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Need Advice Attic Antenna

Discussion in 'Homeowners Corner' started by Capricorn1964, Jul 15, 2015.

  1. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Has anyone hooked up an attic antenna down to basement central OB box? Did you have difficulties in snaking the cable through the blue 'smurf' tube in attic? Did you use the snaking room to do that or ? Get good reception by any chance?

    All advice appreciated!
     
  2. Look4Parker

    Look4Parker New Member

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    I'm interested in hearing about this too.
     
  3. Rhaegar

    Rhaegar Member

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    Knowing nothing about your situation or the OB box, I'll ask if it is an option for you to connect the OTA to something that has an Ethernet output closer to the attic?

    For instance, if you have an Ethernet drop in an upstairs room, you could connect the coax to a box (like an HDHomerun) and then use that to connect to the network. You might be able to bring the cable down in a closet or something closer to avoid the long pull.

    I have fish rods (15') and fish tape (50') and almost never use the fish tape since it's nearly impractical at longer distances with tight spaces. Good luck.
     
  4. Chsalas

    Chsalas Active Member

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    I've done it, I used an existing cable run to one of the upstairs bedrooms, there are 2 RG6 drops per room, pulled one back,connected to antenna and just located the corresponding cable in the nid. Works great, I get about 60 channels. I can live with it until walking dead comes back on.
     

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  5. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Where did you get the antenna and grey bracket from?
     
  6. Chsalas

    Chsalas Active Member

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    That antenna I purchased a Lowe's but you can get the same on amazon for about half the cost. RCA antenna.
     
  7. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Generally, how long should the cable be from the basement to the attic?? Is it 50 or 100 or 200 feet? This is not a large single family house by any means....Its one of the smaller single family homes in SW area...

    UPDATE: It took 100 feet of cable to make it all work.
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2015
  8. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    I bought the exact same antenna that Chsalas has in his picture...and plugged a coaxial cable that goes down from the attic all the way to the basement where OB's main box where the cable/internet/phone connections are. I disconnected the Main OB's line for cable from the "IN" slot and plugged in the cable from the attic antenna into the "IN" slot as I was under the understanding that by doing that, it would feed all the outlets to each room in the house. (Am I correct????)

    After doing a channel scan, I am not getting any channels at all even though I pointed the antenna to East where most of the channels signals are originating from. Did this numerous times and still no channels. :(

    So I am reaching out to everyone and any one for help.

    Can you assist me with this? Many thanks to whomever can help!
     
  9. J Williams

    J Williams New Member

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    Are you using a drop amp or a splitter/amplifier? It may be that you need to add some juice to overcome signal attenuation. Also, check out this website for antenna positioning information. Here is a Youtube video for in-attic antenna installation tutorial purposes.
     
  10. Mike-and-Kim

    Mike-and-Kim Member

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    If you simplify to one tv, can you get signal? That is: try the antenna in the same room as the TV wired direct to the TV. You should get some channels.

    I think a small amplifier is a good idea to overcome the loss to the basement.

    Do you have photos of the setup at both ends?
     
  11. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    image.jpg image.jpg This is the attic setup (next posting will have basement one). The antenna has transformer attached but no booster or splitter at all as its connected straight all the way down to basement OB box directly as basement box feeds to all rooms.
     

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  12. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Second posting-

    This is my basement setup-

    Line from attic to OB box-

    1st pic shows drop from basement

    2nd to 3rd pic shows line traveling to second smurf tube going to OB Box.

    4th pic shows tube to OB Bobcats in next room-

    5th pic shows line coming into box

    Final pic shows hook up to 'input' line.

    See where ther is an unattached cable? That's the OB line from outside to their own distribution box .
     

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    Last edited: Jul 24, 2015
  13. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    UPDATE: I bypassed the whole OB cabinet in the basement as it was a bit complicated....But I still need a bit more work so will explain what I need / advice in order to get it done.

    1) I pulled back the dropline from the basement and instead directed it straight to the TV on the main floor (Not the bedroom as CHSALAS did)....and finally GOT the channels...ALL of them up to 66 channels...and they were CRYSTAL clear....

    BUT BUT BUT the cable line is exposed. How can I get the Coaxial line to go to the outlet and My big question is...WHY didn't the line work when I hooked it up to the OB Central box??? How can I hook up the line to the outlet near the TV by way of OB Box in the basement? That outlet was working when I did have service from OB? I just simply disconnected the OB line from the INPUT plug within the OB Box and substituted the OB Input coaxial with Antenna Coaxial....

    HELP! UGH...so much work into doing this.
     
  14. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Woo Hoo!!!! got it all done and got 70 channels to boot! Got both TVs set up at same time and all channels were CRISP and clear! So glad to cut the cable cord!!!! No more paying for a cable bill ever again!

    *cracks open a Brewski and gives myself a pat on the back for the hard hot work in the attic*

    Mike-n-Kim....thanks for the private emails giving me some encouragement!!!! Owe you a brewski some day!
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2015
  15. Chsalas

    Chsalas Active Member

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    I used a channel master distribution amplifier at the antenna, then connected the run back to NID to rest of the house. The distribution block in the NID is powered, but when OB installed it, they did not connect power. I'm considering installing a winegard pre amp. I am having trouble now picking Channel 4, but someone told me that WRC NBC 4 is transmiting lower power now.
     
  16. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Chsalas- No wonder why the signal wasn't going through the whole house because I didn't hasve the channel master distribution amplifier at the antenna....Well, it doesn't matter right now because I bypassed OB's NID....and was able to get all the channels I need....I mean I probably will never watch all those channels and I just watch some select channels just for news/movies...so its ok with me as long as I got the wires behind the wall.

    Thanks for your help, Chsalas!!!
     
  17. Chsalas

    Chsalas Active Member

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    Here is a simple diagram antenna diagram.png
     
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  18. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Chsalas.....what is NID? Is that the "wall cabinet" for the internet/phone/cable TV that is located in the basement?

    Thanks for all you do...this is going to help not only me but other neighbors who read this too.
     
  19. Chsalas

    Chsalas Active Member

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  20. Look4Parker

    Look4Parker New Member

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    I am getting ready to install an antenna in the attic. I am looking to get a directional antenna, specifically this one.

    Chsalas, I saw that you installed a distribution amplifier. Is this the same as a pre amplifier? Is there a reason you split the line to a single TV and the OB Box? Ideally I'd like to run right to the OB box and use that splitter but it sounds like I'm need some sort of amplification. Any thoughts or advice?

    Thanks!
     

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