Combining tv antennas
 

my plot is

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...9038eeccf587af

having problem with channel 28. Signal is 50 to 65 in strength.

When attaching tv antennas, should they be attached in a "series", not parallel?

Hello, user name

Thanks for the signal report.

Is that WFPA? It is one of your weaker channels. What are you measuring the strength with? What do your good channels measure? Are you using a preamp?
The title for your thread says combining, but your question says attaching.

What two antennas are you attaching, and why do you want to attach them?

There are many ways of attaching antennas. Do you mean attaching them to the mast or do you mean connecting the coax cables together?

I see a lot of trees in your area that can block TV signals. Are there trees in the signal path from channel 28?

http://forum.tvfool.com/attachment.p...6&d=1530455531

Please tell us more details so that we can give you good advice.

2 large uhf antennas using coax
maybe 3 large uhf antennas using coax if necessary
trying to combine antennas, using coax, to increase overall gain.
using digital to analog converter box to find signal strength
strong stations such as channel 6 are ok
I and antennas are in the attic

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/antennas/ganging.html

Read the above link. Perhaps it will help understand stacking antennas.

so combining antennas in series ............
 

So combining antennas in series won't work?
Combining must always be done in parallel?

I know how to connect batteries or resistors in series or parallel, but I don't know what you mean by connecting antennas in series or parallel.

I can't answer you question until I know what you mean by connecting antennas in series or parallel.

Can you draw a diagram to show us what you mean?

You can combine two IDENTICAL UHF antennas aimed in the SAME direction with a splitter in reverse for more gain; the two coax lines from the antennas to the splitter must be the SAME length.

Or you could buy a large high gain antenna like the DB8e.

No just go with a king Jack it will out perform that hi price lol
With a built-in sign finder 32dbg.And it's not just uhf?
It all so a hi&low band Vhf.That receive ATSC,03
Come on antennas Direct marketing just uhf tv antennas
Like the 91 XG,IS THE BEST ANTENNA TOO BUY!!WHEN IT COMES
TOO UHF?BROADCASTING TOWER'S,WITH A CHANNEL MASTER 7777AMP
YOU WILL RECEIVE WITH THE ANTENNAS DIRECT 91XG,90miles with it
And less of a wind sail.And a better price and free shipping and don't forget
The tilt feature on that 91,too get them broadcasting tower's this antenna
Will OUT performan the Db8,all the way around.lol no stacking boy that is a lot of money
For DB'8'S .ps I suggest that the trees are a problem that is why I suggest the 91,
And get the ANTENNA up about 40ft off the roof linen or get a chainsaws lol
And the Db8,is not a good idea

ant - ant - tv = series

ant
|--tv = parallel
ant

I see the words, but I can't picture it.

This is the only way I know how to do it:

https://i.imgur.com/zY9iOto.jpg

The above method uses off-the-shelf parts, but there is also a lowest-loss method for an additional 0.5 dB gain, and it requires special DIY connections.

It's for all stacking up ANTENNAs
 

Whether it's db8 or 91 XG iT's the only way too
Put 2 of the same antennas together!!
In less you have an amp with 2uhf in then
It you can do it that way too.
Good luck 3,Feet apart frum one another
And see if you can adjust the ANTENNA to a 35,DGAGL
Will all so help out with your receive.

I believe user name for the stacked antennas is HighTower ?
And like's too start trouble on an OTHER form,telling people that
He is going to cut their RG11,CABLE Rabbit pleas don't
Help this person out thank you.

Um, user name for this thread is in Wallingford, PA; HighTower on the other forum is in Fresno, CA.

I don't think HighTower will actually cut your RG11 coax; he is just giving you a hard time. Ignore him, please.

The poster that started this thread is user name. He is having a difficult time describing his reception problem and only gives short answers. I am finding it difficult to understand him, but I am doing the best I can to help him.

This is a method of connecting two antennas in parallel for more gain. It gives the most gain for two antennas, but it isn't easy to do.

http://forum.tvfool.com/attachment.p...7&d=1531780500

This method is used by Calaveras of AVS for his two 91XGs.
http://www.aa6g.org/DTV/index.html

https://i.imgur.com/EWH9LI1.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/BQ6FLNV.jpg

This would be one way to connect two antennas in series, but it is not a good idea.

http://forum.tvfool.com/attachment.p...9&d=1531784332

rabbit 73 correct me if I am wrong. One could build an open line feed harness between two antennas, or use ladder line. Placing the balun at the center point between the antennas. While I've not yet tried such an array. I plan to to try such an array in the near future. While most TV antenna stacking is done horizontally, stacking vertically will give different results, but in some cases could work better.
73 Steve KC7---

Hello, Steve

Yes, it can be done that way. The hard part is determining the impedance of the open-wire lines from each antenna to the combining point so that when they are connected in parallel, you have 300 ohms for the balun. Forum member holl_ands on AVS and digitalhome.ca does modeling; he might be able to help you with that. He has worked out an open-wire harness to combine the two 4-bay antennas of the CM4228HD, which he calls the HHH.

https://imageevent.com/holl_ands/mul...dshorizharness

Horizontal stacking reduces the horizontal beamwidth, but maintains the same vertical beamwidth of one antenna. Vertical stacking maintains the same horizontal beamwidth of one antenna, but reduces the vertical beamwidth.

73
W4...
ex-W2...
ex-DL4..

Vertical in the US does not work so if you don't want too be back on the roof
For get that open line feed with all the new stuff out there to day why!! Would
You it's a waste of time and one big mess I will stick with the T they work so well
Better than a combines.

You're confusing vertical polarization with vertical stacking of separate antennas. Different animals. Two bay, four bay, and eight bay antennas are all examples of antennas that include a vertical stacking of elements.



FWIW, many US stations who did not previously do so will be adding a vertical component to their signal to create either circular or elliptically polarized broadcast signals. In those specific cases, an antenna rotated so that it is vertically polarized will, in fact work just fine. However, since the default polarization of all TV broadcast signals is required by regulation to be horizontally polarized, the default polarization of the receiving antenna should also be horizontal.


This is the correct description of the behavior that results from the two commonly executed types of stacking.

Yes it's for the brodband? Not sure but not for regular broadcasting?

That information is for TV broadcasting, it has nothing to do with "broadband".

I posted on this thread to simply state there are different ways to combine antennas, that had not been mentioned. I have no idea what the OP is trying to do, or talking about.
Rabbit 73 I am very familiar with 4nec2 Antenna Sims by holl_ands.
I have spent hours looking at his work, and try to recreate some of the models into working antennas. Everything you posted in your reply matches my current understanding of antenna stacking.
ADTech your post are always welcome, and reflect knowledge of antenna design, and signal propagation.
As I reread this thread it looks more like user name is asking about horizontal verses vertical stacking of horizontally polarized antennas.
Steve

Rf STEVe look's like you are way in OVER YOUR HEAD!!! So GIV if UP
And for get about them wind sails,and get a 91xg!lol
And trying too sell junk!!OP has spoken!! Of a channel master amp??
And wasting everyone'S time lol.

I solved my reception problems years ago. The 91xg would be a poor antenna choice for my location.
I've only been building and, installing both commercial built, and home brew antennas for about 50 years

B,tong and you wish 50 Years.lol that's all I know is that with my 150ft tower receive of channel's 1500miles away and don't forget my inverted v. ham Radio station antenna.
And do you wont want to sell the 1960,antenna ?
Well good luck but it sounds like you don't know what you are doing with outdoor tv antenna'S ,becuse the 91XG,is best ANTENNA you can buy with a narrow beam pattern
If you don't know how to use the 91,that's the kind of tock you get out of someone
That doesn't know how to use a antennas Direct 91XG,? 50,year's of ANTENNAs to
Funny stop tocking bs,and the solid signal HDB 91,with IT'S90, beam with pattern.
Works well with a channel master 7777,AMP if you're tv,Broadcasting TOWER are in a v pattern you don't need a rotor if the ANTENNA is pointed right.away frum the strongest
Tower's and more pointed tord the far away tower's works quite well and no over load"S
If you know how an ANTENNA work's you should have no problems with RECeive of BROADCASTING channel's, of 1500miles away,lol,

Where are the moderators? The forum's signal is really starting to get overwhelmed by Nascarken's noise.

Boy for some one hoo has just became a member needs to go get a real antenna set-up
And Steve need too RECEIVE and do the same thing get a real antenna set-up too.
Lol 50 years of ANTENNAs instilling lol

This thread is about stacking antennas. Most of the known knowledge on the subject was expressed quite early in the thread.
I will only once more take this thread off topic . 53 years ago I was installing long wire, and dipole antennas in my parents attic, and some times outside.
I’ve wound enamel coated wire around toilet paper tubes to build cats whisker Chrystal radios, and I have used the local oscillator off one radio as BFO (beat frequency oscillator) on an other to receive SSB . When my parents could not afford to to buy me a state of the art receiver with a BFO or product detector.
I’ve been around radio, and TV antennas for a few days, but I do not have a closed mind. I’m still learning.

Yes heath kit one of the best know how ham Radio works
And why should you have a closed mind?share what you
Have done I am all ears,and you know that I am going too get a cold one out of the frige!
And smoke some bud,and I am all ears and yes Rf is a good long topic to tock about
Whether it's radio or television Rf,it's FUN to mess around with stagger stacked hi band
Vhf outdoor tv antennas,CQ CQ CQ DX,Hello can you hear me know?
Long wire &what MHZ??And VFO!!I
???

Recently I changed the coax cables and now can pick-up 2 additional channels(69 and 39 are weak). But other channels are now about 10% stronger. I experienced this situation before. Why does changing the coax cables change the signal strength?

There are a number of possibilities why new coax improves signal strength:

- Better quality coax (e.g., RG-6 is better than RG-59, it has a larger center conductor
- Better or tighter connectors and connections
- Crimps in the old cable
- If old cable was outdoors and weathers (or with lots of sun-exposure) it may have deteriorated
- Water, heat or stomping damage to old cable
- Etc.

Rg6??
 

Yes 18gage SOLiD copper,RG6,& 11,work very well!!!

Although I can't offer you any help with your problem, the red sentence intrigues me.

I used two Zenith converters from 2009 up until a couple of years ago when I bought new TVs. The converters worked great, especially the signal tester. My new TVs also have signal testers but are kinda lame in comparison.

Do you have it hooked up permanently, and if so, can you elaborate on how you did it? (If you just wired it up temporarily to test the signals then I know how to do that). Any of you gurus are certainly welcome to answer my question also.

Anybody know if there is any kind of inexpensive signal tester one can buy?

TIA!

You can make one from the Winegard SensarPro RV signal strength meter. See R. Ross's review on the product on Amazon for instructions. Around $80 for the components, which include the SensarPro, a project box, battery pack, and a DC blocker. I made one and it works well. Results are commensurate to an actual TV with signal strength meter.

However, for not too much more money, you can buy a portable TV such as the RCA DPTM70R, which has a decent signal strength indicator (signal strength rated 1-5, if i remember correctly) plus you can watch it!

Wow, I checked that out and started reading that guy's post and what he did. But into the second or third paragraph I realized this was way over my head. I guess I'll just leave things alone.

Wiring in a third TV just to check signals isn't something I want to do either.

But thanks for the reply anyway. :D

Then the only choice left for you is a used digital to analog converter box made 10 years ago. I liked the Apex DT502 that had two signal bars, one for signal quality, the other for signal strength.

http://forum.tvfool.com/attachment.p...1&d=1433425967

http://forum.tvfool.com/attachment.p...6&d=1534463603

The current converter boxes aren't made as well. The original CECBs had to meet strict specs to qualify for the coupon program.

The apex,DT502 yes they work very well I have 4,of them
I figured for what I paid for them was a good price
IT'S just like the channel master digital box 7001
That I have 2of if you are going too look for the box!
I suggest the channel master digital box is just a little bit better than the DT502.
And at least you be able too find the channel master,New not used.And if you
Buy used be careful becuse a lot of them do not work.I have been there done that.
Good luck.

Is thicker cable always better?

No, but it depends on the circumstances. Kind of like asking if a larger diameter garden hose is "always better".