Stacking, Ganging, Combining TV Antennas - Page 57 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

rlongfield · 2012-07-12, 03:42 PM

I currently have a 4 bay UHF antenna which is performing pretty well. The problem is that the Kingston area has a number of VHF analogue stations as well as 1 UHF-low digital station.
I have a monster Cm Yagi from years ago that has been folded up that I am thinking of putting back up to capture the VHF and UHF-low stations.

I was thinking of combining the 2 antenna's and running their cables through my CM 7777 pre-amp (yagi on the VHF input and the 4 bay on UHF). First I'm probably going to loose ch 7 on the yagi correct? Second do I have to worry about these antenna's interfering with each other if they are on the same mast?

ProjectSHO89 · 2012-07-12, 08:02 PM

Properly set up, the 7777 will pass only UHF (channels 14 and up) on the UHF port and VHF channels 2-13 on the VHF port. Set the switch to "SEPARATE".

What's a "low UHF" channel?

roger1818 · 2012-07-13, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProjectSHO89

Properly set up, the 7777 will pass only UHF (channels 14 and up) on the UHF port and VHF channels 2-13 on the VHF port. Set the switch to "SEPARATE".

I wouldn't define this as the "proper setup." It all depends on what antenna(s) you are using. If you are using a VHF/UHF combo antenna the proper setup is to pass both VHF and UHF from the combined port and not use the other port (setting the switch to "combined").

rlongfield · 2012-07-13, 11:16 AM

Doh, I got my VHF and UHF confused

roger1818 · 2012-07-13, 12:11 PM

^^^So you are wanting to use this "monster Cm Yagi" to capture both VHF-HI and VHF-LO or just VHF-LO (either way I assume you want to use the 4-bay for UHF).

rlongfield · 2012-07-13, 01:26 PM

Well my original thought was to use the CM Yagi to capture the VHF Low/Hi and let the UHF do the well UHF

I'm hoping that I am going to be able to capture the VHF Hi off the front of the Antenna and the Low off the back and let the UHF capture all the channels it does currently.
The fact I was wrong and mixed up the VHF hi with UHF low (whoopies) solves the problem of combining the antenna's, I'll use the CM7777 and split the VHF and UHF inputs.
Is there a certain distance the antenna's need to be apart to not cause interference with each other?

ProjectSHO89 · 2012-07-13, 05:55 PM

Quote:

I wouldn't define this as the "proper setup."

I was defining the amplifier configuration, not the antenna selection.

Quote:

Is there a certain distance the antenna's need to be apart to not cause interference with each other?

4-5' is usually okay. More is better.

SpitsFanSec108 · 2012-07-15, 09:16 PM

Could someone tell me the proper spacing between 2 4 bay bowtie antennas that Im atempting to gang together.

Currently I have them vertical one down from the other and they are not performing like I had hoped.Thinking its the spacing between them thats the issue.

Also they are pointing the same direction.Thx.

ProjectSHO89 · 2012-07-15, 09:51 PM

Which 4-bay antennas? What channel(s) are you trying to optimize?

Keep in mind that vertically stacked arrays will narrow the beamwidth in the vertical plane while generally maintaining the original horizontal beam width.

stampeder · 2012-07-16, 02:44 AM

He's using a couple of the craptacular 4-bays from that particular company that has ripped off this site and me personally for years. My opinion is that if you use their products after all that we have warned you about then you can figure it out for yourself because the stuff is garbage and you were warned.

roger1818 · 2012-07-16, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpitsFanSec108

Could someone tell me the proper spacing between 2 4 bay bowtie antennas that Im atempting to gang together.

...

Also they are pointing the same direction.Thx.

If they are pointed in the same direction, that is stacking, not ganging.

As for spacing, all of the bowties should be evenly spaced. The other things to consider are when stacking antennas are:

The antennas must be identical.
The polarization of the two feed lines must be maintained by ensuring they are the same length and the pair doesn't get crossed.
You need to use a low loss combiner as you can easily loose most of the the gain of second antenna with a poor quality combiner.

SpitsFanSec108 · 2012-07-24, 09:37 PM

Well thankyou Roger1818 for the reply.What combiner would you recommend??

Right now Im using a high grade 2 way splitter, cant think of the make off hand.

I understand that its stacking not ganging wrong terms used.

I used these 2 ant because of cost and trying to squeeze some gain out of them.Im just experimenting with them at the cottage near lake erie pointing at Toledo OH. shooting through alot of trees and greenery Im hoping the 2 stacked pulls in a bit better than the one 4 bay bowtie presently being used.I understand these two new cheaper ones might not perform like a more expensive ant. but thought it was worth the try because of lack of $$$.

My also prob could be resulting from the lack of sensitivity of my GE conv.box.

balm · 2012-08-22, 12:30 PM

I will construct 2 - 4 bay antennas out of my PR-8800. Both antennas will be side by side, & will have 72" wide continuous mesh as reflector.

Im not sure how to connect them together, what is the lowest loss solution, and how do I connect them to have the correct polarity if using baluns & combiner ?

Thanks

BOUVAL · 2012-08-22, 04:13 PM

Quote:

how do I connect them to have the correct polarity if using baluns & combiner ?

Balm,

The best thing to check the baluns phasing is to receive an analog channel.

So if you can get channel 8 and the image is poor then reverse one of the baluns.
.

poutanen · 2012-08-22, 04:26 PM

My only question to Balms request is... Aren't you taking apart an 8-bay to make another 8 bay?!?

2012-07-12, 03:42 PM	#841
rlongfield Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 175	Combining Yagi with 4 Bay I currently have a 4 bay UHF antenna which is performing pretty well. The problem is that the Kingston area has a number of VHF analogue stations as well as 1 UHF-low digital station. I have a monster Cm Yagi from years ago that has been folded up that I am thinking of putting back up to capture the VHF and UHF-low stations. I was thinking of combining the 2 antenna's and running their cables through my CM 7777 pre-amp (yagi on the VHF input and the 4 bay on UHF). First I'm probably going to loose ch 7 on the yagi correct? Second do I have to worry about these antenna's interfering with each other if they are on the same mast?

2012-07-13, 12:11 PM	#845
roger1818 Veteran Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ottawa (Stittsville), ON, OTA (Radio Shack Omnidirectional Antenna and 5Y6S in Attic), MythTV HTPC Posts: 5,605	^^^So you are wanting to use this "monster Cm Yagi" to capture both VHF-HI and VHF-LO or just VHF-LO (either way I assume you want to use the 4-bay for UHF). __________________ Link to my TVFool results is in my profile Homepage URL. I suggest others do the same.

2012-08-22, 12:30 PM	#853
balm Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Montreal Posts: 2,248	Stacking 2 modified antennas out of a PR-8800 I will construct 2 - 4 bay antennas out of my PR-8800. Both antennas will be side by side, & will have 72" wide continuous mesh as reflector. Im not sure how to connect them together, what is the lowest loss solution, and how do I connect them to have the correct polarity if using baluns & combiner ? Thanks

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2012-07-12, 08:02 PM	#842
ProjectSHO89 Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 296	Properly set up, the 7777 will pass only UHF (channels 14 and up) on the UHF port and VHF channels 2-13 on the VHF port. Set the switch to "SEPARATE". What's a "low UHF" channel?

2012-07-13, 11:16 AM	#844
rlongfield Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 175	Doh, I got my VHF and UHF confused

2012-07-13, 01:26 PM	#846
rlongfield Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 175	Well my original thought was to use the CM Yagi to capture the VHF Low/Hi and let the UHF do the well UHF I'm hoping that I am going to be able to capture the VHF Hi off the front of the Antenna and the Low off the back and let the UHF capture all the channels it does currently. The fact I was wrong and mixed up the VHF hi with UHF low (whoopies) solves the problem of combining the antenna's, I'll use the CM7777 and split the VHF and UHF inputs. Is there a certain distance the antenna's need to be apart to not cause interference with each other?

2012-07-15, 09:16 PM	#848
SpitsFanSec108 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Windsor,Ont(OTA Heaven) Posts: 103	Could someone tell me the proper spacing between 2 4 bay bowtie antennas that Im atempting to gang together. Currently I have them vertical one down from the other and they are not performing like I had hoped.Thinking its the spacing between them thats the issue. Also they are pointing the same direction.Thx.

2012-07-15, 09:51 PM	#849
ProjectSHO89 Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 296	Which 4-bay antennas? What channel(s) are you trying to optimize? Keep in mind that vertically stacked arrays will narrow the beamwidth in the vertical plane while generally maintaining the original horizontal beam width.

2012-07-16, 02:44 AM	#850
stampeder OTA Forum Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Delta, BC (96Av x 116St) Posts: 23,338	He's using a couple of the craptacular 4-bays from that particular company that has ripped off this site and me personally for years. My opinion is that if you use their products after all that we have warned you about then you can figure it out for yourself because the stuff is garbage and you were warned.

2012-07-24, 09:37 PM	#852
SpitsFanSec108 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Windsor,Ont(OTA Heaven) Posts: 103	Well thankyou Roger1818 for the reply.What combiner would you recommend?? Right now Im using a high grade 2 way splitter, cant think of the make off hand. I understand that its stacking not ganging wrong terms used. I used these 2 ant because of cost and trying to squeeze some gain out of them.Im just experimenting with them at the cottage near lake erie pointing at Toledo OH. shooting through alot of trees and greenery Im hoping the 2 stacked pulls in a bit better than the one 4 bay bowtie presently being used.I understand these two new cheaper ones might not perform like a more expensive ant. but thought it was worth the try because of lack of $$$. My also prob could be resulting from the lack of sensitivity of my GE conv.box.

2012-08-22, 04:26 PM	#855
poutanen Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Calgary Posts: 220	My only question to Balms request is... Aren't you taking apart an 8-bay to make another 8 bay?!?