How about this idea?

**Goodrat** · 02-02-2012, 02:55 PM

For an attic, I can couple it to a PVC pipe and to the attic floor though a board across the floor beams. No wood by the antenna.

**dkreichen1968** · 02-02-2012, 06:19 PM

What keeps the elements in place? Otherwise, I see it as a great idea.

**Goodrat** · 02-03-2012, 03:28 PM

The plastic ties. I worry it may move around but I will find out tomorrow when I build.
I put a few turns of buss wire before soldering at the solder joints. That is strong. I'm hoping that the plastic ties (sometimes referred to incorrectly at tie wraps) will be enough.
(I was also considering a little shrink tubing.
Here is an update:

**Goodrat** · 02-04-2012, 02:33 PM

Here it is. I hung it on the same nail for now just to compare, so it is on a a wood beam in the attic. I'll stand it free to see if there is a difference.
But for now, it feels solid for an attic antenna. The result in same location is just as good as the one I made with the ground connectors on wood.
Maybe a little better on one channel.

**Fringe Reception** · 02-04-2012, 04:13 PM

An interesting idea for crossover wiring!

**Goodrat** · 02-04-2012, 04:27 PM

Here are all my results. I think I will just pick the most convenient and put an amp on it.

**Fringe Reception** · 02-04-2012, 04:38 PM

Goodrat,

What program did you use to create your spreadsheet? I haven't found anything in Excel that doesn't require lots of reworking and your sheet is simplicity in motion. Thanks,

Jim

**Goodrat** · 02-04-2012, 05:33 PM

That's just Excel and trial and error though the years.
The diagrams I draw is a program called RF Flow. I was originally just for flow charts but they have electronic part etc. I is a great program for drawing and very user friendly. You don't even need to read instructions.

**MrPogi** · 02-05-2012, 08:43 AM

In my attic, I have attached PVC pipe to the joist and the rafters with a single deck screw at the top and bottom. I have a commercial antenna on it, so I can adjust the aiming on it. I often use this to mount antennas in newer homes without a proper "attic", you know, the kind they used to have in old homes with a floor and a set of stairs! I see no reason this wouldn't work for your antenna as long as you have it aimed properly before you screw it in.

**Goodrat** · 02-05-2012, 04:39 PM

Here is an update with a the amp added and a few corrections.

**TVTom51** · 02-06-2012, 07:02 AM

How well does 34-1 and 34-3 come in at that distance for you?

**Goodrat** · 02-06-2012, 05:05 PM

Looks like I can only get about 50% at best.

**Fringe Reception** · 02-06-2012, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by Goodrat

Looks like I can only get about 50% at best.

TVTOM wrote:
How well does 34-1 and 34-3 come in at that distance for you?

Goodrat,

What does 50% mean? one of two channels or signals 'appearing' at 50 on your TVs "signal strength" scale?

Jim

**Goodrat** · 02-06-2012, 05:19 PM

Well, I don't know what my TV means by the numbers. I believe it just says signal strength % on my Hitachi TV. So it is just the only reference I have.

**Fringe Reception** · 02-06-2012, 06:17 PM

Goodrat,

The "signal strength meter" on your TV is not what you think it is. A better explanation is to think of it as a "signal quality meter". It is not a meter that looks at only at the strength of a signal as an 'S' Meter as used on Ham and CB radios. Honestly, it is usually of little use, except for comparison purposes.

8VSB Digital signals can be deciphered at extreeeeeeemly low "signal strength" levels - assuming they are clean signals that are not affected by what is commonly called 'noise'. Noise, could be the neighbor making a Strawberry Daiquiri in a (noisy) blender.

Assuming you have a dependable signal from a particular station, there is no reason to attempt to "improve" the signal "level" from that station: neither the video nor the audio quality will improve at all by raising a dependable signal's strength.

I know it is contradictory to think a lower-level signal can trump a high-level signal, but that's fact in many cases. In absolute terms, it make no difference at all.

Jim

**dkreichen1968** · 02-06-2012, 08:32 PM

Whatever the "signal strength" meters on DTV tuners measure it isn't signal strength, and it seems that every tuner uses a different measure. I thought that the "signal strength" on my RCA DTA800 converter box was a signal strength meter until I split the signal 4 ways and got the same reading. The RCA DTA800 can give a VHF signal a 25%, and the same signal off the same antenna will read 90% on my Digital Stream converter box, 85% on the DTVpal DVR, or "Super Good" on the Dynex. And, every tuner must have a different "level" of signal to decode. The DTVpal DVR drops out at about 60%, the Digital Stream at 30%, the RCA DTA800 at around 10%, and the Dynex when the red weak signal bar drops off. But, all of those levels are close to some real SNR (signal to noise ratio).