Best attic antenna?

[vastwasteland]

I'm ready to go all OTA + web. I'm dropping my DTV setup due to a) cost and b) continuing tuner issues with the HD20 unit (doesn't tape shows, etc).

I don't want to deal with weather problems/wind like I do with the dish, so I want to put an OTA antenna in my attic (the house was designed for a second floor option, so there's plenty of room up there).

I also want to pull in as many stations as I can, digital stations preferred. I want to get all the locals plus anything else I can get without kicking up the cost too much. The signal will either go to a TV or a Tivo HD via a powered splitter.

I've checked out antennaweb and TVFool and tried out their tools, and it appears an attic-based solution is feasible for me in Grove City.

Any thoughts about the best options for an attic-based OTA antenna? thanks

[Dbailey]

i ALWAYS recommend this antenna to everyone, ihave 2 my self, they are good, light and easy to get into any attic. and yes CHEAP!

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=4221-HD&d=Channel-Master-4221HD-4bay-HDTVUHF-Antenna&c=TV%20Antennas&sku=020572030168:D

[zelig2]

How well does that antenna work for ABC in town? The antenna you reference is for UHF which is all the tv stations but ABC which is VHF.

Winegard SS-3000
I use a Winegard SS-3000 indoor antenna that I'm soon going to mount in my attic. I think it may have gotten bumped recently as it's not doing well recording FOX right now. It's only sitting on a set of boxes in an upstairs loft.

[Scott]

I honestly, have a Home Depot special hanging in the attic.

[Dbailey]

How well does that antenna work for ABC in town? The antenna you reference is for UHF which is all the tv stations but ABC which is VHF.

Winegard SS-3000 (http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-SS-3000-Amplified-Indoor-Antenna/dp/B001DFZ5II)
I use a Winegard SS-3000 indoor antenna that I'm soon going to mount in my attic. I think it may have gotten bumped recently as it's not doing well recording FOX right now. It's only sitting on a set of boxes in an upstairs loft.
i have no problem with that channel i think because it is channel 13 which is so close to bottom of uhf channel 14. Non the less, It is one of my strongest channels...

[hdtvnewbie]

i have no problem with that channel i think because it is channel 13 which is so close to bottom of uhf channel 14. Non the less, It is one of my strongest channels...

I think the move to UHF-48 has been or is on the verge of being approved, so this won't be an issue by next year. WDEM-17 is also boosting power before the end of the year, so that one should also come in.

[zelig2]

I've ordered the Channel Master 4221HD antenna for mounting in my attic. I'll report back how the signals are once it's up and running. Thanks for the recommendation.

[vman41]

i have no problem with that channel i think because it is channel 13 which is so close to bottom of uhf channel 14. Non the less, It is one of my strongest channels...

The channels are close numerically, but the bands aren't that close in frequency range. 13's carrier freq. is 211.25 mhz and 14's is 471.25.

I think VHF just propagates better, so your antenna has more to work with.

[xcellu8]

I think VHF just propagates better, so your antenna has more to work with.


I heard some DTV stations cut their power by over 90%, making reception nearly impossible.


Many stations that have reverted to VHF assignments have dramatically cut their transmitter power, in some cases by over 90%! Some stations mistakenly thought they could save money by cutting their power while reaching the same number of viewers.
http://getting-vhf-stations.blogspot.com/

[Thombil]

I heard some DTV stations cut their power by over 90%, making reception nearly impossible.


Remember that you are hearing this from someone trying to sell you an antenna. Best taken with a grain of salt.

[Rick]

Two comments, first on an antenna, from Grove City an attic antenna should work very well. I'm using a log periodic antenna in my loft on the south end of Grove City feeding three televisons with great results. Just make certain that the box states VHF & UHF reception.
Second on power levels, in the NTSC days power was measured as peak power, in digital it is measured as average power. A UHF station with a licesned NTSC power of 5 megwatts in analog is normaly licensed 1 megawatt in digital power. Initial output power parameters were set by the FCC table of allotments, stations were permitted to do engineering studies to apply for maximization of transmitter power pending interference. In most cases statons did this however the required limitations of interference to co-channel and adjacent channel stations licensed in nearby communities also is a factor. However when the FCC decided to let some stations move back to thier old analog channels there was an expectation that the front to back ratios of the consumers antennas would be better. However the front to back ratios don't take into account that the signals comming in from the rear of the antenna are bouncing back from the hill in front of the antenna.
In northern states most power increases must also be approved by the Ministry of Industry in Canada (Canada's version of the FCC) because radio waves don't stop at the countries boarders. The same holds true to southern states and mexico.

[emasloski]

I am in Grove City and have had an antenna in my attic for 15+ years. The house/"cable" lines are ran from/to the antenna. It worked perfectly prior to the digital conversion. I decided that cable isn't worth the money and want to utilize my antenna. However, I am not getting reception. Well, extremely garbled reception- if I am lucky. I climbed into the attic and cannot find anything on the antenna to identify what type it is. What do I need or who should I call?

[Thombil]

You need a UHF antenna. Before the digital conversion most Columbus channels were VHF. Now they are UHF. You can google both to see the difference. I tried to post pictures but couldn't figure out how to do it.

Go to antennaweb.org for more info.

[emasloski]

Thanks for your help.