We often use the winegard ss1000 square shooter antenna, both on the roof and in the attic.
I have put this in houses that are a fair distance from the transmitting towers.

They are directional, but are pretty forgiving as well.

Definitely, and it's hard to predict.

An amp will get overdriven if its input is too high, i.e. if the antenna's output is too high. Even this is complicated, as you have to add up the energy of all the stations coming into the antenna to see, in advance, if it will be overloaded. That is why you might see a spec (making up the detail here) such as
maximum input: + 5 dBm, 7 channels, 0 dBm, 12 channels

First try out the amp. Too little signal results in frozen images or just plain no stations. Too much signal will, too, but you are REAL unlikely to have that straight off an antenna unless you have the deep fringe antenna and live next to the transmitter.

If you need an amp, first put an amp at the antenna. This is the location that adds the least noise.

Where else would the amp go?

I am going to try out an antenna first, at home, on my TV's HD tuner. I will put the antenna in the Attic as our customers definitely wont let us put an antenna on the roof.

I live about 8 miles away from the closest station. I also live in a bit of a gulley so I'm not predicting great reception. Any recommendations for what might work?

I have played with antenna signals in a few customer's homes that already had an antenna and amp installed long ago.I figured if we are wiring for FM in the attic, Why not run HD antenna?

8 miles from the transmitter, even in a valley, the ss1000 will work.

I just put one in the attic of a house that is about 20 miles from the transmitters and in a big valley (even getting cell phone coverage on the open road is tough and its near the city too), and I get signals in the area of low to mid 80's with a pioneer 920hd media tuner.

Thanks. Looks pretty convincing. Kind of like a satellite dish. Does it have an amp built in? Does it need power?

I did a google search and didn't find too many places to buy ( just a lot of auctions). Which distributor do you get it from?

Is the antenna uni or omni directional? I have a few stations on the other side of my house I would like to pick up also.

I order the antenna through Capitol Sales and it is only uni-directional, so there may be a better omni directional antenna out there.
I'm lucky here, all the stations have towers that are in the same vacinity as eachother.

The antenna does not need power and it does not have an amp built in.

Only issue with ss1000 is the directions suck! If anyone has a general method of sighting one in Im open to ideas. Ive tried the basic method of compass bearing using info from www.antennaweb.org with mixed results. I ABSOLUTLY agree the bigger birds by any manufactuer work much better with more margin for error.

Which is better to use, the TV's biult in HD ant. or an external like from a satellite Tivo?

Yeah I think I will hold off. If it was cheap I might of tried it.

Thanks


Do you recommend any for the attic? The antenna is going to have to be installed in an eave of a Cape style house so I have about 6 feet to mount it on a slope of the rafters.

Look, don't spend a penny over $35 for a "HDTV" antenna. OTA HDTV is UHF. UHF technology hasn't changed...it's still UHF. We use the Radio Shack UHF antennas. You know...Radio...antennas are how radio shack begain. They make great antennas...and you can pick them up anywhere.

DO NOT buy some super fancy stupid $350 "HDTV" antenna. It will not work any better than a $35 Radio Shack antenna.

Here in Miami we have two Channels in VHF 8 for Fox(7-1) and 9 for ABC(10-1). He should check in his area to be sure that all the channels are broadcast in UHF.

I am looking to pick up 8 and 3 (amongst other UHF channels)

Thanks

I use the Channel Master 4221's all the time. The 4228 is just two of them in series. I usually use two 4221's if I get far out instead of the 4228 since it is easier to get into an attic with the smaller models. The winegard square shooter looks kind of interesting since it comes with the mount and everything, but it is a little more pricey. I think it is available amped, or not.

I would put two or more of the 4221's aligned to the proper directions for the signals that you are trying to pull in. They are relatively inexpensive, I think the retail is less than $50.00. If you e-mail me I'll tell you a distributor where you can get them.

I have the 4221 in attics with tile roofs about 50 miles from the towers. One thing that helps us here in Phoenix is that all of the towers are on one mountain.

Just my thoughts.

John