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Trying to find the right outdoor antenna for your home or property can be a challenge, there are several different factors that you must consider before making a final decision on which antenna option is best suited for your needs. Location is one of the many things that will affect how effective your selected attic antenna performs once installed.
You need to do some pretty intensive research before making a decision on which an attic antenna is best for your home. Attic antennas are also commonly called outdoor antennas so don’t confuse the two terms if you happen to see it while shopping for the perfect attic antenna for your home. Depending on the type of channels that you’re interested in picking up, certain attic antennas operate on particular frequencies so it’s important to remember this before finalizing a purchase for an attic antenna.
Due to all of these various factors, finding the right attic antenna is really tough especially when you have no previous experience. When you begin looking for an attic antenna, you’ll want to make sure that your choice has a few key features and elements.
Some of these elements include cost, durability, performance, and more and we’ll cover all of these aspects in-depth a little later on in this article. Your local and state government may have certain restrictions on the height and location that you can install certain outdoor satellites so pay attention to understand your applicable laws before making a final decision.
Considering all of these various factors before buying an outdoor antenna can cause a huge headache. If you’re looking for a high-quality attic antenna for your home or property but have no idea where to begin, you’re in luck.
There are a lot of different attic and outdoor antenna options available on the market to choose from ranging in design, capability, and ease of installation. Depending on what you’re looking for in terms of connectivity range and reception options, certain antennas may be better suited for you when compared to others.
In this guide, we’re going to go into detail about all of the various attic antenna and outdoor antenna options that are available for purchase on the market. We’ll cover all of the most important aspects that you need to know about attic antennas so that you can make an informed and educated decision about which option is perfect for you.
Before you begin your search for an attic antenna or outdoor antenna, make sure that you read each section included in this guide completely to make sure you have a full grasp of everything involved with these antennas.
What to Look for In an Attic Antenna
When you begin looking for an attic antenna or outdoor antenna, you must take the design and layout of your home or property into consideration before making a final decision. You can choose the best attic antenna option that there is out there however if it doesn’t fit on your home or run into trouble trying to install it, it will be of no use to you.
Below, we’re going to go over some of the critical aspects that you must take into consideration before purchasing any attic antenna for your home. Read each section in-depth so that you’ll have a full understanding of why these various factors are so important especially during the purchase process.
Type of Roof
Some attic antennas may require that the signal transmitter passes through specific material in order to function correctly. These materials oftentimes consist of masonry, brick, tile, and radiant barrier materials. If your attic is made out of any type of wood, then you’ll be fine installing virtually any attic antenna on your home without any problems.
Many homes that were built in the modern age have a 2-3 ft. wide metal stripping that is typically located on top of your roof shingles. It’s always recommended that you install your attic antenna on top of this portion of roofing for optimal reception and service.
Attic Insulators
Most attics are covered in insulating materials such as foil, radiant barrier, metal siding, and a lot more. All of these materials are very effective at blocking antenna signals so you will want to avoid these materials at all costs when installing your outdoor antenna or attic antenna.
If your attic does have these materials lining its interior, you’ll want to place your antenna in a place that the transmitter is not interrupted by the signal blocking material. This is a very important factor when installing an attic antenna so make sure that you keep this in mind before installing or purchasing any attic antenna.
Signal Strength & Reception
Signal strength and capacity are very important when deciding on which attic antenna is best for you. While materials are very important to watch out for when installing an attic antenna, the height and elevation at which it sits are also very important when it comes to installation and signal strength overall. You can gain more elevation for your attic antenna by mounting it on your roof’s exterior lining in order to increase its overall signal reception ability and reach.
The elevation is a tricky thing because if you happen to install your attic antenna at the wrong elevation, it can actually hinder its reach and ability to establish a strong connection. You also want to make sure that your attic antenna is not obstructed by any homes that are neighboring or around your property in order to achieve maximum reach and frequency penetration.
These are some of the most important factors to consider when purchasing an attic antenna because without these critical factors, you won’t be able to achieve optimal operating range and frequency. Now let’s look at how you should approach purchasing an attic antenna for your home so that you can gain access to all of the channels and programming you want.
Selecting the Right Attic Antenna for You
Selecting the right attic antenna for your home requires that you look over your existing layout and overall structural integrity. The biggest mistake you can make when selecting the best TV antenna for attic installation on your home is selecting an antenna that is too small and inadequate to give you access to the right channels and programming that you want.
If the optimal attic antenna suited for your location is too big for your attic space, it is best to go outside with the antenna and try installing it on your roof or other exterior property surfaces. Too many people decrease the size of their antenna just so it will fit in their current attic space and that’s a mistake.
If a powerful antenna with a high signal capacity is required to meet the reception requirements of your particular location or property, I suggest you take a look at some of the HD Stacker antenna options available on the market.
HD Stacker antenna options are unique because they essentially allow you to double the range of which your antenna is able to capture reception and channels, HDR stacker antenna design is very long but allow it to perform as well as antennas that are short in length ultimately providing more coverage for your antenna.
If your attic space is too small for an HD stacker antenna, you may want to consider downsizing and seeing what other options are available on the market which will fit your needs. The overall size of your attic antenna will play a huge part in how well you’re able to get reception.
The first element to understand is that attic TV antennas that are similar in design and capability, will always perform at a higher capacity when mounted outside above your roof line because the air provides an uninterrupted medium for signals and wave frequencies to travel.
In certain locations, it’s possible that some incoming TV signals may be too weak to be read by your attic antenna if it’s installed inside of your home but the same antenna can read those same signals If it were mounted outside. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get great reception with an attic antenna mounted inside of your property, it will just take a little more work and time to achieve the results you want.
The first thing I suggest is that you go online and do some research about all of the attic antenna options available near you to decide on which installation method is optimal for your home or property. This will help you determine the correct attic TV antenna and receiver equipment for your location. Consider all the information above and if everything seems favorable for success then, by all means, mount the TV antenna in your attic.
There is a lot of new attic antenna technology being released on a regular basis which has many people confused as to what products are actually legitimate and which ones are strictly hype.
While many new attic antenna options available on the market to offer more streamlined methods of accessing strong signals and programming, not all of them deliver on their promise to make your life and entertainment choices broader and more robust.
If you’re unsure about which attic antenna is best for your home, consider contacting a professional near you who will be able to provide you with hands-on assistance in terms of how you should go about choosing the right attic antenna for your property.
Attic Antenna Installation Tips
Installing your attic antenna is the most important step in the entire process, without installing your attic antenna, you won’t be able to receive any cable channels or another programming that you may be interested in.
To make sure that you install your selected attic antenna the correct way, it’s always recommended that you follow the instructions as set out by the manufacturing company or producer of the product. However, there are some very basic safety and precautionary rules that pretty much everyone in the attic antenna industry is aware of.
Before you begin the installation process of your selected attic antenna, make sure that you read this entire section in full so that you can avoid any potential issues during the installation process.
Signal Amplifiers
Every attic antenna comes with its own pre-set signal strength and maximum receiver length. If you install a new attic antenna that is not picking up the channels and signals that you want, you can add a signal amplifier to your set-up in order to expand your attic antenna’s maximum frequency range.
It’s always best to gather as much frequency bandwidth as possible in a short amount of time to consider going with a large attic antenna if you know that you need strength and power when it comes to your antenna receiver.
Really consider what you need before buying an attic antenna instead of purchasing a small antenna then trying to expand its range with a signal amplifier. However, if you still want a large attic antenna that isn’t picking up the signals you need, a signal amplifier might be something you want to consider as a possible solution.
You might also want to consider a signal amplifier if you have a lot of cables running from your set-up because it will allow you to cut down on the number of physical wires needed to establish a connection. Some attic antennas even come with built-in amplifiers which make receiving higher-powered signals much easier without the need for too many add-ons.
Rotators
Sometimes you may want to consider rotating your attic antenna in order to optimize the reception that you receive. During certain times of the day and in particular weather conditions, the signal of your attic antenna can be severely interrupted.
In order to avoid service breaks or stoppages in relation to the programming that you’re able to receive, you can use a rotator in order to adjust the angle and direction of your attic antenna easily and conveniently.
There are fixed antenna options out there however you should only purchase fixed attic antennas if you’re completely sure about the location specifications about your desired installation areas and the detail about signal strength when it comes to your attic antenna.
A rotator will help you pick up different channels nearly on an on-demand basis, some attic antenna rotators also automated so you can control their direction effortlessly.
Connection Type Required
The type of cable that you use in order to connect your attic antenna to your home’s system is very important because it allows the antenna to transmit and receive the necessary signals in order to provide you with the channels and content you want.
Most if not all attic antennas use coaxial cables in order to establish a connection so you’ll need a few high-quality coaxial cables if you plan on installing an attic antenna on your home.
There are several different coaxial cable types available that you can choose from so make sure that you do the right amount of research in order to find out which coaxial cable is best for you.
Directional or Multi-Directional Attic Antenna
Not all attic antennas are created equally and some of them come with only one-directional capabilities. Typically, directional antennas only rotate up to 50-60 degrees while multi-directional antennas typically rotate about 100-200 degrees.
Both types of antennas provide their own benefits in terms of signal strength and reception. There are a lot of ways that you can determine which antenna type is best for your homes such as performing height tests, signal strength tests, and a lot more. You can even go online and do a search for your home to determine its signal strength and receptivity.
Outdoor Antenna Frequency Types: Which one is right for you?
All attic antennas operate on one of two frequencies which are VHF frequencies & UHF frequencies. The frequency that your attic antenna is tuned to will play a major role in the channels that you’re able to receive and watch so It’s important to make the right decision and do your proper amount of research before deciding on a final attic antenna option.
All of your favorite networks and TV shows are broadcast on one of these two frequencies so it’s important to know which frequency range your favorite channels broadcast on before buying any attic antenna.
VHF Frequencies
VHF stands for (Very High Frequencies) and is one of the most powerful broadcast frequency bands most commonly used in television and other forms of broadcast media. VHF frequencies have been mostly used for news channels and networks that had broadcast in past years due to their reliable connection rate and stable picture quality.
Now, thanks to the internet and advancement in technology, people are switching to an even more powerful and reliable frequency band. VHF frequencies allow you to get channels that have a Real Channel between 7 and 13 so If you’re interested in media there then you’ll need a VHF attic antenna.
UHF Frequencies
UHF stands for (Ultra High Frequencies) and they are even more powerful than the previously used VHF signals that most attic antennas used. UHF signals allow broadcasts to be carried through barriers and signal blocking materials such as houses and other structures.
If you’re trying to get channels with a Real Channel between 14-83, you’ll need a UHF attic antenna in order to pick up the broadcast in your location.
You can even go online to determine which signal type is best for your home and specific needs by performing a simple google search.
Other Tips for Purchasing an Attic Antenna
You might also want to consider a signal amplifier if you have a lot of cables running from your set-up because it will allow you to cut down on the number of physical wires needed to establish a connection.
- Trees- avoid installing your attic antenna directly in front of or near any trees because your signal strength may be significantly interrupted. If you’re able to do so, trying trimming or cutting down any trees that may be in the way of your attic antenna installation.
- Walls Interfering with Signal- it’s always best for you to place your attic antenna near the wall of your home or property in order to reduce the amount of coverage lost when it comes to the overall strength of your attic antenna.
- Nearby Houses- if there are a lot of houses nearby your designated attic antenna installation location, you’ll want to put a lot of time and energy into making sure that your antenna is positioned property line in order to take advantage of the best direction possible.
Top Attic Antenna Recommendations
Now that you know a little bit more about attic antennas and exactly how they operate, it’s time for you to decide on which option is best suited for your needs and home.
This section is going to list some of the best attic antenna options out on the market today that you can choose from in order to receive the channels and content that you want and need.
While there are a lot of attic antenna options out there to choose from, we’ve selected the ones that we feel are the best based on their reliability, design, signal, strength, durability, and a lot of other important factors.
#1 ANTOP UFO Amplified HDTV Antenna
The ANTOP UFO Amplified HDTV Antenna is the perfect choice for anyone that wants access to all of their favorite channels without having to put too much time into the overall installation and configuration process.
The ANTOP UFO Amplified attic antenna comes with a built-in amplifier that gives you an unrestricted signal boost so that you can experience all of the channels and entertainment that you want without a hassle.
This attic antenna comes with an array of integrated safety features to ensure that your property and persons are safe while the antenna is in use. It is the perfect solution for those that want a fully capable outdoor antenna without spending too much money time or effort.
#2 Mediasonic HOMEWORX HDTV Outdoor Antenna
The Mediasonic HOMEWORX HDTV outdoor antenna is a powerful attic antenna that gives you the ability to get reception from channel frequencies up to 40 miles away which easily makes it one of the most capable and powerful attic antennas on the market.
The Mediasonic antenna comes with an array of finely tuned receivers that allow you to customize your channel experience without constantly having to physically readjust your attic antenna.
This antenna can give you access to as many channels as you want by simply installing it in the right area, making sure that nothing is interrupting the signal transmission, and then proceeding. it is perfect for those novices to beginner antenna users who want a stable connection without too much hassle involved.
#3 ClearStream Outdoor HDTV Antenna W/Mount
The ClearStream Outdoor HDTV antenna is a wonderful and powerful attic antenna that provides robust capabilities and a powerful signal for the ultimate channel viewing experience.
The Clearstream antenna comes with a mount which makes it extremely easy to install and position on your home in addition to is being very flexible in terms of its range of motion capabilities and how far it can receive signals from.
This antenna has a range of about 25 miles so you will be able to pick up channels from a pretty nice distance away and puts an emphasis on HD television so you’ll be able to view virtually all of your favorite cable networks and other channels in stunning picture quality. It is the best choice for anyone that is interested in a reliable attic antenna that they can depend on.
Conclusion
As long as you use all of the information in this article to help you determine which attic antenna options are best for you, you should have no problem making the right decision fairly quickly.
Remember all of the various details that we discussed throughout the article including the position of the antenna that design of your home and other important elements that may be unique to your situation.
As long as you use and follow all of the simple tips, you should have no problem finding the right attic antenna for your home!
