Create an Omni by adding elements on the back side?

[Mac060]

Hi all,

Please share your thoughts on this question. I have an 8 bay pointed North connected to a CM7777 that pulls in wanted distant stations as far as 72 miles.

If I install driven elements on the South side of the same antenna can I expect to get stations that are 180 degrees away from the North?

Will the elements interfere in some way?

Thanks, Mac060

[300ohm]

If I install driven elements on the South side of the same antenna can I expect to get stations that are 180 degrees away from the North?

Coupling them directly will result in a minimum 3.5 db loss from each antenna.

To avoid the loss, you could run two coax downleads to the TV and use an A-B switch to switch between them.

If you are willing to suffer that much of a loss, then its far simpler and cheaper to just remove the reflector and make the 8 bay antenna bi-directional.

[Mac060]

I guess I left out some important details. I planned on using a seperate down lead and preamp. I just wanted to know if either signal would disrupt the other.

Thanks, mac060

[BOUVAL]

I just wanted to know if either signal would disrupt the other

Mac060,

An antenna can disrupt another. So you'll have to separate the antennas by at least 30 inches on the mast.
.

[300ohm]

An antenna can disrupt another.

Yep. Unless the reflector is a solid sheet, the reflected signal from one set of elements to the other is liable to increase the SWR of both antennas, thereby decreasing Net Gain.

[Mac060]

Thanks for your input.

My hopes were to eliminate the need for another tripod and mast on the roof but that isn't all that important to get the stations wanted.

I enjoy reading this forum and learning more about antenna building and the whole system to the set.

Keep up the good work.

I'll be watching.