Four questions about actual antennas and installation

mm · 2009-12-14T22:30:30+00:00

I now plan to put a pretty big tv antennas in my attic. 1)I won't need an assistent for aiming because I have a co-ax splitterin the attic, I'll bring a tv up, and I'll have RF remote control forthe DVDR tuner. So: Should I use a color tv, or is a (lighter) B&Wtv just as good?? The B&W is 12 and I think the color is 14 inch. (Ihave no stairs, just a hatch in the closet)2) The roof is not free-standing, but has trusses every 24 inches.And those trusses include inverted W's, made by 2/4's. On each sideof the antenna, only two pieces of 2x4, more likely only one, arelikely to be in the way.I'll bring the antenna up still folded, but because of the 2x4's, Imight want to unfold an element a little bit, remove it completely,and reattach it in the fully unfolded position. Is that possible withWinegard antennas, or any other brand? (I"m afraid they might beriveted on, loose enough to open but not more than that.)3) The truss 2x4's are all at oblibque angles and I can move theantenna up and down and forward and back, so it's likely I can find aspot where they all extend, and I'm sure this question is obvious, soplease excuse me, but which is better, an antenna with 36 elements butwhere one was permanently removed in order to mount or aim theantenna, or a smaller one one with 28 elements??? (Or 41 and 36)IIUC, I might have removed an essential one, but I could probablyremove another for a station I don't receive, move the antenna, andput the first one back, right??4) Does it matter if I tighten the F-connector all the way to tight.Usually, just touching the center wire to the center hole is enough toget a good and strong picture, without even touching the outer nut toanything. But with weak signals, like distant channels, does itmatter if the connection is tight?Thanks.

Dec 14, 2009 27 Replies

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Tony 16 years ago

OK, you are in a much better reception area than me. My antenna is about 9 feet long. Whole different story!

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mm 16 years ago

Absolutely.

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jamesgangnc 16 years ago

Your antenna would work about 3 times better outside on a pole than in your attic.

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Tony 16 years ago

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Tony 16 years ago

But outside it will only last 20 to 40 years and inside it will last

100-200 years. ;-) Oh, if inside, I hope you don't have or plan on having a steel roof!

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mm 16 years ago

I know it would work better but outside is not an option.

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mm 16 years ago

Thank you. I know it would work better but outside is not an option.

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mm 16 years ago

Oh, yeah, those noises I have gotten.

Last night again -- this has only been happening for the last two days

-- the picture went out just as the hero and villain had their guns on each other. Picture came back 3 seconds later and they were still both alive but running away.

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