Do You Need To Ground Antenna In Attic

Below is an image taken form the nec code book that shows how to properly ground a tv antenna.

Do you need to ground antenna in attic.

The nec requires that the antenna mast be grounded directly. However the connection of your antenna coax to various ac operated equipment in this case your converter box or tv introduces the potential of electric shock. Typically the house wiring and gutters represent a much lower impedance path to ground for lightning than the floating attic antenna. If you find the attic install unsatisfactory and you move the antenna outside then you definitely do need it.

Agreeing with adtech i don t see the nec requiring you to ground an indoor antenna system. In the case of an attic installation your tv antenna will be sheltered from the environment so there s no need to ground it for that reason. If you have no access it s hard for me to tell you to go to extremes to find a way. Some attics are dark unwelcoming places used only for extra storage and in those cases nearly any antenna will get the job done.

Antennas mine are receive only for fm tv and public safety bands will be generally restricted to the attic. If you look at the image below you ll want to use a 6 awg ground wire for all of your grounding runs and suitable ground clamps. For all practical purposes an attic antenna is considered and indoor antenna and does not require any special grounding. But if you have access to a ground connection that can serve the attic splitter it makes sense to use it.