[Matt Bitner]


I'm attempting to get rid of the evil Comcast Goliath.  I would like to have an entire house antenna to attempt this, info on my house and location is below:

 

   http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d5b94b04b08b46d
 
I have a ranch home and would like to mount the antenna in the attic.
 
My current coax is all ran to the outside of the house to one large slitter.  I do have 1 connection that is split off one of those feeds.
 
The stations we would like to get: ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox
 
Let me know if I need to provide more information.
 
Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

 

[DrDon]

Please read instructions before posting. As noted at the top of the forum ALL antenna help threads require a location in the title.


Thanks.


Thread edited.

 

[pamajestic]

Attic mounts are always tricky, some work and some do not. You will have reduced signal and potential signal blockage or multipath issues from things like foil backed insulation and metal ductwork. If it doesn’t work you could always go outside.


You have a really good view of Harrisburg, but your FOX is 80 degrees to the southeast and 2edge. The question to be answered is can you get everything without a rotor. I would try an AntennaCraft HBU11 aimed between Harrisburg and York and see if you can get a good lock on all channels. The HBU11 is only around $25 delivered from Solid Signal.


You only want to split the signal as many times as necessary to cover your needs. You may need to replace you current splitter with a smaller one and depending on how many splits and how long your runs are you could and an amp in necessary.


And of course your TV’s need to be new enough to have a digital tuners or you will need converter boxes.

 

[Matt Bitner]


Currently we have 3 TV's in use, all are newer with digital tuners.  We have plans to add as many as 4 more TV's in the future, totaling 7.  Of course I'm fine with testing on 1 TV, but if any amplification equipment is required I would like to get something that would handle all future expansion.

 

What is a rotor? Is this something that will move the antenna for me?

 

One issue I have is the TV in the living room is above a fireplace which is very difficult to run wire to. I was able to get a CL3 rated HDMI cable ran that connects to my receiver with HDMI switching.  I have a HTPC there now, would it be best to get a TV card for it, or is there some type of box that would be good to use to convert the antenna signal to HDMI?

 

[DrDon]

Yes a rotor will turn the antenna for you, but you'd need significant clearance in the attic. On the roof you MIGHT be able to find a point where the antenna would get all four stations you want simultaneously. Attics are a whole 'nuther story. Plus, with a rotor, you'd have to wait for the thing to swing around. Not fun if you surf.


I'd go with putting a couple tuner cards in the HTPC along with a large secondary hard drive. If you're running Win 7, or Win 8.1 Pro with the Media Center pack, that gives you a four-tuner DVR.

 

[Matt Bitner]

So life got in the way and I had to move onto other projects. I am not revisiting installing an antenna in the attic and went to purchase the suggested antenna and found it was discontinued. Is there any other suggestions? Solid Signal suggested this as it's replacement: HD1080X

Thanks!

 

[nextgenfmradio]

So life got in the way and I had to move onto other projects. I am not revisiting installing an antenna in the attic and went to purchase the suggested antenna and found it was discontinued. Is there any other suggestions? Solid Signal suggested this as it's replacement: HD1080X

Thanks!

where are you going to install it???

 

[Matt Bitner]

Attic.

 

[nextgenfmradio]

Attic.

how far away are the towers?

go for the biggest antenna you can find in my opinion if doing an attic install!

stick this monster up there !

http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-HD82...=1429643134&sr=8-2&keywords=wineguard+antenna



i guess you are trying to get your philly stations, just go for a directional antenna

 

[Matt Bitner]

the TV fool link above is still working it seems if you wanted to see, but most are less than 20 miles away, Fox is the biggest issue as it is in a different direction.

 

[7721118]

I'm attempting to get rid of the evil Comcast Goliath.  I would like to have an entire house antenna to attempt this, info on my house and location is below:
 
  http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=5b94b04b08b46d
 
I have a ranch home and would like to mount the antenna in the attic.
 
My current coax is all ran to the outside of the house to one large slitter.  I do have 1 connection that is split off one of those feeds.
 
The stations we would like to get: ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox
 
Let me know if I need to provide more information.
 
Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

This is not a simple one antenna fixed in one direction situation.

You may be oaky with an attic antenna with the first 5 stations on your TV Fool list but the 2 edge Fox station at 103 degrees will likely require an outdoor antenna.

Again the first 5 stations you can receive with one antenna. The Fox station will require a separate antenna or a rotor. Most people don't want a rotor because it makes recording stations in two directions at the same time impossible.

There's another problem. If you want to receive all the stations at the same time, i.e. no rotor or A/B switching between antennas, you'll need to combine two antennas onto one cable. To do it right that requires a single channel injector to keep the stations from one antenna from interfering with the other.

There might be another compromise solution but I need to know if at this point you want proceed or is this already too complicated?

 

[Matt Bitner]

This is not a simple one antenna fixed in one direction situation.

You may be oaky with an attic antenna with the first 5 stations on your TV Fool list but the 2 edge Fox station at 103 degrees will likely require an outdoor antenna.

Again the first 5 stations you can receive with one antenna. The Fox station will require a separate antenna or a rotor. Most people don't want a rotor because it makes recording stations in two directions at the same time impossible.

There's another problem. If you want to receive all the stations at the same time, i.e. no rotor or A/B switching between antennas, you'll need to combine two antennas onto one cable. To do it right that requires a single channel injector to keep the stations from one antenna from interfering with the other.

There might be another compromise solution but I need to know if at this point you want proceed or is this already too complicated?

None of it sounds too complicated yet, more of how much money to spend. My goal is to get rid of Comcast TV and supplement with internet and an HD antenna. I do not mind doing it in stages, but I believe in doing things right the first time.

Is there any down side to a single channel injector?
Could I do 1 attic antenna that should get the 5 stations and test to see if that same antenna can get the other 2 stations?
If the test passes could I get a second attic antenna and use the single channel injector?

 

[rabbit73]

This is not a simple one antenna fixed in one direction situation.....the 2 edge Fox station at 103 degrees will likely require an outdoor antenna......The Fox station will require a separate antenna or a rotor.

There's another problem. If you want to receive all the stations at the same time, i.e. no rotor or A/B switching between antennas, you'll need to combine two antennas onto one cable. To do it right that requires a single channel injector to keep the stations from one antenna from interfering with the other.

Alternative to Jointenna?
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/25-hdtv-technical/945821-alternative-jointenna.html


Tin Lee
http://www.tinlee.com/MATV_headend.php?active=3#ANTENNASIGNALINJECTORS


The great jointenna exchange
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/25-hdtv-technical/1152566-great-jointenna-exchange-3.html


Not for adjacent channel
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=72&t=3833

You only need the first four and Fox.
W07DP-D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W07DP-D

 

[holl_ands]

A-D Clearstream C2 has the widest Beamwidth (70-deg from Ch14-51) among commercial UHF Antennas and should be able to pick up Ch21, 35, 49 and "probably" FOX on Ch47. You should tweak the pointing angle to favor your weakest Ch47. The A-D C2-V model adds a simple Hi-VHF Stick Dipole which MIGHT be adequate for Ch7 (& Ch8 which is a Dupe). Ch10 is so strong it will "probably" come in without (and with) the Hi-VHF Dipole....if necessary the orientation of the Hi-VHF Dipole can be tweaked differently than the UHF C2.

Try it...you might get lucky, despite being in the Attic with as much as 20 dB (15 dB typ) Loss relative to an Outdoor Antenna.
And if FOX doesn't come in, you can consider adding a second, higher Gain UHF Antenna, such as CM-4221HD or DB-4e....first using the usual RF Combiner (4 dB Loss) and if that is too much Loss, a Single Ch47 Injector (see www.tinlee.com).

BTW: C2 and 4-Bay Antennas are COMPACT, UPRIGHT designs that are much easier to mount on a Rotator in the Attic with lots or room to Rotate in all directions.

 

[7721118]

Is there any down side to a single channel injector?
Could I do 1 attic antenna that should get the 5 stations and test to see if that same antenna can get the other 2 stations?
If the test passes could I get a second attic antenna and use the single channel injector?

Sure. You can try anything and see what happens. I was going to suggest the DB8e as a compromise and rotate the halves to point in each direction. It also might be good enough to receive channel 10 on VHF. Of course it would be better on the roof instead of the attic.

 

[Matt Bitner]

I just ordered the C2V from Antennas direct, seemed like a decent price for the antenna and support 79 with coupon code. Seems like a small price to pay to give the attic mount a try. The mount that came with the purchase will work for the roof if I have no success with the attic.

Thanks for all the help guys

 

[nextgenfmradio]

I just ordered the C2V from Antennas direct, seemed like a decent price for the antenna and support 79 with coupon code. Seems like a small price to pay to give the attic mount a try. The mount that came with the purchase will work for the roof if I have no success with the attic.

Thanks for all the help guys

I think you'll like it

 

[tylerSC]

The C2V should be adequate for the local Harrisburg/Lancaster stations. But a larger antenna and amp such as Winegard 7698 outdoors should receive Baltimore at 56 miles. DC would be a bit more problematic at 79-80 miles.

 

[Matt Bitner]

So I got the C2V installed in the attic. I mounted it upside down thinking it really wouldn't matter. I did this as I was able to get it higher and on a better mounting point to allow for more rotation. I pointed the antenna from what I think is towards ch 15.1 as it seemed like it was in the middle. I tried downloaded a compass ap to my phone but none of them really seemed like they gave an accurate reading.

I ran the 50ft CL2 RG6 through a 2" PVC pipe I installed from the attic to the basement (ranch home). I hooked it to a 2-way splitter and only connected a small TV that was in the kitchen that is the furthest TV away from the splitter point. I figured testing the worst case would be the best.

Results:

I pick up 13 stations:
8.1 - Jumpy
8.2 - Jumpy
15.1 - Good
15.2 - Good
21.1 - Good
21.2 - Looks to be SD
27.1 - Good
27.2 - Looks to be SD
27.3 - Looks to be SD
33.1 - Jumpy
43.1 - Good
43.2 - Good
43.3 - Good

Overall I am happy, but would like to get 8.1 to come in a little better since this is NBC. I noticed on TV Fool there is two with 8.1, how do I know which I am getting and where should I try to move the antenna? 27.1 comes in good, but I thought the 8.1 WGAL 49 would have come in better since it is more in line with the antenna than the 27.1. I also thought 33.1 would have come in just as well as it is in the same location as 21.1 and that station works fine.

Where are the extra channels coming from that are not listed on TV Fool?

 

[Matt Bitner]

I looked at the TV Fool a little more and it seems like 8.1, 21.1, and 33.1 are all in the same location. 21.1 seems to be coming in just fine, but 8.1 and 33.1 are jumpy.