TV antenna signal tube amplifier

[Colas LeGrippa]

Hi buddies,


Just bought my first TV and my indoor antenna doesn t catch that much channels and I was wondering  how to build a small tube amp as a rf amplifier that could give me aprox 30 db of gain.
Any idea ?


( 2019: 50th anniverssry of the woodstock 69 event, you might see me play in a club near you !!!!)


Colas

[sluckey]

Just bought my first TV

Oh my! What will all the pretty ladies do now?   

Really, you need an outdoor antenna.

[Colas LeGrippa]

Even with an outside antenna  I ll  need an amplifier to grab some USA channels.


( i have swapped my ladies for a tv  when I don't like what I hear I turn it off)


Colas

.

[shooter]

2 minute search;

https://www.toptenselect.com/best-long-range-tv-antennas/

The gain amps are everywhere on the net, but looks like they are limited in gain, probably don't want us hackers TX'n with them 
while you're watching snow and surfing the net if you run across a 900Mhz 1Kw burst SS amp, let me know 

[Ritchie200]

if you run across a 900Mhz 1Kw burst SS amp, let me know 

Ok, you can do a moon bounce with 300 watts....  The only reason for more power would be for some sort of Eddie Haskell type of activity?  That would get you a knock on the door from the men in black...

Jim

[Ritchie200]

( i have swapped my ladies for a tv  when I don't like what I hear I turn it off)

Colas

Hahaha!
Jim

[shooter]

you can do a moon bounce

I'm only interested in ~~ 500-1000ft, say 3 1 mSec narrowband bursts 

a knock on the door

they're way to busy for me 

[Ritchie200]

Snipe hunting?

Jim

[Ritchie200]

That's slucky's expertise....

Jim

[sluckey]

I've been sniping a few times. They never let me hold the bag though. 

[shooter]

 
I'm usually the one left holding the bag 

[PRR]

30dB of tube gain at VHF frequency is a Very Large And Tricky build. At UHF, even worse.

And as I recall, not real reliable. (Maybe if built super-good, thus unaffordable for people.)

Your TV is transistor. You don't need tubes; or save them for the audio. 30dB TV boosters must be a commodity on Amazon or eBay. In this case, just buy it.
https://www.amazon.com/High-Performance-HDTV-Signal-Amplifier/dp/B003DRMKXW

Your TV is already within a few dB of theoretical limits. If it won't pull in a signal, you really want a bigger Sky Hook, catch more waves.
https://www.amazon.com/Xtreme-Signal-Range-Antenna-HDB91X/dp/B00CX700EY
https://www.amazon.com/Antenna-Outdoor-Amplified-Motorized-Adjustable/dp/B07F427CS3

[jjasilli]

Yes  if your antenna is not getting good reception, an amp will make the poor reception stronger.  Like magnifying a blurry photo. 

[sluckey]

Even with an outside antenna  I ll  need an amplifier to grab some USA channels.

Don't need to be watching no American TV. That will lead to an American Woman. And she will mess yo mind!

[silverfox]

Or worse yet Politically Correct Racism?

[Willabe]

Don't need to be watching no American TV. That will lead to an American Woman. And she will mess yo mind!

[mresistor]

I saw Guess Who in Anchorage AK in 1974 and they were fantastic.   Went into the AF and in Las Vegas in 1976 saw Bachman Turner Overdrive at the Craig Road Speedway and they were also great.
Is Randy playing a Vigier  in that vid?  Great video and show .. thanks for posting .

[string bender]

I have good luck with the Grey-Hoverman design. This was developed in the 50's and oddly it works very good. I spent 1 1/2 days researching tv antennas and after ordering one and then trying it out I got 4 channels. I believe it is "line of sight" transmission. I am a fan of Public Television, I am not a fan of the rest of the garbage however even some of the boring local stations on sat/sun can produce some amazing entertainment (sports).

I have built several of these antennas and some donated to retiree's that are strapped with that excessive "cable bill", and oddly enough many of the stations you watch on cable are free over the airwaves.

You must obtain a "balung" which can be found at Radio shack, its a resistor that allows you to attach two leads to your metal wire (thick coat hangar wire, copper grounding wire, etc) and the other side connects to coaxial. I mounted mine on a 2 by 4, yes crude but I get 39 channels with this. No other antenna has produced such results that I have come across. My signal is NOT amplified. The dimensions are critical. One TV works best (no splitters) however I have watched two at one time but degrades signal on one. I have attempted to improve this design with a reflector. At one time I mounted this inside my attic and used a shield mounted 2.5'' behind the antenna and covered it with tin foil and it helped. If you do not have a metal roof this is a preferred style of mount, you will have to align it with the local tv stations. There are apps or go online and google search for direction to/from your home. Use your iPhone app (compass). When I upgraded my roof (metal) I had to put my antenna outside, I changed from a cheap coat hangar to thick copper grounding wire, honestly I couldn't tell the difference but I had to elevate it higher because I didn't have a reflector, I tried different reflector like chicken wire but that did nothing to improve this basic design. It should not cost in materials more than $12.00
http://diecartumud44.soup.io/post/462490280/homemade-4-bay-grey-hoverman-ota-digital

 

[Ritchie200]

Ok so the things I should remember, I forget...  However, I ran across an old PopSci from 1968 and there was an ad for Finco tube antenna amplifiers and I remembered this post.  Did a quick google and found this site.  Could not find schematics for the Fincos, but there are quite a few tube models shown here and you can do your own search if you REALLY wanted to pursue a tube driven version.

Jim

http://theoldcatvequipmentmuseum.org/170/172/index.html

[PRR]

https://archive.org/details/RadioElectronics195701/page/n59

[shooter]

Snow!  the new digital snow sux!  there was something almost calming in analog noise, digital noise seems to irritate me

[Ritchie200]

Or after the "This concludes our broadcasting day" following the National Anthem - usually woke me up! 

Jim

[mresistor]

Colas   you might give a "Stealth Hawk" antenna a try first.   You can easily make one yourself.  Please google it.   I have been using one that I made for years now and receive almost all the broadcast channels in my location within 60 miles..  If I mounted it outside and elevated I would get them all but I still have it indoors. Mine is made of 14 ga copper wire screwed to a small board with a balun.  Maybe it will work for you maybe not..