For those who don't want to, or can't go up on a roof, here is a suggestion.

I obtained a spare CM 4228 and along with a spare, older (US made) Radio Shack rotor, I installed them in my attic, upside down, using a 1x4" board and a 1 1/2" wooden dowel as a mast.
I used a small Eagle Aspen 2 bay antenna as a 'sniffer', to find a sweet spot (if there is such a thing inside an attic). I measuerd a 9db drop between the preformance of the two antennas (inside and out).

One problem; the readout for the rotor control is reversed. CM told me to reverse the #1 & #2 lead wires on the 9537 remote rotor controller and that did the trick. I don't know if that would work on a typical 'motor' type controller or not IOWs' East is West and vice-a-versa (or in my case 90 degrees is 270 degrees) if it didn't work. Of course, you can always mount it to the floor, but I didn't want to walk around it even though it is just a unfinished attic. The bottom of the antenna is just over 6' off the floor.

videobruce,

I have the same RS rotor. Because its stop is set at N and I have to point NE and NW, and I didn't want to turn the antenna 330 degrees to go between the two, I reversed the mechanism inside the brown control box. The rotor now stops at S. I think you probably want to do the same thing with your upside down attic situation.

I measuerd a 9db drop between the preformance of the two antennas (inside and out).
Thanks for the interesting and informative info. I have fantastic attic 4228 reception, but there are a couple of problem stations so I have a couple of questions:

What is the orientation of your roof to incoming signals?

And I wasn't clear on this, did you get the 9 db drop comparing a 4228 inside and then a 4228 outside? Thanks again!

I corrected my post as I misunderstood the wires to swap. Switching #1 & 2 did the trick. Mind you, this was with the CM 9537 remote controller.
I don't know if it will work with another controller. What is the orientation of your roof to incoming signals? The house runs east-west and the direction of the antenna is facing NW. Most stations are 180 degrees apart from one another.did you get the 9 db drop comparing a 4228 inside and then a 4228 outside?Yes. The range was 7-9db. The roof location is where it's been for 20+ years. I never tried to 'hunt' for a hot spot because of the slope of the roof. ;) IOWs', I don't know if that is the 'best' location.
The location of the antenna is such that the attic of the house next door is not in line with the antenna for the stations of interest.

The house runs east-west and the direction of the antenna is facing NW. Most stations are 180 degrees apart from one another...The range was 7-9db.
Routine strong winds at my high elevation among other reasons make me concerned about going to the roof, even for testing. BUT those problem stations plus DNS going away plus possibly losing an OTA CBS & ABC station in 2009...........

Perhaps the 7-9db drop would be substantially less if the test involved incoming signals almost exactly perpendicular to a fairly steep roof as in my case. Also, the additional cable run to the roof if we're talking about say 30 ft. or more -- or even if less -- could contribute at least one or two of those db's drop.

Actually, in thinking more about my previous post, the additional run to the roof would in balance make the db drop potentially even more.

...........

Perhaps the 7-9db drop would be substantially less if the test involved incoming signals almost exactly perpendicular to a fairly steep roof as in my case. ....

There's probably more variation due to roofing materials than the things you mentioned.

If he has tile and you have asphalt shingle than you're probably much better off than him. OTOH, if you have standing seam copper.... ;)

I fussed around with a 4 bay and a 2 bay bow-tie antenna. The 2 bay actually works the best in my attic.

The problem I have is that strong winds makes the trees in the neighbor's yard across the street sway in the path and the signal jumps all over the place.

plus DNS going away plus possibly losing an OTA CBS & ABC station in 2009DNS??
What's happening with your CBS & ABC stations? Perhaps the 7-9db drop would be substantially less if the test involved incoming signals almost exactly perpendicular to a fairly steep roof as in my case.The signals measured were at a 45 degree angle to the roof as you stated. You feel perpendicular would be a lesser drop?
Now I'm going to have to turn the house. :D Also, the additional cable run to the roof if we're talking about say 30 ft. or more -- or even if less -- could contribute at least one or two of those db's drop.Actually the other way around. 30' less of a run for an antenna in an attic (as your next post stated).

DNS??
I get CBS & Fox both HD from NYC and CBS & Fox both only SD from LA. On the other forum they keep saying all DNS will go away pretty soon. That would reduce the number of NFL games this non-ST'er could see on any given Sunday. (And a little OT, if D* MPEG4 turns out to be more HD Lite, w/o DNS, I would go back to cable.)

What's happening with your CBS & ABC stations?
In 2009, they're going from UHF 34 and 39 at a mW each back to 7 and 9, both at around 16 kW. And at 125 miles, my attic 4228 is good but I'm afraid not that good. Man, I wonder how big a VHF antenna would have to be and at what height above my nearly 1800 ft. elevation. I also get them solid VHF analog now, but VHF digital at that power and at that distance????

The CBS one is my only reliable OTA CBS, so that and losing LA and NYC CBS would be bad. In the case of ABC, I get two other ones OTA , but this is the only one reliably carrying my Nittany Lions on a regional basis when the others bring Va. Tech or the Cavaliers.

So all of this means I'm facing some big issues down the road.

Sorry for the long post but the button of this football fanatic for many many years was pushed!

One other issue I forgot to address in previous post was turning around of the house. I assume perpendicular would produce less of a signal drop and that's why to my wife's consternation I had our house jacked up and moved a considerable distance!

Just kidding! :) But that doesn't really seem too extreme to this fanatic living way out in the country, whether it's HDTV and/or football!

DNS as in Dish Network. Better of using E* or Charlie.
Didn't think it was 'Domain Name Server'..................

You can p/u stations at 125 miles??

DNS as in Distant Network Service provided by D* which courts have ruled E* can no longer offer due to illegally giving it to subs not qualified to receive it.

IMO, one either has to have high elevation (which I have) or live in Florida to solidly receive digital stations at 125 miles and in both cases it's wisdom to stay in the attic. :)

Of course with the 4000 ft. Blue Ridge between me & the towers, some say knife-edge diffraction is at work, but that should make reception less reliable & more sporadic rather than my rock solidness.

I went to Radio Shack ans bought their largest roof antenna and mounted it in the attic. It works perfectly. Total cost was 60 bucks.

I went to Radio Shack ans bought their largest roof antenna and mounted it in the attic. It works perfectly. Total cost was 60 bucks.Really? The largest rooftop antenna they sell is $99.99.

The only other one they sell is $49.99. Are you sure you didn't get that one?

DNS as in Distant Network ServiceNever saw or heard of the term before.
Also, that was the first I heard about not being able to offer it. How/who can stop them? They pay for it don't they?

Doesn't matter - E* (Dish Network) got the death penalty about offering Distant Networks to ANYBODY (i.e. they are permanently prohibited from doing it) by a court injunction. If you ACTUALLY QUALIFY, there is another vendor you can go through, but they will not by NY and LA.

Then I guess that brings us back to a antenna. Indoor or outdoor, or just move to a actual city (where reception isn't a issue)!

Really? The largest rooftop antenna they sell is $99.99.

The only other one they sell is $49.99. Are you sure you didn't get that one?

Maybe it was on sale. That was a couple of years ago

RS is a crap shoot. You rarely know who they get them from.

They generally are OK antennas, though, as long as you have them in the attic and not outside.