Grounding Question

[MoonRiver]

I made a digital TV antenna from plans I found online. Most of the tv stations are about 50 miles away. I pick up about 6 stations with the antenna at highest point in room and can pick up several more with antenna in attic.

The problem is the attic isn't a workable solution for several reasons. What I would like to do is fasten it to the side of the house at about 10'. It is just a 1"x4" piece of wood with metal screwed to it.


The dark piece at the bottom is the balun to go from antenna to coax.

I can run the wire down and into the crawl space and then up through the floor near the TV locations. I will use 1 splitter in the crawl space to support 2 TV's.

Do I need to ground it and if so, how do I do it.

TIA

[Silvercreek Farmer]

If it is on the side of your house and not sticking up like a lightening rod, your probably alright, but I am by no means an expert...

[Harry Chickpea]

At a minimum, run the coax through a surge suppressor. I would also use a spark gap lightning arrestor of some sort.

Chances of a direct strike are pretty small. However... those sharp element ends are wonderful launching pads for electrical streamers during a storm.

[MoonRiver]

Originally Posted by Harry Chickpea

At a minimum, run the coax through a surge suppressor. I would also use a spark gap lightning arrestor of some sort.

Chances of a direct strike are pretty small. However... those sharp element ends are wonderful launching pads for electrical streamers during a storm.

I looked at the catv cable that comes into the house and they just use a grounded coax grounding block. Looks simple enough.

[Harry Chickpea]

For this application, it should work fine. Make sure the ground is heavy wire and is bonded to the common ground for the electricity coming into the house. The surge suppressor will likely take care of any minor currents.

[MoonRiver]

I might not need to mount it outside after all.

I took a piece of foil backed insulation board and held it up in front of the antenna and then searched for channels. I found an additional 8 channels, so now I have 13 channels.

If I can find a way to mount the reflector (has to be in front of the antenna, not behind it), this will probably be good enough. The 2 channels I wanted to receive were ION and Fox and both came in when I had the reflector up.

[fordy]

Originally Posted by MoonRiver

I might not need to mount it outside after all.

I took a piece of foil backed insulation board and held it up in front of the antenna and then searched for channels. I found an additional 8 channels, so now I have 13 channels.

If I can find a way to mount the reflector (has to be in front of the antenna, not behind it), this will probably be good enough. The 2 channels I wanted to receive were ION and Fox and both came in when I had the reflector up.

...........You can remove the elements and paint the wood with Spar Varnish , available at W. Mt. , you'll only need a 1/2 pt. ! Let it dry for a couple of days , inside till it is no longer sticky .
...........Also , you can purchase an inline amplifier at Radio Shack too help boost a weak signal ! , fordy

[OH Boy]

I built the same antenna and put a piece of cardboard wrapped with aluminum foil on the back side of it, just staple it to the wooden frame. Works good!

[MoonRiver]

I ended up making a frame for the foil backed insulation board and then hanging it from 2 ceiling hooks about 2" in front of the antenna (which is fastened to the bedroom wall). Now I get 20+ stations, although most are duplicates.

[charged]

Rich, I bet you would like the "Stealth Hawk" antenna. It is very easy to make and works much better than the bow tie.

The version I built is shown in post #289 at the following weblink:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...123803&page=20

[MoonRiver]

Originally Posted by charged

Rich, I bet you would like the "Stealth Hawk" antenna. It is very easy to make and works much better than the bow tie.

The version I built is shown in post #289 at the following weblink:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...123803&page=20

Thanks, but I don't think a better antenna would be of much benefit. My bow tie antenna is pulling in stations from 50+ miles, so I am getting everything available.