North Atlanta

[jameshilton]

I live in zip code 30040 about 25 miles north of Atlanta Georgia, I have a new HDTV and would like to divorce my cable for an OTA vhf/uhf antenna installed in my attic. I have a brick ranch home with little to no obstructions within line of sight, what antenna would you recommend and would a pre amp be required? Can the antenna be hung from the rafters or does it have to be mast mounted? The antenna locator put me in the red,blue,purple zone so I am not sure how much signal boost I will need, also, are there side band digital channels broadcast with each analog signal? i.e. will I recieve 3 channels for each analog channel available from Atlanta? Thanks for your help, great web site!

[tigerbangs]

An attic antenna isn't going to make it for you: you will need to roof-mount an antenna to get good reception. If you are willing to do that, we can recommend an antenna system for you: Please read the links below, and post your responses.

why-predicting-reception-with-indoor-antennas-impossible-t1024.html
please-post-your-tvfool-com-results-when-posting-questions-t649.html
tips-for-getting-good-antenna-advice-read-before-posting-t52.html

[jameshilton]

OK, now I am confused, maybe I left something out,
Address: 6620 Vickery Post Lane
Cumming, Georgia, 30040

I want to install an outdoor antenna in my attic, no tall trees or buildings within sight, Geo locator recommended a Winemark HD7697P w/preamp 269.
I have one TV, a Panasonic 54" Viera, about 6 months old. I have a HOA that I really don't want to deal with if I have to install on the roof, are my options limited to roof top install only? Thanks for your help.

[tigerbangs]

hoa-deed-restrictions-antenna-installations-read-this-t1393.html

[jameshilton]

OK, outdoor antenna, I will check the covenants for the neighborhood to see what they say, what do you suggest?

[jameshilton]

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapp ... 590fd1e5e5

Here is the signal map for my location.

[tigerbangs]

if you only have the one TV set that you plan to use, then you shouldn't need a preamplifier. My suggestion, based on your TVFool.com report would be to use a Winegard HD-7696P or an AntennaCraft HBU-44 VHF high-band plus UHF antenna mounted on your roof, aimed at 190 degrees as measured by your compass. You will see everything coming out of Atlanta clearly if you do. If you decide to connect additional TV sets, you should use a distribution amplifier/splitter like the Channel Master CM341x series amplifier, where "X" = the even number of TV sets that you plan to use.

Here is a good antenna installation guide to get you going.
http://manuals.solidsignal.com/AntInstallGuide.pdf

[jameshilton]

Have you ever heard of painting an antenna to make it less noticeable, will this affect reception?

[tigerbangs]

There is debate about painting an antenna: truthfully, I have never done it and really can't say if it would affect the quality of reception. On the same note, I grew up in a world where every house had a TV antenna, and have never really understood what the objection to having a TV antenna on the roof was all about. When I was a kid, having the biggest TV antenna on the block was actually a status symbol...LOL Boy, how times have changed...

[jameshilton]

I ordered the HD7696P yesterday and should have it in a weeK or so, how does it compare to the Winemark HD8200?