Thanks so much for this. My son and I made this an afternoon project. Easy and only $5 for the transformer since we had the rest of the materials. The antenna worked great. Receive all of the major network stations now and from 50-60 miles away and without an amplifier!. Much better than the little, "amplified", flat window antenna that I tried yesterday. Thanks also for such easy to follow instructions and for including all of the dimensions. A definite home improvement victory today!

Best video on antennas I've seen so far. Thanks a bunch.

Really nice work and easy to follow. Thanks!!

Thanks Mike! I just built a basic version with no transformer and got 7 channels. I'm planning to make one on the near future set up for further away stations.

I've watched dozens of antenna building videos, and not one of them mentioned that the two feed wires from opposite side of the antenna cannot touch when they cross at the top and bottom. I knew it, and expected it, and watched for someone to mention it. The ice maker tubing is a good idea. Another real nice design.

I built this today and went from 26 channels to 42 channels with the antenna inside. Best one I have ever found that I can build myself.

Hey Mike; Thanks for this information. Heading over to Lowes right now.

Very good video, I will save this one!!!!!!!!

Can you explain more on the measurements and why you have to use a bow tie type of wire shape???

Is this model with 18 inch elements built for the UHF channels before the repackage? 18 inches is full wave length for 650 Mhz which is no longer in use by TV broadcasters. (614-698 MHz (channels 38-51) - 600 MHz band. The Broadcast Incentive Auction will require TV stations to vacate this band between April 2017 and July 2020. It will then be used by various wireless and broadband networks. Audio, video and pilot frequencies are for reference only.) In other words, What frequency range is this at peak reception? I built a Pennyloop with two loops at 8.5 inch diameter which does excellent in the 500-600 mhz range (favoring the lower freqs). I am going to make another Pennyloop with 7.5 diameter loops to focus on the 550 mhz to 600 mhz. Here's a link to a website discussing the diameter formula for Loops and Double Loops. www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/Loop.html copied from the text.. You can rescale the loop for your weakest channel. Use this formula : dia=4537/(6*N+389) where N is the channel number (14-69). (Plugging 36 into this formula will give you 7.5. Multiply that by 3.141 to get the total wire length.) 12 or 14 gauge copper wire is fine. Remove any thick insulation. Higher gain is possible with a double-loop (A2 on the gain graphs). However it has a narrower bandwidth. This “figure-8” antenna should look like two tangent circles, one above the other, fed at the bottom. Keep the wires a quarter inch apart at the crossover point. This formula gives the diameter of each circle : dia=4244/(6*N+389) Multiply this by 6.283 to get the total wire length.

But how STRON is the reception & is it more powerful than what I can buy on Amazon less ALL THE WORK???

Merci beaucoup

Can you use the same wiring on the other side as well to double up the signal strength? Does this antenna provide both uhf and vhf signals?

The tip on laying the pipe next to the board to make a straight line was a real clever idea. I just built two bowtie antennas since I need one facing SW and SE +/-. My elements are mere > < single bend v-shaped. What is the advantage of the triangle bends over my single one bend V configuration? I'm assuming it's just a means to make the overall width narrower since the elements are the same electrical length regardless of how may bend you install. Lastly, to seperate my wires running the length of the mounting piece, I make a bend where the wires cross. I then use epoxy or hot melt glue to cover that small area. Thanks for your insight!

Thanks. And geaux tigahs. So I’m guessing the transformer is where the coax screws into?

Thanks for posting! Thinking of making my own, just wondering what's the reception range of your antenna? The only change I'd do is soldering the wires.

looking at an antenna , your videos are helpful. I'm more interested in the vhf element you seem to gloss over but i have not seen very much info about the design. really want to pull in a 180 mhz tv station , possibly 65.6 in element , using calculations from another video of yours. Do you have a video focusing on the vhf part ?? thanks

Hi where do you got that pvc material that lookes like wood I have looked at lwea for that I can't find it

Hi Mike - My daughter is going to use your instructions to build a similar antenna for her 6th grade makers fair project. She is pretty good with hand tools and she can handle the math for calculating the wire lengths but we did have one question that just isn't very clear even after watching a few of your videos. We have a number of stations in our area operating from 210 mhz (vhf-hi) to about 596 mhz (uhf). If we want to catch a variety of stations should we have a different length of wire for each station? I understand that that the wire length for the vhf-hi station will be much longer compared to the uhf stations but should each wire for the uhf stations be customized? Thanks so much for your videos!

I get so sick of all the bullshit videos that have musical intros, and all the other crap. Thanks for being normal and helpful with a build.

Interesting thing about copper. Copper oxide is resistive. Combine that with skin effect, which increases with frequency, and it's a good idea to keep that copper shinny to minimize signal loss.

Interesting design. How does it work compared to the one in your previous video?

Can you tell me what area inside Lowes has the PVC Material ? I've looked at my Lowes store here and didn't see anything like that yet. Thanks

I wan't to put it on the back porch 20 feet high but i got to make it

is it work in India?

I don't understand why the fractals work than the plain Vs (or bow ties). If it's surface area, then why not add more rows---5 or 6 or more? Why does it have to cross at the top & bottom & be parallel in the middle? Why not cross at all junctions. Or none?

I tried this design and it did not work as well as the star shape. I'm also in Baton Rouge. I'd like to see your wire bending technique.

we only have one lowe's here in San Diego cal home dopo does not have that

how does this antenna compare in gain to a yagi?

Sr.... Will it work in remote area like 220 kilometer far from main city capital?

My husband said the shape of the wire doesn't matter. The length does, is he correct? Also, he said that copper with corrode when left outside and that I should use a large gauge galvanized wire instead. What is your choice?

Great video! Can I use speaker wire, I've got a lot of it?

Do you need a certain type of tv for this type of antanne to work?

Hey. Is a reflector necessary?

Michael, wood is a poor choice for RF, so you were smart to switch to PVC. But CPVC is better for RF than PVC. Enjoy!

Why not use the wire insulting sheath that just removed from wire as insulation for connecting wires.

thing of it is I live in a valley any suggestions

Is the bow-tie still 18" ? The first bend is 3" from center then 4 1/4" according to the video, but the first bend appears much larger than the second, and the last 2 parts appear the largest. What length of wire are you using, and is that length based on analysis of the stations wavelengths near you ?

You should build a reflector to put behind the antenna

hhmmm-would these tennaes work with60 mile conditions and tree blockage??

There is no need to bend the elements all funky like that. It won't help reception.. probably hurts it honestly. All you need is 1 single element dipole horizontally polarized and a reflector if you want any kindve directionality to it otherwise it'll pickup in 2 directions very well.

mmtaz

Geaux Tigahs

we only have one lowe's here in San Diego cal home dopo does not have that