Help satisfy my wife! Can't pull in the 2 most important stations
 

I have convinced my wife that we need to cut the cord and in doing so will save nearly $1200 a year in cable bills. The stipulation is that we must be able to get the major networks over the antenna but primarily NBC and Fox which are channels 8 and 12 respectively. On a prior recommendation I had purchased a Channel Master CM-2016 due to my reasonably close proximity to the towers and the antenna's ability to pull in VHF-Hi signals. I have it currently mounted(well laying across the rafters) in the attic pointing at 318 degrees based on my iphone compass. I am able to pull in all the "required" channels with excellent quality except channels 8 and 12... I also cut the extended and HD cable as of yesterday so we are without those channels except in the Comcast "crystal clear" digital variety which looks like utter crap on a 60" 1080p television. We have a fairly clear view of the sky in that direction but don't have direct line of sight as our house is just below the crest of a hillside. Ideally I would like to keep the antenna in the attic for aesthetics but also because our house is three stories and the roof slope is quite steep. Would adding an element to this antenna or a diy VHF antenna in tandem with the CM-2016 help me pull in these stations? My TVFool report is linked and according to it I should be able to pull those two stations with a standard indoor antenna but have not been able to with a Mohu Leaf or the CM-2016.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...46ae543006443e

Before giving up on the CM-2016, please try 'testing' reception outdoors. An antenna stuck indoors has less desired signal to work with and is closer to sources of interference being produced by equipment in the home. The interference produced in most homes tends to affect VHF channels more than the UHF channels.

If you have a gable end, you may be able to mount an eve/gable bracket and short mast... avoiding the hazards of working on the roof.

Yes, test the antenna outdoors. You have good to moderate signal access through 2-edge conditions with the major broadcasters. With the antenna in your attic, you have created 3-edge conditions.

My thoughts would be, through discussion with your wife, agree to test the CM-2016 outdoors on your roof (even a patio if available). If RF 8 and RF 12 appear, then you can have another discussion. Attics aren't and will never be ideal for receiving signals. Further, with attic installs, starting about 25-20 db signal strengths, the weaker signals just don't have the "punch" to go through solid objects (your roof). Thus, they may be even more erratic and may not even decode. The red shaded signals are going to be even less likely to decode.

If the attic is the only option, then see if you can move the antenna around the attic and finding a "sweet spot." If you can't find a sweet spot, attic installations can require more robust antenna applications than what would normally be needed outside to offset the issues of weakened signals.

I wouldn't give up on the CM-2016 either until your tests confirm if you can or can't receive RF 8 and RF 12 with it. Pointing to magnetic 318 should land you a good portion and the major broadcasters serving Portland.

If the tests don't work, then we discuss a perhaps more aggressive set up that accounts for the 2-edge conditions and what is the best options for reliable reception that meets your other half's requirements.

:)

Best of luck!

It's windy and raining today but I will get up on the roof and see if we can work some magic when it is clear again... I need to clean the gutters anyway. I will let you know the results once I get it install up there.
Thanks,
Chris