[gksull]

TV fool report link for US zip code 28209 and 20' in height:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...57476725676342

I would like to get as many stations as possible but focus on major channels that are close by: WSOC, WCCB, WCNC, WBTV, WJZY, WAXN, WUNG, WTVI, WNSC.

I do not have a preference for antennas as I have been a cable user for years. However I do like the technology behind the fractal antenna but a simple Radio Shack bowtie would be great if it would give me great reception.

My background -- my dad was a ham radio operator and he and I would have discussions about antennas so I am sort of knowledgeable... enough to figure things out if explained well.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Gael

 

[stampeder]

Hi gkskull, I unintentionally broke that TVFool link in your post so here's the proper one for our members:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=57476725676342

 

[gksull]

Ganging Fractal antennas - would this work?

I'm wondering if ganging three fractal antennas together to target stations in three different directions would work. I have read threads here and elsewhere about ganging antennas and suspect it would work but maybe not. So I would like your advice.

Why do I want to do this? To avoid an antenna rotor and switch boxes and to have a no fuss system. And I enjoy learning and figuring these kind of things out.

A TV Fool analysis (Charlotte, NC zip 28209, 20’ high) indicates I have OTA antennas in three different directions: lots of channels in the 45 and 315 degree ranges, two important ones at about 200 degrees. All are on towers that are about 10 - 30 miles distant. I live in a residential area with no large buildings close-by.

I like the fractal antenna as it is small, compact, easy for me to make and I can easily put three on a mast.

I would make three identical antennas, put them on one mast about 20' in the air and direct them at the OTA towers. I would put metal screen on the back to make each antenna directional. I would isolate each from the other using three thin aluminum panels that would extend from the mast between each pair of antennas. The panels would be grounded but not the antennas. I would put a vhf antenna on the top.

Questions:

Most important, would this work?

Is there a better antenna choice?

Would the grounded aluminum isolation panels between each antenna keep interference down or would it be better to separate the antennas by 25” (or whatever the formula for that says) up and down the mast?

What is the best way to combine the four (3 UHF, 1VHF) signals? I saw an article that suggests soldering equal lengths of 300 ohm twin lead together in a certain configuration and then attaching a balun? Or should I include a balun on each antenna and then combine them with a four-to-one 75 ohm combiner?

I suspect this setup would need amplification but how should it be done? Individual for each antenna or after combining them?

Thanks in advance for helping me figure this out!

GK

 

[300ohm]

'm wondering if ganging three fractal antennas together to target stations in three different directions would work.

Which fractal antennas ? Youre going to lose signal from each, but in your case where all your majors are strong, you can probably get away with it.

You may want to try a stealth hawk in your location.

 

[gksull]

Thanks for your reply, 300ohm!

Thanks for recommending the stealth hawk. I found the thread and it looks like it would work very well in my location. It is semi-omnidirectional, which is what I was looking for in the first place. Looks like my original idea is overkill! I'll build it!

Thanks, Gael.

 

[stampeder]

gksull, please post your questions about fractal antennas in the following thread: Fractal TV Antenna Research & Development