HDTV antenna options

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pillguy

pillguy

Joined
Sep 12, 2008
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behind enemy lines FEMA sector IV
Hey all,

Did a quick search on mud and did not see anything. I refuse to pay for cable and satellite as I have been pretty happy with streaming internet tv content, but need to offset some additional content (college football)
I stuck some old rabbit ears on my flatscreen and was amazed at the clarity.
Most of the signals I need are within a 30 degree range and a 30 mile range. I also sit pretty high up, so I should have a decent signal.

So, what have folks used in terms of antennas?
My set up I am looking at is.
typical mid size TV antenna,(Winegard HD7695P) set up in attic, preamp, distribution amp. and some long wire runs to 2 TVs.

WHen i set something up like this before (pre HD), I had good results with a short run of cable to TV, but not with the final long run that I put it place.

My question to you, is what has worked best for you? attic mount, or exterior mount, or type of anntenna.
Any insights appreciated.
 
Last edited:
standard tv antenna from radio shack worked well for me. First house had it in the attic, second one on the chimney and now I have rabbit ears hidden behind the tv. attic was a HUGE antenna so that was really the best one.
 
Exterior antenna are the best for signal but as in real estate, location.location,location.
I live where most stations are blocked for me but one is a direct shot. I get that station better with a paper clip than the others with a nice antenna and amp.

Technically there are no digital antennas.
 
I'm located <10 miles from 3 of the major network towers and they are all located around the same bearing (+-3*). I am using the amplified UHF/VHF antenna from Radio Shack and it is sitting behind the television on top of my HTPC. I cannot get ABC b/c they are located on a bearing that is 90* east or west of my location, so one day I might get a nice multi-directional antenna for the attic, but for now the only thing I'm missing is Monday Night Football. However, I'm still able to watch it on the internet.

I was able to find a TV tuner for the PC for the same price as a digital convert box. I tried using the WinTV software and it sucked the life out of my PC, but the Win7 Media Center TV tuner software works great.
 
Simple solution is a second cheap antenna and an antenna switch box to mount next to tv
 
I've had good luck with a Winegard MS2000. I have satellite but I use this to pick up stations from another market about 50 miles away. It's much less obtrusive than a wire antenna. Mounted on the roof at the back of the house so it's not visable.

Winegard MS 2000 TV Antenna

18483796.gif
 
THis looks like it will work for me and HOA friendly. I am about 25 miles from most broadcast locations.
MoJ said:
I've had good luck with a Winegard MS2000. I have satellite but I use this to pick up stations from another market about 50 miles away. It's much less obtrusive than a wire antenna. Mounted on the roof at the back of the house so it's not visable.

Winegard MS 2000 TV Antenna

18483796.gif
Click to expand...
 
Great information, thanks. I am going with a HD double stack antenna put in my attic.

Another question for the team...
I can route this down my attic chase (about a 1x1 area) that houses the furnace exhaust flue.
Has anyone done this before and how did you get past the sheet metal plates separating the floors of the house. I have one that I need to get to.

THanks, folks.
RavenTai said:
The HOA cannot give you any grief about your antenna.



Installing Consumer-Owned Antennas and Satellite Dishes
Click to expand...
 
Won't be any problem if either you never turn on the furnace or you don't plan on living very long.

Find another spot.
 
yea I would not run there, heat could be a problem.

If you want a pro like job here is how you do it, your gonna need bulk RG6 coax cable, strippers, crimpers, and terminals make all your runs in the attic or basement and fish into each wall where there is a TV, you should run all the wires to a central point where your splitter (one splitter) and amp lives, if there is already a central point for the existing coax wires you should use that. there should be a good ground connection at this point even if you are in an attic there can be EMF from nearby lighting strikes of enough power to fry your TV.

where the TV is measure how far you are from a reference point you can use in the attic, in inches and also use a stud finder to get the layout of the bays between studs, in the attic find the top plate of the TV wall, use the nails in the top plate to find the studs and therefore bays, when you are sure you are in the right bay drill a 7/16' hole and slide in plenty of wire,

Get a remodel electrical box, they are plastic and have little wings on screws that pop out to hold on to the drywall. cut a hole just big enough for the box to slide in but the tabs will still catch, reach in feel around for your wire, if its an outside wall with insulation you are going to need a fish pole to push the wire through the insulation in some cases you can also use fish tape. slide the wire through the box, secure the box put a crimp and screw it onto a Coax face plate.
 
For signal wires, the correct box color is orange. They give the benefit of being open backed so you can leave a little extra wire back there
 
I was on the roof tonight cleaning gutters and snapped a few pictures. If anyone needs an easy mount consider picking up a J-mount from a satellite installer shop. They generally have several leftovers. I think I paid $5 for this one. You can either mount it directly to the roof or use an under shingle mount to avoid drilling through the exposed area of the shingle.
photo 3 (2).webp
photo (2).webp
photo 4.webp
 
Good feedback on the flue no-no. I have a limit of 50' to the distribution amp and I should be able to et down two levels to basement. I will run everything from there to minimize runs and signal loss.
I've got 250 ft of rg6 just itching to be laid in and plenty of fcrimpers. My old toenhome I fished all new phone and cat 5e cable through walls just messy

Thanks
RavenTai said:
yea I would not run there, heat could be a problem.

If you want a pro like job here is how you do it, your gonna need bulk RG6 coax cable, strippers, crimpers, and terminals make all your runs in the attic or basement and fish into each wall where there is a TV, you should run all the wires to a central point where your splitter (one splitter) and amp lives, if there is already a central point for the existing coax wires you should use that. there should be a good ground connection at this point even if you are in an attic there can be EMF from nearby lighting strikes of enough power to fry your TV.

where the TV is measure how far you are from a reference point you can use in the attic, in inches and also use a stud finder to get the layout of the bays between studs, in the attic find the top plate of the TV wall, use the nails in the top plate to find the studs and therefore bays, when you are sure you are in the right bay drill a 7/16' hole and slide in plenty of wire,

Get a remodel electrical box, they are plastic and have little wings on screws that pop out to hold on to the drywall. cut a hole just big enough for the box to slide in but the tabs will still catch, reach in feel around for your wire, if its an outside wall with insulation you are going to need a fish pole to push the wire through the insulation in some cases you can also use fish tape. slide the wire through the box, secure the box put a crimp and screw it onto a Coax face plate.
Click to expand...
 
Hey all,
Just thought I would post some pics of the antenna
HD Stacker Antenna VHF/UHF/FM/digital/HD
I went with for my digital OTA signal. It is awesome the picture quality I get. I put it in my attic and was really amazed even with the ****py cable I ran it with RG6 form HomoDepot
Here they are.
P1020163_edited-1.webp

P1020164.webp



pillguy said:
Good feedback on the flue no-no. I have a limit of 50' to the distribution amp and I should be able to et down two levels to basement. I will run everything from there to minimize runs and signal loss.
I've got 250 ft of rg6 just itching to be laid in and plenty of fcrimpers. My old toenhome I fished all new phone and cat 5e cable through walls just messy

Thanks
Click to expand...
P1020163_edited-1.webp
P1020164.webp
 
pillguy said:
Hey all,
Just thought I would post some pics of the antenna
HD Stacker Antenna VHF/UHF/FM/digital/HD
I went with for my digital OTA signal. It is awesome the picture quality I get. I put it in my attic and was really amazed even with the ****py cable I ran it with RG6 form HomoDepot
Here they are.
View attachment 556119

View attachment 556120
Click to expand...

I never seen one installed in an attic, cool. That would be a great thing to have for hurricane season. Not a bad price and made in 'Merica too.
 
pillguy said:
typical mid size TV antenna,(Winegard HD7695P) set up in attic, preamp, distribution amp. and some long wire runs to 2 TVs.
Click to expand...

I am fortunate enough to be able to mount outside, and I use the Winegard HD7694P (2 feet shorter than your spec), with no amplification, picking up excellent signals from the Phoenix stations 68 miles distant.

Channel 12 was problematic at the time this was taken, however:
Hawk-10.webp
Hawk-10.webp
 
pillguy said:
Hey all,
Just thought I would post some pics of the antenna
HD Stacker Antenna VHF/UHF/FM/digital/HD
I went with for my digital OTA signal. It is awesome the picture quality I get. I put it in my attic and was really amazed even with the ****py cable I ran it with RG6 form HomoDepot
Here they are.
View attachment 556119

View attachment 556120
Click to expand...

did you have to mount your tv's upside down to match the antenna? J/K

Glad you took my advice about not messing with the flue. I see too many home owners and "pro's" taking safety shortcuts.

attic install is useless for me, I have a metal roof.
 
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