[bigsig330]

Here is my tv fool report http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=c77aa220c02967
I am currently getting all channels through yellow except the vhf channels. I have a crude sbgh in the attic. I also have an old roof top that preforms worse than the attic sbgh(it has some broken elements).

 

[stampeder]

Are you able to get your SBGH outdoors?

 

[300ohm]

Have you tried NARODs with your SBGH in the attic ? You may be able to get Fox channel 8 with the NARODs, but I think the other two possible vhf-hi stations will require the antenna to be outdoors.

 

[bigsig330]

I want to take down my old rooftop antenna and replace it with a diy or maybe even a store bought one. I do like to build things though, so probably diy.
My current sbgh is mounted on wood so it cannot go outside.
I have not tried the narods yet as I am unsure of what material to use and how to make them. Also I am using an inline amp from an old walmart indoor antenna.

 

[bigsig330]

Also I have a friend with a sheet metal shop. I was thinking of stamping out a two piece(elements) sbgh that would be similar to 300ohm foldable sbgh I saw here. Would I get better signal with a wide flat element?

 

[majortom]

Do urself a favor...ditch the wally world preamp and get a real one. Might
be all ya need to clean up ur situation. Maybe try that first if ya don't wanna get
into building sumthin for outdoors just yet.
See the preamp chart in post #1 of the below thread.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=42426

Even if ya wind up outdoors, a good quality preamp can still come in handy,
especially for DX'n.
For Outdoors, Wire elements would probably have less wind load.
I used solid # 8 AWG Copper Ground wire from "Home Debit".
There's all sorts of threads here dealing with everything u'd never wanna know about DIY.
metals, build techniques, wire straightening, etc.

 

[300ohm]

Do urself a favor...ditch the wally world preamp and get a real one.

So true. I bought that Phillips distribution amp from there a few years back and it overloaded the signal and injected a lot of noise in analog. Thinking it was bad I returned it. Same thing, then return it again and again until they had no more. All gave me miserable results, heh.

Would I get better signal with a wide flat element?

Post your TVFool image so we can know the signals your dealing with.

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

 

[bigsig330]

I was actually using this http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3770519. But the amp from this http://www.rcaaudiovideo.com/video/antenna/?sku=ANT1450BR seemed to work just as well so I returned the first one.
I need two antennas. One for home and one for my store. I am open to store bought and diy options. My tv fool for the store with roof mount is here. http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...c77a4c9feb0b9c
If the landlord gives me trouble I may have go on the ground or indoors. Here is the tv fool for that. http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...c77adf0feeb52b
Next up is at home. I have an old roof mounted antenna that is in horrible condition. I could mount where it was. This is the tv fool. http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...c77aa220c02967
I would prefer an attic install if possible. I have a crude diy sbgh with an inline amp from a old indoor walmart antenna in the attic now but I need channels 8 and 10(fox and cbs). I can get youngstown fox and cbs but I have to move the antenna. I did a tv fool with the attic height here. http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...c77aa220c02967
I like to do diy, however if I go rooftop the wife will not let me put up an "ugly one where people will see it".
Also I have a good friend with a sheet metal shop. I was thinking of making my elements out of a solid piece of copper or aluminum. I could just stamp it out with whatever dimensions I wanted.
So there it is. If I left anything out let me know.

 

[bigsig330]

Also are there any plans for a sbgh with narods? My other post should show up soon.

 

[bigsig330]

I also have a bowtie at my store. I will put up pictures once I can. I think I have to hit a certain number of posts first.

 

[300ohm]

Im not seeing any of your TVFool images in those links yet.

Also are there any plans for a sbgh with narods?

Heres one plan of many:
http://mysite.verizon.net/res11d41p/index.html
You can adapt the newer models to this type of framework.

The latest SBGH with NAROD optimized designs are here:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=121956

and Nikiml has interactive plans here:
http://clients.teksavvy.com/~nickm/gh_n3_uV.html

 

[bigsig330]

Ok these should work.
Here is my store rooftop http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=c77a4c9feb0b9c
Store ground level. http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=c77adf0feeb52b
Home rooftop. http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=c77aa220c02967
Home attic. http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=c77aa220c02967
Sorry about the broken links.

 

[bigsig330]

Thx for the excellent links 300ohm.

 

[majortom]

I bought that Phillips distribution amp from there a few years back and it overloaded the signal and injected a lot of noise in analog. Thinking it was bad I returned it. Same thing, then return it again and again until they had no more. All gave me miserable results, heh.

300ohm, Just think of all the people in ur neighborhood u helped out by them avoiding the aggrevation once they had no more on the shelf. There is no test selection when it comes to junk

Bigsig330, moral of the story, if it's not on the preamp chart, linked to above, it's for a reason. i.e. - not recommended.
Clicking the link to the RCA thing u linked to I get this...

No specifications available for this product.

What does that tell ya?

 

[bigsig330]

I am hoping I need no amp or just my current one once I get it on the roof. However, if I do need one I will get one from the list. Is there a certain amount of gain I should shoot for? Or it as simple as the higher the better?

 

[majortom]

That's where u need to consider the strongest signals around you, from both TV and FM radio, and compare them to the weaker stations ur looking to receive. You should consider strong FM signals too (FM FOOL), since your interested in pulling in some weaker VHF HI signals.
Multiple Strong FM stations 87-108 MHz can cause pumped up noise / distortion in the VHF Hi range which starts at 174 MHz.

So take a look at the column indicating maximum input for two strong signals. The higher that is, the better the immunity from strong signals on the input to the preamp causing intermodulation distortion on the output of the pre-amp.

The other important consideration is Noise Figure. The lower the Noise Figure, the more it will improve the overall receive sensitivity of your system.