Quote:
Originally Posted by amh
Thanks guys. I didn't know antennas could be combined and didn't think the San Diego stations were so far apart. (I used to live in Poway and used a single VHF/UHF antenna, but I could never quite aim it properly - it would either get Ch 10 and then lose something else, or I could get the others but lose Ch 10.)
If I get two antennas, can I stack them on the same pole or should they on separate mounts?
That Y5713 seems to be what I'm looking for. I think I'd rather pair it up with a traditional long antenna like the Antennacraft MXU47. (I'm pretty sure my wife would balk at the vertical panel style of the newer UHF antennas.)
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You might find a single combo antenna that covers all the available channels... But I agree with Pete, you are contending with edge path conditions so being able to optimize the aim at real CH-8 & CH-10 without compromising your UHF aim is going to be worth the effort involved with adding a second antenna and the combiner.
Given the large difference in frequency between the UHF band and VHF bands, an effective combiner/filter network (UHF/VHF Combiner AKA UHF VHF Signal Joiner or UVSJ) is relatively easy to design and build. So combining a single UHF antenna with a VHF antenna can be done effectively, without great expense. In fact, there is enough separation in frequency range between the H-VHF band and L-VHF band that there are inexpensive combiners that are intended for combing a Low-VHF (real CH-2 through CH-6) and a High-VHF (real CH-7 through CH-13) antenna into a single down-lead... such a devise is often referred to as a HLSJ (high low signal joiner) One could combine three antennas, but I digress.
Yes, you can stack the two antennas on a common mast. Try to keep them at least 3' from each other, more is better. If you use a 10' TV mast or a 10.5' chain link top-rail section, you'll have lot's of room to mount the UHF at the top and the VHF 4' to 5' below. A 5' mast would be a poor choice for stacking two antennas IMO.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/YARDGARD-...2#.Ufdtiaw5Nsg
The MXU47 would by a viable choice for the UHF portion of your system... I guess it's a matter of individual taste or preference, I like the compact profile of my DB4e... but I like to look at my 91XG too.
