Homemade Bowtie DB4 strength

[fierohink]

I made a homemade bowtie coat hanger DB4 antenna. I was a precise in quality as could be in assembly for dimensions and insulation and materials.

My signal plots is here:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...d2433040ce42d7

My antenna currently sits on top of my TV facing DC. I get all the yellow stations regularly, NBC has some drop out.

What is the estimated signal reception strength of this type of antenna? I would like to upgrade to a more stout version and place it outside on a mast with a rotor so I can easily switch between DC and Baltimore stations and want to compare to off the shelf models of similar pull. Also moving the antenna from the top of the TV will enable me to upgrade to a flat-screen hung from the wall instead of this monster WEGA sitting in the corner of the room taking up as much space as a recliner.

[tonyp063]

First thing to ask is which *exact* plans did you use?
Some, actually a lot, of them are scaled wrong for the current broadcast channels.

A link to what you used would be needed

[fierohink]

it has been quite a few years since I built the antenna. But from doing a google search and comparing what is in front of me I would say this:

www.diytvantennas.com/bowtie.php

[tonyp063]

OK. If it is, in fact, that antenna then it's too small for the current allocated frequencies.
You'll want something with 9.5" bowties with 9" seperation.

One of the very well respected members of the OTA community, holl_ands, has more information than you can shake a stick at on his website. Including gain curves & reception patterns

http://imageevent.com/holl_ands/multibay

Here's what he says about that antenna you are using
http://imageevent.com/holl_ands/multibay/4bay/utube

The most tested & refined are McClapp's 4bays. They give the best reception.
http://m4antenna.eastmasonvilleweather.com/index.html

For the record. After trying *many* different antenna models & types, I'm using a McClapp 4bay (10x9.5) in Baltimore & I get the DC stations flawlessly with this TVFool report.
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...d243ed5ce6bd98

[Jason l]

yes I second that my mclap it is an amazing antenna I have two of the 4 bays vertically stacked with a reflector I found the 10 inch whiskers with the 9 1/2 spacing work the best. I get all my UHF channels and with the 10 inch whisker I added all the VHF hi Channells. Real channel 7 8 9 11 13 some days I even get channel 10 Which Is Way far down in the gray zoneI can get all channels in one direction from where I am at

[Jason l]

Lol...... it's just my iOS talk to Type error. It is not a 24 Bay. Justin eight bay. Two 4 bays verticly stacked together. I do have two 8 bays however I have not been able to stack themsuccessfully