13 Television Antennas Tested on the UHF band,

tvrepairinform...
In this video I tested 13 different TV Antennas to see how their signal strength compared on the UHF band, and I made a chart for easy comparison to help people decide which antenna might be ideal for their location.
Since I was not able to receive a VHF signals at this location I tested the Antop Big Boy and the omni directional antenna in a different location to see how they performed on the VHF band in comparison to my Channel Master Advantage 45 and they were no match due to their size. Nevertheless I'm sure there are location where the Antop antennas would be just fine.
I had some additional thoughts about omni Vs directional antennas which I want to mention here. An omnidirectional antenna may be ideal in many locations, but the downside to using an omnidirectional antenna is its signal gain will be less than a directional antenna, so even though you may have transmitters all around you, it may still be to your advantage to use a directional antenna, but It's really a trial and error experiment to see what works.
Here is a list of the TV antennas I tested from left to right.
#1 is the Antop AT-133B indoor antenna.
#2 My simple homemade loop antenna.
#3 is the Antop AT-415B Omni directional antenna .
#4 is the Big Boy"AT-400BV Antop Indoor outdoor antenna.
#5 is a Stellar Labs Bow Tie antenna.
#6 is a clear stream 2 from Antennas Direct.
#7 is a RCA ANT705E..
#8 is the Winegard Free Vision. Part #FV-30BB
#9 is an RCA ANT752Z.
#10 is a Clear Stream 4 from Antennas Direct.
#11 is a Channel Master Advantage 45. Part # CM3016
#12 is a GE is a 29884 Attic Mount Antenna
#13 is a Winegard HD7694P
UFO omni-Directional AT-415B: www.amazon.com...
"Big Boy"AT-400BV: www.amazon.com...
"Paper thin" AT-133B: www.amazon.com...

[@rksg2003]

I somehow ended up on this channel.. So glad I did I have been needing knowledge in electronics repair.

[@richardhz-oi8px]

I just love your hand drawn diagrams and charts. They're simply amazing in the digital age.

[@GrantsPassTVRepair]

Thanks Richard. Sometimes simple is better.

[@elmofeneken4364]

What a great video. Bigger isn't always better. I've tried a dozen + antennas and found that what worked years ago like a good old Channel Masters, still work today. I've been surprised by some cheaper Chinese antennas, and a couple may survive being outdoors in the elements for several years. Everyone's situation/location is different. The curvature of the Earth will always stay the same. Man, miss the old analog days when you could get a TV station, snowy but watchable, from almost any location.

[@OffGridAussiePrepper]

Well done..... alot of effort went into this video.. good to see.... here in oz we use the vertical phased array now in most country areas and outer city, u referred to it as the bow tie antenna. Most tv stations here also use the same tower, which makes things real easy

[@andythomas7931]

Thankyou for a great video., Sometimes too much signal is bad so a high gain antenna can overload the front end of the TV tuner.

[@victoryfirst2878]

Very well done Grant. The information was clear and concise. Great diagrams with factual information. Thanks for the TV lesson.

[@crosslink1493]

Nice work. You could have put the RF bands on the chart too, that would really start to confuse folks! Its probably more relevant today than the virtual channels you show, especially with 'repacked' signals. I'm using the one you have listed as a 'bowtie' on your chart with an added VHF antenna, a simple single-arm that's quite a bit wider than the bowtie (I've got two VHF stations in my area). I got the antenna at a store close-out for a huge discount so it was worth giving it a try, it works great so no need to buy something else. Cheers!

[@onlywife]

Thanks Dave! Very informative.

[@genrai]

Very nice video again, great job. You explanation is very very good, simple but very informative

[@GrantsPassTVRepair]

Thanks for the encouraging comment.

[@maxasaurus3008]

In credible! I’ve never heard hide nor hair of that old vhf channel scheme! Wow! Thank you.

[@tomweickmann6414]

Keepin' it simple and saving us money and frustration. I wish I had subscribed sooner!😅

[@GrantsPassTVRepair]

Thanks for the kind words.

[@robertogalvez3865]

Nice video. Thanks. Do you have LOS with you repeaters? How close are they? You should test a Televes antenna next time.

[@SaturnsReturn77]

Hello! I love the content you share with us - wanted to suggest a broad topic for consideration if it’s feasible: fractal antennae! Thank you

[@ckmNtA]

Please could you make a video about types of antennas - Yagi - Di-pole - Omni - hoop - helix - whip etc and maybe info on full wave half wave quarter wave etc and benefits of each. Always enjoy your videos

[@williamzoom]

People underestimate those hoop antennas but one of those with an adjustable amp can really do well if you place them in the right spot.

[@GrantsPassTVRepair]

Yes I'm impressed with the small loop. If there was a small reflector behind It I'd guess it's performance would be close to the more expensive UHF antennas.

[@diycarhome9151]

Watching from Brantford, Ontario. I install here in South Central Ontario. I done my tests with several UHF Antennas. Most of my market from my home base is Toronto at 50 miles, and North Buffalo, NY on Grand Island at 70 miles and South Buffalo at Colden, NY at 93 miles. I do all my installs outside with antennas. ATSC 1.0 being so weak. Blocked easy by building materials. I lean more to Yagis for UHF. Have checked the CM4228 to the Antennas Direct DB4e. They get both the same amount of channels. Done tests with the CM4228 8 bay. The DB8e 8 bay and Digiwave ANT2091 Yagi. In testing the two 8 bay against the ANT2091. Got: DB8e .....35 channels CM4228 ......18 channels ANT2091.....42 channels 8 bays should not be used over 65 miles. There is no front end gain. The ANT2091 with a long front end directors was able to pull in a difficult station the DB8e missed. Lately I have been using 4 bays for under 50 miles Reception. 8 bay up to 65 miles. Anything past 65 miles a deep fringe Yagi.

[@allanegleston4931]

i love simple . the more simple the better .

[@krisraps]

Good Video, A Lot Of Information :) Thanks

[@GrantsPassTVRepair]

Thank you.

[@robertogalvez3865]

Could you share the coordinates for your test location? I would like to generate a Rabbit Ears report to better understand the OTA signals you got.

[@GrantsPassTVRepair]

My location was Schroeder dog park here in Grants Pass Oregon. I was only able to pick up UHF Signals here, but other parts of Grants Pass can pick up VHF signals from king mountain on 5, 8, and 12 but not at this location. Here's a link to the location. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2qtiHSLeaZjps0

[@CharlieXRay]

What are the units of signal power? Not dBm since you have higher numbers equalling better signals. I'm used to dBm measurements which will have negative numbers, e.g. -60dBm

[@GrantsPassTVRepair]

I was just using a signal meter that came with my D to A converter

[@MrMac5150]

THE BEST

[@GrantsPassTVRepair]

Thank you.

[@fins59]

Very interesting information, fyi some part of the video is duplicated.

[@GrantsPassTVRepair]

Yea I noticed the repetitious portion. Thanks for pointing that out.

[@markkay2817]

Hi I have seen one of your videos on the Newman Moter. Regarding the back spike simply put a diode in reverse polarity on your Moter coil and catch all that back emf energy you can charge capasitors and battery's with it

[@GrantsPassTVRepair]

The moment you attempt to regenerate the back spike with a diode it puts a load on your motors magnetic armature which reduces the motors speed. I've tried many variations and different commutators.

[@dennisgarber]

This is interesting. I have a metal roof, and have been trying to make a butterfly shaped antenna to no avail. I bought 15 'of 8 gauge copper wire for $11. I tried to calculate the uhf loop length and failed to pull anything in trying several lengths of wire in circles. 91cm 101 cm, 77 cm, 31 cm etc. I might try 23 inches. I did have lots of luck just alligator clipping to the straight 77 cm wrinkled a little, which I put on the vhf side of the balun. Adding to the uhf side of the balun, a channel 31 half-wavelength cut, which is 5% shorter than 26 got in the rest, although high uhf is weak. I think I will try to put a 71 or 75 cm half-wavelength wire and a 23 inch UFO at the 45 deg angle in your dish and mount it to the North corner of the roof which is near the vent which is easy to get into the attic, which is easy to get into the front closets and basement. I might be able to create a loop with two long legs that would wrap around the vhf, insulated and the two legs would be stuck up under the metal roof, insulated, or maybe not for grounding purpose? I am not sure if the uhf loop needs to be 2.3 or 2. 7 feet from the vhf elements as in my curtain rope ladder design had me do.

[@dennisgarber]

The vhf element seems to induct rather than conduct on the ClearStream MaxV, but I could be wrong. Anyway no physical separation between the loops and vhf. I also wonder what is inside the antennas Direct ClearStream eclipse. I haven't yet looked at their patent closely. I did see multi tuned, which might mean there are like two uhf loops. I personally would do something like one tuned to Ch 18 ,26, and 31.

[@edzanjero353]

David, do you recall the UHF channel Roy used to be on back in the early L.A. days?

[@GrantsPassTVRepair]

No I don't. That was a long time ago, but someone gave me a bunchy of his old tape cassettes that still work.. It's like rewinding history.

[@edzanjero353]

@@GrantsPassTVRepair ... might have been channel 31 or some such. I remember watching him often at his old studio.

[@GrantsPassTVRepair]

@@edzanjero353 Yea that rings a bell

[@James-cz4xv]

You will be able to receive certain VHF channels on those UHF TV ANTENNAS if the VHF signals are strong one's. Also have you tested the stellar labs antenna 30-2370 And also the ANTENNAS DIRECT 91XG

[@GrantsPassTVRepair]

No, I have not tested the antennas you mentioned. One of my favorite antennas for this area is the RCA ANT705E. I can buy them locally, and they perform quite well in this area.

[@Smhatyoufools]

I'm right outside a major city and was amazed how many channels we have ota . I'm picking up about 50 channels with an indoor cell phone antenna. I made a quick test aluminum foil outdoor antenna and picked up 120 channels! I'll try this loop and see if I have a transformer. Most of the transmitters are on top of the 3rd tallest skyscrapper in us so I guess that helps 😂.

[@manletopia4801]

I used the RCA Yagi in a wooded area with almost all UHF with like 3 Hi VHF got 75 channels with it full signal strength with no amplifier and on a J-pole a foot above roof line

[@GrantsPassTVRepair]

In what area did you pick up these signals?

[@jefferybernard4800]

Why you take a full minute or two to show that chart of the signal strengths from each antenna and get a little explanation that'd be more helpful than anything even the whole video The trick will tell them all and we'll be able to hear what the difference is which is easier than listening to an explanation