Satellite Dish Style Antenna

[jc5000]

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d267e19bd05b6b4

I want to mount an antenna in my attic. It will connect to a central distribution box (6 way split) through about 20-25 ft of coax and the signal will get distributed to multiple jacks from there. I was planning to buy a Winegard HD 7694P with no amplifier until I visited a friend who lives a couple miles away. He has a similar setup in his home; but he bought some satellite dish style antenna with a built-in amp from Solid Signal that he has mounted in his attic. He says the reception is great; and he has 4 TVs hooked to various jacks throughout the home. He did not have the make and model of antenna available.

Any opinions on the best approach? The satellite dish style antenna is appealing because it is more compact; but i do have room for the 7694P. I am also curious about the amp. Is this recommended because of the six-way and multiple lengths of cabling? I will probably only use two of the jacks.

[Dave Loudin]

Wow, I am jealous! The 7694 will be perfectly fine, and will capture enough signal to drive all 6 outputs without an amp. So, don't get an amp! Do get cable terminators to prevent loss out of the unused ports.

With the predicted signal strengths at your location, you could stick a short piece of bare wire in each TV's coax jack and get over 10 stations with a few dropouts. With your proposed setup, you should get everything down to KVQT-LP (if it's switched to digital). You could take your station list over to your neighbor and check how many he gets. What he gets will be perfect, since that's the nature of DTV. He just might not know what he's missing.

[GroundUrMast]

This is a case were simple is best. An amplifier of any sort is going to needlessly complicate the situation.