On 30 Dec 2005 15:18:49 -0800, "spudnuty" wrote:

How many stations do you receive? If there are only a few the antenna
can be custom built to maximize reception on those frequencies. Read
the ARRL antenna book for lengths, spacing for different channels. The
antenna will need to be as high as you can possibly get it.
Richard

George E. Cawthon wrote:
wrote:
Since we are discussing tv, what is the correct way to point a
conventional TV antenna? I have been going on with this between
several people and no one agrees.


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Ok, here's a picture (sort of) of the antenna. The small arrows on
the left are the UHF, the Large arrows are the VHF. If I want to
receive a station directly North, should the small arrows (UHF end) or
the large arrows (VHF end) point toward the north? Some people said
the arrow shape of the antenna should point toward the station, others
say it's supposed to be pointed away so the signal is caught inside
the arrow. Who is right?

By the way, I have tried ot both ways. My nearest station is 55 miles
away, so reception is not the greatest either way, but it seems that
as long as EITHER end is pointed toward the station, it works pretty
well. If neigher end points toward the station, I get nothing.
However, there must be a "correct" end to point toward the station.
(or maybe no one has ever agreed) ????

By the way, I found a website that said the smaller element should
point toward the station, but does that mean the smaller VHF element
or are they including the UHF elements which are smaller yet?
(Why dont they just have a picture instead of trying to explain it).

Mark


Performance is the only thing that counts. But.
the standard ways is the shorter elements are at
the front and the longer elements are at the rear.
The front is the part of the antenna that is
closest to the station. If countryside is open
with no interference from hills, trees, houses,
etc., the best reception will be obtained by the
front pointing to the stations. Any interference
and the the antenna may perform best when pointed
several degrees from dead on. In the case of a
huge reflector (trees, building, mountain, etc.)
in the opposite direction from the station,
turning the antenna around may provide superior
performance.

If the stations are all in the same general
direction, just tune the tv to the weakest station
and rotate the antenna until you get the best
picture.

I bet I could get the best reception in the area if I had the nerve to
climb to the top of my 90 foot silo. But I dont !!!!
Besides, I'd need to run coax about 160 feet to the house, so I'd lose
what I gain in all that cable.

Thanks to all that replied. I have been running it backwards, I'll
have to spin it in the morning. I have an economy rotor. Thats an
old bearing on the bottom of the mast, welded to a bracket and a vice
grips for spinning it from the ground level. My indicator is the
pencil marks on the bracket. My locking device is a pipe hanger with
a nut and bolt in the center. Yep, hi-tech, but it works