Adding VHF capability to a UHF outdoor antenna

Many of us invested in outdoor antennas prior to the DTV transition. Prior to the transition, the consensus was that all DTV was to be transmited on UHF only, so UHF antennas became popular. Shortly prior to transition, it was announced that high VHF (7-13) will continue to operate, UHF antennas may have problems recieving those High vhf channels because the smaller UHF dipoles is not tuned to VHF. The new crop of outdoor antennas has both UHF and VHF driven elements. If you have a UHF only antenna or a DB4 coat hanger antenna you may find this mod useful. All it takes is the VHF portion of a cheap rabbit ears antenna, i bougth mine at the dollar store, some scrap wire and some zip ties.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• hdtv
• antenna
• mod
• ATSC
• OTA
• DB4
• DB8
• channelmaster
• winegard
• terk
• rca
• phillips
• ant
• coathanger
• vhf
• transition

[yellowdart137]

i have the same antenna. however there are no VHF stations within 100 miles. at least last time i checked.

the U75R is a good antenna that also has a low price. this is designed better and will last longer than most of the new "DTV" antennas.

hey there is nothing new at all about how the DTV antennas work vs older antennas. other than the fact that most stations are in the UHF range.

[Guacatechs]

the mod is only for those few situations, depending on location, where you may have VHF stations that you want to watch, most of the coutry has switched to UHF only.

[davenwin1973]

During the transition period, Chicago had every DTV station in the UHF, except for CBS, which was on DT3. I was one of a few that had the correct antenna to get 3. They have since moved to 12, and ABC returned to 7 after they were forced to relinquish ch 52. I have an older Philips antenna for ch's 2-69 (or 2-51 as of June 12th). A Channel Master antenna, similar to yours (CM2016), has the 2 dipoles for 7-13. So if you have to replace your later on, then you might look at that antenna.

[Guacatechs]

i actually got the idea from the channel master, it seemed to me that all it was was a yagi with corner reflector and driven element tuned to 14-51, with an additional 7-13 VHF dipole. knowing this and looking at the design of the RS antenna, adding an additional, cheap dipole was no problem

[Petrel2]

I have the same setup.

UHF : Channel Master

CM 7777 (pre-amp)

VHF : dipode taped on my CM UHF antenna. 74,5 cm on my dipode.

With this setup I can receive CFCF (12) and CFTM (10) in Montreal with 100% strenght signal. Very simple, but very efficient!

[Griffith181]

What happens when it rains?

Does the tape come off?

[calcvids]

I would protect the VHF elements with heat-shrink tubing, they aren't very weatherproof.

[hifiok1]

Ptákovina.

[monkeyman1140]

@TheShospitali

Radio Shack doesn't make antennas anymore. They just rebrand other antennas from american makers like antennacraft, winegard, etc... My criticism of Radio Shack is they're overpriced, but at least there's almost always a store near you, so you pay for the convenience.

[MikeyfromNY]

This is exactly what I was trying to figure out. Same problem. thanks

[TheShospitali]

It's well worth the money, nearly 100 channels!

[TheShospitali]

Radio Shack antennas are a peace of crap, buy a channel master antenna cm 3671 Deepest Fringe Crossfire antenna, we live about 80 miles north of Atlanta, and we pick up Chattanooga Tennessee, Birmingham Alabama, and Atlanta Georgia Broadcasting stations, and get and outside booster, as well as and inside amplifier , antenna rotor, digital box all from channel master, and watch some free television in High Definition without paying for it.