I built this design but with- out the reflector panel screen so I could receive broadcast signals from the front as well as the back of the antenna at the expense of some forward gain. you did an excellent job building this antenna
Thanks. The reflector also prevents interference from those rear towers. I've never been a fan of omnidirectional antennas because of that. But if it works for you, that's excellent! I just rescanned my tv channels and was getting 23 channels out here in the desert, now i get 41!
Wow. This antenna looks amazing. I'm in the process of making my own Grey Hooverman. For my first attempt I'm just going to just use PVC pipe (cheap) for the frame and some 10 guage copper wire for the antenna. My location is terrible though. I'm in the bottom of a valley with 200+ feet tall hills on all sides. The nearest TV station transmitter is 50 miles away. I'm trying to pick up 3-4 more stations from 60-75 miles away in the same direction. I'm currently using a small RCA yagi antenna with an amplifier. It picks up the 50 mile station ok.
Looks like a nice heavy duty build. I've been experimenting with different antennas but I live in an area that has poor reception no matter what I try. The gray hoverman I built works better than the Mohu Sky that I paid over $100 for. I built a stealth hawk that works also but living in the birthplace of cable TV ( Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania ) I'm limited to 9 channels from 3 stations.
I understand. Where I live now I can pick up 159 channels from antenna (Orange county, CA). The reason I built this one is that I will be moving to the upper desert and with a store bought antenna out there I can only pick up 21 channels, most of them in foreign languages. I just got back from a 5 day trip up there and while there I connected my #1 build antenna just standing on the ground with the 6 foot test post I had it connected to in the video. Without getting out a compass for a perfect setting, I scanned in 30 channels with some as far away as San Diego! (160 miles to the south). For a permanent install, I will be placing the antenna on a pole elevating it to approx. 20 feet.
Welcome aboard. I'm in California high desert. I built those antennas 6 years ago from scraps I had laying around, and am still using them today at my off grid cabin.
Is there a follow-up to this antenna video? It would be great to see how it worked out. Also would be great to hear how well you did with combining two of them.
When I was a kid in the early 60s we built antennas like this using the cat whisker dipole design on a 1 by piece a wood to get UHF. We had a VHF TV with a UHF converter back then. We had two of these type antennas on an old ladder bolted to the house. One faced east west and the other north south to get everything in our area. There was equal lengths of ladder line 300 ohm tv wire going to each antenna. At the junction was the TV 300 ohm ladder line or open wire TV cable going into the house to the TV UHF converter box. Where it converted to VHF channel 3 to feed the old round screen Zenith TV set. Grandma loved L. Welk show and the music on there. And Grandpa would watch it with her. Grandpa later changed the antennas and put some chicken wire o the back side of a new set him and I built together. BTW my Grandpas first UHF TV antenna was a blown out 500 watt light bulb hooked to the 300 ohm wire and put in the attic to get channel 20 in Springfield Illinois. Thanks for the antenna design it made me remember many good times with my Grandpa. 73s Jimmy, WX9DX
A blown out bulb that's a new one, but I can see how it worked. The part inside a light bulb that holds the filament was made of tungsten, and a good conductor. I never saw a bulb that large. We had 200 watt bulbs in our basement. Dad had florescent fixtures, but never used them except in the corner where the electronics bench was, that was the warmest part of the basement because the furnace was behind the chair for the bench. The chair was a telephone operator chair. Back when operators said number please. 73
One other thing... I didn't waste time in the video explaining all the cuts, bends and measurements, but if anyone would like those I can follow up with another video detailing the specifics. Just leave a comment/request and I will oblige asap.
As I said in my reply to your request in my second build video, I have already moved both antennas to the high desert and I have one installed on my cabin out there. (The larger one/Build #1) I haven't installed the smaller one yet and it is in my storage container out there. I will bring that one back on my next trip and do a video of the build specs and materials I used.
You don't need to thank you. It is easier to just go to Danny Hodges video of how to build a Gray Hoverman antenna. Thank you for your informative video.
My antenna is working just fine. I recently rescanned and went from 23 channels to 40 channels. The biggest problem out here is when high winds knock it out of alignment and i have to reset it..
@@GBear Thanks for letting me know. I look forward to see your Ultra Antenna, hopefully sometime soon. I got two louvers blinds that have the aluminum rods. Do you think the blind control rod with the grove all the way through the rod increases signal gain ?? Thank again Sir for honest and accurate information on the RUclips channel. P. S. Got some solid copper #4 wire cheap at yard sale. Have to decide on which type of wire to use. God bless too. vf
@@GBearI got that loud and clear using aluminum element and aluminum backbone. Now all I have to do is make the time and put together the killer antenna. Keep me in the loop when you decide to make another antenna. Thanks fella too. vf
You have Gray-Hoverman antenna with "top hats" added. It is a UHF antenna with the "hats" added to improve VHF reception. (You got it backwards.) Even in the desert you will have "bi-metallic corrosion" between the aluminum and the steel. You'll see it first at the balun terminals where you have copper wires with steel spades threaded up to aluminum. Your build was 2017 so odds are this antenna has been abandoned or is offering very degraded reception because of the corrosion.
Welcome aboard. That antenna is still on my cabin here off grid, and working just fine. As a matter of fact, i just recently rescanned and went up from 23 channels to 40.
Well built, the hard task is going uhf low to high, 500 MHz to 900 MHz. In that case a small mustache of Al wires do catch the signal. I am trying that in front of a parabolic dish and it is like 10 x gain.
G Bear very nice job but its 300 Ohm to 75 Ohm which is most cables was hoping you would show how many channels you picked up.. its a very professional looking antenna.. really Good Job.. Robert from North West New Jersey....
Jennifer Knodler thanks! I guess you haven't gotten to my next videos after this one you watched? I do show the channel scan and the number of channels picked up in those, as well as in the video named "build #2" Thanks for watching and don't forget to subscribe! I am now homesteading the desert and have these homemade antennas on my off grid cabin. I pick up San Diego from the upper desert near Edward's Air Base.
Parts of it on roofs, other parts in attics, and other parts in an electronics store, but some of the design is just due to materials on hand and a little ingenuity on my part. I know it doesn't look like much, but it does the job.
Excellent build quality! You really did a great job! Just a couple of suggestions. I was unable to see it well from the video but your reflector, in fact ALL metal, should be distanced 4.5 inches back from the front active elements. That distance is critical because it helps to match the actual wavelength of the signal for maximum forward gain at the lower end of the UHF band. 14-36. If you're trying to get higher channels. above 36 that no longer exist, then you would shorten that distance to about 3" for channels 60 through 72. If you build another one consider building your frame behind the reflector so that all of your active elements are spaced 4.5" from the reflector itself. That will provide maximum gain. But I really am impressed with your build quality. Really sturdy and professional looking!
Just BTW: If you look up the frequency of the station you care about and don't mind metric a handy thing to know is Wavelength = 300Meters / MHz The reflector distance is about 1/2 wavelength for best performance. The reflector should be a little more than 1/2 wavelength wide.
Do you have an episode that shows how this antenna does out in the dessert. Please let me know or fill in the blanks I'd like to see a sketch so I can make something similar. Thanks for such an interesting video! mike...in Los Angeles
Might be able to mount 2 of those antennas using the reflector in the center giving strong front and back signals and maybe even making it a 360 degree antenna.
Welcome aboard! I tried using both in series facing different directions. What I discovered is it acted as if the deflectors were removed and picked up interference from opposing channels, scrambling the normal channels. Being somewhat omnidirectional weakened both.
I don't know why everyone goes through all this work.I just ran a piece if 22 gauge wire around the attic and tied it to my uhf/vhf transformer that cost a dollar and I get 80 channels 40 miles north of Orlando.
In my other property I used a slingshot to put a fishing line to pull a wire over a tree at the top of the hill and it works great in the mountainsides
Lee Watts i dont have trees at my off grid either. I'm in the desert. I planted an orchard last spring but it'll be years before they grow up. So i put up a pole and mounted this antenna on it. Also, i have to deal with winds, sometimes gusting 30-80mph, the system I have now has been holding up to those winds.
Antennas work so much better with height and line of sight! I pick up San Diego channels from the high desert, about 180 miles south of me, but I have line of sight through the pass. I also tied both my homemade antennas together for better strength.
@@homesteadinginappalachia4579 21 up here in the direction I have them pointing. If I rotate to 2 other directions I can get another 8, but they are not worth the hassle. I don't watch a lot of TV anyway, mostly news and weather, and an occasional movie before bedtime.
@@GBear I hear that it's the same way here I had two antennas hook together so I pointed one in One Direction of a few channels and one in the other of a few channels and only one picked up so I only use one now that most of the time I get 30 channels but sometimes if it's in just the right spot I've got over 60 some of their doubles of course
Thanks. I'm sure that your comment is for the benefit of others new to this channel since the video was posted almost a year ago and I have already located them.
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I am wondering why you think the top hats you have put on the antenna increases VHF signal reception ?? I personally think the antenna looks so much better with the hats included. How are you doing fella living in the desert ??? Drop a line too.
I'm doing fine out here, thanks for asking. Antenna is still working well. The hats were added as a whim. I had those short pieces left over and figured that since an antenna is rated by the amount of surface area they have, I would add them to see. I really didn't see any big change by adding them, but since they didn't negatively affect the function, I just left them. Yes, i thought it looked better with them also.
@@GBear Hope you do some more videos this year. Look forward to them Sir. I am hoping this coming year to fire up the motorhome and do some traveling. I just might surprise you fella. You can call it my bucket list. Good day fella too. vf
With reasonably strong signals anything WILL work. The OP needed an antenna that works with weak signals i.e. distant stations. The bicycle wheel isn't going to cut it (unless you REALLY know what you're doing, and by that I mean have a solid understanding of RF and antenna design theory) for weak signal reception.
You have that reversed the main antenna is UHF the so called hat was not part of the Gray Hoverman antenna. That was added to pick up high VHF, won't work on Low VHF you need large elements for low VHF but not many places use the low part of the TV band. If you have a low number for TV its just a virtual number most channels are UHF even if they have a low number. 73
Yes, it was a great antenna design back then, and still a great antenna design. I live off grid in the remote desert, and get nearly 40 channels from it. Going on 9th year already.
G Bear, you have some inaccurate information in the audio portion of your video. The zig-zag wire you point to in the video provides the UHF gain of the antenna, and the "hat" provides the VHF-Hi. Also, VHF-Hi reception does NOT have to be "right on the border" of the UHF frequencies "to allow it to come in crystal clear." Other than that, this is an excellent video and exceptional VHF/UHF antenna build.
Thanks! You are absolutely correct. Ultra High Frequency (UHF) uses the larger part of the antenna (14-80), and Very High Frequency (VHF) brings in the lower channels (2-13). I appreciate people who pay attention to details.
Interesting question. All manufactured TV antennas seem to be built uniformly, so i did the same. I don't know if varying the lengths would help. Give it a try! You may stumble upon something!
@@GBear I read on a Texas instruments paper that 4.6" and 17.3" were the length of elements for frequencies between high VHF and UHF channel 36. The 4.6 was maybe 4.66. I have seen four Bayes since college 1980s days made with uniform lengths. If the lengths were all for a distant signal at the correct frequency, then fine. However these are for 175 to 610 MHz so I think there could be a rationale for various lengths. With all the freshman and sophomore engineering students I imagine this has been tried and fails for a technical reason beyond my pay grade. Were I to build one I would start at 4.66", then 9", 13" and 17.3". Also I imagine the reflector distance which is optimal depends upon the frequency and the material the reflector is made. 27" to 30" flat loop antenna seem to do well for high VHF.
That's a neat build! I have a question regarding the balun. I have built an antenna using aluminum wire. My question is did you do anything special to prevent dissimilar metal corrosion where the balun attaches to the aluminum?
Your balun 300 to 75 Ohms is for indoor use only. Homedepot sells channel master outdoor balun for 2.99 free ship to store. looks like a good build. Do a follow up video of the antennas performance.
Thanks for the input. I was under the impression that the main difference between indoor and outdoor balun's was that the outdoor one is weather-tite. I had planned on sealing it in heat-shrink tube to make it waterproof, but I found an outdoor one at Lowes for a little over $3. and used it instead. You can see the test of the unit at ruclips.net/video/_Y8WxuN0Gfs/видео.html It worked GREAT!
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Looks great. But the reflector is to close you can move it back around 4" and gain at least 3db to 6db that's a lot more signal and as for those hats you call them well they almost look like directors or reflector , have you tried it without them to see if if makes a difference? Uhf antennas can pick up vhf signals at a fraction of there wavelengths so if your vhf works then better for you it's a bonus. This broadside array reminds me of stacked biquad antenna with a reflector . We need more people building there own antennas and testing them. Keep up the good work . Was just calculating if design frequency is 600mhz " middle of uhf band" then a 1/4 wave spacing of 4.68" from driven wire back should provide optimum gain. I am about to design a similar antenna with 8 element double biquad with reflector for the 2 meter ham band. It's going to be rather large but have need for the pattern it has for long range groundwave transmission . Good luck on your project, love what your doing.
The hats will increase the gain of VHF but also take some gain away from the UHF. The reflector looks correct as it should be 100mm. The aluminum bar holding the hats might be taking away gain. I understand you have it insulated but RF is sensitive of distance, that's how the hats work.
Create My DVD thanks for the feedback! I'll try some of those corrections when all my other needs are fulfilled out here. To me TV is not a survival necessity. I don't use it for much more than news and weather.
I purchased a 4bay antenna, model DB4, online and it was a dog. I kept looking and looking at it trying to figure out why it didn't perform well. I finally found a reference for it's design. It was actually designed for channels 60-72!! Sure enough, the reflector was less than 3" from the front active elements. One day I experimented by removing the top bracket so as to space the elements further from the reflector. My signal level shot UP quite a bit. I got some metal pieces and drilled some holes so as to mount the reflector 4.5" from the active elements. WOW!!! NOW the dude performs great!! Imagine selling an antenna made for channels we don't even receive anymore! In this case, it's STILL sold on the market at a huge discounted price. BUT, it's a great deal as long as you move back the reflector to make it work well. It's a simple mod and it now works very well! As good as any 4-bay.
I want to make one of these antennas since I'm 90 miles (by reception) up here in the Hudson Valley .I'm adding a surge protector I know I can get Albany stations but I also want to get the New York ones! Even though there's the Bear Mountains that I can think block the signal. I get the NYC Stations from my cable company Charter (was originally Time Warner Cable). I also want to add this Anntena when I go camping.
Cole Piaget antennas are basically "line of sight" receivers even though the new digital TV is beamed from a satellite, it is then broadcast from tower to tower to TV antenna on the ground. When you had cable, they transmitted through wire to your TV, so line of sight wasn't necessary. You can try an antenna, get it up as high as possible, like 20-30 feet and see if you get anything. Then you can add a signal booster and see if that helps any, but I'm afraid that having a mountain group blocking line of sight may be your downfall. Also, remember that with DTV, an 'exact' azimuth is required for best signal. Even 1 or 2 degrees off will deliver poor reception.
Well it does suck that one can't watch a distant channel with snow as in the pre -digital days, it does have a better picture and when you do get a signal it is crystal clear, no ghosts or distortions. And the sub channels give you lots of choices which didn't exist before.@@cjpwolf2436
@@GBear True, terrestrial antennas are essentially line-of-sight devices. So, if that's the case, how are we able to receive OTA TV signals from stations 70+ miles away? The answer is knife-edge diffraction and/or tropospheric scatter. If you look at the TVFool website, they show single edge diffraction, double-edge diffraction and tropospheric scatter on this page: www.tvfool.com/?option=com_content&task=view&id=57#table_details
what is the length of the straight Radial from the point of bend on both the hat and the vhf Radial I notice they are not both the same length the main is 90% at 7 inches and I think you said 30% on the hat but then the two straight radials from both?
Hello GBear. Could you tell me if the Levolor blinds control rod that you used is a solid piece of rod or is it a tube ?? How are your two antenna working out for you Sir ?? Hope all is well with your desert lifestyle too. Drop a line fella. Peace vf 😀😀😀
Hi VF! The rod I used was actually solid, but grooved lengthwise. It was standard for blinds that covered sliding glass doors, not windows. I'm fine, I hope you are too.
Also, yes, my antennas are still working perfectly, although I seldom watch TV, except for extreme weather reports. Even those are usually a waste of time. For entertainment, I watch old TV shows like the Rifleman, or stream shows like "How It's Made" for knowledge.
My location for whatever reason has a lot of interesting how too TV shows. My weather channel is really good for accuracy. I would say 70 plus percent lately. The old shows still rule fella too. The bitch with my location is signal fading in and out. I have a double bay signalmaster with flat punched sheet metal whiskers which is a knock off of the Channel Master double bay wire whiskers type elements. I am just going to have to buckle down and make me some antennas and see what works for me fella. Any suggestion would be appreciated Sir. Peace @@GBear
Welcome aboard, and thanks. I just googled TV antennas and one of the things that came up was pictures of TV antennas. I looked through those and saw a Gray Hoverman that looked like the best design for my windy area. Then as I was waiting for time to try to build one, I saw a couple of them on roofs near my town, so I assumed it was a good design.
Thanks. I'll be posting measurements and materials info in a couple of weeks, so be sure to stop back and look for those. If you haven't already, go back and subscribe to my channel and you will be notified when I post the updates.
G Bear Thank you for your counsel to which point I have failed. The old guy still don;t have a TV. I Even Though I tried A Hybrid I added 7 Inch Whiskers between the loops 6 Of Them" X 2 3" Spread. I did Only Fail as Of Yet" But" Soon I am Bound To Run Out Of Failures" Thanks For Your Attention" Your Friend Tim.
Ecclesiastes 7:12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. E = mc2 and had that energy have no channel or controller we would have never met" I B The Antenna" Just a thought?
Actually, the antenna isn't connected to anything either. The wire parts are collectors that grab signals out of the air. The uhf just adds to the vhf wires with a slight resistance.
I noticed you made the boom out of aluminum instead of a non conductive material. I'm very curious if this would cause some loss of gain. Using aluminum would make the build much easier.
I'm glad it worked out well for you, It certainly looks like a very sturdy build and similar in design to what I wanted to build but I couldn't find square plastic or vinyl to use for the boom I saw in a video. Instead, I reluctantly used PVC tubing and that turned out to be a real bear ( no pun intended, well maybe) to screw on the copper. I'm glad you showed me aluminum works well too in case I build another. Up here in CT its very hilly so I decided to build a dbgh for max gain and hopefully pickup CBS which is only 35 miles away, not even a parabolic I had worked for that. Which by the way, comes down with winds of 65 mph every time.
Create My DVD I built mine for the CA desert where winds of 80mph are sometimes present. The first year I put them up with a 2 piece 1 inch steel pipe joined in the center with a threaded coupling. They blew down twice, breaking the pipe at the coupler. ASAP I will add guy lines to the mast as the windy season started yesterday. 20 mph gusts since noon yesterday, all night and still blowing this morning. My antennas never failed to withstand the winds.
That's exactly what happened to my parabolic. If yours blows around to much, you could always replace the screen with the aluminum rods or wire for less wind resistance. distances between the rods are critical for gain so look them up first. Nice chatting with ya, good luck. :)
Unless you can place the antenna very high in the air, 100 miles is never going to happen. TV signals are very much a line of sight thing. The curve of the earth means that the earth gets in the way. I also think you may have confused UHF with VHF. An element 3 to 6 feet long is normally needed for VHF. One foot elements do UHF. Extra bits on a 1 foot can make it work like a 3 foot.
While what you're saying is true, when I lived in Kansas I watched a TV channel 110 mi. away each evening which always came in soon after sundown. The ionosphere bounced the signal fairly reliably each night. Also FM stations 100 mi. away came in very poorly during the day, but after sundown, they always came in just fine. So while the 70mi limit is basically true for all reception, the ionosphere can make 100 mi signals come in very reliably each evening, depending on where you live!!
@@RickPaquin True but any claim that the antenna made it happen is BS. Special cases happen all the time but any antenna company advertising based on those is effectively lying.
It is spelled balun, and since the antennas are installed up high, I would have to climp thevpoles to show them. You can google balun and find pictures of them. I hope that helps.
Indeed he could use a Discone. But a Discone is an omnidirectional antenna, therefore has unity gain. The OP needed an antenna suitable for weak signal work, i.e. one with more than unity gain.
The reflector screen looks a little too close to the elements. The reflector supports are even closer. What is the distance? I think 4.25 inches would be ideal.
@@GBear You'd get more gain if the reflector screen were at the optimal distance from the active elements. Since you're happy with the reception that you're getting, it's obviously good enough as it is for your situation. Someone else might need the extra boost.
@@jerrylohr3491 thanks, and welcome aboard! I tried moving the panels back last time I had the antenna down for repairs from wind damage. It actually lowered my reception at 3.5 inches from the elements.
Wrong the VHF is the hats. Gray Hoverman antennas are UHF. The hats were added to pick up high VHF. You cannot pick up low VHF with this antenna. You can increase gain by couple two gray Hoverman antennas together. Low VHF needs long elements there are not too many real low VHF channels out there maybe the virtual number is two through 6 but most broadcast on UHF. Your antenna will pick up good if you put it up high enough.
Thanks. Welcome aboard. I shot that video years ago and hsve since moved off grid in the high desert where I use those antennae daily. They work very well mounted on a 21 foot pole.
@@GBear yes I guess the desert is mainly flat but you said high so I assume you are up high. I haven't built mine yet I am going to use copper on mine. The drill method will make the copper wire straight.
@@GBear yeah like the ultimate antenna guy does. He puts one end of the copper wire in a vise and the other end in and cordless drill and for a short second twist the wire until it's straight. It also stiffens the wire. You don't twist too much.
GhettoRanger today in the U.S. we have DTV and TV. This antenna picks up both at my remote desert location. You will find video of that at ruclips.net/user/gbear "Homesteading the Desert" thanks for watching and commenting.
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I just looked around town for 4 hours for a balun Nope"I did get an old vhf uhf/ fm connector/ balun? (not sure YET) At a pawn shop junk pile" I will because of you Add The Hats And Reflector. Got Some at Walmart Garden section. Use to be Every one carried those balun's not so any more:
No, sorry. I made the antennas (2 of them) in preparation for my move off grid. I didn't expect the popularity of it. In the second video I do go over some of the methods and measurements though. Welcome aboard!
My friend G-Bear"Figured I would touch base with you been a couple of weeks"The Old gut bought a new TV.Now that he can get free TV" Problem he bought one with Roku" So I hooked him up with my internet"But because of you he will have TV. when the cable goes out" I Bought and Refurbished A Singer Model 66 1945 Sewing Machine.that can be converted back to a treadle machine. Then I taught myself how to make dentures and bought and made all the tool's, Now I can make between 6 to 10 sets for about $100. Last few days though I dropped Auger housing on my snow blower that is almost as old as me"and turned it into a temporary (summer)"" Well""? Plow"Furrow"Rototiller Minus The Roto Part"Works Good Moving Even Clay With It.Filling in low spots with it and Furrowing when needed. Any Way Just Stopped By To Se How You Are Doing? And To Tell You I Am Alive. Hop All Is Well. Your Friend Tim.
Those baluns were super easy to find until Radio Shack went away. Anyone looking, try independent bargain stores. If they're run by East Indians, the likelihood is high in my experience. Otherwise, Ebay!
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Thank You bunches, I feel guilty of taking your time and asking another question, because we do not have access to the bender you have to make crisp bends, would you be able to give us some type of clue on how we can get these same exact duplicatable bends as perfect as yours. I know by experience that to do bends in the exact center from one to another it is so difficult and I just thought maybe you know a way that is fool proof because I have tried to find tubing benders, wire benders on the internet and I cannot come up with such a thing to do such a great job. I really would like to make a bunch of these antennas to give to family members, there are 10 of us kids, I am 69. Thank You G Bear
What is the chance you would sell me the unit fella ??? My unit does not work any more and would just like to get one soon. Your antenna has the Levolor rods. Maybe you could consider my saking GBear ?? Thanks for the update fella. Anything interesting happen to you lately fella ?? Peace vf @@GBear
I really don't want to give up my backup antenna. I get strange weather out here, and i always try to keep 2 of everything, just in case. Antennas don't go bad, the connections do.
Great build ! I built one to test using 1x4 and #10 copper cause thats what I had laying around . I'm getting Dallas stations 123 miles to the south west . SO now I need to rebuild it to last in the weather and not be so dam ugly . Is that aluminum square tubing u have the plastic insulator mounted to ? I'm looking for ideas on how to construct ... Thanks
larry haney First off, congrats on your successful build! Yes, that is 1 inch square aluminum tube, 1/16" thick walls. I bought it from the remnants room at my local metal supply for just a couple of dollars.
larry haney yes, I am using both my builds tied together and they work great. Look at my playlist titled "The first 2 years" and you will see numerous references to them.
@@dcfuksurmom Sounds like it SHOULD make a difference, but it doesn't. RF travels along the surface of a conductor. (do a Google search for skin-effect) The main difference is cost, other differences being weight and structural strength.
Well, I am using that antenna in the California high desert and I pick up San Diego channels. San Diego is physically 186 miles away, but I'm sure I'm probably picking it up from a relay tower in Riverside, about 100 miles south of my location.
Having been a machinist for 47 years, I believe I can safely say that when you bend aluminum that sharply, it cracks. Don't know if it would interfere with performance, but it couldn't help.
Sorry, but no, you can't safely say that it cracks because I bent it in 24 places over 2 antennas, and none of the bends cracked. If you are thinking that the dark areas at the bends are cracks, you are mistaken. Those marks are just 'Sharpie' marks I used for location of bends. Maybe they would have cracked if I didn't use the bender brake?
@@GBear perfection is unobtainable and the math don't lie, for the best results for the standard hooverman dimensions your reflector should be 4" behind the element. Just sayin but what do I know just trying to help. Chris
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While i am still building this with out proper Scematics I kept coming up with 3/5/and 7 Check this out? significance of 3,5,7 Google it it will blow your mind ??WTF???
I built this design but with- out the reflector panel screen so I could receive broadcast signals from the front as well as the back of the antenna at the expense of some forward gain. you did an excellent job building this antenna
Thanks. The reflector also prevents interference from those rear towers. I've never been a fan of omnidirectional antennas because of that. But if it works for you, that's excellent!
I just rescanned my tv channels and was getting 23 channels out here in the desert, now i get 41!
Thanks for the info! This is the only video I have found so far that gives this much detail.
Wow. This antenna looks amazing. I'm in the process of making my own Grey Hooverman. For my first attempt I'm just going to just use PVC pipe (cheap) for the frame and some 10 guage copper wire for the antenna. My location is terrible though. I'm in the bottom of a valley with 200+ feet tall hills on all sides. The nearest TV station transmitter is 50 miles away. I'm trying to pick up 3-4 more stations from 60-75 miles away in the same direction. I'm currently using a small RCA yagi antenna with an amplifier. It picks up the 50 mile station ok.
Welcome aboard! I hope it works for you, since it sounds like line of sight is not good from your location. You may want to add a booster.
Great job, BTW that is a UHF antenna (Grey Hooverman I believe), it will pick up VHF also. The hat just gives it a little extra boost.
Yes, you hit the nail on the head.
I thought the top and bottom bars were for VHF reception?
You are correct.
Very nice workmanship !
I built one with the hats and the reflector panel to mine and pulled 29 channels.
Thanks! I use mine out here in the desert and they work great!
I think this was the first video of yours I ever watched. Glad I found it because I have learned so much from your other videos since 😉
Thanks. Always happy to share my knowledge.
Looks like a nice heavy duty build. I've been experimenting with different antennas but I live in an area that has poor reception no matter what I try. The gray hoverman I built works better than the Mohu Sky that I paid over $100 for. I built a stealth hawk that works also but living in the birthplace of cable TV ( Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania ) I'm limited to 9 channels from 3 stations.
I understand. Where I live now I can pick up 159 channels from antenna (Orange county, CA). The reason I built this one is that I will be moving to the upper desert and with a store bought antenna out there I can only pick up 21 channels, most of them in foreign languages. I just got back from a 5 day trip up there and while there I connected my #1 build antenna just standing on the ground with the 6 foot test post I had it connected to in the video. Without getting out a compass for a perfect setting, I scanned in 30 channels with some as far away as San Diego! (160 miles to the south). For a permanent install, I will be placing the antenna on a pole elevating it to approx. 20 feet.
I finally got around to watching this video. I may try to make one similar to this. Thanks for the info. Have a great day...Calvin
Welcome aboard. I'm in California high desert.
I built those antennas 6 years ago from scraps I had laying around, and am still using them today at my off grid cabin.
Is there a follow-up to this antenna video? It would be great to see how it worked out. Also would be great to hear how well you did with combining two of them.
Welcome aboard! Yes, there are a few follow ups to that video. You can find them in my playlists.
When I was a kid in the early 60s we built antennas like this using the cat whisker dipole design on a 1 by piece a wood to get UHF. We had a VHF TV with a UHF converter back then. We had two of these type antennas on an old ladder bolted to the house. One faced east west and the other north south to get everything in our area. There was equal lengths of ladder line 300 ohm tv wire going to each antenna. At the junction was the TV 300 ohm ladder line or open wire TV cable going into the house to the TV UHF converter box. Where it converted to VHF channel 3 to feed the old round screen Zenith TV set. Grandma loved L. Welk show and the music on there. And Grandpa would watch it with her. Grandpa later changed the antennas and put some chicken wire o the back side of a new set him and I built together. BTW my Grandpas first UHF TV antenna was a blown out 500 watt light bulb hooked to the 300 ohm wire and put in the attic to get channel 20 in Springfield Illinois. Thanks for the antenna design it made me remember many good times with my Grandpa. 73s Jimmy, WX9DX
Sounds like great memories! Thanks for the comments!
A blown out bulb that's a new one, but I can see how it worked. The part inside a light bulb that holds the filament was made of tungsten, and a good conductor. I never saw a bulb that large. We had 200 watt bulbs in our basement. Dad had florescent fixtures, but never used them except in the corner where the electronics bench was, that was the warmest part of the basement because the furnace was behind the chair for the bench. The chair was a telephone operator chair. Back when operators said number please. 73
One other thing... I didn't waste time in the video explaining all the cuts, bends and measurements, but if anyone would like those I can follow up with another video detailing the specifics. Just leave a comment/request and I will oblige asap.
I would love to know the details so I can build one - it looks great - any chance you can shoot me the spec's or post them here ?
As I said in my reply to your request in my second build video, I have already moved both antennas to the high desert and I have one installed on my cabin out there. (The larger one/Build #1) I haven't installed the smaller one yet and it is in my storage container out there. I will bring that one back on my next trip and do a video of the build specs and materials I used.
You don't need to thank you. It is easier to just go to Danny Hodges video of how to build a Gray Hoverman antenna. Thank you for your informative video.
Looks like a solid design, I'd like to try and build one too, could you send me the specs? Thanks!
Thank you for your video. I just placed an order for a balun, I can’t wait to get my antenna built. Thanks again.
Welcome aboard! Enjoy the fruits of your labor! I do every day.
Hello GBear, have you got around to make an new antenna ??? Just wondering if you have any good ideas to share with us all.
My antenna is working just fine. I recently rescanned and went from 23 channels to 40 channels. The biggest problem out here is when high winds knock it out of alignment and i have to reset it..
@@GBear Thanks for letting me know. I look forward to see your Ultra Antenna, hopefully sometime soon. I got two louvers blinds that have the aluminum rods. Do you think the blind control rod with the grove all the way through the rod increases signal gain ?? Thank again Sir for honest and accurate information on the RUclips channel. P. S. Got some solid copper #4 wire cheap at yard sale. Have to decide on which type of wire to use. God bless too. vf
The aluminum rod is what I used. I'm glad I used square aluminum tubing for the frame, because pvc pipe doesn't last long in the desert sun.
@@GBearI got that loud and clear using aluminum element and aluminum backbone. Now all I have to do is make the time and put together the killer antenna. Keep me in the loop when you decide to make another antenna. Thanks fella too. vf
You got it.
You have Gray-Hoverman antenna with "top hats" added. It is a UHF antenna with the "hats" added to improve VHF reception. (You got it backwards.) Even in the desert you will have "bi-metallic corrosion" between the aluminum and the steel. You'll see it first at the balun terminals where you have copper wires with steel spades threaded up to aluminum. Your build was 2017 so odds are this antenna has been abandoned or is offering very degraded reception because of the corrosion.
Welcome aboard. That antenna is still on my cabin here off grid, and working just fine. As a matter of fact, i just recently rescanned and went up from 23 channels to 40.
Well built, the hard task is going uhf low to high, 500 MHz to 900 MHz. In that case a small mustache of Al wires do catch the signal. I am trying that in front of a parabolic dish and it is like 10 x gain.
Welcome aboard! Good idea! Let us know how it works out!
@@GBear it works ok for my flat region, i hunted tv from 66 miles south once, pathway to sao paulo.
@FernandoVisserCedrola Yeah, I now live off grid in the high desert and have been using this antenna for the past 8 years.
G Bear very nice job but its 300 Ohm to 75 Ohm which is most cables was hoping you would show how many channels you picked up.. its a very professional looking antenna.. really Good Job.. Robert from North West New Jersey....
Jennifer Knodler thanks! I guess you haven't gotten to my next videos after this one you watched? I do show the channel scan and the number of channels picked up in those, as well as in the video named "build #2"
Thanks for watching and don't forget to subscribe! I am now homesteading the desert and have these homemade antennas on my off grid cabin. I pick up San Diego from the upper desert near Edward's Air Base.
Parts of it on roofs, other parts in attics, and other parts in an electronics store, but some of the design is just due to materials on hand and a little ingenuity on my part. I know it doesn't look like much, but it does the job.
Excellent build quality! You really did a great job! Just a couple of suggestions. I was unable to see it well from the video but your reflector, in fact ALL metal, should be distanced 4.5 inches back from the front active elements. That distance is critical because it helps to match the actual wavelength of the signal for maximum forward gain at the lower end of the UHF band. 14-36. If you're trying to get higher channels. above 36 that no longer exist, then you would shorten that distance to about 3" for channels 60 through 72. If you build another one consider building your frame behind the reflector so that all of your active elements are spaced 4.5" from the reflector itself. That will provide maximum gain. But I really am impressed with your build quality. Really sturdy and professional looking!
Thanks Rick.
@@GBear : Typical "Gray - Hoverman" Super Antenna design .
You betcha! Thank you.
Welcome aboard!
Just BTW:
If you look up the frequency of the station you care about and don't mind metric a handy thing to know is
Wavelength = 300Meters / MHz
The reflector distance is about 1/2 wavelength for best performance.
The reflector should be a little more than 1/2 wavelength wide.
@Ken Smith thanks Ken!
Do you have an episode that shows how this antenna does out in the dessert. Please let me know or fill in the blanks I'd like to see a sketch so I can make something similar. Thanks for such an interesting video!
mike...in Los Angeles
Yes,there are a couple of videos showing its operation out here in my playlist for the first two years.
I hooked my wires directly to the antenna. Worked fine! I get 61 channels.
Yes, you can do that. The balun or transformer just increases the resistance to 300ohms for better reception and distance.
Had to find this video and share with my friend, he's building one now. Thanks 👍
I'm still using mine out here.
@@GBear 👍
Might be able to mount 2 of those antennas using the reflector in the center giving strong front and back signals and maybe even making it a 360 degree antenna.
Welcome aboard! I tried using both in series facing different directions. What I discovered is it acted as if the deflectors were removed and picked up interference from opposing channels, scrambling the normal channels. Being somewhat omnidirectional weakened both.
I don't know why everyone goes through all this work.I just ran a piece if 22 gauge wire around the attic and tied it to my uhf/vhf transformer that cost a dollar and I get 80 channels 40 miles north of Orlando.
Lee Watts good point! I made mine for an off grid application, and i don't have an attic put there.
In my other property I used a slingshot to put a fishing line to pull a wire over a tree at the top of the hill and it works great in the mountainsides
Lee Watts i dont have trees at my off grid either. I'm in the desert. I planted an orchard last spring but it'll be years before they grow up. So i put up a pole and mounted this antenna on it. Also, i have to deal with winds, sometimes gusting 30-80mph, the system I have now has been holding up to those winds.
@@leewatts3153 here in Las Vegas i saw one house where they mounted their antenna on the trunks of a tall palm tree.
awesome Antenner . I've got up to 60 channels from a traditional antena. I do live atop the mountain.😀
Antennas work so much better with height and line of sight! I pick up San Diego channels from the high desert, about 180 miles south of me, but I have line of sight through the pass. I also tied both my homemade antennas together for better strength.
@@GBear so how many channels do you get now ?
@@homesteadinginappalachia4579 21 up here in the direction I have them pointing. If I rotate to 2 other directions I can get another 8, but they are not worth the hassle. I don't watch a lot of TV anyway, mostly news and weather, and an occasional movie before bedtime.
@@GBear I hear that it's the same way here I had two antennas hook together so I pointed one in One Direction of a few channels and one in the other of a few channels and only one picked up so I only use one now that most of the time I get 30 channels but sometimes if it's in just the right spot I've got over 60 some of their doubles of course
The transformers are $4.00 on Amazon. They support UHF and VHF both. A choice of almost a dozen. Search "coax transformer". Just FYI. :)
Thanks. I'm sure that your comment is for the benefit of others new to this channel since the video was posted almost a year ago and I have already located them.
Tip for the day save your wood ashes especially hard wood.
Boil the wood ash keep boiling keep going" it makes LYE" which if boiled long enough turns to raw potassium hydroxide """Hydrox" highly reactive with water"" when dried add scrap aluminium it is highly reactive explosive even""" and becomes an immediate source of hydrogen. (fuel)
You do not have to over boil it though."
You could add it to lard and make soap?
I am wondering why you think the top hats you have put on the antenna increases VHF signal reception ?? I personally think the antenna looks so much better with the hats included.
How are you doing fella living in the desert ??? Drop a line too.
I'm doing fine out here, thanks for asking. Antenna is still working well. The hats were added as a whim. I had those short pieces left over and figured that since an antenna is rated by the amount of surface area they have, I would add them to see.
I really didn't see any big change by adding them, but since they didn't negatively affect the function, I just left them. Yes, i thought it looked better with them also.
@@GBear Hope you do some more videos this year. Look forward to them Sir.
I am hoping this coming year to fire up the motorhome and do some traveling. I just might surprise you fella. You can call it my bucket list. Good day fella too. vf
Thanks. Sounds like fun!
Oh, and don't kuck the bucket. It only hurts your foot.🤣🤣👍
@@GBear Not only does it hurt your foot. The foot cannot be used on the accelerator pedal. Have a great day fella too.
I use an aluminum bicycle wheel, it works great. I think anything will work.
With reasonably strong signals anything WILL work. The OP needed an antenna that works with weak signals i.e. distant stations. The bicycle wheel isn't going to cut it (unless you REALLY know what you're doing, and by that I mean have a solid understanding of RF and antenna design theory) for weak signal reception.
You have that reversed the main antenna is UHF the so called hat was not part of the Gray Hoverman antenna. That was added to pick up high VHF, won't work on Low VHF you need large elements for low VHF but not many places use the low part of the TV band. If you have a low number for TV its just a virtual number most channels are UHF even if they have a low number. 73
2:20. The zig zag Hoverman part is indeed the UHF part by design of Hoverman himself back in the 1960s.
Yes, it was a great antenna design back then, and still a great antenna design. I live off grid in the remote desert, and get nearly 40 channels from it. Going on 9th year already.
Welcome aboard!
G Bear, you have some inaccurate information in the audio portion of your video.
The zig-zag wire you point to in the video provides the UHF gain of the antenna, and the "hat" provides the VHF-Hi. Also, VHF-Hi reception does NOT have to be "right on the border" of the UHF frequencies "to allow it to come in crystal clear."
Other than that, this is an excellent video and exceptional VHF/UHF antenna build.
Thanks! You are absolutely correct. Ultra High Frequency (UHF) uses the larger part of the antenna (14-80), and Very High Frequency (VHF) brings in the lower channels (2-13). I appreciate people who pay attention to details.
Yes that's exactly what I was thinking. I'm ready to build me one and only need UHF.
Most places do only need UHF. Nowadays, it is referred to as DTV or TV.
Why are the lengths uniform? Would varying the lengths, 5", 9", 13" and 17" assist in picking up particular frequencies?
Interesting question. All manufactured TV antennas seem to be built uniformly, so i did the same. I don't know if varying the lengths would help. Give it a try! You may stumble upon something!
@@GBear I read on a Texas instruments paper that 4.6" and 17.3" were the length of elements for frequencies between high VHF and UHF channel 36. The 4.6 was maybe 4.66.
I have seen four Bayes since college 1980s days made with uniform lengths. If the lengths were all for a distant signal at the correct frequency, then fine. However these are for 175 to 610 MHz so I think there could be a rationale for various lengths. With all the freshman and sophomore engineering students I imagine this has been tried and fails for a technical reason beyond my pay grade.
Were I to build one I would start at 4.66", then 9", 13" and 17.3". Also I imagine the reflector distance which is optimal depends upon the frequency and the material the reflector is made.
27" to 30" flat loop antenna seem to do well for high VHF.
All good information, thanks, and welcome aboard!
Got the elements backwards..zig zag are UHF, other is for VHF.
Yes, thank you. Old news, though. That video is like 6 years old.
That's a neat build! I have a question regarding the balun. I have built an antenna using aluminum wire. My question is did you do anything special to prevent dissimilar metal corrosion where the balun attaches to the aluminum?
Welcome aboard Ed! Not really. I used stainless steel machine screws, washers and nuts to make contact at the center of the zigzag elements.
Your balun 300 to 75 Ohms is for indoor use only. Homedepot sells channel master outdoor balun for 2.99 free ship to store. looks like a good build. Do a follow up video of the antennas performance.
Thanks for the input. I was under the impression that the main difference between indoor and outdoor balun's was that the outdoor one is weather-tite. I had planned on sealing it in heat-shrink tube to make it waterproof, but I found an outdoor one at Lowes for a little over $3. and used it instead. You can see the test of the unit at ruclips.net/video/_Y8WxuN0Gfs/видео.html It worked GREAT!
weather tight, correct. i didn't care fore lowes rca baluns. i think the build quality of the channel master is better.
Regarding this Lesson you gave me. I Am A Giver I Take Nothing For Free" If My Idea Works Out I Give To You As Yours For Free It could Possibly Me Worth Millions""Its Yours" Did Not Want To Represent Myself as a nut. "But" I Am Just the Harmless Type. I am One Who Likes to Help Others.I Am Especially fond of those who have helped me So with that Said Raboni (which Means Teacher)" My tip to you today Is This"A camp fire wood stove Open flames Does indeed put out enough infrared light to charge a solar cell. It may take a while longer to charge your battery's to run your Blue Green lights for Growing Plants"
But Then Dinner Is Yours.
My Most Beloved Study is Energy Production and Transference"And if It Transfers to Dinner That;s Good Too""
Looks great. But the reflector is to close you can move it back around 4" and gain at least 3db to 6db that's a lot more signal and as for those hats you call them well they almost look like directors or reflector , have you tried it without them to see if if makes a difference? Uhf antennas can pick up vhf signals at a fraction of there wavelengths so if your vhf works then better for you it's a bonus. This broadside array reminds me of stacked biquad antenna with a reflector . We need more people building there own antennas and testing them. Keep up the good work .
Was just calculating if design frequency is 600mhz " middle of uhf band" then a 1/4 wave spacing of 4.68" from driven wire back should provide optimum gain. I am about to design a similar antenna with 8 element double biquad with reflector for the 2 meter ham band. It's going to be rather large but have need for the pattern it has for long range groundwave transmission . Good luck on your project, love what your doing.
Debbie Bohannan when time allows. I will try those modifications. Thanks for watching and commenting.
The hats will increase the gain of VHF but also take some gain away from the UHF. The reflector looks correct as it should be 100mm. The aluminum bar holding the hats might be taking away gain. I understand you have it insulated but RF is sensitive of distance, that's how the hats work.
Create My DVD thanks for the feedback! I'll try some of those corrections when all my other needs are fulfilled out here. To me TV is not a survival necessity. I don't use it for much more than news and weather.
I purchased a 4bay antenna, model DB4, online and it was a dog. I kept looking and looking at it trying to figure out why it didn't perform well. I finally found a reference for it's design. It was actually designed for channels 60-72!! Sure enough, the reflector was less than 3" from the front active elements. One day I experimented by removing the top bracket so as to space the elements further from the reflector. My signal level shot UP quite a bit. I got some metal pieces and drilled some holes so as to mount the reflector 4.5" from the active elements. WOW!!! NOW the dude performs great!! Imagine selling an antenna made for channels we don't even receive anymore! In this case, it's STILL sold on the market at a huge discounted price.
BUT, it's a great deal as long as you move back the reflector to make it work well. It's a simple mod and it now works very well! As good as any 4-bay.
I want to make one of these antennas since I'm 90 miles (by reception) up here in the Hudson Valley .I'm adding a surge protector I know I can get Albany stations but I also want to get the New York ones! Even though there's the Bear Mountains that I can think block the signal. I get the NYC Stations from my cable company Charter (was originally Time Warner Cable). I also want to add this Anntena when I go camping.
Cole Piaget antennas are basically "line of sight" receivers even though the new digital TV is beamed from a satellite, it is then broadcast from tower to tower to TV antenna on the ground. When you had cable, they transmitted through wire to your TV, so line of sight wasn't necessary.
You can try an antenna, get it up as high as possible, like 20-30 feet and see if you get anything. Then you can add a signal booster and see if that helps any, but I'm afraid that having a mountain group blocking line of sight may be your downfall.
Also, remember that with DTV, an 'exact' azimuth is required for best signal. Even 1 or 2 degrees off will deliver poor reception.
Digital TV sux (sucks)
Cole Piaget true but how else can men in black spy on you....lol
Well it does suck that one can't watch a distant channel with snow as in the pre -digital days, it does have a better picture and when you do get a signal it is crystal clear, no ghosts or distortions. And the sub channels give you lots of choices which didn't exist before.@@cjpwolf2436
@@GBear True, terrestrial antennas are essentially line-of-sight devices. So, if that's the case, how are we able to receive OTA TV signals from stations 70+ miles away? The answer is knife-edge diffraction and/or tropospheric scatter. If you look at the TVFool website, they show single edge diffraction, double-edge diffraction and tropospheric scatter on this page: www.tvfool.com/?option=com_content&task=view&id=57#table_details
what is the length of the straight Radial from the point of bend on both the hat and the vhf Radial I notice they are not both the same length the main is 90% at 7 inches and I think you said 30% on the hat but then the two straight radials from both?
Half the 90° or 45°.
Did a fine job building a Gray Hoverman🫡
Thank you. That was over 8 years ago, and I still use it today off grid in the desert.
You didn't say anything about the reflector behind the antenna. Why?
It is a deflector. It keeps signals from behind from coming in and distorting reception.
Hello GBear. Could you tell me if the Levolor blinds control rod that you used is a solid piece of rod or is it a tube ?? How are your two antenna working out for you Sir ?? Hope all is well with your desert lifestyle too. Drop a line fella. Peace vf 😀😀😀
Hi VF! The rod I used was actually solid, but grooved lengthwise. It was standard for blinds that covered sliding glass doors, not windows.
I'm fine, I hope you are too.
Also, yes, my antennas are still working perfectly, although I seldom watch TV, except for extreme weather reports. Even those are usually a waste of time.
For entertainment, I watch old TV shows like the Rifleman, or stream shows like "How It's Made" for knowledge.
How thick is the solid rod ?? How did you find the rod material GBear ??@@GBear
My location for whatever reason has a lot of interesting how too TV shows. My weather channel is really good for accuracy. I would say 70 plus percent lately. The old shows still rule fella too. The bitch with my location is signal fading in and out. I have a double bay signalmaster with flat punched sheet metal whiskers which is a knock off of the Channel Master double bay wire whiskers type elements. I am just going to have to buckle down and make me some antennas and see what works for me fella. Any suggestion would be appreciated Sir. Peace @@GBear
@victoryfirst2878 Sounds like just an antenna booster might help.
To see the antennas out in the desert (The reason I made them) see: ruclips.net/video/Z-94DQONYNw/видео.html
I like your video about antenna. Where did you get information for this build ??? Nice job too.
Welcome aboard, and thanks. I just googled TV antennas and one of the things that came up was pictures of TV antennas. I looked through those and saw a Gray Hoverman that looked like the best design for my windy area. Then as I was waiting for time to try to build one, I saw a couple of them on roofs near my town, so I assumed it was a good design.
@@GBear So nice to get the down low on your antenna design. Keep on making great videos too.
@@victoryfirst2878 thank you.
@@GBear K
Thought you was going to hook it up to your tv and show us it working
I did. Both at the place I built it, and at my Desert Homestead which I built it for. View on.
Nice Grey Hoverman with VHF HAT & Pants
I use the same design 🖖🖖😊
Thanks.
I used copper wire and it worked perfect too.
Good to know!
Why not try an outdoor type transformer. That rca was not made for outside use. Holy cow !
john leone yep, keep watching and you will see I did change it out when installing it at my desert homestead. Good eye!
nice vid , i always wondered how to and never bothered but now i will try it out
Thanks. I'll be posting measurements and materials info in a couple of weeks, so be sure to stop back and look for those. If you haven't already, go back and subscribe to my channel and you will be notified when I post the updates.
G Bear
Thank you for your counsel to which point I have failed. The old guy still don;t have a TV. I Even Though I tried A Hybrid I added 7 Inch Whiskers between the loops 6 Of Them" X 2 3" Spread. I did Only Fail as Of Yet" But" Soon I am Bound To Run Out Of Failures" Thanks For Your Attention" Your Friend Tim.
Sorry to hear that. I call those, "Unsolved Opportunities", not failures. Good luck!
Ecclesiastes 7:12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
E = mc2 and had that energy have no channel or controller we would have never met" I B The Antenna" Just a thought?
So the Hats act like a radio coupler coil Magnetic induction but in this case RF induction basically the same thing.
Welcome aboard. Yes the hats are an inductive connection.
Not sure how the uhf works because its not hooked to anything?
Actually, the antenna isn't connected to anything either. The wire parts are collectors that grab signals out of the air.
The uhf just adds to the vhf wires with a slight resistance.
Welcome aboard
I noticed you made the boom out of aluminum instead of a non conductive material. I'm very curious if this would cause some loss of gain. Using aluminum would make the build much easier.
Create My DVD it might have increased the reception. It is insulated from the receivers, just like store bought antennas.
I'm glad it worked out well for you, It certainly looks like a very sturdy build and similar in design to what I wanted to build but I couldn't find square plastic or vinyl to use for the boom I saw in a video. Instead, I reluctantly used PVC tubing and that turned out to be a real bear ( no pun intended, well maybe) to screw on the copper. I'm glad you showed me aluminum works well too in case I build another. Up here in CT its very hilly so I decided to build a dbgh for max gain and hopefully pickup CBS which is only 35 miles away, not even a parabolic I had worked for that. Which by the way, comes down with winds of 65 mph every time.
Create My DVD I built mine for the CA desert where winds of 80mph are sometimes present. The first year I put them up with a 2 piece 1 inch steel pipe joined in the center with a threaded coupling. They blew down twice, breaking the pipe at the coupler.
ASAP I will add guy lines to the mast as the windy season started yesterday. 20 mph gusts since noon yesterday, all night and still blowing this morning. My antennas never failed to withstand the winds.
That's exactly what happened to my parabolic. If yours blows around to much, you could always replace the screen with the aluminum rods or wire for less wind resistance. distances between the rods are critical for gain so look them up first. Nice chatting with ya, good luck. :)
Hey, what kind of video camera are you using there? It seems very different?
Diniava Palladini Samsung S8 phone camera.
You can find those transformers anywhere. Wal Mart, Shopko, K-Mart, Radio shack, Menards, or nearly any hardware store.
TheLonesometoad thanks. I was finding loads of interior ones, but not weather-tite ones.
TheLonesometoad BTW, we don't have any Radio Shacks left out here.
Unless you can place the antenna very high in the air, 100 miles is never going to happen. TV signals are very much a line of sight thing. The curve of the earth means that the earth gets in the way.
I also think you may have confused UHF with VHF. An element 3 to 6 feet long is normally needed for VHF. One foot elements do UHF. Extra bits on a 1 foot can make it work like a 3 foot.
Earth has no curve. Earth is flat. ERIC DUBAY is the man with 200 proofs on video. Sounds crazy but we have been brainwashed since kindergarden.
@@TRUTH4U2NO
If the earth was actually flat, house cats would have pushed everything that is not nailed down off the edge by now.
While what you're saying is true, when I lived in Kansas I watched a TV channel 110 mi. away each evening which always came in soon after sundown. The ionosphere bounced the signal fairly reliably each night. Also FM stations 100 mi. away came in very poorly during the day, but after sundown, they always came in just fine. So while the 70mi limit is basically true for all reception, the ionosphere can make 100 mi signals come in very reliably each evening, depending on where you live!!
So true. Don't forget that geographic terrain also plays a factor.
@@RickPaquin True but any claim that the antenna made it happen is BS. Special cases happen all the time but any antenna company advertising based on those is effectively lying.
Lots of miss Information but that doesn't affect the fact the antenna works.
Exactly! And still working after 6+ years off grid.
You should have linked the instructions on the antenna build in your description!
Yeah, that was a long time ago and I was strapped for time to make my move off grid.
Deflector.......or Reflector ? 🤔....?
Welcome aboard! Deflector. It deflects signals coming from the rear of the antenna, making the antenna 'directional'.
could you show the ballon ?
It is spelled balun, and since the antennas are installed up high, I would have to climp thevpoles to show them. You can google balun and find pictures of them. I hope that helps.
You can also use a Disc Cone Antenna,
ManuelPinner true. There are many different antennas, I made this style because that's what I had in material.
Indeed he could use a Discone. But a Discone is an omnidirectional antenna, therefore has unity gain. The OP needed an antenna suitable for weak signal work, i.e. one with more than unity gain.
Very impressive 👍
The reflector screen looks a little too close to the elements. The reflector supports are even closer. What is the distance? I think 4.25 inches would be ideal.
David Ogawa I put it at 2.5 inches and it works just fine.
@@GBear You'd get more gain if the reflector screen were at the optimal distance from the active elements. Since you're happy with the reception that you're getting, it's obviously good enough as it is for your situation. Someone else might need the extra boost.
@@jerrylohr3491 thanks, and welcome aboard! I tried moving the panels back last time I had the antenna down for repairs from wind damage. It actually lowered my reception at 3.5 inches from the elements.
@@GBear Antenna design is one part science, two parts art, and a good measure of magic. Everyone ends up using whatever works.
@@jerrylohr3491 so true.
Wrong the VHF is the hats. Gray Hoverman antennas are UHF. The hats were added to pick up high VHF. You cannot pick up low VHF with this antenna. You can increase gain by couple two gray Hoverman antennas together. Low VHF needs long elements there are not too many real low VHF channels out there maybe the virtual number is two through 6 but most broadcast on UHF. Your antenna will pick up good if you put it up high enough.
Thanks. Welcome aboard. I shot that video years ago and hsve since moved off grid in the high desert where I use those antennae daily. They work very well mounted on a 21 foot pole.
@@GBear yes I guess the desert is mainly flat but you said high so I assume you are up high. I haven't built mine yet I am going to use copper on mine. The drill method will make the copper wire straight.
I'm not sure what you mean by drill method, but sounds like you have it handled. Good luck!
@@GBear yeah like the ultimate antenna guy does. He puts one end of the copper wire in a vise and the other end in and cordless drill and for a short second twist the wire until it's straight. It also stiffens the wire. You don't twist too much.
Ahhh. But at the price of copper vs. Aluminum nowadays I'll save the copper. It's headed to be the new gold.
This is a UHF antenna, it will pick up VHF but it isn't used for TV in the U.S anymore so who cares? The "hat" part are reflectors.
GhettoRanger today in the U.S. we have DTV and TV. This antenna picks up both at my remote desert location. You will find video of that at ruclips.net/user/gbear "Homesteading the Desert" thanks for watching and commenting.
VHF Channels are still in use. Locally we have 3 in Eugene, Oregon.
These antennas work right now.12/23/18 Theres still free over air antennas.i get 60 channels early day the 30 channels drop off at certain time of day
The "hats" are NOT reflectors. The "screen" behind all of the elements is the reflector. The correct name for the hats is parasitic elements.
Well it looks like when it comes time for a new antenna I'll be building it. I don't watch any TV but the wife does.
👍👍
How many miles of veins are in the human body? 100,000 miles Wireless transmission of energy's not good for the walking antenna" And 2/3/4
-G=DeThaw and 5-G=Cook.
Lol, 🎶"Fry me to the moon, and make me melt among🎶 the stars..."🎶
Timothy Mason are you a whack job ?
That's what microwaves are for!
I just looked around town for 4 hours for a balun Nope"I did get an old vhf uhf/ fm connector/ balun? (not sure YET) At a pawn shop junk pile"
I will because of you Add The Hats And Reflector.
Got Some at Walmart Garden section.
Use to be Every one carried those balun's not so any more:
Home Depot usually has the baluns, and so does Ace hardware. They call them transformers.
@@GBear Not here they told me they don't carry them any more but we do have an ace
@@timothymason3423 where's 'here'?
@@GBear New England The Head Of The Horse
@@timothymason3423 that's where I'm from originally.
Wonderful job. do you have the schematic or template for make this antenna?
No, sorry. I made the antennas (2 of them) in preparation for my move off grid. I didn't expect the popularity of it. In the second video I do go over some of the methods and measurements though.
Welcome aboard!
@@GBear Thank you u have a new subscriber.
@@granpatriarca3726 Thank you! Welcome aboard!
My friend G-Bear"Figured I would touch base with you been a couple of weeks"The Old gut bought a new TV.Now that he can get free TV" Problem he bought one with Roku" So I hooked him up with my internet"But because of you he will have TV. when the cable goes out" I Bought and Refurbished A Singer Model 66 1945 Sewing Machine.that can be converted back to a treadle machine.
Then I taught myself how to make dentures and bought and made all the tool's, Now I can make between 6 to 10 sets for about $100.
Last few days though I dropped Auger housing on my snow blower that is almost as old as me"and turned it into a temporary (summer)"" Well""? Plow"Furrow"Rototiller Minus The Roto Part"Works Good Moving Even Clay With It.Filling in low spots with it and Furrowing when needed.
Any Way Just Stopped By To Se How You Are Doing? And To Tell You I Am Alive. Hop All Is Well. Your Friend Tim.
It's great to hear from you! And with all the good news too. Keep on keeping on friend!
Those baluns were super easy to find until Radio Shack went away. Anyone looking, try independent bargain stores. If they're run by East Indians, the likelihood is high in my experience. Otherwise, Ebay!
Ken Weller mom and pop type hardware stores too!
4 bucks on Amazon as of 21 Feb 19.
L👀KS Factory built Very Nice!
Thanks, welcome aboard.
Today's hint is if you can ocellate 12 volts at a resonant frequency of 2.45 GHz
In water'
Being not of radio-waves but direct electrical stimulus" You now have 95% HHO gas"By products to be concerned about 5% water vapor"?
Ahhhhhh, generating hydrogen!
The hat is a reflector. The others are driven elements.
Ineluctable Smith, the Hat is a VHF resonant element capacitively coupled to the driven element.
@@avid0g Yup! Correct.
GBear would you be so kind as to tell me as close as you can the thickness of the Levelor Blind rods that you used. I Thank You a whole bunch
The rods were approximately 1/4" diameter.
Thank You bunches, I feel guilty of taking your time and asking another question, because we do not have access to the bender you have to make crisp bends, would you be able to give us some type of clue on how we can get these same exact duplicatable bends as perfect as yours. I know by experience that to do bends in the exact center from one to another it is so difficult and I just thought maybe you know a way that is fool proof because I have tried to find tubing benders, wire benders on the internet and I cannot come up with such a thing to do such a great job. I really would like to make a bunch of these antennas to give to family members, there are 10 of us kids, I am 69. Thank You G Bear
@@robertklein7679 I'll do a special video asap for you.
How can I pay you? I love this man!
@@robertklein7679 if you're serious, I have Paypal.me/GBearHomesteading just for that purpose.
Hello Gbear, hope all i well and you are healthy. Peace Vic
Thanks. I am as healthy as need be.
Nice to hear from you Sir. Stay well and let me know if you make another TV antenna. @@GBear
@@victoryfirst2878 I'm still using one of the antennas I made years ago, working great, and I have one in storage as a backup.
What is the chance you would sell me the unit fella ??? My unit does not work any more and would just like to get one soon. Your antenna has the Levolor rods. Maybe you could consider my saking GBear ?? Thanks for the update fella. Anything interesting happen to you lately fella ?? Peace vf @@GBear
I really don't want to give up my backup antenna. I get strange weather out here, and i always try to keep 2 of everything, just in case.
Antennas don't go bad, the connections do.
Any plans or specs on how to make one?
Tommy With I have a video with that info posted on my channel.
Great build ! I built one to test using 1x4 and #10 copper cause thats what I had laying around . I'm getting Dallas stations 123 miles to the south west . SO now I need to rebuild it to last in the weather and not be so dam ugly . Is that aluminum square tubing u have the plastic insulator mounted to ? I'm looking for ideas on how to construct ... Thanks
larry haney First off, congrats on your successful build! Yes, that is 1 inch square aluminum tube, 1/16" thick walls. I bought it from the remnants room at my local metal supply for just a couple of dollars.
Ok Thanks . have u tested yours out in the desert yet I look on you channel but could not find it ?
larry haney yes, I am using both my builds tied together and they work great. Look at my playlist titled "The first 2 years" and you will see numerous references to them.
K Thanks
Radio shack has the connection for UR
Coxail connection.
Wendell Johnson we no longer have Radio Shack in California. Thanks. I found them at Lowes.
The only way to get 100 mile range is to elevate the antenna due to the curvature of the earth
Yes, antenna is line of sight.
Aluminum vs Copper rods.......Any difference?
panther105 as far as I can see, cost, weight. I prefer aluminum because all the store bought antennas are made of it.
I see. Thanks. That makes sense.
if you can afford it go with copper. it is a better conductor and should get better results
@@dcfuksurmom Sounds like it SHOULD make a difference, but it doesn't. RF travels along the surface of a conductor. (do a Google search for skin-effect) The main difference is cost, other differences being weight and structural strength.
Did it work?
Yes, check out my homesteading the desert videos to see them in use.
Well done.
Welcome aboard, Barry. Thanks!
Very nice!
Thanks, and welcome aboard.
120 miles??? Can you verify that?
Well, I am using that antenna in the California high desert and I pick up San Diego channels. San Diego is physically 186 miles away, but I'm sure I'm probably picking it up from a relay tower in Riverside, about 100 miles south of my location.
Keep any Germanium Crystal's you find out there"I will Work on A Crystal Diode TV. On My End>>>
Having been a machinist for 47 years, I believe I can safely say that when you bend aluminum that sharply, it cracks. Don't know if it would interfere with performance, but it couldn't help.
Sorry, but no, you can't safely say that it cracks because I bent it in 24 places over 2 antennas, and none of the bends cracked. If you are thinking that the dark areas at the bends are cracks, you are mistaken. Those marks are just 'Sharpie' marks I used for location of bends. Maybe they would have cracked if I didn't use the bender brake?
Some grades of aluminum are able to be bent without breaking or cracking.
I( do have some Ferrite Rods Rings/loops and Yokes I may be able to build a buffer. Ferrite Is our Friend"
Welcome aboard!
Your reflector is way to close it needs to be 3-4" back
It's been working perfectly at my desert location for years
@@GBear perfection is unobtainable and the math don't lie, for the best results for the standard hooverman dimensions your reflector should be 4" behind the element. Just sayin but what do I know just trying to help.
Chris
Thanks for the info, but if it's working I won't try to fix it. Just the way I am.
@@GBear and I'm just the opposite. Neither is right or wrong just different personalities. Have a great 4,th
Thanks, enjoy your's too!
Still working against my ADHD /PtSD. Yet my Idea is Still under process" My success will still be your's 'My Word's still good. My Epiphany's not always" But I will Keep you Updated" It is always better to try and fail than fail to try"I am close to finding out whether I am On Or Under the boat. BTW" Checked out more of Your Chanel "You are Just Cool.The secrete to success though in any situation is Credibility Accountability and Honer" Your friend Tim" Hope my next report is good I am close to finding out and fear grow's?
thats pretty cool
Impressive...
Jim Dunham thanks again.
B.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l
Thanks! And welcome aboard!
All of that trouble and you use a rusted pipe and non SS hardware??? Sheesh..........
...and the rusted pipe and non SS hardware didn't affect the performance in the slightest.
Test it out for us
Richard Miller already done on more than one video on my channel.
i get 62 channels i dont have no 300 omh transitor
Good for you!
HERE HERE
While i am still building this with out proper Scematics I kept coming up with 3/5/and 7 Check this out?
significance of 3,5,7 Google it it will blow your mind ??WTF???
I was expecting to find my Hero's numbers 3,6,and 9