Can I install an outdoor antenna in my attic?

[Consumer]

I live in NJ, my zip code is 07011 I just installed a Winegard 2000A (with amp) in my attic. It seems fine but does`nt get many channels which I don't care about really. All I'm looking for is 2,4,5,7,9,11 anything else is of course great! This antenna does not receive channel 4 which is important to me.

Can I install a bigger antenna in it`s place? It could`nt be too big due to my smallish attic size, but if it fit, would I be OK? I`m about 12-13 miles from NYC. I'd rather stay off the roof unless absolutely neccessary.

[LeeS]

According to your zipcode and www.antennaweb.org You should have at least a medium directional antenna on the roof. Since you are putting it into you attic you will have to have a much stronger antenna.

I cannot tell if you have a GS2000A or a MS2000 Windgard.

At least your stations are UHF so the antenna does not have to be as physically large as a UHF/VHF.

Depending on your roof material/construction you could lose at least 1/2 of your signal strength.

A medium antenna like a Winegard PR4400, DB4 from www.antennasdirect.com or Channel Master 3021/4221 would work on the roof but not in the attic for Ch 4.1.

Exactly which digital stations are you interested in? We may be talking about an antenna rotor also.

The bad news, if you are talking about the PBS stations (blue and violet), no way with an antenna in the attic.

IMHO,
Lee

[Consumer]

Thank you LeeS, I have the GS 2000A now. I getting everything I wanted except channel 4. which is part of the ones I was looking to receive, 2 4 5 7 9 11 were my goals. I looked at the antenna you mentioned above and it's quite small, but if I can't go in my attic, I might as well go for the "BIG" most powerful one (relatively speaking) I can get.

Can you make a suggestion for an outdoor top of the line, prefferably no rotor antenna if I decide to go on the roof? Again, all I was looking for is those 2-11 channels but I`m sure living in NYC area I'll get other good ones.

[LeeS]

Just using your zipcode I don't see Channel 9 being one of the digital stations. I see it as an analog VHF station:

WWOR 9 UPN SECAUCUS NJ 151° 12.2 9

UHF antennas don't have to be large to have high gain.

For the stations you listed, except for 9 which I don't see, you would not need a rotor. What do you show for channel 9 as far as distance and direction? Be sure it is a digital station.

If you go up on the roof the medium directionals should work nicely. You do not want to go too large. You may overpower your receiver with too much gain from those stations that are 11-12 miles away.

http://www.antennasdirect.com/MediumRangeAntennas.htm

One or two story? Any obstructions in the way, tall buildings, hills etc?

I'm 12 miles away from all my digital stations. I have a medium directional in my attic. 2 story house, a little rise (wouldn't call it a hill) between me and the towers. I get 85-90% steady signal on all the stations.

You could try a large directional in your attic. AntennasDirect has a very liberal return/replacement policy. A medium directional on the roof would do nicely.

Let us know,
Lee

[Consumer]

Just using your zipcode I don't see Channel 9 being one of the digital stations. I see it as an analog VHF station:

WWOR 9 UPN SECAUCUS NJ 151° 12.2 9

UHF antennas don't have to be large to have high gain.

For the stations you listed, except for 9 which I don't see, you would not need a rotor. What do you show for channel 9 as far as distance and direction? Be sure it is a digital station.

If you go up on the roof the medium directionals should work nicely. You do not want to go too large. You may overpower your receiver with too much gain from those stations that are 11-12 miles away.

http://www.antennasdirect.com/MediumRangeAntennas.htm

One or two story? Any obstructions in the way, tall buildings, hills etc?

I'm 12 miles away from all my digital stations. I have a medium directional in my attic. 2 story house, a little rise (wouldn't call it a hill) between me and the towers. I get 85-90% steady signal on all the stations.

You could try a large directional in your attic. AntennasDirect has a very liberal return/replacement policy. A medium directional on the roof would do nicely.

Let us know,
Lee



First, I would like to thank you for the reply. I kept checking back here and thought it went unnoticed. I FINALLY found my thread. lol It was'nt "subscribed" I guess.

This is what I got with my address. I just cpoied and pasted. I really don't know what happened. I live in a two story and will put the GS2000A on my roof if I can. Is that considered a "medium"? The only problem I have is channel 4 (NBC) does NOT come in. it fluctuates between 45% and 70's%. If I put the GS2000A on the roof, I may get away with it, correct? I understand about the too strong of a antenna. thanks.

Show All Stations Show Digital Stations Only Show Analog Stations Only



DTV Antenna
Type Call Sign Channel Network City State Live
Date Compass
Orientation Miles
From Frequency
Assignment
* yellow - uhf WPXN-DT 30.1 PAX NEW YORK NY 161° 12.6 30
* yellow - uhf WXTV-DT 41.1 UNI PATERSON NJ 148° 11.5 40
* yellow - uhf WNYW-DT 5.1 FOX New York NY 148° 11.5 44
yellow - uhf WNJN 50 PBS MONTCLAIR NJ 282° 3.0 50
* yellow - uhf WNJU-DT 36 TEL LINDEN NJ FCC Ext 161° 12.6 36
* yellow - uhf WRNN-DT 48.1 IND KINGSTON NY 26° 44.2 48
* yellow - uhf WFME-DT 66.1 REL WEST MILFORD NJ 241° 8.0 29
* yellow - uhf WCBS-DT 2.1 CBS New York NY 148° 11.5 56
* yellow - uhf WABC-DT 7.1 ABC New York NY 146° 11.1 45
green - uhf WXTV 41 UNI PATERSON NJ 148° 11.5 41
green - uhf WFUT 68 TFA NEWARK NJ 148° 11.5 68
green - uhf WNYE 25 PBS NEW YORK NY 148° 11.5 25
green - uhf WPXN 31 PAX NEW YORK NY 148° 11.5 31
lt green - vhf WNYW 5 FOX NEW YORK NY 148° 11.5 5
lt green - vhf WWOR 9 UPN SECAUCUS NJ 148° 11.5 9
lt green - vhf WNET 13 PBS NEWARK NJ 148° 11.5 13
lt green - vhf WPIX 11 WB NEW YORK NY 161° 12.6 11
lt green - uhf WNJU 47 TEL LINDEN NJ 161° 12.6 47
lt green - vhf WNBC 4 NBC NEW YORK NY 161° 12.6 4
lt green - vhf WCBS 2 CBS NEW YORK NY 148° 11.5 2
lt green - uhf WPXO-LP 34 PAX EAST ORANGE NJ 245° 7.0 34
lt green - vhf WABC 7 ABC NEW YORK NY 161° 12.6 7
* red - uhf WNBC-DT 4.1 NBC New York NY 144° 11.2 28
* red - uhf WFUT-DT 68.1 TFA NEWARK NJ 146° 11.1 53
* red - uhf WNJN-DT 50.1 PBS Montclair NJ 282° 3.0 51
* red - vhf WPIX-DT 11.1 WB NEW YORK NY 148° 11.5 12
blue - uhf WEBR-CA 17 IND MANHATTAN NY 148° 11.5 17
blue - uhf WFME 66 REL SACRAMENTO CA 3° 17.9 66
violet - vhf WFSB 3 CBS HARTFORD CT 60° 93.6 3
violet - uhf WEDW 49 PBS BRIDGEPORT CT 73° 57.4 49
violet - uhf WLIW 21 PBS GARDEN CITY NY 111° 36.4 21
violet - uhf WNJT 52 PBS TRENTON NJ 229° 49.3 52
violet - uhf WLNY 55 IND RIVERHEAD NY 101° 64.1 55
violet - uhf WFTY 67 TFA SMITHTOWN NY 101° 62.1 67
violet - uhf WMBC 63 IND NEWTON NJ 306° 25.6 63
violet - uhf WTBY 54 TBN POUGHKEEPSIE NY 20° 59.5 54
violet - uhf WTIC 61 FOX HARTFORD CT 62° 89.3 61
violet - uhf WTXX 20 WB WATERBURY CT 65° 73.8 20
violet - uhf WRNN 62 IND KINGSTON NY 14° 84.3 62
violet - uhf WNJB 58 PBS NEW BRUNSWICK NJ 241° 25.4 58
* violet - vhf WNJB-DT 8 PBS New Brunswick NJ TBD 241° 25.4 8
violet - uhf WVIT 30 NBC NEW BRITAIN CT 62° 89.2 30
violet - uhf WRNN-LP 57 IND NYACK NY 56° 27.2 57
* violet - uhf WNYE-DT 24 PBS NEW YORK NY Testing 158° 14.9 24
Note:
The above listing is a conservative prediction of stations received. Depending on the specifics of your installation, you may be able to receive stations that do not appear in this list.

DTV Antenna
Type Call Sign Channel Network City State Live
Date Compass
Orientation Miles
From Frequency
Assignment
yellow - uhf WNJN 50 PBS MONTCLAIR NJ 282° 3.0 50
green - uhf WXTV 41 UNI PATERSON NJ 148° 11.5 41
green - uhf WFUT 68 TFA NEWARK NJ 148° 11.5 68
green - uhf WNYE 25 PBS NEW YORK NY 148° 11.5 25
green - uhf WPXN 31 PAX NEW YORK NY 148° 11.5 31
lt green - vhf WNYW 5 FOX NEW YORK NY 148° 11.5 5
lt green - vhf WWOR 9 UPN SECAUCUS NJ 148° 11.5 9
lt green - vhf WNET 13 PBS NEWARK NJ 148° 11.5 13
lt green - vhf WPIX 11 WB NEW YORK NY 161° 12.6 11
lt green - uhf WNJU 47 TEL LINDEN NJ 161° 12.6 47
lt green - vhf WNBC 4 NBC NEW YORK NY 161° 12.6 4
lt green - vhf WCBS 2 CBS NEW YORK NY 148° 11.5 2
lt green - uhf WPXO-LP 34 PAX EAST ORANGE NJ 245° 7.0 34
lt green - vhf WABC 7 ABC NEW YORK NY 161° 12.6 7
blue - uhf WEBR-CA 17 IND MANHATTAN NY 148° 11.5 17
blue - uhf WFME 66 REL SACRAMENTO CA 3° 17.9 66
violet - vhf WFSB 3 CBS HARTFORD CT 60° 93.6 3
violet - uhf WEDW 49 PBS BRIDGEPORT CT 73° 57.4 49
violet - uhf WLIW 21 PBS GARDEN CITY NY 111° 36.4 21
violet - uhf WNJT 52 PBS TRENTON NJ 229° 49.3 52
violet - uhf WLNY 55 IND RIVERHEAD NY 101° 64.1 55
violet - uhf WFTY 67 TFA SMITHTOWN NY 101° 62.1 67
violet - uhf WMBC 63 IND NEWTON NJ 306° 25.6 63
violet - uhf WTBY 54 TBN POUGHKEEPSIE NY 20° 59.5 54
violet - uhf WTIC 61 FOX HARTFORD CT 62° 89.3 61
violet - uhf WTXX 20 WB WATERBURY CT 65° 73.8 20
violet - uhf WRNN 62 IND KINGSTON NY 14° 84.3 62
violet - uhf WNJB 58 PBS NEW BRUNSWICK NJ 241° 25.4 58
violet - uhf WVIT 30 NBC NEW BRITAIN CT 62° 89.2 30
violet - uhf WRNN-LP 57 IND NYACK NY 56° 27.2 57
Note:
The above listing is a conservative prediction of stations received. Depending on the specifics of your installation, you may be able to receive stations that do not appear in this list.

DTV Antenna
Type Call Sign Channel Network City State Live
Date Compass
Orientation Miles
From Frequency
Assignment
* yellow - uhf WPXN-DT 30.1 PAX NEW YORK NY 161° 12.6 30
* yellow - uhf WXTV-DT 41.1 UNI PATERSON NJ 148° 11.5 40
* yellow - uhf WNYW-DT 5.1 FOX New York NY 148° 11.5 44
* yellow - uhf WNJU-DT 36 TEL LINDEN NJ FCC Ext 161° 12.6 36
* yellow - uhf WRNN-DT 48.1 IND KINGSTON NY 26° 44.2 48
* yellow - uhf WFME-DT 66.1 REL WEST MILFORD NJ 241° 8.0 29
* yellow - uhf WCBS-DT 2.1 CBS New York NY 148° 11.5 56
* yellow - uhf WABC-DT 7.1 ABC New York NY 146° 11.1 45
* red - uhf WNBC-DT 4.1 NBC New York NY 144° 11.2 28
* red - uhf WFUT-DT 68.1 TFA NEWARK NJ 146° 11.1 53
* red - uhf WNJN-DT 50.1 PBS Montclair NJ 282° 3.0 51
* red - vhf WPIX-DT 11.1 WB NEW YORK NY 148° 11.5 12
* violet - vhf WNJB-DT 8 PBS New Brunswick NJ TBD 241° 25.4 8
* violet - uhf WNYE-DT

[LeeS]

Putting the antenna on the roof can't do anything but help.

That antenna, GS200A, is bi-directional. One possibility with NBC 4.1 could be multipath. Reflections from buildings/objects around you. Can you try the 2000 without the amp turned on?

Give it a try on the roof, if there is no improvement try a DB4 directional. Unamplified. The bow tie design is very good for multipath rejection.

Lee