Attic attenna, north of Boston

Waverider,


See the Boston Tower thread for tips, including some URLs.
http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/Forum11/HTML/013836-6.html


You may be able to get away without a parabolic, but "you will loose at least 6dB through most roofing materials,

considerably more at some frequencies." You'll need a pre-amp most probably too.


The thread will give you a bead on direction. Direction is VERY important.


Good luck,

Tim

Thread is just the stream of messages. The Boston thread is actually spread across 3 messages, each of about 7+ pages. I think we are getting near getting bumbed to a new message.


Some of the posts by prjoy talk about sites to check distances & expected signals.


Also try www.antennaweb.org.


You are pushing it distance wise and attic will reduce signal strength more. Try the web sites.


Tim

Waverider,


When you have a minute take a look at my own attic installation.


I am approximately 25 miles from the Boston broadcast towers in Needham, MA, and about 35 miles from WMUR in Manchester, NH and WENH in Durham, NH. At this distance with my setup I receive the following:

CH Network Affiliate Signal

20-1 ABC WCVB-DT 95-98%

30-1 CBS WBZ-DT 85-90%

31-1 FOX WFXT-DT 80-85%

42-2 NBC WHDH-DT 85-90%

59-1 ABC WMUR-DT 75-80%

80-3 PBS WENH-DT 75-80%


Obviously your situation could vary greatly from mine based on specific terrain issues in your area. For all of the Boston area stations my line-of-site is actually through a pretty thick treeline, yet I'm still able to achieve the results above.


If you have any specific questions please feel free to ask.


CHip

Attic antennas can work, but you are lucky if they do.


I am only 12 miles from Needham, and my fringe Winegard works just great in my attic, until it rains. Then I get

a loss of sound or pricture several times per hour.


I had to go outside and put up a far more directional antenna to avoid this problem.


At 45 miles you are in the fringe but a preamp could make

up for your wall losses and work fine, if the terrain around

you is ideal.

Waverider,


You are probably right that the CM4228 is a "better" antenna as far as distance is concerned. Personally I went with the CM3023 since I didn't necessarily need the extended range of the 4228 (60 miles). Based on my limited antenna knowledge I believe the 3023 is more directional, so if multipath is an issue you may want to take this into consideration.


The signal ranges I quoted were from a couple of days ago, so the trees are as full as they ever will be. I'm sure I lose some signal strength due to the trees and the attic install, but again I'm close enough to the towers for it not to matter too much.


You should be able to receive all of the Boston networks with a stationary antenna. If you go with the CM4228 you may also be able to pick up WMUR-DT & WENH-DT, but they are about 90° west of the Boston networks. FWIW, I'd invest in a rotor at the outset. This gives you the most flexibility down the road as more DTV stations come online.


Keep us posted...


Chip