How to run antenna cable from attic to different floors?

[tk149]

My house has two stories, plus a basement. I want to put an antenna up in my attic. I have never done any sort of wiring, so please speak to me as if I were a kindergartener.

I have a powered antenna attached to my TV in the living room on the first floor. The signal is constantly dropping out. I have cheapo rabbit ears attached to the curtain valence in my second floor bedroom. The bedroom TV gets great reception for all local channels. This has proven to me that I really don't need much of an antenna in order to get all the local digital channels, as long as the antenna is high enough.

I want to put a TV in the basement also.

1. What kind of antenna is appropriate for an attic? Do I need to worry about any electrical issues (e.g. static electricity) if I just stick a small cheap unpowered antenna up there?

2. How do I run cable from the antenna to the three different floors of the house? I want the wiring to be hidden in the walls.

3. What kind of cable should I use? I've read that I should use RG-6 rated for in-wall use. Is that correct? Where can I find it?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Muadib]

Are both TV sets receiving HD channels?

Here is a guide. Read it, and post your questions.

 

[tk149]

Originally posted by: Muadib
Are both TV sets receiving HD channels?

Here is a guide. Read it, and post your questions.

Awesome! Will do. Thanks!

 

[sivart]

Since your house is complete, it sounds like you may have to run the coax on the outside of the house to the rooms you want. I wouldn't use more than 2 devices per antenna when properly amplified.

 

[tk149]

Originally posted by: sivart
Since your house is complete, it sounds like you may have to run the coax on the outside of the house to the rooms you want. I wouldn't use more than 2 devices per antenna when properly amplified.

I would really really really like to avoid running wires on the outside of the house.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: tk149

Originally posted by: sivart
Since your house is complete, it sounds like you may have to run the coax on the outside of the house to the rooms you want. I wouldn't use more than 2 devices per antenna when properly amplified.

I would really really really like to avoid running wires on the outside of the house.

That may be so, but that is the easiest & cheapest solution. I'm not saying it can't be done, just be prepared to be shocked by the cost. Unless you plan to do it yourself. That's a whole different kind of pain.

 

[tk149]

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: tk149

Originally posted by: sivart
Since your house is complete, it sounds like you may have to run the coax on the outside of the house to the rooms you want. I wouldn't use more than 2 devices per antenna when properly amplified.

I would really really really like to avoid running wires on the outside of the house.

That may be so, but that is the easiest & cheapest solution. I'm not saying it can't be done, just be prepared to be shocked by the cost. Unless you plan to do it yourself. That's a whole different kind of pain.

Yeah, this is my first house. I intend to do everything myself. Wish me luck!

 

[Noubourne]

Depending on the kind of house you have, with the proper tools (primarily a fish tape) and some basic skills, it might not be that bad.

I used to install cable and occasionally I would do fishes. Going from a first floor down to the basement was usually a piece of cake. Now, if the basement was 100% finished and there was no good place to fish down the cable, that's a different story. From attic to top floor is easy with a fish tape and basic drill. Just cut an outlet hole, and then fish it down the wall and pop it out the hole - uncomfortable working in the attic and maybe time-consuming - but well worth the effort for your own home. You'd need a splitter there to take the signal down further - but really there are multiple options depending on your needs and the layout of your home. Split it in the attic? Run a single lead from the antenna to the cable splitter in your basement and run it from there? Depends on where you want to go and how flexible you want it to be, really.

Depends on a lot of stuff.

I'd say you should go for a nice big antenna for the attic - the biggest you can fit. You don't want to wire the crap out of everything and find that you get junk reception once the signal gets down to the basement - you WILL lose signal with a longer run. About 6db per 100ft on RG6 IIRC (at about 800mhz). I'm pretty sure a bigger antenna will ensure better capture of the signal in the first place.

Attic to 1st floor will probably be very easy. Attic to basement will depend a lot on your house construction and how easy it is to find a direct shot from the attic down to an area of the basement where you can access the cable and then run it to the outlet you need.

 

[Noubourne]

Also, running cable on the outside of the home is going to be just as much if not a bigger hassle as fishing it. Especially for someone who is not used to doing either.

As a former cable installer, I definitely drilled my share of holes in walls from inside to out. It was about speed and cost - I needed to get to my next job, and the customers often balked at the $50 fish fee. If it was my own home, I'd never allow it to be run on the outside. Silicon just only lasts so long - then you have a hole and moisture coming in - and it will age your home faster. That's me though.

 

[Modelworks]

Start here:
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

That will tell you where the stations are and what is the best antenna.
If you have to run wires on the outside of the home the best way to do it is with a small junction box mounted on the home. Mount the box on the home and drill through the box and wall at the same time, that creates a very tight seal that you can improve on using silicone if you like. Feed the cable into the bottom of the box. This way you can create a drip loop, basically as the cable loops below the box, moisture drips rather than trying to enter the home.
such a box.
http://www.showmecables.com/viewItem.asp?idProduct=2137

Can also be used to house a splitter so you don't have to worry about connections being in the rain.

 

[boomerang]

Have you got forced air heat? Find a cold air return on the second floor and you'll have a direct shot to the basement.

Another option is to use the inside corner of a closet. You can run one or two pieces of coax easily through a small hole, and affix it to an inside corner that is not readily visible. This may be good for one floor only though.

Regardless, I would stick to interior walls that are uninsulated. Fishing vertically through insulation can be a PITA.

Just adding to some of the good suggestions here already.