New antenna install

homerpipsqueak · 28-Dec-2010, 6:37 PM

Family just moved about 2 miles from our old house. Previous house had a set of rabbit ears that were in our bonus room that I routed to other TVs in the house and it worked pretty good. Our house was on a pretty big hill and we were able to pick up most networks w/o a problem.

New house picks only pick ups about 4 networks w/ rabbit ears on our main tv in our downstairs family room. All the rooms in our house are wired for cable and I was thinking about putting an antenna in the attic. My preference would be to NOT have an exterior antenna (if possible). A few questions based on my TVFOOL report http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...da32ecc5d8b1b8

1. What kind of antenna should I get?

2. what direction to I point it?

3. Can I put it in my attic if we have a radiant barrier lining on our roof?

thanks for the help experts!!

John Candle · 28-Dec-2010, 9:38 PM

Is the downstairs family room a basement or a walk out basement ? Does the insulation in the attic or the radiant barrier have metal ? Is house wrapped with any type or kind of metal such as but not limited to metal siding or stucko with stucko Wire ? Are the walls made out of poured concrete , is the house wrapped with brick ?

homerpipsqueak · 29-Dec-2010, 2:01 AM

Family room is on ground level in a 2 story great room. The radiant barrier is aluminum foil laminated to the roofing OSB sheathing.

Other than that, there is no metal. Wood framed house w/ some brick veneer, but mostly hardy plank on the exterior.

John Candle · 30-Dec-2010, 10:46 PM

I suggest a Winegard HD7082P antenna with a Winegard AP8700 preamp. The stations you will receive are to west north west . . WMYA 14 MyN MyNetwork is the odd one out in this reception situation , the transmitter is on the side of the antenna , antennas pick up the least amount of signal on the side of the antenna. So try and improve the reception by pointing the antenna at 339 degree magnetic compass , this will put the antenna at a angle to the transmitter. The antenna can be turned to the left and right between 339 and 288 magnetic compass to find best signal pick up. I do not believe the antenna will work in the attic , the aluminum backing on the insulation will block most of the signal and what does get through will be reflected all around causing bad multipath. The best place to put the antenna is on the roof.

Tower Guy · 31-Dec-2010, 3:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homerpipsqueak

1. What kind of antenna should I get?

2. what direction to I point it?

3. Can I put it in my attic if we have a radiant barrier lining on our roof?

1. Two antennas, a Y5-7-13 for VHF and a four bay UHF for UHF.
2. VHF @ 315° picks up CBS PBS & ABC; UHF @ 302° for FOX NBC & CW. Use a AP2870 preamp to add the two antennas together.
3. No