Houston, we have a problem
 

Completely frustrated. Moved from Illinois and had an antenna in the attic and had no problems picking up stations from Decatur/Springfield/Champaign from 50+ miles. Now, I have the 4th largest city in my backyard and cannot get it right. First, it said I could get my channels with a set top antenna. So I got an antennacraft omni directional antenna with a high gain amp. Got 2 channels, Univision and some channel where they sell cars. I don't speak Spanish and I love my two cars so these channels won't help. Next, I went out and got a antennacraft HDX1000. Hooked it up outside temporarily to ensure I could get channels. Nope. Now I got a lot more than before, but I could only get fox, abc, but not NBC or CBS. So I am at my wits. I really want an attic mount, as I live in a subdivision, but I am not opposed to an antenna outside. I intend to run the cable to my NID which was built prewired to have signal go to all the rooms. You guys are so helpful, so I look forward to your advice!

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...99005648369423

Avoid the temptation to use an amplifier without first considering whether it will be overloaded by the many strong signals your 'blessed' with.

If the attic and roof construction is of wood and composite shingles, you should expect good results. If you have tile or metal in or on the roof, plan on an outdoor mounting.

An Antennacraft C290 and Antennas Direct CPA-19 preamp in a ventilated attic (high heat kills powered electronics) will work fairly well as long as the attic construction does not cause more than about 10dB of penetration loss. If you mount in the attic only to find you've got poor results, the Antennacraft can be refolded with care, and moved outside into the clear. If you know that you're going to mount outside, use a Winegard HD7015P, it's a bit sturdier but is difficult to refold without damage. Use a starting aim point of about 250° per your compass.

The preamp I've suggested is tolerant of strong signals. If you were only connecting one set, I would not suggest any preamp. The CPA-19 has the gain needed to overcome the losses associated with a 4-way splitter and typical cabling.

When you look at the specifications of the HDX-1000, the -20 dBd and -6.6 dBd (L-VHF / H-VHF) gain figures are far too low to expect much in your location. The UHF gain of only +6.4 dBd is used up in large part by the poor 3.5 dB NF of the built in amplifier. By the time you have enough signal in the air to use this antenna, most unamplified rabbit ears would perform significantly better.

DTV/cell phone reception advise and products
 

The HDX1000 is not a very good antenna for your location. The signals from 243 degrees are fairly strong but at 43 miles out you need a fairly large antenna with all channel capability.

If you want to install in your attic use a Winegard HD7082P all channel antenna aimed to 243 degrees magnetic provided your roof is standard construction with soft shingles, not tile or metal.

Not sure what your NID is. If you are running coax to multipul locations you should install a distribution amplifier. Use a Channel Master distribution amplifier with enough gain to overcome the loss in your system, roughly 4 db for each hook up, including the loss in your coax. This could be an amplifier with one output run to a splitter with enough outputs to feed all sets.

Yeah, standard shingles. My attic does have Tech Shield radiant barrier, hope that doesn't discount the signal too much.

Re. the HD7082P, more is better. The C290 and HD7015 are just enough when considering the weaker signals on the report, especially in an attic.

NID = Network Interface Devise. A term used by telco and CATV service providers, referencing the hardware that interfaces between the service providers network and the customer's wiring.

The foil in Tech Shield is a show stopper, pardon the pun. The metal foil makes your attic a great place to receive the electrical noise generated inside you home with little if any radio or TV signals leaking in to disturb the buzz and 'snow'.

You need to plan on mounting outside. Sorry.

->ALL<- Questions and Answers about Broadcast Tv Reception and More.
 

Texas is real big on metal backed insulation in the the attic that reduces and reflects Tv transmissions.

Also the western part of the USA is real big on stucko / Wire walls , the stucko Wire does a good job of reflecting Tv transmissions.

Install a Winegard HD7080P antenna , Above the roof up high aimed at about 243 degree magnetic compass. Here is how to aim antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

The HD7080P antenna is a Heavy Duty constructed antenna.

Much more so then the HD7015

Use no preamplifier.

----> How Many Tv,s Are/Will Be Connected?? <----.

Here are some antenna mounts , http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , 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.

Here are places to buy antennas and etc. , http://www.solidsignal.com , http://www.winegarddirtect.com , http://www.amazon.com.


The Tv/s Must scan for the Broadcast Tv Channels sometimes named the , 'Air Channels' or 'Antenna Channels' in the Tv setup menu because the Tv transmissions travel through the air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.

DO Not scan for cable tv channels.


----> How Many Tv's Are/Will Be Connected??<----.