Do I have a hope for attic antenna here?

[jojocat]

So appreciative of expertise to try to get this right.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d1dda16c4005bf0

I'm only interested in the stations from the NW here. This is a cabin by a lake situation, and I'd really like to keep the antenna in the attic for aesthetic reasons.

I was surprised to find an existing antenna up there. It's an old gemini (philips?) vhf/uhf style antenna...boom length approx 8'. This past winter, I tried it with a digital usb ATSC tuner that's respectably sensitive connected via 15' of rg6, and I was able to consistently lock real channel 8 (PBS) which has like 4 multiplex stations. For brief periods, I was able to also lock 10, but not consistently at all.

Just recently I tried again, and was not able to lock anything at all. I'm hoping someone can tell me if it's a pipe dream to expect reception from a single story attic antenna there, at about 10' off the ground, about 15' over water level of the small lake that's also NW. I don't know how this lake terrain might affect matters, and I'm not sure why I lost my single station going from winter to spring unless it's humidity??

Ideally a single antenna would be great, of course, but I'd probably spring sepearte hi-vhf and uhf on a combiner if I had too.

I also wonder if anyone knows if a metal roof would interfere with the signal more than the current asphalt shingles even thought the line of sight from the antenna to the tower would not be going through the metal because of the roofline configuration. I'm not sure if the signal radiation/reception is a line of site kind of deal, or if some signal is also bounced from above?? I know that's a pretty esoteric question, but thought I'd throw it out as we need to update the roof it would affect the decision.

Anyway, specific antenna recommendation and insights for this remote spot are greatly appreciated!! Thanks much for any help.

[teleview]

I predict there will be No Reliable Reception of Any Tv stations/channels with the Tv antenna in the attic.

I predict that a antenna system amplifier Will Not Provide reliable reception with a Tv antenna in the attic.

I know for a Fact that a metal roof Will Block Tv Reception with the Tv antenna in the attic.

The Tv stations are 54 Plus + miles distant.

The tvfool channel list is showing , 2 Edge Path = hills and mountains obstructions.

The signal strengths are Very Low signal strengths at , 13.0 , 15.1 , 17.5 , 18.1 , 18.9 , NM(dB) in the , Yellow and Red reception zones.

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To have a Shot at Reliable Reception of the Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels to the , north west , at 316 and 317 degree magnetic compass direction.

Remove the antenna from the attic or buy a Winegard HD7696P antenna (and yes I am doing my best to keep the antenna small) (I actually recommend a HD7698P antenna).

And install the antenna that ->Was<- in the attic or the HD7696P / HD7698P antenna , Above the Peak of the Roof in such a manner that reception is not blocked by the roof or cabin in the direction of about , 316/317 degree magnetic compass direction.

Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Here are some above the roof antenna mounts.

http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , install the 5 foot tripod antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , install the #4560 eave antenna mount.

http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html.

http://www.ronard.com.

Buy the ronard antenna mounts at solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box or buy from ronard.
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Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. .

http://www.solidsignal.com.

http://www.wingarddirect.com.

http://www.amazon.com.

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Try reception without and with a Winegard 'Boost' LNA-100 amplifier.

The LNA-100 is not water resistant , so the amplifier needs to out of the weather.

For 1 Tv connected use No splitter.

For 2 Tv's connected use a simple common 2 way splitter.

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The Digital Broadcast Tv stations you are reaching out for are.

KQDS , FOX.

WDIO , ABC and MeTv.

WDSE , PBS and PBS Repeats and Create and Minnesota Channel.

KBJR , NBC and MyNetwork.

KDLH , CBS and CW.

I predict that some or all of the listed Tv stations will be Reliably Received.

I suspect that all of the listed Tv stations will be Reliably Received.

[jojocat]

Thanks very much for the assessment and recommendations. It seems my hopes for keeping this concealed in the attic were unrealistic. I was hoping the reception might be a bit better than the report indicated owing to my ability to lock chan 8.1 WDSE PBS with the existing attic antenna on the first couple tries, but since I couldn't lock the signal last time I tried I think it may have been a reception fluke. Thanks again.

[elmo]

Flukes can happen. One morning I just decided to do a rescan on an experiment I put together in the attic several days before. I was just playing around with a DB2 and a preamp, and I hit fairly reliable reception of a station that I assumed must be new. I checked my report and saw nothing with this new channel number. I went all the way down the list too. I went back and got the call sign and googled it. It was a station about 170 miles away! I had to recheck what I was seeing because I didn't believe it. A couple hours later, it was gone, and I haven't seen it since.

[jojocat]

Well seeing as I'm a stubborn self-abuser, I'll probably split the recommendation down the middle and get the HD7697P and at least give it a shot in the attic. I'll report back if I have any luck. There's no duct work up there or other metal to speak of, so hopefully the relatively thin plywood and single layer of (old) shingles will be best case for the non-ideal attic placement.

[jojocat]

Well, I'm now a non-believer in attic antenna. I set up a HD7697P in the attic, and was only able to receive one high-VHF station reliably for the couple days I tried. I took it out of the attic and set it up in the front yard on a tripod (so only a few feet off the ground) and was able to get the 5 networks above, with only the highest UHF seemingly a little spotty. I imagine an eve mount and another 10' of height might help with that. BTW, these attempts are sans signal amplifier as I'm using a USB hdtv tuner stick right at the mast with a USB extension/repeater cable.

It would be nice if a combo of high-VHF and UHF antennae could maybe be a little less of an eyesore than the 12' or so 7697, so any ideas on comparable performance in that arena would be appreciated. But I'll probably go with this for the summer anyway.

The great advice is much appreciated.

[teleview]

Yes Tv Antennas are Handsome and Beautiful.

Pride of ownership is common with many owners.

Bragging about the reception of the Free Crystal Clear Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels is common with many owners.

Inviting others in for a demonstration happens all the time.

The look of Wonder and how others are Impressed is a good feeling.

Helping others receive Free Crystal Clear Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels is Now Your Mission.

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KQDS-DT REAL UHF Digital channel 17.1 , Virtual number (21.1) FOX.

WDIO-DT REAL VHF Digital channel 10.1-2 , virtual number (10.1-2) ABC and Me-Tv.

WDSE-DT REAL VHF Digital channel 08.1-2-3-4 , virtual number (08.1-2-3-4) PBS , PBS Repeats , Create , Minnesota Channel.

KBJR-DT REAL UHF Digital channel 19.1-2 , virtual number (06.1-2) NBC and MyNetwork.

KDLH-DT REAL UHF Digital channel 33.1-2 , virtual number (03.1-2) CBS and The CW.

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The Current Broadcast Tv stations channels are.

VHF low band channels 2 thru 6.

VHF high band channels 7 thru 13.

UHF band channels 14 thru 51.

[Stereocraig]

I too, display my multiple antennas proudly, like a badge.
Secondary only to the American flag.
Come to think of it, they both have slight similarities.

To me and many others, antennas are a sign of and display of freedom
and not being enslaved to the cable and sat companies.

(Why is that fife playing in the background?)


When I'm out in the yard, I get many walkers and cyclists stopping and asking me about them.
Makes a person feel kind of proud.