Fractal Antenna for HD + Digital TV

[Angelical195]

Como se llama esa cancion?

[psb2usa]

If you look at my first fractal video, and go to MORE INFO below the video all the dimentions.... are there.

Thanks for watching!

[treeky3]

hey can give me all of the materials I don't have any ideas what you got there. Please reply.

[Mrinfoone]

what are the dimensions off the wire and angles? You didn't mention or show on your video....thxs

[psb2usa]

@Mrinfoone OK, Under the video there is a box that says....

MORE INFO if you click on that there is a link there..... for dimentions ect.

[xarginify]

hey of what metal are these sticks and what is that device called that u used in middle of that antenna and where to get it..please tell me soon.....

[InfectedDarkJester]

That damn song is putting me to sleep X_X... besides that cool video. I made one with copper wire, used tin foil for back panel. Works awesome :)

[AnalogRocks]

SO how does it perform?

[RubiTrack]

What is the db gain on this?

[juswatchinintosa]

I justed watched a NOVA special on fractional geometry and so glad you poted this... amazed at science in my ripe ole age - should have studied more... thanks.

[Kevinsph1]

It works. I didn't even do that good a job on bending the wires. I took it upon myself to solder the wires together. It's was to only hard part.

Had to use a reflector to make it work. Just use a grill liner from the Asian/Japanses dollar store. Huge improvement in reception.

I now rarely get any skips during broadcasts at the worse spot for T.V. reception in the house.

I quit using that $25 "digital TV" antenna I used to use which is really just a hoop antenna. What a scam.

[DARTHOS09]

Excellent info! Im starting in this. And i have some duds. What material is? wHAT MATERIAL USE FOR DO THIS? PLis. Give me that info. Thanks and good luck people!!

[ProfessorFreaksworth]

I have wanted to cut off my cable television for quite some time now but the one station I want (CBC-DT) I could not get reliably on a store bought antenna. I built your design out of tape, nuts / bolts, cardboard, and 22g steel wire in less than an hour.... basically, crap I had in a cupboard.

Finally I can get this station @ about 60% signal strength that tvfool lists as: nm=-2.5, pwr=-93.4, path=1edge, dist=65.7mi.

Thanks for the easy to build and excellent design.

[jccjccjoanne]

Will it work in a basement? I am living in basement, but too cheap to buy cable...



[bandainamco1]

Hey that stuff is built? the plate is metal? and arms are aluminum? thanks for answering.

[Andreiupg]

@psb2usa i didn't find a UHF/VHF transformer... and can you give me a link to make one?

PS: i love your antenna :)

[ufoengines]

Has anybody made a fractal antenna using "Kock Snowflake"

Seems it would only use one lenght of wire like the old uhf loop antenna.

[29agosto1969]

hi what are the materials you use to make the antenna?, Greetings

[greatdarkangel]

I Made an antenna like this yesterday, I'm really happy cause it works so good, I live in brazil and I'm using it indoor, and I spent R$ 3,30 for making it (around US$ 2,00)

Thanks so much

[psb2usa]

: ) More stuff like this on my forum...

SatellitePlus (dot US)

[filmnet]

@2009Ubuntu You don't need a "huge antenna", just a normal UHF aerial will do. Signal strength depends on location, and the aerial should be outdoors. This design is supposed to be a UHF aerial, so it should be fine.

[Wowaniac]

Thanks for the idea!! btw whats the name of the song?

[ken62310]

is the back grid necessary....?

[TheFutureLooksGrimm]

How do those RCA 1650 Flat Panel antennas compare?

[Jojoturu]

Some one can tell me what is that in the minute 4:45 - 4:56?

[psb2usa]

@Jojoturu

Its a balum, or transformer.  Try it without if you dont have one, they sell them in any electronic store.

[pistolpackingzus]

@psb2usa do u guys give any actual instructions (ie specs) or are all these vids just shots of the antennae from different angles set to music?



[psb2usa]

Go to "More Info" for the original plans and instructions. This is just my version of my build, I thought it would be rude putting someone else's dimensions and plans here...... hats off to the original designer : )

[TheSamuray2012]

waths de name song?=????????????????? amazing

[orbitration]

don't you want to insulate the screw heads on the reflector side ? won't the signal be shorted out if the reflector touches both sides of the mounting screws for the fractals ?

[maciejwrotek]

christmas antenna ?

[merkabah2]

End Result : Industrial looking spider creatures.

[konataspecial]

@2009Ubuntu is that 4 ft in length of the panel that supports the fractals or the total length of the fractals?

[RedbullExclamation]

the little plug you put into it, can you just put a coat hanger into your tv the connect it to the fractual antenna?

[konataspecial]

would the Fractal Antenna be suitable for use on the freeview Digital services here in the UK?

[psb2usa]

Not sure, but I would think so. If not all you would have to to is make the antenna bigger or smaller to suit the Freq. used in the UK

They are so easy to make I would try one, then let us know ;)

[marioregatista14]

man you are the best i am from spain the best!!!!!!

[yToommm]

im curious, this antenna obviously looks a lot better then the other popular do-it-yourself hd antenna. but do the fractals actually get better reception or is it more less the same?

[psb2usa]

bigger will always be better, but this wee antenna works as good as the bigger ones I have made.

See "more Info" for the direct link to the original

[pxqpxndx]

what are the materials that i need ???

[psb2usa]

See MORE INFO to the right of Video!!!!

[tiredfingers99]

Whats happening with this antenna, and the fractals, is that only one quarter of the wave length is being received. If any of the other three quarters of the signal is received then it cancels itself out. Yes the length/size of the antenna and the frequency that you are trying to receive are related, and what types of materials for transmission, copper is best, and also distance to the ground plane is important. Also the spacing of the fractals to each other is important

[badhamsp]

Whats the coax adapter called and where can I purchase one?

[psb2usa]

Try it without the balum/transformer 1st

(Get them at Menards/Home Depot / Radio Shack)

[psb2usa]

GLAD to hear it, I am getting some GREAT results with a simple discone antenna I made out of coax! STRONG signals, see my video for details. Thanks for the feedback!

[supressorgrid]

Are you not shorting all the elements together with the reflector screen?

[psb2usa]

No make sure not to.

[carrierpilot1357]

does this work well for analog signals also? because I live in canada and we wont switch over to digital until august. 2011

[capersushi]

depends where you live - many are digital in the Toronto area

[ChessMasterNate]

All broadcast frequencies are analog; the message transmitted may be analog or digital. The antenna does not know the difference. Most digital TV signals in the US are UHF band only because they wanted the analog and digital channels both during the transition and they needed room. Complete, some will probably go back because VHF has better range. Canada channels are UHF and VHF as well so ordinary antennas should work. Some people lost stations because the UHF channels don't reach as far.

[loadmaster6119]

@ChessMasterNate I bulit this antenna just last week. this antenna works great ! Full bars on almost all the channels I get a signal for.

[aarowsmith]

I still can't pick up any digital channels, the government has this scam to get every one to pay for tv broadcast, nothing is for free where I live.Digital broadcast is too low of a signal to pick up anything, I think a mountain is blocking it but still we are on top of a mountain so what the heck is wrong with the broadcasting stations?

[WinVistaUser2]

Get a coverter box.

[villagefem]

Wow this is excellent tMy Grandma would love HD for less....

Would this work in a highrise in manhattan, or is there too much static.... villagefemale. Thnks... so ... much

[psb2usa]

The great thing about digital is there will be no static or snow, GREAT picture or NO Picture. But the higher up the antenna the better it will work! have a look at MORE INFO for more info from the OP

[MrDoomBringer]

There's so much mis-information and lack of understanding it was pushed back this far. I was laughing out loud when they were thinking about even further pushbacks.

Even small bits of interference that would normally throw a UHF signal into the 'terrible' range won't mess up a DTV signal, you'll get no issues with it.

Have you tried a small dab of solder on the joints? That may improve the signal clarity a bit, a better connection between the wires is always good.

[3isles]

seriously? we used to get far more channels than we do now with digital, we have the box, we have an antenna for digital and still we get about 10 fewer channels and those channels we do get break up, go silent and sometimes go to black if it rains or the wind blows it is far worse than pre-digital

[MrDoomBringer]

That I'm blaming on government stupidity again. They decided to go with an entirely different format (again) than the rest of the world which doesn't have the kind of error correction that the other standards do. Additionally their broadcasting power was cut drastically. I'm not receiving many channels on my TVs as well. I've got cable so it doesn't bother me as much, but if someone is stuck to only antenna then I can definitely see an issue.

[AllFractUp]

@psb2usa

I was told the same thing when I was a salesman at RadioShack. Then, once we got our converter boxes at work we noticed there was still interference. This time instead of snow we get blocky, stuttering, or freezing of the picture. Sometimes the signal is outright lost.

For some reason broadcast digital TV works better during the day than after dark. I have seen this in our store and in my home (upstairs and in the basement). Sure, we get more choices but what good are they?

[killbigbrother]

Unfortunately I did not have as much luck with this as I did the "coat hanger" antenna. I wanted it to work, but it just didn't pull in the stations like the other one. It seemed very directional and picky. Perhaps it would get acceptable results with the reflector, but my experiments will continue with the "coat hanger antennas" for now. This one worked about as well as a regular store bought antenna, though. Might be good for someone a bit closer to the stations than me.

[psb2usa]

Once again this is NOT my design, see MORE INFO for link to the actual design/dimentions......

[princeofdarkness187]

if i use this design but build it bigger will i have better results?

great vid btw

[psb2usa]

YES, see my "Coathanger Antenna" works slightly better than this one.

[TomaxSin]

nice stuff (and even nicer when u add amp) btw,cool song :) who's song is this? Thanx

[psb2usa]

Dirty Beat - Ercola mix

I think, usually shows up on the bottom of the video (wrong) but every now and then it says the above. Just liked the sound of it at the time. All the best!

[TomaxSin]

BIG thanx :)

[HighAway]

Where to buy or find the materials? Especially the lisa-head wire. Please respond soon thanks!

[psb2usa]

I used wire that is used to bind bales of cardboard, but a wire coathanger would also work.

[14GDUTCH]

Couple of questions:

Is there any connection between the 4 bent wire sections and the hardware cloth on the back? Is the plate in the middle metal or plastic?

[williamruckman]

Glad you like my antenna design ;)

[psb2usa]

We certanly do William! I give full props and links in the (more...info) tab to the right :)

AMAZING stuff and works great!

Thanks for posting it!

[psb2usa]

No connection and the white part is just plastic

[supressorgrid]

So you just make an outline of Lisa Simpson's head out of wire and it makes an antenna?

[psb2usa]

: ) yes, I tried the Bartmans outline but Liza's works better!

[CyrusDawes]

It's that easy.

[andymofokinJ]

this actually works, I live in san diego and get a few more channels by using home made antenna. All channels come in clearer, too.

[danielmpr]

does it work better then the coat hanger version?

[psb2usa]

ALMOST!

[sayfaylo]

I would TIG weld it together

[psb2usa]

I would also (if I could) I did solder everything together today and it works alot better.

I also moved the balum down to the end of the two straight elements with no loss of signal.

[TheVirtualOne]

what's with the blue plate? could you explain that?

[psb2usa]

It's a small prime focus parabolic dish, it really helped with the signal and made the antenna directional.

[victorplantbox]

what is the bottom plate made of.

[psb2usa]

Plastic, and steel mesh behind that.....