CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

zaphod · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 2002 Location: Cloverdale

i've got near line of site to Mt Seymour (home of all the OTA digital antennas where i live) and i'd like to whip up a digital antenna. the G-H seems to be the current winner right now.

i am planning on using 6ga copper for the long receiving arms but for the straight reflector rods what should i use? would 3/4 copper tubing work? is solid better? does diameter matter? i'd use more of the 6ga copper, but i suspect that the rods would sag over time, and that can't be good.

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6637

Why use 6 gauge copper and not steel or aluminum ? One good wind storm and the copper will bend I would think....

ecrabb · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 3:43 pm Post subject:

Are the DTV transponders all UHF where you live?

SC

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6637

Had to Google that but it appears to be a good design. Now I understand why copper is used.

http://www.casano.com/projects/hoverman/index.html

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 4:06 pm Post subject:

why not just grab one of the already made commercial ones?

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=164_165&item_id=025307

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6637

That was my next question... Wink

ecrabb · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:01 pm Post subject:

OK, I see that all the DTV stations on Vancouver are UHF... But, what about post-transition? Looks like CA transitions this August... Will some of the DTV transponders be back on VHF, and if so... Your UHF antenna won't work, right?

SC

zaphod · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 2002 Location: Cloverdale

well it's more fun building something Smile

i'll be putting this in the attic so the wind issue isn't that much of an issue.

i don't know about post transition. but i've heard that there are people using the G-H for OTA digital in the US post-transition.

ecrabb · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 7:41 pm Post subject:

zaphod · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 2002 Location: Cloverdale

yeah, i dunno what they are planning to do either Smile

but the US ones in my area mostly stayed up in UHF. one of the FOX and one of the PBS are down in VHF. i doubt that i'd get much other than Bellingham if that.

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4181 Location: ohio usa

ASK an AUSSIE . Them guys build some AMAZING OTA ANTANNAE'S.

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

It will still work on VHF, but signal strength can vary. I still didn't see why you would need copper. How far are you from the farm?

zaphod · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 2002 Location: Cloverdale

lessee .... probably 15miles or so.

but i've been finding out that 6ga solid copper is a beast to get in this area - only stranded. while Lowes 20 minutes away and across stocks it. sigh.

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

You might be able to get by with a bow tie. Seriously, it shouldn't take much to get a signal. You can go with GH antenna but that is probably overkill. It might be a fun project though.