Coax into house question

[APSN556]

My question to the gurus.

I have a discone antenna in my attic (HOA wont allow it outside, nor will wife) therefor weather and lightning are NOT an issue.

The single discone feeds 4 scanners, thanks to a Stridsberg MCA204M VHF/UHF Receiver Multicoupler.

Im not sure how I will feed the coax however from the attic to the wall facing the scanners. Which of these is the better option and which (if any) will have the least amount of db loss?

BNC faceplate with 4 BNC connectors (meaning the multicoupler is BEHIND the faceplate) or...

... a faceplate with 1 BNC connector (meaning the multicoupler is in FRONT of the faceplate) this option would be preferred because the moulticoupler is active and requires power.

or a third option would be to have a nifty face plate that doesn't require the BNC connectors at all and just has a "cosmetically pleasing" alternative such as a downward facing hole that the coax runs straight through.

If the third option exists, can you point me to a link? Will having a faceplate with BNC connector cause signal loss?

Thanks!

 

[APSN556]

Is this what I am looking for? Bulk Ribbon Cable Single Gang Wall Plate Almond Relaxed Satellite QuickPort Keystone and Multiple Flush Mount, Audio Video Data Junction Component Wide Pass-Through Opening Slot: Oak Entertainment Centers and Home Office Furniture, TV Antennas, Audio or even this as long as it is flush with a single feed of LMR400? Site Hardware, Wall/Roof Feed Thrus | TESSCO 800 472 7373

 

[K9WG]

I just poked a hole in my ceiling and dropped my cables down to my desk.

 

[n5ims]

Is this what I am looking for? Bulk Ribbon Cable Single Gang Wall Plate Almond Relaxed Satellite QuickPort Keystone and Multiple Flush Mount, Audio Video Data Junction Component Wide Pass-Through Opening Slot: Oak Entertainment Centers and Home Office Furniture, TV Antennas, Audio or even this as long as it is flush with a single feed of LMR400? Site Hardware, Wall/Roof Feed Thrus | TESSCO 800 472 7373

I've used something similar to your first solution and it worked quite well. It looks nice and helps control the mass of cables (yes, for now there's only one, but later you may add more) that feed into your station. When you sell it can be left for the new owner ("It's a high-power cable-TV connection.") so you won't need to worry about patching it up like just poking a hole in the wall.

 

[mpddigital]

Anytime you use a coupler or connector you will get some loss but in your situation I would not be too concerned about signal strength since your run will be fairly short.. Use the best coax, splitter and connectors you can and you should get a good signal. Be aware that for antennas in attics moving just a few feet can change reception significantly to the good or bad.

 

[blue5011]

I wouldn't be too concerned about loss due to the coax, you already got a loss with the antenna in an attic. VHF and UHF are generally line-of-sight. You would be better off investing in a yagi or beam antenna if there is a particular site/frequency you need to listen to.

Could have installed a simple R/S ground plane 19" scanner antenna ($30) on the rear eave of your house and the HOA nasties wouldn't be the wiser. Who looks for antennas on a roof anyway?

 

[SkiBob]

When my HOA finds my antenna behind the chimney, I will switch to the Ventenna. When I tried the attic I got the same results as a rubber ducky. It's just not a great place. Check out the link.

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[blue5011]

When my HOA finds my antenna behind the chimney, I will switch to the Ventenna. When I tried the attic I got the same results as a rubber ducky. It's just not a great place. Check out the link.

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What reason do they have to "look" behind your chimney? There are a few times I get angry living in a seventy year-old home on a couple of acres in the sticks... My "farmer" neighbors could care less what kind of antenna's I have put up or how high the tower(s) go.