I have searched this forum to see if any one has built a circular shaped bow tie antenna. No one seems to have experimented with this shape of antenna.

At the present, I have built a four pair bow tie model as instructed by the antenna masters of this forum. I will say that I am very pleased with it's performance, but of late it is giving me a little problem. Channels are dropping off, specially the PBS which the grandkids like to watch.

I am thinking of playing with an idea of building a five pair bow tie model. Making the top bow tie pair nine and a half inches long,... the second pair about eleven inches,... the third pair about thirteen inches,... the fourth same as the second, and the fifth same as the first. This will make a circular shaped bow tie antenna.

Does anyone thinks that this is a looney idea, or shouldn't waste my time tinkering with it.

Any comments or advise or is welcomed.

How is this "circular"??? Perhaps you can provide a sketch???

There are very few "looney" ideas....you won't know till you try....

I have searched this forum to see if any one has built a circular shaped bow tie antenna. No one seems to have experimented with this shape of antenna.

Theres X560 in the Area 51 thread. Its a Shorted Bowtie Loop and is pretty good, especially as an indoor antenna.

300ohm, where exactly in the forum is area 51, is there a picture of the X560 antenna to view.

i understand what he means. that if you were to trace a line from the tips of the whiskers, on a normal one would go from the top one straight down to the bottom whisker. Where as on his measurements because they get longer and then shorter again the traced line would bulge in the middle slightly like a circle

octopod, thanks for explaining it better that me, I had the idea and just kept on typing without given a much cleared explanation. I did more searching and still cannot find the X560 antenna's build or pictures, I must be getting old, and sinile.

300ohm, where exactly in the forum is area 51, is there a picture of the X560 antenna to view.
Yeah post 558 here:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=105660

@ Avenger

Your idea is to cover different wavelengths, but it would have unstable reception.

You must keep a symmetry in a four bay.

300ohm and BOUVAL, thanks for the response.

300ohm, that little circle antenna shown, how good of a reception and db gain does it have for its size.

BOUVAL, actually my idea is to make a five bay wiskers antenna. I do not know anything about antenna builds of my own. The one that I built was with the help from the gurus of this forum. It was just a thought, and nothing more.

With all of these antennas built and tested, is there any one style or configuration that will perform and will give the best overall UHF/VHF reception and gain. If so, please post some candidates that everyone can benefit from.

I know that this is an Experimental, Research and Development forum for OTA antennas, I just want to be greedy and get the best OTA antenna there is.

Seriously, you guys have been an inspiration to alot of people specially an old dummy like me. Keep up the good work, and maybe I be able to follow and begin to understand something about antennas in general.

Thank You very much for you efforts, "And may the Force be With You".

With all of these antennas built and tested, is there any one style or configuration that will perform and will give the best overall UHF/VHF reception and gain. If so, please post some candidates that everyone can benefit from.


The best antenna is the one that meets your needs. There is a sticky thread permanently at the top of this forum here (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=140206) that points to the major designs that have bubbled up to the top. Some are lower-gain designs that are sensitive over a wide azimuth range and some are higher-gain that are sensitive over a limited azimuth range.

We can offer suggestions if you tell us what your reception conditions are like using the TVFool (http://tvfool.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29) web site. Be complete with your address (won't show to us) and post the URL of the report you get back (there are instructions at the site.)

I have searched this forum to see if any one has built a circular shaped bow tie antenna.

SEE:

Antenna Research & Development / UHF Loops - simple bi-directional antennas (See Post #109)


http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=135981&highlight=Loops


I've built the VHF hi/UHF 23 inch bowtie in loop antenna with 3/8 soft copper tube which comes in a roll / coil.

Lots of info in there ... cheers.

Thanks to members Wildwillie and Holl_Ands for these designs and Holl_Ands website and analysis - which prompted me to build one.

At the present, I have built a four pair bow tie model .... but of late it is giving me a little problem. Channels are dropping off, specially the PBS ...

But if you've built the 4 bay bow tie correctly, aimed and connected correctly, set up in a good location outdoors ... that should be giving you reasonably good gain and directionality.

If the 4 bay bow tie w/refl. is built/connected/placed/aimed correctly - but still not enough - giving drop offs - then you're going to need something better than any loop.

Check for troubles first with your current setup. Cable, aim, balun.
(something change recently? giving problems now?)

If all is well and still have "drop offs" - wait a while to see if it's temporary trouble.

If you REALLY need a better antenna w/more gain (?)
1. Consider: 8-Bay bow tie w/reflector (build a second 4 bay & attach)
2. Consider: Possibly a GH variant - Grey Hoverman - quite good.

Yes - See sticky / thread - at top.

Top of:
Antenna Research & Development

Sticky: Best Do-It-Yourself OTA Antennas - See these links:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=140206


There are links in there pointing you conveniently to the main threads for the different main types of antennas (incl the GH, Bow-ties and LOOPS and others).

300ohm, that little circle antenna shown, how good of a reception and db gain does it have for its size.
As you can see from the post in Area 51 thread # 558, the gain on it runs from 4.25 to 7 dbi without a reflector. With reflector, add about 2.5 dbi to those figures. Since the SWR is so low, the Net Gain is about the same as the Raw Gain.

Here is a view of my TVFool, please someone review it and advice me of what type and model of the antennas built will be the most suitable for me to build for my area. Thank You in advance

avenger, your tvfool link is missing... try editing ur last post and paste it again.

This is my second try in sending this information, somehow the first try did not worked. Here is my tvfool, please advice me of which type and model of antenna (wiskers, gray-hoverman, etc) is more suitable for my area.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d3e472c41b00c1c

Which PBS is dropping off with the 4 bay bowtie, you have 3 ? With your strong signals, a reflectorless SBGH should do you well and is very easy to build. You only have one vhf-hi channel 11 and at 42.7 NM the SBGH even without NARODs should pick it up, but if not, you could add simple straight NARODs later.

@ Avenger

I'd be happy if I had a nice lineup of channels like yours at 210°

Personnaly I use an homemade 4 bay w/reflector and preamp inside my house through three walls and a bunch of houses in the path and I pull in channels 86 miles away.

Yes. Avenger - according to your TV fool - your main signals / channels at around 210 degrees direction, all seem fairly good. Mostly all LOS, powerful enough, and within 30, 40 or 50 miles. Should be getting these fairly easily with a proper built 4 bay whisker.

You've got one PBS, WMAH PBS ch 16 real, 57 degrees direction, in the opposite direction to the other main ones. Not LOS (one edge) and 57.8 miles. You may have trouble getting this one - esp. if you are trying to receive it off the backside of the 4-bay - through it's reflector.

Did you build a 4 bay whisker with reflector?
Is it pointed, at approx 210 degrees? Whiskers facing the 210 deg direction?
Is it mounted outside? Up at some height? Up in the clear / away from obstructions like buildings, walls etc ?

Also, you've got one PBS, WYES on real ch 11 (virt 12.1) LOS and fairly nearby 26 miles, and powerful enough. But it's on VHF hi. The 4 bay whisker is not really designed to recieve ch 11. It is really designed for UHF / ch14 and above. But it may pick it up anyway - even if not exactly the "right" antenna for that channel.

Since you were asking about Loops before. Based on your TV fool, and my own experiments, I think if you took the 23 inch bowtie in loop that I built ... mounted it outside in the clear, I would make a guess you should pick up most of those channels well enough, probably down the list to ch 18, WBXN. The loop is bi-directional - so you'd pick up front and back - those around 210 degrees, *AND* those around 57 degrees - all with one antenna. (That is why the other guys are recommending an antenna with NO reflector. GH - reflectorless, or whiskers - reflectorless. To receive from front and back.)
The thing about the 23 inch bowtie in loop - it is designed to receive both VHF Hi and UHF. So it will also do well with your channel 11 - or other VHF hi's - you seem to have no others.


I think we need to know exactly which antenna you built. Reflector? No Reflector? And how / where you have it mounted / aimed and pointed.

The whiskers need to face the transmitters at 210 degrees direction (most likely since that is where most of your channels are). The reflector behind the whiskers - facing the other way. (basic - but some might get that wrong)

Just as a data point.

I built SWMBO a SBGH with narods, no reflector for this tvfool:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d3e47c06ec9f44d

Aimed at real 22, mounted in the attic (plywood & asphalt shingle roof) roughly 20 feet above ground.
She pulls in all the DC, Baltimore & Annapolis stations & on occasion can pull in 22 (Richmond VA 100+ miles away)

Yes, reception is a matter of many variables, but it's more information for decision making.

I also want to take the time to thank *all* those on this forum who've done the heavy lifting. I've learned *a lot* here. Haven't had this much fun since my ham radio days :-)