Current Antenna Designs

[bradsmainsite]

Looking for feedback on the type of antennas used by members on this forum for
their digital reception.

What you like:

What you dislike:

What you would change and why:

How many you have tried:

How many you threw away out of fustration and why:

Where its mounted and why:

Thanks for your help!

Brad

[dj1111]

I have done zero, zip, nada experimenting.  When I purchased my HDTV in late 2004 I simply hooked it up to my existing network of splitters and amps, and everything worked great.  The antenna is around 10+ years old from Radio Shack and I got it for half price at the time.  As I recall it was $49.95.  I am also using Radio Shacks best amp/preamp, also 10 or so years old.  I further split the signal to 6 different TV's with a Radio Shack 4 way splitter/amp with 2 more Menards cheapo splitters after that to give me my 6 lines.  The only upgrade I've done in the last year was to replace all the cables with quad shield and compression fittings.  Figured it can't hurt.  It may have helped signals a little.  My antenna is atop a ranch home with a larger (20 year old, heavy, 5ft tall) Fleet Farm tripod and about an 8-foot heavy gauge mast.  I get all the Milwaukee and Green Bay channels with no problems.   Also a few in Grand Rapids MI.  Although 18-1 has been elusive lately.

What would I change?  I'd like to get the antenna off the roof and put up a 30 foot or so tower some day.  I also would like to move my Directv dish and wireless internet antenna off the roof to a tower if it all would fit, and would be nice to each other.

[StarvingForHDTV]

I have tried the radio shack double bow tie, the channel master 4 bow tie, and the channel master 8 bow tie.  The first two are collecting dust, the 8 bow tie is in operation.  I built a stand for it and it is standing in my attic.  It works great for me.

As for sweeping changes.  I would like to see wireless antennas.  That would be really nice.  It was a pain to run the cable to my living room.

[digdugm]

Before ordering the MyHD card a couple years ago, I bought the Terk 55. it got ntsc decent threw the TV, but when I got the atsc card I couldn't get anything stable (on a 10' mast attached to a one story chimney. I soon went to RS and got  a 10' element (can't recall #) and a channel master amp and rotor (so i could receive both mil. and chi). It worked good till last fall when the wind took it down, with the mast, chimney, and sat. dish. I then ordered a tripod and the CM 4228 and been completly happy since (after rebuilding the chimney and fiberglassing the dish back together). I took one side of the reflector grid off and now I get N and S without using the rotor.

[dj1111]

As for sweeping changes.  I would like to see wireless antennas.  That would be really nice.  It was a pain to run the cable to my living room.

No wires, that would be sweet.  Are there manufacturers out there working on it?

[StarvingForHDTV]

I have no idea if there are manufacturers working on it.  You would think Channel Master would have the resources to do something like that.  If we can move other signals wirelessly inside of our houses, why can't we move that information wirelessly?

[bradsmainsite]

Problems would be is how to power it. (need a wire)

[StarvingForHDTV]

Many people have a light in their attic.  Pop take out the bulb, put in one of those do-hickeys, put the bulb into the aforementioned, and whalaaa you have juice.

Run the power cord from the roof to the attic during installation.  Or for an attic install, plug on in.

I think this would be easier for the installer, rather than running coax all over the house.  Of course newer houses already have coax everywhere.  So this is a limited life product idea with a planned obsolesence.

[bradsmainsite]

Many people have a light in their attic.  Pop take out the bulb, put in one of those do-hickeys, put the bulb into the aforementioned, and whalaaa you have juice.

Run the power cord from the roof to the attic during installation.  



This would never pass current electrical codes, but keep going you may be onto
something here

[StarvingForHDTV]

How is an electric rotor powered during a professional antenna installation?  Copy that method of plugging in.  Suggest that method in your installation instructions.

[kevbeck122]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it powered by the rotor controller box which sits by the TV anyways?

[Talos4]

Yep! Mine is. {glug}

[jkane]

I would like to see wireless antennas.

 :rofl:  :rofl:  :rofl:

Aren't antenna's wireless already?!!!

[StarvingForHDTV]

How about this, ketchup and mustard in the same bottle?  

[TAS]

Darren: Oh that sounds interesting sir.

Kramer: Yeah.