Any Experinces Working in The Attic of a Patio Villa

[wlasowicz]

Hi
Has anyone worked in the attic of colony patio villa? Granted this is not something most people should try as it should be left someone who probably worked in a maintenance skilled trade as I was. I plan on putting a antenna up and running the coaxial cable to the low voltage panel in the garage. I know some patio villas they installed 4 coaxial boxes but mind only 3. 1 in each bedroom and the 3rd on the interior living room wall. So from the panel box I have 3 feeds but need one for the internet which I like to put next to the one for the tv in the living. Yes i can run it along the baseboard etc. but I prefer a professional looking job. So anyone who has any experiences working in attic your advice would be helpful in planning Besides being hot are the rafter joists 16 or 24 on center. Is there room from the garage to the center of the house and anything else
Thks

[asianthree]

Depend on the roofline the model, and the age of the home. PV took a major design turn few years back

[villagetinker]

OP, I do not do attics for many reasons, I tend to react to the blown in insulation, you need to be very careful where you step, and of course the heat, also, in our house all wiring penetrations from wall to attic were sealed, making it difficult to impossible to use an existing cable to pull in new ones. You might be much better off snaking to wire in along the soffit. Before you start anything look at the interior of your roof, there was a vintage of houses that had insulation with a metal (or metallic) surface that tends to interfere with RF (think cell phones and TV signals). Outside antennas are allowed WITHOUT ARC approval so you may be able to find a suitable location near you low voltage panel, and save a lot of work. Finally look into wireless for your internet, and eliminate the need for wiring entirely.
Hope this helps.

[metoo21]

Well, you only need to run the antenna cable to your low voltage box in the garage. For your cable that supplies internet, keep it in your low voltage box. Put your cable modem there and then attach one of the ethernet cables to it. You should have an ethernet cable behind a blank plate above the refrigerator. You probably will need to terminate the end there and all ethernet cables in the low voltage box so you can determine which one connects to above the refrigerator. Then put your router above the refrigerator. It should more than cover your patio villa being there. I have a designer home and have great coverage everywhere including the lanai.

This all assumes you don't have cable TV service and still want to add an antenna.

[PoolBrews]

When I ran an electrical wire from my garage to my back patio (to feed my tiki bar and kegerator), I got three 8 foot 2 x 8's and used them in the attic to have something to safely move along as I worked my way back - continually moving boards in front of me and resting along the rafters. It's slow, but pretty safe with regards to protecting your roof.

I have stairs in my garage to get to the attic, and an opening in my rear bedroom. Once I had pulled the wire and fed it where I needed it, I exited via my rear bedroom, along with all my tools. The boards remain in my attic for the next time I need to go up there (hopefully never :)).

Make sure you wear long pants and long sleeved shirts - the insulation can cause a lot of itching!

[wlasowicz]

Unfortunately my villa was finished in fall of 2015 They installed 3 phone jacks There's no data lines installed If the space is to tight to crawl thru to the living room wall I may run the coax straight across the width of the garage drop a line down that wall put a shelf on the upper inside wall and run a power strip from the wall outlet to the shelf to power the unit Ill have a better idea when I get down and get a better idea what I have to work with in the attic

[metoo21]

Another option is to get an over the air DVR to connect to your antenna. You can then stream live or recorded material to TV's in the house.

Tablo Quad (https://www.tablotv.com/products/tablo-quad-ota-dvr/)

[wlasowicz]

I looked thoses opitions unfortunately I'm using Xfinity which has a data capso with that any streaming apps will been using data. Also with direct connect if I lose data I still watch TV

[metoo21]

I looked thoses opitions unfortunately I'm using Xfinity which has a data capso with that any streaming apps will been using data. Also with direct connect if I lose data I still watch TV

The Tablo doesn't use data. It streams using your local wifi between the Tablo and the TV. Nothing from the internet using Xfinity data.

[MrFlorida]

Depending on your roof line, not much room to move around in up there. Lots of stuff in your way, gas lines, a/c ducts, mounds of insulation, and of course the trusses are not user friendly.

[RICH1]

DONT FIGHT STREAMING ! It’s inexpensive and cable free! Taking that Brinks Truck to the Cemetery is not cool

[RICH1]

Depending on your roof line, not much room to move around in up there. Lots of stuff in your way, gas lines, a/c ducts, mounds of insulation, and of course the trusses are not user friendly.
Lol your right ! He will hear a loud hissing before he blows up the block!

[retiredguy123]

My advice is to stay out of the attic. Forget about an antenna and go with Internet streaming.

[MrChip72]

Antennas are an obsolete technology at this point. Just do internet streaming and save your time and money.

[Sparky365]

An outdoor antenna will give you much better reception. If you bring the Rg59 into a wall under your roof and connect to a Tablo you can avoid attic work. It will connect all TV's via WiFi.
I have done this and get 65 channels in the Fernandina area.

[Bridget Staunton]

Village thinker: excuse me for asking but what is “OP” so many people use this acronym
Thank you Sir

[retiredguy123]

Village thinker: excuse me for asking but what is “OP” so many people use this acronym
Thank you Sir
Original poster or original post, depending on the context.

[Marine1974]

Hi
Has anyone worked in the attic of colony patio villa? Granted this is not something most people should try as it should be left someone who probably worked in a maintenance skilled trade as I was. I plan on putting a antenna up and running the coaxial cable to the low voltage panel in the garage. I know some patio villas they installed 4 coaxial boxes but mind only 3. 1 in each bedroom and the 3rd on the interior living room wall. So from the panel box I have 3 feeds but need one for the internet which I like to put next to the one for the tv in the living. Yes i can run it along the baseboard etc. but I prefer a professional looking job. So anyone who has any experiences working in attic your advice would be helpful in planning Besides being hot are the rafter joists 16 or 24 on center. Is there room from the garage to the center of the house and anything else
Thks
Try 5g internet, no wires .

[Bilyclub]

An outdoor antenna will give you much better reception. If you bring the Rg59 into a wall under your roof and connect to a Tablo you can avoid attic work. It will connect all TV's via WiFi.
I have done this and get 65 channels in the Fernandina area.

Do they still sell RG 59 ? I thought RG 6 or higher was standard.

[nn0wheremann]

We have a Hibiscus home, and despite the high roof, except for the garage, most of the attic is inaccessible because of the HVAC ducting. There was a TV cable outlet behind the refrigerator, and after drilling a couple of holes I pit the router up on top of the cabinets. I mounted the TV antenna outside near where the cable connects to the inside TV wiring, connected the cable (for internet) to the kitchen outlet and the antenna, after its amplifier, connects to the other TV wiring. Few problems if any with reception on any of the three TVs, or the TIVO. I have had to program the TIVO to ignore Gainesville stations.

[Battlebasset]

I was fortunate and able to install my antenna in my garage attic, which has no insulation and no HVAC or gas line in the way. I don't have to point the antenna through the rest of my house attic to point it at Orlando. Guessing you can't do that?

As for those that say "just stream" that is certainly an option, but once you invest in the antenna and pre-amp, there is no more cost. My set up cost about $130. I believe most streaming services are going to be at least $50 a month for a package that has all of the networks. And there are multiple sub-stations now with additional programming. Finally, if the internet goes out, you can still watch TV.

If your house is orientated so you can easily point the antenna at Orlando it's worth the cost and effort, IMO.

[ithos]

When I ran an electrical wire from my garage to my back patio (to feed my tiki bar and kegerator), I got three 8 foot 2 x 8's and used them in the attic to have something to safely move along as I worked my way back - continually moving boards in front of me and resting along the rafters. It's slow, but pretty safe with regards to protecting your roof.

I have stairs in my garage to get to the attic, and an opening in my rear bedroom. Once I had pulled the wire and fed it where I needed it, I exited via my rear bedroom, along with all my tools. The boards remain in my attic for the next time I need to go up there (hopefully never :)).

Make sure you wear long pants and long sleeved shirts - the insulation can cause a lot of itching!

And a mask. Some types will have you hacking for a couple of hours. You can google for professional recommendations.

[wlasowicz]

The idea for the antenna is not have pay for a monthly fee for local TV. Yes you stream locals on apps such as You Tube Tv which is going up again from its $65 a month plus your cost for internet.

[villagetinker]

Village thinker: excuse me for asking but what is “OP” so many people use this acronym
Thank you Sir

OP = Original Poster, saves times, especially if they have a complicated name.

[villagetinker]

Do they still sell RG 59 ? I thought RG 6 or higher was standard.

If I recall correctly, RG-59 is a 75 ohm impedance cable, and the highest quality versions easily support GHz signals.
RG-6 is a 50 ohms cable and as I recall much larger diameter, typically used in Ham radio, the old CB radios and similar installations.

[metoo21]

RG6 is the preferred cable for Antennas and TV cable systems and internet. RG59 was used years ago for TV but isn't the best for today's standards. RG6 comes in 2 flavors. Copper clad core (copper over steel) and solid copper core (lots better but more expensive). Quad core shielding is the better of the types of shielding. So Quad shielded solid copper core is what should be used for best results.

Actually RG59 and RG6 are both 75 ohm. Amateur radio (CB, ham) use 50 ohm cable like RG-58, RG-8X or RG-8U.

RG6 is a larger diameter cable (not by a lot) because it has a larger diameter conductor in the center and is shielded better (more internal braid and foil wrappings). RG6 won't fit in a RG59 connector due to the larger cable size. However the female side of the connectors are the same.

[wlasowicz]

Update Upon arriving at my villa I did some exploring of my attic from the access door area. There is no easy way to run the coax cable from the box in the garage to the middle wall in the living Its more risky for me and the house. I think what i m going to do is split the feed that goes into the bedroom which right next to the closets Cut a access hole in the closet tie it into the bedroom feed run along the closet baseboard then it thru the wall into the living right behind the TV I still have to feed the coax from the antenna to the box in the garage but there is more working right there and its near the access door

[metoo21]

Do you not already have an outlet in the middle wall in the living room? What Village are you in?

[wlasowicz]

yes I have a outlet in the living room I have only 3 outlet ports So if I do run a antenna I need 3 port for 3 TV and I need a port for cable internet So I need a total of 4 ports

[metoo21]

How many Cat5 (ethernet cables) do you have in your low voltage cabinet? How many ethernet and/or phone jacks do you find inside your home?

[wlasowicz]

I have 3 blue cables which I did not look at closely could be cat wire but built in fall of 2015 if they are cat wire it is wire as for 3 phone jacks I do not have the crimping tool to crimp a ethernet connecter . Yes it could be done if they are cat wires but I already bought a new cable modem/router 2 years ago so beside making ethernet connections I still would have to go out and buy new hardware for the internet side of the puzzle. Im looking what the cheapest and easiest way to solve this issue If I'm going to go that route I would go to century link fiber optic internet which I not ready to do yet until my hardware gets aged out.
I have fiber optic at my primary home 500 up 500 down Its been a flat $50 a month for the last 5 plus years none of this dog and pony show with comcast and spectrum that you have to haggle every year to 2 over pricing

[metoo21]

Is your cable modem/router a single unit? If you don't use a landline, the ends can be changed to ethernet. Then connect modem inside the low voltage box and put the router at the most convenient spot in the home. Then you can use the cable that currently runs from the low voltage box to the TV for your antenna cable.

Does Century link provide a modem and router at no charge? I assume you may have Xfinity/concast now. Do they offer a free router and modem?

I'm sure you could find someone that can help with the ethernet connections. :)

Splitting the installation of the internet hardware and using the current coax cable to the TV would be the simplest/cleanest installation. And if you wanted TV in all 3 locations, you'd just need a splitter and perhaps a preamp installed in the low voltage box. Splitting the cable at the bedroom to add to the back of the TV will decrease signal to the TV.

[wlasowicz]

I own a single cable modem/router. Any way I completed the setup. The antenna is on the roof with coax going thru the top face of the siding thru the attic above the garage thru the same hole the existing cables run thru into the low voltage box It was not a easy job. I cut a small access hole in the wall below the ceiling roughly where the existing cables come thru the wall plate. Put into a low voltage box with a solid outlet cover to trim the hole out. I now about 70 channels ( 10 to 15 are garbage) versus the 10 basic cable streaming channels and will same about $55 a month for just TV.

[metoo21]

Thanks for the update. Glad it all worked out.

[jpvillager]

Do not go into a hot attic. Had a service install an additional run. Asked him what do they do when it is hot? It's up to the installer. He said installers have died in a hot attic. If you have a heat stroke you loose all control including ability to get out. Everyone tolerates heat differently.

[pikeselectric]

Hi
Has anyone worked in the attic of colony patio villa? Granted this is not something most people should try as it should be left someone who probably worked in a maintenance skilled trade as I was. I plan on putting a antenna up and running the coaxial cable to the low voltage panel in the garage. I know some patio villas they installed 4 coaxial boxes but mind only 3. 1 in each bedroom and the 3rd on the interior living room wall. So from the panel box I have 3 feeds but need one for the internet which I like to put next to the one for the tv in the living. Yes i can run it along the baseboard etc. but I prefer a professional looking job. So anyone who has any experiences working in attic your advice would be helpful in planning Besides being hot are the rafter joists 16 or 24 on center. Is there room from the garage to the center of the house and anything else
Thks

Hi there
Casandra with Pike's Electric here!
We actually offer FREE estimates on this type of installation. Depending on the model home/villa, the attic space can be tight. We recommend someone licensed, and insured, to handle this type of work for you. Give us a call and we would be happy to discuss a FREE estimate appointment visit to your home.
If you are seeing this, mention you saw us on Talk of The Villages for a SPECIAL discount :smiley:
- Casandra 352-748-6251

[kkingston57]

Hi
Has anyone worked in the attic of colony patio villa? Granted this is not something most people should try as it should be left someone who probably worked in a maintenance skilled trade as I was. I plan on putting a antenna up and running the coaxial cable to the low voltage panel in the garage. I know some patio villas they installed 4 coaxial boxes but mind only 3. 1 in each bedroom and the 3rd on the interior living room wall. So from the panel box I have 3 feeds but need one for the internet which I like to put next to the one for the tv in the living. Yes i can run it along the baseboard etc. but I prefer a professional looking job. So anyone who has any experiences working in attic your advice would be helpful in planning Besides being hot are the rafter joists 16 or 24 on center. Is there room from the garage to the center of the house and anything else
Thks

Do not own a villa but have worked in my attic. Villas have less space than ours. Person working up there must be small, thin,agile, and a contortionist. Do not wait much longer. Not long after temps are in the 90's