My Antenna System

[MrPogi]

When I lived in a similar situation in Palmer Lake, CO I could get most of the channels on an RCA111. Bigger antennas can be better due to multipath rejection. The HBU33 may be a good choice, but a smaller antenna like a Channel Master CM-2018 or 2020 may work just as well. Please keep us posted.

Those are good choices, too. I'd err on the side of "too big" myself and go with a CM2020. A CM 2016 is definitely too small for this job!

 

[dkreichen1968]

Bump!!!

 

[Wilsondg9]

Thanks for posting the details on your VHF antenna (the one on your profile picture). I also live in Monument - just East of I25. I have put this outside on my deck just for a test and I seem to pull in all the key channels except KOAA Channel 5 from Co Springs. This seems strange as I pick up several Denver stations (including the NBC station there). I don't fully trust that the Denver stations will always come in clearly so I don't want to cut the cord until I get NBC from Co Springs. Any ideas. Your advice would be appreciated.

Thanks - Don

 

[Fringe Reception]

:welcome: Wilsondg9

KOAA-5 is low-power transmitter on real channel 47. What is your antenna setup?
http://cdbs.recnet.net:8080/fmq.php...tate=&country=US&arn=&party=&party_type=LICEN

Jim

 

[johnlvs2run]

loop plus dipole antenna

Dkreichen, thank you for sharing the instructions for your antenna and photos. I'm considering to construct one of these for a friend who lives in a first floor apartment, facing north, with signals to the east. The current antenna is an 11" snow cone loop I modified from rabbit ears that gets 43 stations from 27 miles, with 5 or 6 normally used.

Here is the tv fool.
Almost all UHF channels are being picked up well, however the desirable VHF 10 is not coming in.

I'm curious how you decided on your design, and the dimensions of the elements, why 5" for the UHF loop, and how do you think an 8" loop would compare for channels in the 17 to 34 range? Do you feel that 1/4" tubing is better than 10 gauge copper wire, and is there anything you would change if you made the same type of antenna again? How do you feel it compares in reception compared to an M4 or GH, especially for high VHF (channel 10)? Thanks again for sharing your design.

 

[RF Steve]

While this is the first time I've contributed to this thread it is one I keep book marked. My personal experience with the antenna built to posted dimensions was it works quite well on VHF probably about equal to a well constructed mclapp's M4 9.5x9 4 bay, but while the antenna showed better UHF response then a simple VHF folded dipole. The UHF response of the antenna was not as good as a single 8" loop, or correctly built single UHF bow tie antenna. Feeding the antenna from the VHF dipole side will about kill what UHF response the antenna has.
I did build one with a larger 8" UHF loop, and an old Winegard TVMAN UVSJ hooked between the loop and the dipole it worked quite well on both bands. I fully realize that not everyone has a Winegard TVMAN UVSJ laying around in their junk box.
Thank you for bringing this thread back. I continue my personal search for compact easy to build VHF/UHF antennas.
johnlvs2run I did not included any links to the work of holl_ands, or nikiml because I know from my own searching for knowledge that you've already been referenced there.
Steve

 

[johnlvs2run]

RF Steve,
Thanks very much for your input, which is exactly what I'd like to do.
If I understand correctly, you skipped the 4" tubing, kept the spacing the same,
and connected the UVSJ in between. Do you happen to have a photo of your work?

I have the materials, except the UVSJ and will look for one.

My thread you that you referenced about the snow cone antenna is here.

 

[RF Steve]

I don't have photos of those. They were built only as temporary test antennas. I've done a lot of those often times built out of what ever wire scraps I have access to. My current antenna project is being built out of 9 AWG aluminum wire from a dismantled Hi-VHF+UHF Bowtie-In-Loop experiment. The antenna worked quite well better then expected on UHF. I'm well aware 9 AWG aluminum is not the correct way to build that antenna.
http://www.dtvusaforum.com/members/rf-steve-albums-antennas-picture2726-006.jpg
I also have a terrible problem when it comes to computers, cameras, photos, saving photos, finding saved photos, and posting photos.
The Winegard TVMAN UVSJ was most likely built to allow an old TV with separate UHF/VHF tuners and antenna terminals to be hooked up to that new coax when coax started being used to feed all band antennas. If I knew how to use a camera and post a photo I have 2 of those UVSJs in the junk box here.
Guess What! I didn't dismantle that antenna. I just found it. Photo coming. Keep in mind this antenna was not built for anything more then a temporary test. I took it out set it up on the test stand 7 feet off the ground, and was quite pleased with the results.
/home/steve/Pictures/SAM_0027.JPG
/home/steve/Pictures/SAM_0028.JPG
I'll see if the photos worked.
Steve

 

[RF Steve]

I thought about editing the previous post and making it work, but I did want to leave the problems I have displayed. I'll try again. I could be all night before I get it right.
/home/steve/Pictures/SAM_0027.JPG
Nothing I've tried so far works.

 

[RF Steve]

As you can tell I don't mind showing the background stuff on a quick spur of the moment photo.
Steve

 

[dkreichen1968]

As designed, especially if you added a reflector element at 18" behind the elements, the antenna should work very well in your location, pointed at 70 degrees magnetic. I tried several different sizes of loops before settling on the size I did. It seemed to give the best response for my UHF stations, which go from 14-51.

 

[RF Steve]

The antenna in the back ground is my current build under construction project. I will post with photos when and if I ever get it done, and if it works.
Steve

 

[RF Steve]

I agree with Dan. If you wish to build the antenna follow the original plans. When you start to alter dimensions the response of the antenna will change dramatically on both bands. What I dug out of the scrap pile and posted a photo of is an entirely different antenna, and would not work on either band without the addition of an UVSJ,two transformers, and correct coax jumpers using currently available parts. Not worth the effort!
Steve

 

[johnlvs2run]

Thanks much for the photos and responses.

I'll try Dan's basic one first, and might try Steve's variation too.

Do these first few look proper for transformers, and this one for a UVSJ diplexer?

Too bad they're not combined in one unit.

 

[dkreichen1968]

You want to get an outdoor rated balum such as the one below.

New UHF VHF FM Antenna Matching Transformer Coax Outdoor Balum with Boot 75 Ohm | eBay

The UVSJ is like the one that I've used, so I would recommend it.

 

[Tim58hsv]

You can order the Channel Master balums through Home Depot for $2.99 with free shipping to the store.

Channel Master Outdoor Transformer Balun-CM-94444 - The Home Depot