Need help with antenna and install

[farjo08]

I am getting a HR10-250 next week and need to get an antenna to get my locals. I have been doing a lot of research on this as well as speaking to some folks at some local stores and now am a little more confused then I was before.

First, from antennaweb.org I get the following:

* yellow - uhf KDEN-DT 29.1 IND LONGMONT CO 13° 14.1 29
* yellow - uhf KDVR-DT 31.1 FOX DENVER CO 214° 17.4 32
* yellow - uhf KWGN-DT 2.1 WB DENVER CO 215° 17.2 34
* yellow - uhf KTVD-DT 19 UPN DENVER CO Currently Not Available 214° 17.3 19
* yellow - uhf KPXC-DT 43 PAX DENVER CO Currently Not Available 204° 19.8 43
* yellow - uhf KCEC-DT 51.1 UNI DENVER CO Testing 215° 17.2 51
* lt green - uhf KTFD-DT 15.1 TFA BOULDER CO 204° 19.9 15
* lt green - uhf KWHD-DT 53.1 IND CASTLE ROCK CO 140° 37.9 46
* lt green - uhf KBDI-DT 38.1 PBS BROOMFIELD CO 229° 30.4 38
* red - uhf KRMT-DT 40 DAY DENVER CO Awaiting FCC Permit 196° 23.9 40
* blue - uhf KUSA-DT 9.1 NBC DENVER CO 165° 11.5 16
* blue - uhf KRMA-DT 6.1 PBS DENVER CO 165° 11.5 18
* blue - uhf KCNC-DT 4.1 CBS DENVER CO 165° 11.5 35

So I only need a UHF antenna - gor that. My maximum distance from any of the signals is 37.9 miles, but a channel I don't care about. The furthest I am away from the major networks is FOX at 17.4 miles.

From everything I have read / heard indoor antennas don't work well so I have been looking for an outdoor one - now the confusion / questions:

1) Can I install an outdoor antenna in the attic and would that work? I never thought of this but out of the 2 places near me that do installs they both said they don't do roof mount installs (safety issues and don't have the materials) so they both recommended the attic.

2) Since I have some blues (CBS I want) it looks like I need a medium directional - any recommendations on a good antenna that would work for me?

3) I haven't been able to find anyone to do an outdoor roof install for me. I don't have a ladder to get on the roof, plus if you really need to mount a post, retar, etc. I don't want to go that route - so what other install options do I have? I have seen a few homes in my neighborhood that have what looks like the terk antenna (square / diamond shaped) mounted on the roof - low (meaning aimed towards Denver where the signals come from - no clear path north of my area. Can I install an antenna on the wall of my home or low on the roof (I'm thinking behind my garage which extends towards the side of the house). The install should be easy enough for me to do myself and won't be visible except from my backyard.

So to summarize, I can't find anyone locally that would do an outdoor roof install (I don't have a chimney either) so I am looking into the best options for install location as well as antenna type based on my distance from the broadcast towers.

TIA!!!

[farjo08]

After doing some reasearch I am thinking about picking up one of the Winegard Squareshooters. They seem to be well received and I think that may be the antenna I have seen on a few homes near me.

If anyone can provide any insight or recommendations it would be appreciated. Based on my distance I am thinking the SS-1000 should be suitable although I guess I can get the SS-2000 and only power the amplifier if needed.

What I am thinking is mounting it outdoors and the base of the roof to make the installation easier. I can mount it right where the gutter would be (in this particular location there is no gutter) so the install should be real easy to complete and is right where my existing satellite cables run into the home to the wiring would be a snap.

Anyone?

[Ratman]

You can try, but your x-mitters directions may pose problems.

You have one at 13 degrees, others between 204 and 229, one at 13, one at 140, 196 and anothe group at 165.

You probably need to use a 'tradional' antenna and a rotator. Or... try the SqS on a rotator (but IMO, a real antenna will be less expensive).

[kevinw]

After doing some reasearch I am thinking about picking up one of the Winegard Squareshooters. They seem to be well received and I think that may be the antenna I have seen on a few homes near me.

If anyone can provide any insight or recommendations it would be appreciated. Based on my distance I am thinking the SS-1000 should be suitable although I guess I can get the SS-2000 and only power the amplifier if needed.

What I am thinking is mounting it outdoors and the base of the roof to make the installation easier. I can mount it right where the gutter would be (in this particular location there is no gutter) so the install should be real easy to complete and is right where my existing satellite cables run into the home to the wiring would be a snap.

Anyone?
IMO Not going to work for your location, channels all over the map. ChannelMaster 4228 on a rotor.

[farjo08]

Thanks. I was kind of afraid of that. I am mostly interested in the locals like FOX, CBS, NBC, CBS and WB. Could care less about the others.

I am now leaning towards the 4228 but still have the issue of a roof install. I am not sure this is something I want to tackle on my own and still unable to find anyone locally that would do a roof install (I don't have a chimney otherwise it would be pretty easy to install).

So I am thinking my options would be the following:

1) Wall mount - install right around the gutter level and use a mast to raise the antenna high enough. Should be an easy enough install and the location I am thinking is close to where my cable / satellite coax enters the house so would be pretty easy to hookup as well.

2) Attic install - the problem with this is that the attic is unfinished, no eletricity (thus no light) so difficult to see. Also there are no floorboards just the beams to moving around is a bit difficult as well. The last issue is figuring out how to run a coax from the attic to the living room. I am not sure I can really find the wall the run the lead down the wall to the wall jack so might have to try to find an area near the edge of the attic to drill outside then run the cable down the side of the house and back in at the basement level.

[mjones73]

1) Check out an eve mount, goes on the side of your house and secures with 4 lag bolts. Another option is a tripod mount on the peak of your house.

2) Check out the attic mount at radio shack, you can bolt it to a rafter to support your antenna and rotator. You don't need any electricity in the attic, the rotator controller located by your TV supplys power to it. The only thing you need to figure out is wire routing...

I'd personally suggest putting it outside if you can though.

[tigerbangs]

All good advice here: I would suggest mounting the antenna on the side eave of the house and have it peek over the highest point of the roof. Yes, you should use a rotator, and Denver still doesn not have most of it's DTV stations at high-power yet, so an outdoor antenna is a very good idea

[farjo08]

Thanks for the tips. I'm probably going to pick up a 4228 and try an attic install first to see my signal levels. If it looks good, then I'll get a rotor so I can get all the locals - otherwise I'll try for the roof. I see Radio Shack has mounts for exhaust pipes which I have on the roof so that should make a roof install easier.

[Ratman]

I'd be very reluctant to mount the 4228 on a 'vent pipe'. (As well as a rotor!).

Too much weight and wind load. Also consider added weight if it get 'iced up'. You could crack or break that pipe and wind up with a hefty plumbing bill.

[mjones73]

I'll second that, don't pipe mount it, use a proper mount for the size antenna the 4228 is.

[tigerbangs]

That 4228 weighs 15 pounds, and if you get a good stiff wind, you could be in trouble if it's attached to a vent pipe. I would suggest going with an eave mount.