Revised Deepest Fringe OTA Advice
Here is my Deepest Fringe OTA advice for a complete VHF/FM/UHF system, showing readily available antennas and gear commonly found in today's OTA marketplace.
WARNING: A Deepest Fringe setup is actually NOT desirable in most areas!
A Deepest Fringe setup is only required if you are in a remote, rural area at great distances from the desired stations. If your TVFool report shows only 1Edge, 2Edge, and/or Tropo stations, a Deepest Fringe setup might be your only chance of good reception. If your TVFool report shows no VHF stations, disregard the VHF portion of the instructions below unless you still want to try for FM Radio reception. Likewise, if your TVFool report shows no UHF stations, disregard the UHF portion. In either of those cases, disregard the UVSJ antenna joiner requirement since it is only required for full VHF/FM/UHF dual-antenna systems.
To begin, download the latest Antenna Chart.
Commercial Brand Deepest Fringe OTA VHF/FM/UHF Setup:
Here is my Deepest Fringe OTA advice for a complete VHF/FM/UHF system, showing readily available antennas and gear commonly found in today's OTA marketplace.
WARNING: A Deepest Fringe setup is actually NOT desirable in most areas!
A Deepest Fringe setup is only required if you are in a remote, rural area at great distances from the desired stations. If your TVFool report shows only 1Edge, 2Edge, and/or Tropo stations, a Deepest Fringe setup might be your only chance of good reception. If your TVFool report shows no VHF stations, disregard the VHF portion of the instructions below unless you still want to try for FM Radio reception. Likewise, if your TVFool report shows no UHF stations, disregard the UHF portion. In either of those cases, disregard the UVSJ antenna joiner requirement since it is only required for full VHF/FM/UHF dual-antenna systems.
To begin, download the latest Antenna Chart.
Commercial Brand Deepest Fringe OTA VHF/FM/UHF Setup:
- find the point of highest elevation on the property (silos, grain elevators, or barns are great; trees are not good; put up a tower as required)
- get precise GPS or online map ground-level coordinates of that exact location for entering into TVFool
- run several different TVFool reports based on a variety of possible antenna heights between 20 and 80 feet above those coordinates
- select the height that offers the best performance from those results, and plan accordingly (tower needed?)
- two hardware hacked Antennas Direct DB-8e UHF antennas (or two modded-harness Channel Master 4228HDs)
- one Winegard HD8200P Large Combo VHF/FM/UHF antenna (or Antenna Chart alternative model)
- we actually only use the VHF/FM portion of a Large VHF/FM/UHF Combo antenna so the UHF corner reflector portion can be removed from the front as needed
- if you can find one, substitute Historic, Large, VHF/FM antenna for above (Channel Master Quantum 1110 or 1111, Wade-Delhi VIP-307SR, or similar based on R&D Forum advice, refurbished if needed)
- heavy duty rotor if required
- make sure that your tower and rotor can support the weight and wind/snow load of these large antennas
- UVSJ antenna joiner
- stack the second UHF antenna on top of the first one
- mount the stacked UHF pair at the very top of the pole
- devise adjustable mount bracket for UHF antenna stack that will tilt them together as a unit upwards 0-10 degrees
- devise adjustable mount bracket for VHF/FM antenna that will tilt the front upwards 0-10 degrees
- run each UHF antenna's output into a reversed, high quality splitter and then into the UHF input side of the UVSJ
- mount the VHF/FM antenna on the pole below the lower UHF antenna, using OTA Forum advice on best separation distance
- build a coax-loop balun for the VHF/FM antenna's output
- run the VHF/FM antenna's output into the coax-loop balun and then into the VHF/FM input side of the UVSJ
- run the UVSJ output into a top quality low-noise/high gain preamp
- if using a rotor, use a large carpenter's square to horizontally align the VHF/FM antenna's central boom at a right angle to the UHF antennas' bowties so that they are all aimed perfectly in the same direction
- if not using a rotor, aim and lock the VHF/FM and stacked pair UHF antennas towards their intended stations
- ground everything properly
- waterproof all connections thoroughly
- run the preamp's output over P3 Hardline coax cable into the residence
- purchase the best performing ATSC receiver device(s) you can
- connect an antenna lead to a high quality FM Radio tuner or receiver for your home audio system
- if you will be receiving U.S. FM Radio stations with this OTA gear, purchase an HD Radio-equipped receiver or separate tuner like a Sony XDR--F1HD
- test and test TV and FM reception to find best adjustable antenna mount bracket angles, then lock them
- replace VHF/FM antenna above with Finclone 400-A, using forum advice on best variant to build
- replace stacked pair of UHF antennas above with a single DBGH or GH10, depending on forum advice based on your TVFool report
- this DIY home-built antenna rig will quite easily be the most powerful, boombastic Deepest Fringe rig out there today for consumers!