Attic mount suggestions?

[cromag]

Hi. I live in Zip Code 08807, in New Jersey, on the west side of the Watchung ridge. As a result, New York stations are blocked, but Philadelphia comes in pretty well. Right now I'm using amplified rabbit ears and getting good to fair reception on most channels in the area.

From Philadelphia, about 52 miles away at 231° compass heading, Channel 3 (CBS, now UHF), channel 10 (NBC, also UHF) and channel 6 (ABC, which will apparently stay VHF Low) come in best. Channel 17 (My Network) and 57 (CW) come in fair. Channel 12 (PBS) was always weak as an analog station, and it's gone now.

From Trenton, about 25 miles away at 200° compass heading, Channel 52 (PBS, but on a budget schedule) comes in great.

From Allentown, channel 39 (WLVT, PBS full schedule) comes in very good, but it doesn't show up on the Antennaweb page for me, so I have to guess the compass heading is about 277° and the mileage is about 45 -- I also pick up channel 69, an independent station in the same area (very well).

Channel 29 (Fox) from Philadelphia was very strong as an analog station, but now is very weak -- I think they moved their transmitter during or slightly after the DTV transition. Anyway, I can usually arrange the rabbit ears to get just enough signal for the TV. Barely.

If it was just me, I'd probably stay the way I am, but my wife gets no satisfaction from a successful hunt for a signal. Also, American Idol (on Fox) is her favorite show, so-ooo ... things have to change.

One additional constraint is that I'd really prefer to put the new antenna(s) in the attic. Aside from the difficulties of installing an antenna on the roof, my neighbors have lost their roof-mounted antennas due to winds coming from the west and hitting the ridge. Our house is oriented North-South, so the antenna(s) will have to be mounted across the attic, not along the long axis. If this doesn't work out I can move the antennas from the attic to the roof, but I'd like to try it out first.



For Philly:

It looks to me like a HD-9032 will fit the available space and should pick up the Philadelphia stations and, hopefully, the Trenton station. I think the YA-6260 will fit the space and should be adequate for channel 6 (which seems intent on staying in the VHF-Low band). Does this seem reasonable? How far apart should they be?

The cable run will be about 60 feet, so I think I'll need a pre-amp. Can you make any recommendations?


For Allentown:

Since we're losing channel 12, and since channel 52 is on a PBS budget plan and doesn't carry the regular schedule, I'd like to pick up channel 39. Because of the difference in direction, I've resigned myself to another UHF antenna, with pre-amp. I assume I'll need a second run from the attic to the TV and then combine them at, or near, the set. Does this seem reasonable? Can you make any recommendations?

How far away from each other should the two UHF antennas be mounted?


Thanks for any help or suggestions you can offer!

[cromag]

While I'm at it, I have another question.

I have a DVD recorder (with a digital tuner) and a digital TV. Right now the antenna goes into the DVD recorder "Antenna In" connection and a short cable runs from the recorder's "Antenna Out" connection to the TV.

Would there be any benefit to using a splitter to split the antenna cable so that the cable doesn't pass through the recorder before getting to the TV?

[winegard]

Good afternoon Cromag -

Here is the response from technical services.

By installing an antenna in the attic you will reduce you incoming signals at least 50% or more so install an antenna outside would be your best option. If you wish to pursue an attic installation then yes you are correct that the HD-9032 and the YA-6260 would be your best antenna choices. Keep the two antennas separated at least 4 feet horizontally. You can use an AP-2870 dual input preamplifier to combine both antennas to a single downlead. You state that channel 39 comes in strong on you indoor antenna, it may be possible that you can receive channel 39 on the HD-9032 and you will not need a separate antenna for channel 39. Another thought once again is that since you are getting fairly good results with an indoor antenna would be to a Winegard GS-2200 antenna mounted outside about 6-10 feet above your roof and possibly this antenna would give you good results on all of your channels.

If you need a separate antenna for channel 39 and preamplifier keep this antenna 4 feet apart from the other antennas. The only way to couple 2 separate antennas together is to use a 2 way line splitter such as the Winegard SP-1002, SP-2052 or CC-7870 coupler to combine the 2 antennas after the out of each preamplifier.

I do not believe there will any advantage to using a splitter ahead of the DVD recorder and the TV set. If you use the splitter you will reduce your incoming signal by least 30% going to the DVD recorder and the TV set.

[cromag]

Thanks very much for the reply. I will pursue this in two stages, then -- I'll pick up the HD-9032 and the YA-6260 and put them in the attic and see what the results are like before doing anything else.

But I have a couple of other questions, if that's okay.

For every station (that I'm interested in) except 29 the indoor amplified "rabbit ears" work very well from a point on a wall shelf -- for channel 29 I have to move the antenna closer to a window. If the attic decking (plywood and asphalt shingles) can be expected to cut incoming signals by 50%, is this comparable to the reduction I'm currently experiencing with the house wall (plywood sheathing, fiberglass insulation and vinyl siding)? I'm not looking for definitive numbers, just a "ballpark" figure.

I also figure that if these two antennas don't work well enough for the attic I could move the same antennas to the roof -- the specs seem to indicate that they'd do well in our reception area.



Thanks for the suggestion regarding the Winegard GS-2200 antenna. We have two other TVs in the house -- an old one with a digital box in the playroom for the kids and an old one with a digital box in the rec room that I use (when American Idol is on). I had intended to remain on rabbit ears for them since they're doing "well enough," but this gives me the flexibility to "play" with some antenna options.

[winegard]

Yes the signal reduction in the living room will be about the same as in the attic. You are up higher and using much larger antennas in the attic so theoretically your results should as good or better. As you state if you have to move the antennas outside there will be a definite signal improvement.

[cromag]

One more question ... for now.

You mention the two antennas should be separated horizontally by 4 feet. Can they be mounted on the same mast? If so, should they still be separated by four feet (vertically)?

Thanks!

[winegard]

Yes, just keep that verticle distance.

[cromag]

Thanks again! I've started ordering the antennas, etc.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

[MacBrian]

Thanks again! I've started ordering the antennas, etc.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

Just reading through the forums and read this thread -- so how did things turn out?