Amateur Radio on the Road

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Over the Air #OTA TV antenna

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 05:06 AM PDT
https://va3qv.wordpress.com/2019/10/...ta-tv-antenna/


So seeing that I had some time on my hands today. well not going camping. I
decided I needed a project to work on for a bit.Â* The antenna idea for
Sunday worked like a charm and yesterdays antenna build was a bust so.

Today would be deciding projectÂ* Would I be at 2-1 or 1-2 as far as
successful projects went?Â* Read on and find out.

Recently we have been having some issues with our TV at home as our Android
Box content providers (we subscribe to 3) have had issues due to that
crackdown in Europe.Â* Two of the three content providers we use just
vanished. The last one is still active but we dont get the same quality of
programming we got with other two.

We Cut the cord about 2 years ago when we cancelled our Bell Fibe account
and switched over to a combination of OTA TV and streaming services like
Netflix and Crave with some YouTube thrown in for variety.

When we lived in Ottawa our OTA content consistted of CBC, CTV 1, CTV 2,
City TV, Global, Omni 1, Omni 2 and TV Ontario along with about 5 French
Language stations which as I found later was exceptional for Canadian
Content.Â* As Ottawa was too far north of the Border I was unable to receive
any of the American Networks.

Fast forward a year later and we had moved to Kingston.Â* Still streaming
but now had the choices of the Android Box and all the stations one could
imagine.Â* However with certain Condo Antenna restrictions (you have heard
me mention them before) our OTA reception was limited to Global Kingston
using an inside antenna

Taking my camper to various locations including Lake Ontario Park ( 4 km
south of here) on a day trip we managed 18 different OTA stations using the
antenna on the trailers roof.Â* However 4 km north and on the wrong side of
a hill all I could get was Global Kingston.





However on a later trip just west of Bath Ontario I managed to receive 9
different stations OTA

Fast forward to today and a bored Bob heads over to Princess Auto in
Kingston to look for a project and finds



This little dream was $45.00 plus tax and came with a built in Rotor with
wireless control, built in signal amplifier with power supply with all
parts included.Â* I brought it home and had it built (assembled) in about an
hour.



..



And after some playing with it the following was noted and I share with you

The good points

1 It does work.Â* The instructions were fairly easy to follow.

2The instructions also made sense to my knowledge of antennas.

3In addition to Global Kingston (local station) I was able to watch quite
clearly the CBS Station and the Fox Station both in Watertown New York.


The bad points

4 The rotor did not work

5 Although its design is excellent along with its performance, the antenna
itself is very flimsy and I doubt it would stand up to a strong wind let
along a Canadian Winter especially an ice storm.

6 No matter which way I swung the antenna (by hand) I could not receive
the PBS Station or the ABC Station in the vicinity of Watertown

The set up

I attached a 4 foot length fibreglass mast to the stand for my patio
umbrella.Â* I then attached a 5 foot length of small diameter aluminun
tubing to the fibreglass mast which fit into the bottom of the rotor.Â* The
beam was fed by some (supplied) lightweight coax (RG59???)to the amplifier
and then to the TV set.Â* The amplifier was powered by a (supplied) 15v wall
wart.

My opinion

If I was living in an apartment this would be my first choice for a balcony
antenna.Â* A fairly small foot print and lightweight enough to be installed
on a Camera Tripod.Â* The balcony would protect it from most of the elements
and also provide the altitude needed to get the further out station
especially if the built in rotor was working.Â*Â*

I could also see it working great as an indoor antenna (aiming it out a
window) and easily out performing a set of rabbit ears or other styles of
indoor antennas in the $45.00 price range.

I also think this antenna would work great for RV Portable style uses
especially if your expensive RV TV antenna got damaged when you forgot to
lower it before you left the Campground.Â* (Been there. done that)

Disclaimer

Receiving any signals over the airwaves is dependent in being in a good
location (usually high ground) to receive them.Â* What let me watch 3
channels at a whopping 15 feet above ground might give me much better
reception if the antenna was on top of our roof at 40 feet or so above
ground.Â* The phrases Height is might and Location, Location, Location are
both especially true when it comes to receiving antennas for any band.

What I thought worked well for me might not work at all for you.Â*

Or it could work better than expected.

Your mileage may or will vary and if you choose to purchase one you do so
at your own risk and expense.

However due to the non functioning Rotor and the flimsy materials used in
the construction I will be returning the antenna tomorrow for a refund.Â*
Dont feel like running outside in the winter time to hand rotate the
antenna or to pick up the pieces after freezing rain hits.Â* I have no
issues with its cost or performance. Just in its quality and quality
control.

So at the end of the day I would call todays project a success.Â* I learned
some stuff. I got to watch some TV not normally accessable from home and I
also proved a point (that it could be done) as well as realizing that even
though it works today it might not survive the harsh elements.Â* Lets come
back with a new plan for OTA

Safe Travels/73bob