The description he gave of his installation revealed several shortcomings that could easily be remedied.
How much signal block from anenna in the attic.
Metal backed insulation in the attic or walls and metal exhaust vents and air ducts all block signals.
You will need a peak.
Most roofs have asphalt shingles on them which won t appreciably block rf radiation.
If your house has a tin or steel roof then the attic wouldn t be much of an option.
The kb9vbr 2 meter j pole antenna is 69 inches tall overall.
Investing in a low noise pre amplifier can also improve the signal levels.
The ge 33692 attic mount hd antenna is a notable example of an antenna specially designed for placement in the attic.
The only concern with attic mounted antennas is the space available to you for mounting.
Improving an attic shortwave antenna a case study.
How much loss can be expected.
What is the typical signal propagation loss to be expected from a 2 meter 70cm j pole antenna mounted in an attic where the roofing material is the common 5 8 plywood and asphalt shingles compared to the same antenna mounted outside at the same height.
The effective range of most antennas is lowered by 10 15 miles with an attic installation so you may consider getting a more powerful antenna than you would typically need with an outdoor antenna.