While you have the legal right to erect an antenna
on property you either own or control, many people will still install antennas in attics for aesthetic reasons. Your rights regarding antenna
installations on your property are explained in more detail on the FCC's web site.
In general you can lose up to 40-50% of your signal's strength from an attic installation due to the loss from roofing materials, but with proper installation and the right antenna
you can overcome some of this loss and be successful.
1-¼" conduit makes a great antenna
mast. The material can be metal or PVC. Conduit scraps from a local hardware store can be used to secure the mast to trusses or joists using standard deck screws. This will give you some flexibility should you need to relocate the antenna
.
Avoid using wire or twine to hang the antenna
, as this will make positioning of the antenna
more difficult. If you can't find 1 ¼" pipe, don't worry, all of the antennas we sell, have mast clamps that adjust from 1" to 2" in diameter. We also sell a 30 inch tall "J" Mount Mast that can be attached to any solid surface. This offers a very flexible and compact mounting option for tight spaces.
Before purchasing the antenna
, make sure you have enough space to be able to rotate it for the strongest signal.
It will be important to keep the antenna
away from metallic surfaces. Air handlers, ductwork, electrical conduit and data wiring can all present interference
with the digital
signals. Try to keep as much distance as practical from these objects (6 feet or greater distance is ideal). If you have foil backed or "solar shield" insulation in the roof joists, then you will need to replace the insulation in the area surrounding the antenna
or place the antenna
outside. The digital
signals will not pass through metal surfaces.
If you have a metal roof, installing your new antenna
in the attic will be very difficult and have a low probability for success.
Since signals will be weakened by just about any roofing material, utilizing a higher gain
antenna
is typically the first step in overcoming signal loss. The effective range of most antennas is lowered by 10-15 miles with an attic installation, so you may consider getting a more powerful antenna
than you would typically need with an outdoor antenna
.
Investing in a low noise
pre-amplifier
can also improve the signal levels. Antenna
mounted pre-amplifiers are always preferred as they amplify the signal at its strongest point. It is also important to use amplifiers designed for high ambient temperatures. Checkout our selection of pre-amps.
UHF and VHF antenna
may share the same mast. Try to keep at least 5 feet of separation if possible from your exiting antenna
. If you don't have enough space for this, the antennas can be placed on separate masts.
Combining the antenna
can be done using our UHF/VHF combiner box. This will be necessary to prevent overlap between the two antennas.
