On 10/5/2011 10:15 AM, Gordon Williams wrote:
> Hi,
>
> In Canada all the over the air channels have now gone digital and I need =
a
> UHF antenna to pick up the local channels.  Where I live the two main
> transmitters are roughly 180 deg. apart so I need something that will
> receive equally in both directions as I don't want the hassle of turning =
the
> antenna while I switch stations.  This is also going to be an indoor ante=
nna
> on my 3rd floor.
>
> Currently I'm using rabbit ears set up as a straight dipole and collapsed=
 a
> bit from full length to maximize signal strength.  It works OK but a few =
of
> the stations are breaking up a bit so I need something with a bit more ga=
in.
>
> It looks like the bow tie types of antennas are easy to build and I'm
> looking at a two-bay design with whiskers of 9" length, spaced at 8.5" wi=
th
> the feed lines spaced at 1.25".  Basically the center section of
> http://m4antenna.eastmasonvilleweather.com/Drawings/PDF%20Drawings.html
> this design.
>
> The question has to do with the size of the wire.  From the little that I
> know about antennas is that size matters.  It is supposed to be 1/8".  Wh=
at
> I have is #14 gauge (1/16") that I have wound together to increase size a=
nd
> rigidity.
>
> Will the twisted nature of the wire and the fact that it is not solid 1/8=
"
> affect the performance of the antenna?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Gordon Williams
>
>
You are going to be pleasantly surprised! The fellow with the plans has=20
done a great job. Since you want a bidirectional pattern, you will most=20
likely be better off without a reflector.

Considering that this is a small indoor antenna in one plane, you can=20
probably  tape it on a piece of corrugated cardboard for at least the=20
first prototype.  Don't get too fussy about precision measurements, they=20
will average out since the elements are basically in parallel.

Please let us know how it works out!

--=20
John Ferrell W8CCW


--=20
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