Db-8
 

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...2c157a4eaf092e

I have a DB8 and a Antenna craft Y5713 aimed 147 and 180 as recommended here with a RCA TVPRAMP1R preamp on one 18' mast. My signal levels vary wildly, going from 100% to zero in seconds.
Recent 65mph Santa Ana winds turned my antennas mast. I re-aimed and scanned. I'm now receiving several LA UHF stations. Is it normal for the DB-8 to receive stations from its backside? I have not modified it in any way. Could this cause signal issues with my San Diego stations?

The newer DB8E specs https://www.antennasdirect.com/cmss_...s/DB8E-TDS.pdf show three lobes off the back side (see page 2 of 9) that could easily provide usable reception and/or pick up interference depending on the circumstance. Virtually all directional antennas will exhibit a pattern like this, though each will be unique in the number of lobes and relative gain.

I don't have the older DB8 specs, but would expect to see a similar ability to receive from the rear. I know of no directional antenna that can claim to block all reception from the rear. They simply concentrate the majority of their reception ability to the front.

Thank you.
Do some antennas do a better job (maybe the 91xg) of rejecting the unwanted signals? I'd like the option when the time comes to replace the DB8.

Yes, some do better than others. You have to do some homework in order to implement, though. You have to know the offending frequencies & directions and how they correspond with the lobes and nulls of the antenna under consideration. That's where polar plots show up as most useful.

We've never created a formal Tech Data Sheet for the DB8 since it was our intention to discontinue it when the DB8e became available. Somehow, the DB8 just won't go away...