2-Bay Bowtie for VHF-Hi

In my quest for finding the right antenna for picking up the small consortium of channels that are, or will be broadcasting in the VHF range, I decided to build and test a 2-Bay Bowtie. My target channels are the following:

RF9 - CFTO analog from Toronto (will be using this frequency for their digital broadcast after August 2011)

RF11 - CHCH analog from Hamilton (will be using this frequency for their digital broadcast after August 2011)

RF13 - CKCO analog from London (will be using this frequency for their digital broadcast after August 2011)

RF7 - WNGS out of Buffalo (currently a low power transmitter which is very hard to receive in GTA area)

RF12 - WICU out of Erie

The actual designer is the same guy who designed the MClapp 4 and 8-bay bowties, which are very good antennas (see my 4-bay build for more info).

The design is based on the following diagram:

I made mine out of 10AWG wire. Below are the pictures of it:

*21/10/10*

I was home today and had a chance to try this antenna out. First I set it up in the livingroom, and the antenna receive RF13 very successfully. The picture, for being analog, was very clear. What also surprised me about this antenna is that it picked up SunTV digital and CH digital, and a slew of higher RF analogs...when this antenna is more tuned for VHF.

I then shifted this antenna to the attic, where it replace the Stealth Hawk, which I haven't been over impressed with. It was positioned the same as the SH and Scatter Forager antennas in that it is facing CFTO, with WICU on its backside, CH, CKCO are mainly right on its sides, and WNGS is angled off the back.

What I noticed right off the bat was how clear CFTO came in. CKCO at this point was rather snowy. This indicates how directive this antenna is. WICU and WNGS didn't even register. CH is a flame thrower, and can be easily picked up no matter what direction the antenna is facing.

The other major issue with this antenna is the sheer size of it. Since each whisker length is 24", all said and done this antenna is close to 4 feet in width. It is a big antenna to move around in my attic. Not to mention that even though the wire is all 10AWG, at the lengths they are, even 10AWG is flimsy, and extra care has to be taken during mounting.

So even though this antenna seems pretty good, it just isn't practical to use in the location that I'm using it (attic). So to this end, I think I may be going back to using the Scatter Forager, and then play with its direction.

Disclaimer:

I am not an electrical/electronics engineer, nor am I claiming to be a professional at designing electronic circuits, I am, though, an Electronics Technologist, and have a firm understanding of all the circuits that I have built. If you choose to try some of the projects that I have done, I take no responsibility to your lose of personal health or property. All projects are performed at your own risk.