HDTV Antenna SUPER EASY Great Performance
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- The Tri-4 antenna. In this video, I compare it to the performance of one of my older designs, the Fractal Bowtie. I don't necissarily compare them in terms of distance and power, (even though it is) but rather in frequency range. The Tri-4 has a wider range of frequency sensitivity for picking up some of those VHF high stations that you might not get otherwise with other antennas.
It is also very easy to build!
Thanks! Took me less than 20 minutes to build and I get over 50 stations. Adios cable.
Thank you! Took about an hour including buying the 75 to 300 transformer. Got 35 stations vs about 10 before with the flat panel antenna.
This is about the best 'bang for your buck' projects I have ever built. For $10 for the 75-300 ohm transformer / baluns.
Worked like a charm!! Thanks, Mike! Now I need to make 2 more for family!
I am just curious how these compare with something like an indoor Amazon Basics antenna. UPDATE: I made one of these in about 15 minutes (literally). I went from 42 channels using the Amazon Basics antenna to 83 channels and they all come in crystal clear. Note: I needed to find just the right spot indoors to get that many channels. Very impressive. Needless to say, I was mind blown. I used 2 40" solid copper grounding wires (about 10awg) bent 90 degrees every 10 inches, a few screws to hold them 1/2" apart, and a balun. I decided to mount it on my roof but curiously that did not add any new channels to the 83 I had already found. After blocked all the home shopping, religious, foreign language, and ad-only channels I have 35 usable channels to watch. AWESOME! Now if I could only do something about the 25 minutes of advertising in every one hour of airtime.
Mine pulls in one station over 40 miles away. This is hands down better than anything you can buy in a store for < $100. I am very pleased with mine. $10 for the baluns, made with scrap wood and wire in 30 minutes.
Nice work, Mike! This design performed almost as well as my Gray-Hoverman build.
thanks maestro!
Nice work on both antennas!
Sure hope you do! About to build a second one to pull in better signals since my network channels come from different directions. This one looks easy yet quality!
You must be On the Mississippi Gulf Coast !!! I seen WLOX on your Last Antenna Test
Thanks Mike! I made this antenna today. It was easy to make, and it works great!
Hi: Made one, works Great and EZ to build.Thank You
Hi Mike, your videos are great! I think it's awesome that you share your experiences and knowledge on this topic, especially that you share your drawings and measurements so that others can easily reproduce these designs and benefit from free OTA TV.
I've watched your Tuxedo, Tuxedo+VHF add-on, and the Tri-4 antenna videos. I was planning on building the Tuxedo with VHF add-on because I want to pickup VHF channels 8 and 13 in my locale (I was going to add two VHF elements for channels 8 & 13). But after watching this Tri-4 video and seeing your comments regarding its sensitivity for high-VHF frequencies, I'm wondering if it makes more sense to start with the Tri-4 design. Also, I noticed you made this video two months after your Tuxedo+VHF video so I'm guessing (perhaps incorrectly) that the Tri-4 offered a performance improvement beyond the Tuxedo+VHF add-on. Could you please comment on how the Tri-4 compares to the Tuxedo+VHF for capturing high VHF frequencies. Also, how does the Tri-4 compare to the others in terms of UHF signal strength?
I appreciate your insight. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks for your great comment!
Honestly, I only used the Tuxedo with VHF for a couple months before switching to the Tri 4.
The tuxedo uses a lot more wire and for any antenna it depends on location as to how well it works so I can’t tell you which one works better. The Tri 4 uses less materials and is easier to build. I built one with 11” measurements and it worked great for me.
Thinking of adding one of those to my rabbit ears, it has to work better than it is now lol...
I love it nice design easy to make thanks
i suggest you add a reflector to that biquad antenna and test if it makes any difference
Very Nice, will give this antenna a try.
I made one works great test it inside and works from stations 35 miles away. I used 8 copper wire
Sciatl Good deal!
Great video thank you. How much did the bowties benefit you over the straight 8 V design? I made one of those and it worked well, but your 40" 4V design is even simpler. Thanks!
Wow need to try
Hey Mike, I like the design of the antenna. I'm getting the materials together- what do the little pvc blocks do? Can I attach directly to the wood?
They insulate the antenna. Preventing interference as I understand. I've been using the antenna for a year and a half without a glitch and suddenly I'm running into issues getting signals from stations with the highest transmission signals. I know it's the latest large scale 4G and 5G upgrades that rolled out between the end of 06/14/2023 and 07/26/2023. I don't know if one of the 5G filters will help...
Couple questions:
Would using thicker 40" wire do better?
Adding a wire cloth reflector would 1/4 x 1/4 inch galv wire cloth work?
Hi Mike- Love your videos. Odd that the latest and greatest seem to be the easiest to build. You state that you used PVC for antenna mounting points. Is there any reason you could not have used wood? Lastly, are there any calculations you used to arrive at 40" per element? Or just trial and error?
The ten inch segments works better than the nine or the eleven so yes. Trial and error.
They say that wood is a poor choice because the moisture in it can make it conducive and causes signal loss. But in my experience, it is only on a small scale. I still have a couple wood base antennas in my attic that have been there for a couple of years and they still do just fine. But pvc is the right way to go.
DIY Projects With Mike thanks!
A heavier gauge wire improves signal? what about doubling the length of wire(80" of wire instead of 40")?
Hi, Like the video. Have been gathering information and material to build an antenna. I am going with a Gray Hoverman with hats. The design I have has 8 gauge copper wires bent at 7 inch between beds. You have 10 inches between bends. I used the formula (300/ Frequency) x 39.37 = wave length in inches. I made a list of wave lengths for different TV MHz frequencies. For the middle of VHF-LO 1/4 wave length = 21.6"; for the middle of my VHF-HI (10-13) 1/2 wave length = 30" ; for the middle of my UHF (RF29) = 21" is full wave length. I think this would indicate to make a bow-tie with 10"-10.5" whiskers good.
Would a Gray Hoverman with 10" between bends be better than 7" as all the instructions on the internet give?
Has anyone tried it with a third wire-set added to the top, or even a fourth? You think that's a waste or would it improve reception/range? Yes, definitely use a reflector to boost reception/range if you live far from the towers.
Thanks, Mike, your work has finally gotten me off the dime. Of course, I have some questions. 1/ Why aren't the channel numbers on the TV the same as the ones you call out? 2/ I don't have any PVC stock on hand. Do you think thick polyethylene will work as well? Thanks, again!
Thanks for your comment! To answer your questions,
RF channel means the frequency channel that channel transmits over.
Virtual channel is the channel it appears on your tv.
Polyethylene will work fine. If it is a denser more solid material it may be a better choice since the pvc I use is soft and the screws can strip it easily.
Thanks so much, Mike. I'll let you know of the results.
Sounds good I'm going to make me one
Ray Bowen
Smart move. Go save that money!!
I am curious about what purpose does the pvc serves? I am about to screw it straight to wood, will report with results.
Also it is unclear what transformer to use. I think I have some old ones on an old tv I kept because I am a hoarder. Will try what I have and log back specs and results.
So I sew your answer to another comment on why the pvc;
Some people say wood absorbs humidity and degrades the signal, but you have antennas made of wood that works just fine.
Also It seems any transformer written uhf vhf will work.
Sadly this diy antenna made no improvement over the small indoor one I already had.
It was worth a try.
Note that it does work just as well as any 25$ store bought ones, so its still a cool project.
good stuff
Does the extra time bending the Tuxedo warrant the extra labor this is also a very good Question thank you ????
The Tuxedo may perform better if there is interference to some extent. However, the Tuxedo leans a bit toward the UHF while the Tri-4 has a slightly wider frequency range. They both pull in channels effectively. Thanks for your question. :)
Oh, the labor is a bit more and the elements are a bit longer. Sorry, I forgot to answer your question. :0
Can it work for VHF analog 196 mhz channels sir ? Please answer me .. thanks in advance ..
Does this antenna receive the signal from all directions Sir ???
Mostly bidirectional but the angle is pretty wide
@@DIYProjectsWithMike Hello Mike, would you have a rough Idea of of how wide that is ??? The degrees width means a lot to the reception signal.
Victory First
I never measured the overall width but maybe 18 1/2” or so. Thanks
What were your signal level differences between the two antennas on each channel if any
Mi Schermer revealed at 4:30 mark.
Readymade handmade antennas are not available in India...are they available on line ...if so kindly inform the suppliers name and contact no
Interesting stuff. I'm looking to cut the cord. I'm ordering a Gray-Hoverman antenna but would like to play with this in the mean time. I'm in a hilly rural area with most channels 30-40 miles away. If I amplify the antenna, am I wasting my time building this for my scenario? I appreciate your work.
I've never used an amplifier but never needed to. Some say they work and some say they don't. My understanding of them is that if there is a station close by that comes in really well without one, the signal may be amplified too much for the tuner to handle. On the other hand if all stations are distant then it is probably safe. If you wanted to build your own Gray Hoverman, there are plenty of videos here on youtube that help you. You can use my videos as a reference guide. :) BTW, thanks for the comment.
Mike: I'm amazed! Finished my antenna built according to your specs. I didn't install an amplifier. I'm receiving 18 channels out here in the sticks! And its in my attic. I'd like to build another on that would be even more sensitive as my next project. I really appreciate the fact that I found your site. Can't wait to cut the cord.
After i got some interference elements out the way, it pick up great except my cbs channels which are in ch 4 range. Any ideals why it doesn't?
Ch 4 is in the low VHF range and unfortunately I don't have any low VHF stations in my area. At 66 - 72 mhz I calculate a ballpark measurement at 42 3/4 inches for 1/4 wavelength. You might try that rather than the forty. Did you get this station with other antennas?
DIY Projects With Mike yes, with a coat hanger bowtie anntena + reflecter. I'm in St. Louis Mo. our major channels are 2 fox, 4 cbs, 5 nbc, 9 pbs, 11 wb, and 30 abc. All in all it grabs like 50 stations. Also would it be the same distance apart still?
I looked up channels for the st louis area. The channels you mention are actually all UHF RF channels. KMOV ch 4 is actually RF ch 24 but appears on channel 4 meaning that it is "virtual" ch 4.
I have several design tutorials on my channel. Feel free to check them out. One in particular is the Tuxedo ruclips.net/video/Cf5b5-qwZ8Q/видео.html It might work better for your situation. It's almost like the gray hoverman. I don't have a vid for that one but is easy to find in google search.
F.Y.I. - Anntenas are kinda wierd. What works for some may not work for others. And if the bowtie works beeter than any of my designs, by all means use it! No hurt here :)
For info on the stations near you visit www.antennaweb.org/ click "start here" and just enter your address. Don't forget to check the box that your antenna will be higher than 30 feet. It will give you a map showing where the transmit towers are. Also, for info on specific channels, visit www.fcc.gov/media/television/tv-query where you can enter the call letters of the station. Hope this helps. :)
DIY Projects With Mike cool thank you very much for the reserch, i will try out one of other designs. It's weird, to me, how well it works except for that one station.
Did it pick up all of the available channels in your area?
It did. Those are the channels in my immediate area. Everything else is 60+ miles. It was raining the night I shot the video. I also had them mounted inside my house creating more of a challenge for them. I may shoot a video testing its capabilities on my roof (if I can find the time)
Great video. How do you know how to make it? why 10", why 1.5" apart, why a perfect triangle? Just wondering how you came up with the design because I see so many other shapes and sizes.
I made one of these at 12" and it worked ok on the lower UHF and the VHF high but not so well on the higher UHF. ( I have ch 48 in my area). I built an 8" and it didn't do well at all but the 10" rocked!
Some designs call for a 1" gap and some for 1 3/4" and then I've seen some much further apart. I built one at more than 2" apart and it was extremely directional so 1 1/2" kinda fits all.
Of all the testing I've done with different shapes and designs, the triangle seemed to be the most successful as far as size is concerned. Squares work very well too but make the antenna taller where the triangle makes them shorter so they can fit in my attic.
Thanks for your question. Hope this helps:)
Yes its easy to make got stuff to make one
Does it compair to the Tuxido???????
Works about the same just easier to build.
please designs for UHF 470 -806 MHz
What is range
Would this design pick up analog signals as well?
I’m sure it would but this antenna is specifically designed for tv. Broadcast signals are just electromagnetic waves that have been polarized. Wether analog or digital only depends on the receiver. There are hundreds of different frequencies of signals being broadcast all the time. Our TVs only pick out the signals that it can read.
ALL television stations have switched to digital. There are no tv stations broadcasting analog anymore. They’re all gone.
But if you have old analog tv, you can get a digital converter and it will work.
Up here in Canada only the big cities and outlining areas had to change to digital. Where I am everything in digital, but where my father lives signal are still broadcast in analog.
GrantP1974 that’s interesting I didn’t know that.
Down here, when everything went digital most stations went to uhf but keeping their virtual channel numbers.
This antenna does well from RF 7 to Top uhf. I don’t know how well it does with 2-6.
But yes it will work with analog.
I'm getting ready to build one of these antennas (the tuxedo or this one). I live out in the boonies (about 75 miles south of Henderson, NV) and on my current antenna, can only pick up about 23 channels. Do you know which antenna would pick up long distance the best? I'm really hoping to pull in more channels, as most of them seem to be crime/justice channels, weather, or old tv shows.
beachbumt1
Try the most recent video that I posted about a month ago called “Build Your Own”. It’s the best one so far.
Thank you Mike.