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Running antenna cable to attic or outside.

64.233.255.7
Posted on March 16, 2014 at 12:50:12
Mcmann57
Audiophile

Posts: 308
Location: Arizona
Joined: December 3, 2007
 I will soon be installing an indoor/outdoor antenna. The tuner is located in the living room adjacent to a window, and I could install the antenna on the outside above that window. Or, I could install it in the attic on a rotatable platform and potentially rotate it to find the best orientation.
My questions is what is a neat and safe way to run the cable either from living room to attic, or from living room to the outside.
I don't know of a good way to string the cable vertically inside a wall. My exterior is brick, not wood. Drilling through brick seems like a chore. Maybe I could go through the adjacent window frame?
Any thoughts (and photos) would be appreciated.
Thanks.

 

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RE: Running antenna cable to attic or outside., posted on March 17, 2014 at 10:18:33
6bq5
Audiophile

Posts: 4385
Location: SF Bay
Joined: August 16, 2001
 A couple of questions to narrow your options/help clear the path to a solution-
1: What type of antenna?
2: is the house in a valley , plain or on a hill....Location, location, location
3: how is your reception now?, and related how far away is the station you are interested in?
4: is there a fireplace in the room where the equipment is? - if so, there is usually a chase that is clear to the roof around the chimney - you could run the cable up the chase and then as if you want a hole in the roof or not - but an attic mount might be sufficient.
5: hole through window frame could work - but beware - if double hung windows - there is a cavity with the counter weights on either side of the window sash, if a more modern window there may be a spring based mechanism on the sides...
Try on the top - or bottom at the center of the window...

The attic offers protection from wind and elements; however if you have brick gables - it may make your antenna more directional that you wish...
There is no substitute for height when mounting an antenna...
Good Luck
Happy Listening

 

RE: Running antenna cable to attic or outside., posted on March 17, 2014 at 16:20:57
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 Running cable is a pain wherever it is run. Fishing cable up and through walls may be tougher than drilling a hole through the brick and then feeding it back in the attic. I can't say without seeing the environment. If you have drywall there are fish tapes and fiberglass rods to aid in putting cable through walls. If it's an older plaster house more pain.

If you have a chimney and can mount an antenna outside on it consider that. Also a directional antenna with a way to rotate it (best is a rotor which is a motor with an indoor control) will give the best result. Height is big with FM. Having a directional antenna and hoping you can find a spot that it will work well is a big compromise. You'll find some stations work best in one direction but others don't.


Of course a decent omnidirectional antenna mounted on either the roof or the attic beats almost anything indoors at the tuner. Do a directional and a rotor if you can, it's worth it. Nothing can overcome a bad location that is low or has buildings or other metal structures between your antenna location and the stations antenna location.


Good luck.


ET


ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: Running antenna cable to attic or outside., posted on March 18, 2014 at 06:13:50
denden11
Audiophile

Posts: 360
Joined: March 4, 2001
Contributor
  Since: December 12, 2007
 Find a Closet. I ran a cable from my basement to the attic. On the inside corner of the closet drill a 1" hole through the floor. Then drill a 1" hole throught the ceiling. Span the two holes with PVC tubing and run the cable. It is neat, clean and safe. I put an antenna with rotor in the attic that way. Works great.

 

All good thoughts..., posted on March 19, 2014 at 07:51:29
Mcmann57
Audiophile

Posts: 308
Location: Arizona
Joined: December 3, 2007
 At th moment I am looking at a Britta omni-directional mounted in the attic. Plan is to fish cable down behind the wall, to a wall plate for a neat appearance and convenience. But if that doesn't pan out, I could go in a closet from attic to crawl space, then up thru the floor right next to the tuner.

 

It is done!, posted on March 27, 2014 at 05:51:54
Mcmann57
Audiophile

Posts: 308
Location: Arizona
Joined: December 3, 2007
 I ended up wiring the antenna from the attic through a closet into the crawl space, then up right next to my music center. The wife is happy because she doesn't notice the wiring or the antenna. And it seems to be working well. I'm going to find out today whether it actually performs better than the Terk powered antenna that I have been using.
Thanks for the suggestions.

 

RE: It is done!, posted on March 28, 2014 at 18:14:40
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 Good to hear!


ET

ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: It is done!, posted on March 28, 2014 at 18:36:52
Mcmann57
Audiophile

Posts: 308
Location: Arizona
Joined: December 3, 2007
 I did a comparison between the powered Terk AF-1 and the Britta omni-directional in the attic.
Not only does the attic antenna bring in more usable stations, but all stations seem to come in stronger. There are several which were unlistenable before which now sound pretty good.
I still don't get stations from 100 miles away like some say they do, though. Maybe a directional antenna with a rotator would do that.
Luckily, I have one local jazz/variety station and another one with a different venue every day.
My AM reception is still shaky. I get one talk radio station, with an intermittant hum in the background. I am going to try the CCrane double ferrite loopstick rig for that.

 

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