[dvcnewt]

Thinking about building an antenna and looking for suggestions.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=8d1731e7c6ff56

Currently have a generic brand 4 bowtie antenna bought several years ago that I used when l lived closer to the towers. I am splitting to two tvs and have a Winegard ap8700 preamp connected.

 

[dvcnewt]

Would a SBGH be an improvement to what I have now?

 

[stampeder]

How is your reception now with that 4-bay, dvcnewt, and which channels are giving the most problems? Do you have a signal meter in your tuner?

 

[dvcnewt]

The antenna I have now looks like a DB4, but one screen on back instead of two. Reception on it works ok at times. On my tivo's signal meter I get in the mid 70's at best.
Would like to get the digital channels WTBS (26) and WANN (32)

 

[300ohm]

Would like to get the digital channel WTBS (26)

You have a WTBS-LD that stronger. Isnt it the same programming ?
WTBS-LP on 26 at -4.4 NM, 1edge, also shares that real channel 26 with WTJP-TV at -16.1 NM. I think you may have some co channel problems there. Offhand, your chances to get that channel consistantly look to be very slim.

Would like to get the digital channel WANN (32)

At 3.0 NM, 1edge, thats going to mean searching for a hot spot for it, which you should be able to do with the 4 bay bowtie.

Are you getting channels 7, 8, 10 now, and do you want those channels ?

 

[dvcnewt]

Signal meter from tivo:

channel, call sign, frequency, (strength)

7, WCIQ-DT, 7, (0)
8, WGTV-DT, 8, (0)
11, WXIA-DT, 10, (53)
26, WTBS-LD, 30, (40)
32, WANN-D, 29, (25)

Not familiar with channel 7.
Receive channel 30, WPBA-DT, 21, (54) so channel 8 not a deal breaker.

 

[300ohm]

Channel 7 is a PBS station, probably a lot like channel 8 which you said is the same as 30.

To get channel 10 NBC better, you could tie on a 32" X 32" mesh reflector onto your existing 4 bay bowtie. The mesh could be the 2" X 4" stuff or 1" X 2" stuff.

If you wanted to build a GH for extra gain, try the GH10n3 model here :
http://clients.teksavvy.com/~nickm/gh_n3_uV/gh10n3_9V7_15u0.html

 

[Nopaytv]

I live about an hour south of Atlanta and pull in both WTBS and WANN with the Stealth Hawk antenna.

 

[dvcnewt]

I looked for the mesh material, but it seems to be only sold in large rolls. Only thing I could find in smaller roll was 1/2" square and smaller.

I think I will try the Stealth Hawk first and see if it works for me.

 

[Dave Loudin]

Be aware that the stealth hawk is a relatively modest gain design (less than your bow-tie array.) Without seeing the other person's TVFool report, I can't give you any educated predictions other than to say that the terrain profile between you and the towers shows some hills almost halfway along that block the direct path. (NOTE: click on a station's listing in the table to see what I'm talking about.) The other person may have a less obstructed path, which means a lower-gain (less sensitive) antenna could still work.

 

[Nopaytv]

I should have said I use the Stealth Hawk antenna with a signal amplifier.

 

[M.Satterfield]

I am a N. Ga Native and here is something that may help: If you have any pine trees in your path of reception, CUT THEM DOWN! I made a G10 DBGH with an approximate 18dbi gain, and I can't get squat with it in the Dahlonega area until I move it into an opening where there are very few pine trees in the path.

That red dirt is loaded with iron oxide so those pines are full of iron which is a Mu metal. The needles on pine trees are of the length they can act as 1/4 or 1/2 wavelength antennas and just totally zap your signal.

BTW, broadcast channel 17 is now WPCH instead of WTBS, but I long for the days when it was called WTCG when I was just a kiddo!!

HTH

Mike

 

[300ohm]

That red dirt is loaded with iron oxide so those pines are full of iron which is a Mu metal.

Unless those needles are attracted to a magnet, the massive amount of water those needles hold is the real culprit.