14 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein to determine the receivability score the programmable circuitry is to:

assign weights to the one or more broadcast signals based on user preference;

adjust weights to the one or more broadcast signals based on duplicative content; and

combine the weighted signals strengths to form the receivability score.

15 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein:

the one or more broadcast signals are transmitted by broadcast towers; and

the programmable circuitry is to estimate the signal strengths based on one or more of:

distances between a current position of a mobile device and the broadcast towers;

performance characteristics of the broadcast towers; and

obstructions between the current position and the broadcast towers.

16 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the programmable circuitry is to:

maintain a list of broadcast towers that transmit broadcast signals receivable by the antenna device; and

prompt, in response to a change of broadcast towers on the list, the user to move the antenna device.

17 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein:

the antenna device is a first antenna device; and

the programmable circuitry is to recommend, based on one or more receivability scores, that the user obtain a second antenna device, the second antenna device predicted to receive one or more broadcast signals with higher signal strength than the first antenna device.

18 . A system comprising:

an antenna device to transmit an ultra-wide band (UWB) communication;

a display device to perform, when connected to the antenna device, a channel scan; and

a mobile device comprising:

memory;

machine-readable instructions; and

programmable circuitry to at least one of instantiate or execute the machine-readable instructions to:

determine a receivability score based on estimated signal strengths of one or more broadcast signals at a first position;

recommend a user place the antenna device at the first position while the antenna device is disconnected from the display device;

determine the antenna device is located at a second position based on the UWB communication;

update the receivability score based on estimated signal strengths at the second position; and

report the receivability score to the user while the antenna device is disconnected from the display device.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein:

the first position and the second position are within a same building; and

the programmable circuitry is to:

recommend the first position before the user begins a search to place the antenna device; and

repeatedly update the receivability score and report the updated receivability score as the user moves throughout the building during the search.

20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein to determine the receivability score the programmable circuitry is to:

assign weights to the one or more broadcast signals based on user preference;

adjust weights to the one or more broadcast signals based on duplicative content; and

combine the weighted signals strengths to form the receivability score.