Antenna Test Data 4 bay.

I used the field strength meter on my HDTV to get these readings. The frequency on the left are the 3 channels that I tested it shows a frequency range between 186 to 692 MHz. The antenna screen is 20" wide 36" tall. The elements are 5" from the screen and spaced 9.5" apart vertical and 1.5" apart horizonal. I am using a 300/75 ohm balun and 6 ft of 75 ohm coax to the converter box. The element length and space between the whisker tips were changed to find the maximum signal strength. This test was repeated 3 times. The signals became more stable in the evening after the sun went down. After the first test I saw a noticable pattern the best signal was from element lengths 9" long and 10" long. I also noticed the best signal was whisker spacing of 3" and 4" apart. This test took place upstairs in the house about 18 ft above the ground. The antenna was rotated to pick up maximum signal strength for each element length and each whisker spacing.

Elements length = 8"
Inches between whiskers........2".............3".............4".. ...........5"
692 MHz signal strength........37.............35............38... ..........36
482 MHz signal strength........63.............62............64... ..........65
186 MHz signal strength........42.............40............43... ..........41

Elements length = 9"
Inches between whiskers........2".............3".............4".. ...........5"
692 MHz signal strength........38.............38............43... ..........41
482 MHz signal strength........64.............65............67... ..........67
186 MHz signal strength........49.............51............52... ..........52

Elements length = 10"
Inches between whiskers........2".............3".............4".. ...........5"
692 MHz signal strength........34.............35............39... ..........38
482 MHz signal strength........67.............66............68... ..........65
186 MHz signal strength........56.............55............57... ..........57

Elements length = 11"
Inches between whiskers........2".............3".............4".. ...........5"
692 MHz signal strength........38.............36............36... ..........39
482 MHz signal strength........66.............68............69... ..........64
186 MHz signal strength........44.............53............53... ..........52

A final test was done using only elements 9" and 10" long spaced 3" and 4" apart.

Elements length = 9"
Inches between whiskers........3".............4"
692 MHz signal strength........35............34
482 MHz signal strength........62............61
186 MHz signal strength........51............50

Elements length = 10"
Inches between whiskers........3".............4"
692 MHz signal strength........34............34
482 MHz signal strength........68............64
186 MHz signal strength........49............50

Next I did one more test I made the screen larger from 20"x36" to 36"x36". The signal became much more stable. Fluxuation in signal changed for example, 67 to 69 are now holding steady at 71. There was almost no noticable increase in signal strength at 692 MHz.

Elements length = 9"
Inches between whiskers........3".............4"
692 MHz signal strength........32............33
482 MHz signal strength........65............66
186 MHz signal strength........69............69

Elements length = 10"
Inches between whiskers........3".............4"
692 MHz signal strength........39............34
482 MHz signal strength........69............69
186 MHz signal strength........71............72

Next I experemented with the element diameter #14 wire, #10 wire and #8 wire. No signal difference was noticed.

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