Help Troubleshooting Coat Hanger Antenna

[scooternut]

So I built a coat hanger antenna using plans found everywhere on the net, but it doesn't work. Getting Zero channels here. I'm only like 20-25 miles away from Pittsburgh City network stations

. Trying to use this inside though.

I copied the measurements exactly. Though I did run out of crimp on connectors, was working in someone else's house, so I just stripped the wire and screwed it down with a washer in a few places.

Anyone know about these things and can assist in troubleshooting.

 

[jimzz2006]

On your tv you will need to "SCAN" or ADD new channels. it will scroll through and add channels that it picks up with the antenna.. post your results

 

[scooternut]

Tried scanning on 2 different TV's, main floor and upstairs bedroom of a 3 story. No channels picked up on either. Seems impossible to get nothing at all.

 

[Highbeam]

I've built one of these and it is still in service. Looks just like that. It is important that the wires do not touch where they cross in the middle. With towers at 25 miles you should almost get reception with just the coaxial up in the air not even connected to the antenna. I used no crimps, just a washer and screw.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Bad transformer or coax to the TV ?

 

[Highbeam]

Bigger picture now, I see you used an insulated wire down the middle. I used regular bare wire there.

The balun is the right one isn't it?

 

[justsam]

How damp is that wood? I have not seen the internet model, but at the frequencies of interest, wood is not a good insulator.

Agree on the Balun. Measure with an ohmmeter and you should see pretty much a short on the 75 Ohm side, (the F connector, shell to center pin), and the same on the 300 Ohm side.

 

[scooternut]

The balun I ordered from Amazon.

"The TV-2900 Weatherproof Transformer is an 82 channel matching transformer. Designed for indoor or outdoor use, the transformer adapts 75 ohm coax cable to 300 ohm terminals of antenna or coupler. Includes FC-5900 connector and boot."

Perhaps Ill try again with bare wire after verifying I that I don't have a bad coaxial cable.

Im simply connecting this balun direct to TV. Nothing else required? One TV is nearly brand new VIZIO flat, digital I'm sure. The other is an older projection tv, not digital I believe, no HDMI ports.

Thanks for your input so far.

 

[Highbeam]

To test I just sat the dang thing behind the TV leaning up against the wall and coax straight from the TV to the antenna. These things are directional so the wide side should face the towers. No metal in the way. Even set it outside and run the cable inside for test.

Mine is right on a 2x6 too and regular dryness lumber is fine.

 

[toplessHO]

I made a J hook and it works far better that the bow tie ones Ive made

 

[scooternut]

I made a J hook and it works far better that the bow tie ones Ive made

I thought the j hook was for the ham radio/ cb type stuff. I do have an old piece of tubing laying around.

Looks like I'll need a digital converter or tuner for the older projection TV. Not sure I want to spend 30 bucks there to fix old tech, maybe time to just invest that in a new TV. In the meantime, I'll stick to the newer Vizio for testing.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The bowtie design works well if built to the specs. Much of the commercial antennas just copy that. A reflector behind it helps, but makes it more directional.

 

[scooternut]

Jeez, I replaced the primary wire that I used with solid copper house wire, whatever you call it, still getting nothing through my now confirmed digital tuner 3rd floor TV. Nothing. Jeez, cant I at least get some static/ snow like back in my college dorm days?

 

[lostmind]

Can you borrow a working antennae from someone and hook it up to your Tv.
This will confirm the lead and Tv are ok , and the problem is your antennae you built

 

[justsam]

In the setup menus, make sure you are scanning for the "off the air" channels and not cable channels, (CATV).

If there is more than one coaxial input on the back, make sure you are in the one marked "ANTENA".

 

[Highbeam]

I'm starting to think it is just that you haven't told your TV to look at the antenna yet. It's not a simple deal. Then you scan for available channels. I'm about 40 miles from the towers and I get zillions of channels.

The religious, shopping, and Spanish channels seem to be broadcast with especially good strength! If you can't even get those then it's not the antenna to blame.

 

[mmack66]

Just go buy a $10 pair of rabbit ears. If they don't work, then it is your television.

 

[SCscoutguy]

I'm starting to think it is just that you haven't told your TV to look at the antenna yet. It's not a simple deal. Then you scan for available channels. I'm about 40 miles from the towers and I get zillions of channels.

The religious, shopping, and Spanish channels seem to be broadcast with especially good strength! If you can't even get those then it's not the antenna to blame.

I am thinking the exact same thing. It sounds like he has not switched the tv to look for antenna signals and is scanning to find cable signals.

 

[scooternut]

Yep, feeling stupid now, just had the menu settings wrong, was searching the cable channels. , picking up 14 channels without effort. Though a good bit have some signal issues. Feeling stupid. Thank you everyone!

As for rabbit ears, I chose to waste my $10 in the hot deals and vises of garage journal sections

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

 

[87jeepwrangler]

Aiming your antenna will make a huge difference. Spend the time get it aimed for max signal strength. There are websites that will tell you where the antennas are located, then you can use the compass app on your iPhone to aim it. As mentioned, a reflector spaced at the correct distance behind your antenna may help also. Realize that will only work if you are trying to pick up signal from antennas in 1 direction, as it will block signal coming from other directions. Distance from antenna to reflector is also important. I'm guessing it should be about 4" behind for a bow tie antenna, but you should look it up

 

[Highbeam]

Place the antenna as high as possible and without any junk between the antenna and the towers. Outside is better than inside since your walls are obstructions.

Minimize the length of coaxial between the antenna and TV too.

If you look for it, I bet the TV will have some sort of signal strength meter for each channel. Check strength, then rotate antenna, check strength again, repeat, until optimized.

 

[Will McRay]

What's the VSWR for the band of frequencies? Hi VSWR will cause you not to receive.

 

[justsam]

What's the VSWR for the band of frequencies? Hi VSWR will cause you not to receive.

I doubt that many here have the necessary equipment to look at VSWR at all the frequencies of interest here, however I have been surprised before!

How is the inside finishing work on that beautiful garage going?

 

[Will McRay]

Justsam,

Just my amateur radio side kicking in. You are right, not everyone will have an VSWR meter to aid in antenna building.

If you are inquiring about my garage build, it going well. I just finished insulation, drywall and paint. I have added four welding circuits up to 50 amps and also one for the 80 gal ingersall rand air compressor. I have the air reel up and the fast pipe system on order. Hope to have it this week and install over the weekend. Once done, I will update my garage build post.

 

[snorky18]

Antenna location and antenna orientation will make you or break you.

Location - Our last house I tried mounting the antenna to a huge pole, 20' off the ground, pointed the way antennaweb said, and got 0 channels. Moved it inside our attic (higher but more physical interferences obviously) and got ~15 channels. Try lots of different places.

Aim - Depending on which way ours is pointed, we can get between 3 and 25 channels.

Option 1: Go to antennaweb, decide which way to point it based on your zip code, surrounding stations, etc.

Option 2: the preferred but more time consuming option: Get a piece of paper, program TV channels based on current antenna position, write down what channels you get at that position. Then rotate antenna 30°, reprogram TV, write down what channels you get at that position. Rinse, lather, repeat, When you get done, figure out which position gets you the channels you care most about, then fine tune from there.

Option 3: (Note that this option is the definition garage journal blasphemy): Spend $50 on a good antenna instead of spending $5 on material and 300 man-hours perfecting your own.

 

[Highbeam]

Option 3: (Note that this option is the definition garage journal blasphemy): Spend $50 on a good antenna instead of spending $5 on material and 300 man-hours perfecting your own.

I did just this after proving that it would work with the homemade model. I reused the homemade antenna in the shop and bought a nice channelmaster DB6 antenna for the house. It was very cheap from amazon.

You still need to locate and aim the antenna to maximize the performance. Forget 30 degrees, try very small changes. Sometimes a few degrees rotation will increase reception on one channel while decreasing it on another.

 

[Will S.]

To test I just sat the dang thing behind the TV leaning up against the wall and coax straight from the TV to the antenna. These things are directional so the wide side should face the towers. No metal in the way. Even set it outside and run the cable inside for test.

Mine is right on a 2x6 too and regular dryness lumber is fine.

I know OP has solved his problem, but wanted to let you (and others) know that "wide side" does not go toward the towers. The "wide side", or longest measures element of the antenna, is the reflector, and should be away from the towers. Shortest element is the "director", and should be toward the tower.

 

[richtersrodz]

I made one almost just like that.. and it worked great.. but it was directional, and the trees would cut the signal. I had to put it up on the second story, and hang it out a window. But worked great for FREE!!