Videokarma.org

Go Back   Videokarma.org TV - Video - Vintage Television & Radio Forums > Television Broadcast Theory

We appreciate your help

in keeping this site going.
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-07-2015, 08:46 PM
Carmine's Avatar
Carmine Carmine is offline
...enjoys spaghetti.
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Detroit area
Posts: 1,594
Best ideas for homebrew antennas/locations

I have embarked upon a house project that I've had in mind for many years... The construction of a new second floor at my house. This transforms it from a crummy 3rd bedroom with 4' knee walls into a giant master bed/bath/utility room and exercise room.



It also allows me to install a "real" antenna rather than all the little rabbit ears I'm using on converter boxes. Right now, the builder is renting a bucket lift to do the siding, so the time is ideal to mount something outside. Here is a photo that illustrates the additional height I can utilize.



Unfortunately, the idea to mount the antenna while the builder has the bucket lift only hit me late today... Meaning that ordering online and shipping probably won't be fast enough. I could buy something at a brick & mortar, (if they still even carry antennas). I do have a good mom & pop electronics store in walking distance. However, I also have a bunch of sheet aluminum and a metal brake on site that I can play with when the builder leaves for the day.

Here is the Antenna map web with my location. As you can see, my house is built on an angle to due NSEW. I've represented the back wall of the house with a blue line. Since every station I'd care to receive is located SW, I figure that I can locate the antenna on the west side of the house below the peak of the roof (looks better) without losing any performance. Nothing east or north but water and pine trees. Also note the two blue dots... These represent old gable vents which will remain open, but boxed into the new drywall in the second floor. If I were to locate an antenna in the attic, they would be a path not obstructed by wood/shingles; just a nylon mesh.



Inside view:



My thinking is to build a double bowtie as large as I can fit into this boxed area and mount at a severe angle SW. I also wonder if I build two, (and/or maybe a third VHF design) in the attic, could they all be linked together for the best of all worlds? The VHF would be to cover RF Channel 7 (virtual 2, and the hardest to receive).

Going inside will keep me out of our crummy weather and allow me to sell the house to "regular people" who have flatscreens and use nonsense words like Roku and Hulu. On the other hand, if an outdoor mount makes a big difference, so it shall be done.

What say the group? Best homebrew design? Best trade-off location given my options? Can I link different designs together to optimize UHF and sorta Hi-VHF?
__________________
From Captain Video, 1/4/2007
"It seems that Italian people are very prone to preserve antique stuff."
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-09-2015, 01:06 PM
Electronic M's Avatar
Electronic M Electronic M is offline
M is for Memory
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Pewaukee/Delafield Wi
Posts: 14,743
Roku is the Japanese word for 6, so not total nonsense.

I've seen two different UHF antennas with different aim on the same pole before (at an old restaurant) so I'd assume you could tie two UHF jobs together.
__________________
Tom C.

Zenith: The quality stays in EVEN after the name falls off!
What I want. --> http://www.videokarma.org/showpost.p...62&postcount=4
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-09-2015, 05:09 PM
Carmine's Avatar
Carmine Carmine is offline
...enjoys spaghetti.
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Detroit area
Posts: 1,594
Quote:
Originally Posted by Electronic M View Post
Roku is the Japanese word for 6, so not total nonsense.

I've seen two different UHF antennas with different aim on the same pole before (at an old restaurant) so I'd assume you could tie two UHF jobs together.
If I tie two UHFs together, do I lose the directional advantage? Is there a "polarity" that should be observed? Primarily I'd want to include RF 7.

...And don't try using that word in any Scrabble game with me.
__________________
From Captain Video, 1/4/2007
"It seems that Italian people are very prone to preserve antique stuff."
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-09-2015, 08:41 PM
Username1's Avatar
Username1 Username1 is offline
Not sure how I got here.
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Orange County NY
Posts: 3,584
.
Quote:
Going inside will keep me out of our crummy weather and allow me to sell the house to "regular people" who have flatscreens and use nonsense words like Roku and Hulu. On the other hand, if an outdoor mount makes a big difference, so it shall be done.
.

Ha Ha Ha ! !

I have combined antennas with success.... All you need it the combiners.
Now from what I read combiners, and splitters are the same item, but
stores that sell both get more for the written differentiation.....

You can choose either combiner splitters, or UHF VHF FM signal splitters like
the little plastic ones RS use to sell for inside use..... The reason to use that
type is noise, but they are plastic not shielded. ( Only the desired frequencies
are passed, so less noise because of the tighter band width.)
All metal splitters have better noise figures. Blonder Tongue makes nice 75
ohm screw end splitters, and
you can but them on ebay, some times in bulk for less then single units.
I got some years ago when I did the house with antenna wire. Be sure to
get (end caps) Terminators for the ports not used! If you get 4 way and only
need 2 way splitters.... I had 5 and 6 way, no problems with the end caps....

Believe it or not, Placement of the antennas has more to do with getting a
signal to "add" than + - wire attachment. Antennas placed in a vertical
stack don't work as well as antennas spaced apart on a horizontal plane.
This is for same frequency, like 2 bow ties for UHF.

I agree inside placement is a better way to go, I use to have that in the analog
days, but now with lower power digital I had to go rooftop. As long as you
don't have any reflection items like the aluminum insulation A/C units, pipe,
etc, you should be ok.....

Good Luck !

PS Nice conversion on that house ! ! I assume not all of the upper space will
be used for living.... I want to do something like that to add more solar panels
to our house..... There is a room behind our garage with 6 air panels and we
need about 6 more to get better than 20% of our heat from the sun.....

PS 2, You know, when I was in college I put a set of UHF VHF tv top type
rabbit ears down the hall in a closet, and ran coax to my room in the ceiling
to a distribution amp and got killer great tv picture on everything.....
You could get one of those old units with the 6 position switch and flip
it around till you get what you want.... It'll freak out the next round of
renovators 30 years from now when they find it in the wall.....

.
__________________
Yes you can call me "Squirrel boy"

Last edited by Username1; 06-09-2015 at 08:58 PM.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:15 AM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
©Copyright 2012 VideoKarma.org, All rights reserved.