I think for my situation the best solution would be for the antenna to be in the two story attic. Appreciate the info.
I cannot disagree with this. If you do this, you want to check the SWR inside the attic to make sure reflection is not a huge issue.
Just remember that most CB stations use vertical polarization, meaning it's standing up, not sideways. That would be horizontal polarization. You would attain optimum performance if you could mount the antenna from the floor of the attic, going upwards. If it's a center-fed dipole, the feedline would be in the middle of the antenna. If this would not work for you, getting an antenna at its highest elevation would be optimum. If you are not under the auspices of an HOA (Homeowners Association), which generally prohibits ANY outside antennas, I'd put something on the side of the house above the roofline or physically on the roof.
Whilst I agree for the most part, I have a friend who has his dipole run outside along the steeple of his house in the inverted V and he is communicating with stations quite well without the directional limitations of horizontal polarizations. While yes, I know that the best way to talk locally is to polarize vertically, we tend to undersell the dipole for how well it actually DOES talk to vertical polarized stations while horizontal.
I have had experience recently with a number of horizontally-polarized dipoles and been pleasantly surprised. My stepson's dipole is strung horizonally about 20-feet up and during our range tests, with my mobile unit (vertical Hustler magnet mount at the time), we were communicating clearly at a distance of seven miles before I had to turn around and head back due to the store I went running an errand to being ready to close.
My friend who has the attic dipole 2.5 miles away and in a much lower-sitting elevation has his fully horizontal. He slams me with a consistent 7 S-units, and sometimes touching the edge of 9, depending on what radio he is using.
Or even a vertical antenna below the roof line would be better than a horizontal antenna in the attic.
Yes, depending on the antenna. If the antenna has size and balls, then yes. But who is going to mount an antenna with that kind of size below roof line? I can't imagine mounting a large ground plane or other equivalent omni antenna below roofline. If you're sticking a mobile antenna up there, then yeah, but that horizontal attic dipole can still eat that mobile antenna alive.
This is where we have to evaluate by application. We know what the theory suggests, but every scenario is different.
I would not be afraid to tell the OP to give a well-built dipole a shot. There is a really nice 1/2-wave available on eBay that includes a balun for $49.99 shipped to your door. I would pull the trigger and give it a go.
If you don't care about a balun, then the Workman BS-1 dipole is usually around $26.99 plus shipping. It usually comes in the full wavelength size and will need cut, but it's a fine antenna with a well-conducted center insulator. Just some food for thought.
IF polarizing vertical is possible, shoot that dipole up in a tree with a sling shot, as high as possible, and enjoy out-talking some commercial antennas. Been there and done this many times, with great success.
