Help with Homebrew antennas

[walts]

I just discovered this forum yesterday, and have been searching for information on the design and construction of homebrew antennas. Is this an appropriate place to ask? Most of the threads seem to be for commercial equipment.

I'm using a simple stacked-bowtie array and would be pleased to share its design here. I'm also looking for ways to improve it (reflector?) and would like to find out how to calculate the dimensions of the array correctly, since what I have is very much cut-and-try.

Walt


Moderator, please move if needed.

[eliwhitney]

'Morning walts -

We all certainly have & need hobbies - but - at the prevailing costs & availabilities via our web sites,
WHY continue on & on ...?

Eventually, there's a time to just buy a proper version & move on .... well under $80 & , soon, you'll have that much spent with less " HD Gain !"

RE " www.solidsignal.com .... DB-2 or 4 or C.M. 3018 ...
www.antennasdirect.com
plus many more !"

eli whitney

[walts]

Actually I ordered a DB-2 yesterday.....

That said, "Why buy when you can build?"

My PVR is a conglomeration of parts from here and there, and really, my cardboard antenna works rather well. As a long-retired ham radio operator, building and fine-tuning antennas is second nature to me. In addition to the design formulas for TV frequency bands, I was looking for some kindred souls to swap stories with, as much as getting good HDTV reception!

Thanks

Walt

[eliwhitney]

Hi walts -

Thanks for your reply / explanation ! That's the same as all the very early Mustang owners, etc., and
a most admirable pursuit !

Plus, a coincidence re ... DB-2 !!!

Thanks again!
eli whitney

[kq6qv]

I think I qualify as a kindred sole. I currently receive channel 12 using a Yagi I constructed. It is 24 feet long, has 24 directors cut for channel 12, a corner reflector for channel 7, and a biconical radiator for good line matching. I made it from the boom and rods of a disassembled Radio Shack antenna. Two masts hold it up. I get solid reception despite pointing it through trees and over two hills to a station 40 miles away.

Designing antennas today is all about what software you have. Get the best you can afford. It will allow you to try many designs quickly and evaluate them without building anything. Published tables of dimensions are generally useless for a number of reasons.

The steps in antenna design are usually these.
1. Choose the general type of antenna.
2. Determine where to get the materials you need.
3. Use the simulator to find the correct element lengths.
It is usually impossible to choose the element lengths until the element diameters are known.

Ken

[antennaguy]

Eli is right.

Depending on the level of desire to receive an excellent picture and multiple broadcast signals, don't you think you need the DB2, considering your investment in TV entertainment.

If you really would like to pick up out-of-town channels close enough, carrying blacked out sports programs or network broadcasts not available in your home town, think about up-grading to the DB-8