want to build a clone of this antenna:
I'd appreciate those more exact measurements.
I got neighbors who could save $70 a month on cable / sat. and I think something this size would get them all the stations they need it were in the attic.
I found some usable screen @ Lowes on clearance ( 70 cents for a 2 ft x 8 ft piece! ) and I've got pvc, glue, and 12 gauge copper wire.
Anybody know a cheap source of baluns?
I got neighbors who could save $70 a month on cable / sat. and I think something this size would get them all the stations they need it were in the attic.
I found some usable screen @ Lowes on clearance ( 70 cents for a 2 ft x 8 ft piece! ) and I've got pvc, glue, and 12 gauge copper wire.
Anybody know a cheap source of baluns?
Pogi,
There is currently an Eagle Aspen 2-Bay on my local Craigslist for $20. Assuming it hasn't sold, I could buy it for you so you could more easily clone it. Regarding cheap baluns, I think you would be far better off using the best balun you can buy: I would buy them from Channel Master.
Baluns are (basically) transformers, and all transformers contribute power losses or in this case, signal attenuation. That's why I made my own coaxial-loop baluns for my single-channel Project antennas seen here in my photo albums.
Coaxial baluns are not appropriate for a multi-channel antenna but by their design, they 'insert' far less loss at their resonate frequencies. Since the goal is to pass as much signal as possible from an antenna to a receiver, using the best 'appropriate type' balun is indicated.
Jim
There is currently an Eagle Aspen 2-Bay on my local Craigslist for $20. Assuming it hasn't sold, I could buy it for you so you could more easily clone it. Regarding cheap baluns, I think you would be far better off using the best balun you can buy: I would buy them from Channel Master.
Baluns are (basically) transformers, and all transformers contribute power losses or in this case, signal attenuation. That's why I made my own coaxial-loop baluns for my single-channel Project antennas seen here in my photo albums.
Coaxial baluns are not appropriate for a multi-channel antenna but by their design, they 'insert' far less loss at their resonate frequencies. Since the goal is to pass as much signal as possible from an antenna to a receiver, using the best 'appropriate type' balun is indicated.
Jim
Well pretty much 10 inch bow ties and 9.5 vertical separation would be fine for Ch 14-51. A TVfool for the area in question would help. Phase lines should be about 1 1/2 inches. 12 gauge copper should be fine for the phase lines. Should work for the bow-ties as long as it doesn't get bumped around since 12 gauge copper bends easy. I'd prefer at least 10 gauge for those. As lowes has baluns. Honestly you don't want to go by those exact measurements for that antenna anyways since it made to go up to Ch 69. Making it larger will help the lower UHF cahnnels.
Jim,
Some of them have digital ready TV already. Yea, I'm not buying them converter boxes! As I figured out, pay TV is like buying a new LCD panel every year and throwing the old one away. ( my 52" LCD TV will reach "break even" by March / April 2011!) They will have their converter paid for after their first month without cable.
These will be mostly attic mounted, some roof mounted. I think the 12 gauge will be ok, I don't want to spend money getting 10 gauge or better. (if money wern't an issue it would be 1/4 inch copper tubing, NICE!) My neighbors all have new homes that have rg6 already run to the attic, with a 4 way splitter in the utility rooms to the living room and bedrooms, so they won't need coax. A few people who are not in my subdivision will need the coax, but they can pay for that themselves.
My TVfool is in my profile. But all you have to know is, all our channels are UHF, from translators 10 mi south and 30 mi north. Just one LP VHF 8, really close (5 mi) and most people couldn't care about that one - I'm catching it off the side of my Radio Shack U-75. Signals from the south average 85% and north 70% on my DTVpal converter. Most people would be happy with just the southern translators, I only add 2 channels with subs by going north.
Are the Lowes baluns CM parts? I know some of the stuff I've seen there is either CM or looks like its repackaged CM. They used to sell a CM preamp (Channel Master CM0264DSB, discontinued 300 ohm input... wish I could find one of those!) I guess I could order those baluns direct from CM, they are inexpensive and they have free shipping on those.
Some of them have digital ready TV already. Yea, I'm not buying them converter boxes! As I figured out, pay TV is like buying a new LCD panel every year and throwing the old one away. ( my 52" LCD TV will reach "break even" by March / April 2011!) They will have their converter paid for after their first month without cable.
These will be mostly attic mounted, some roof mounted. I think the 12 gauge will be ok, I don't want to spend money getting 10 gauge or better. (if money wern't an issue it would be 1/4 inch copper tubing, NICE!) My neighbors all have new homes that have rg6 already run to the attic, with a 4 way splitter in the utility rooms to the living room and bedrooms, so they won't need coax. A few people who are not in my subdivision will need the coax, but they can pay for that themselves.
My TVfool is in my profile. But all you have to know is, all our channels are UHF, from translators 10 mi south and 30 mi north. Just one LP VHF 8, really close (5 mi) and most people couldn't care about that one - I'm catching it off the side of my Radio Shack U-75. Signals from the south average 85% and north 70% on my DTVpal converter. Most people would be happy with just the southern translators, I only add 2 channels with subs by going north.
Are the Lowes baluns CM parts? I know some of the stuff I've seen there is either CM or looks like its repackaged CM. They used to sell a CM preamp (Channel Master CM0264DSB, discontinued 300 ohm input... wish I could find one of those!) I guess I could order those baluns direct from CM, they are inexpensive and they have free shipping on those.
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Pogi,
You might find CM baluns at your Lowes but my Lowes doesn't carry that brand. EV recommended I go to Lowes for a Paladin coax fitting tool and they had no idea what I was talking about: I purchased my tool as well as CM baluns at Fry's Electronics. Below are associated links.
FM TV Baluns
OTA Reception Files <--balun losses
Oak Entertainment Centers and Home Office Furniture, TV Antennas, Audio/Video, Satellite, Cable, DSS
I found an engineering comparison of baluns on-line a year ago and its somewhere in my favorites, but I can't find it. Rats.
Jim
You might find CM baluns at your Lowes but my Lowes doesn't carry that brand. EV recommended I go to Lowes for a Paladin coax fitting tool and they had no idea what I was talking about: I purchased my tool as well as CM baluns at Fry's Electronics. Below are associated links.
FM TV Baluns
OTA Reception Files <--balun losses
Oak Entertainment Centers and Home Office Furniture, TV Antennas, Audio/Video, Satellite, Cable, DSS
I found an engineering comparison of baluns on-line a year ago and its somewhere in my favorites, but I can't find it. Rats.
Jim
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