Antenna Handbook: February 2022

The Best Indoor HDTV Antenna for 2022

The Best Indoor HDTV Antenna -  As we know, cable TV, streaming TV services, and satellite TV , as Hulu, Disney+, HBO, NetFlix, and etc, require us to pay a subscription fee every month, and burden the monthly bill for each house, and many people have left it to switch to Aerial TV and Digital TV services which currently have a variety of programs.

Indoor HDTV Antenna
Indoor HDTV Antenna

As consumer reports after tested  many digital Indoor HDTV Antenna , tested with different distance and location from many customers, I picks several popular brands Indoor HDTV Antenna  for your reference before purchase.
Consumer rated recommendation  the antenna based on easy installation, easy setup and get VHF and UHF band, also pick up almost all channel.

Indoor HDTV Antenna  will reduce Your Monthly TV Bill

You can now experience HDTV in the highest quality picture and sound available. Over-the-air broadcasts are transmitted in crystal clear Full HD 1080;  far less compressed than what cable and satellite offer. Many local broadcasts are digitally aired in 5.1 Surround Sound giving you the ultimate sound  stage for watching live television. 

With a digital antenna you can receive free local news, weather, kids shows, sports, cooking, shopping, and sitcoms  from networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, PBS, CW, ION, and much more with no cost or contracts. And broadcast TV won't be interrupted from service drop outs  (satellite). Quick fact: local sports are broadcast free over-the-air. You just need an antenna.

For those who still want to see local TV programming and don't want to pay subsciptions cost, Indoor HDTV antennas brands such as Clear Stream, RCA, Winegard,  Mohu, 1ByOne are the best choice for TV at home


The Best Powerfull performance Indoor HDTV Antenna with Ultra Thin Antenna material with flexible easy Installation options.

Price : $82.00 from Amazon 

Specifications :

  • Flexible Antenna Material
  • Amplifier Included
  • Detachable cable
  • Long range upto +50 miles
  • Easy Installation


RCA Ultra-Thin, Multi-Directional Indoor HDTV Antenna
RCA Ultra-Thin, Multi-Directional Indoor HDTV Antenna

Indoor HDTV Antenna with Patented, 360ยบ multi-directional design eliminates need for constant adjustments. RCA's advanced SmartBoost technology amplifies weak signals to deliver the most channels possible while filtering out false signals.

Price : $35.99 from Amazon

Specification 

  • 60 mile range reception
  • Amplifier Included
  • Flexible Antenna Material
  • Easy Installation


Winegard Flatwave Amped Pro HDTV Indoor Antenna
Winegard Flatwave Amped Pro HDTV Indoor Antenna


App-enabled to capture the most free TV channels. This indoor HDTV antenna is powered with a technology duo, an amplified Bluetooth signal meter, and Clear Circuit technology to give you quick access to all the channels in your area. The digital amplifier embedded in the antenna boosts available signals by 100%. 
Sort by signal strength or fine-tune to get the channels you want

Price : $104.62 from Amazon

The FlatWave Amped Pro is the only antenna with an actual signal meter integrated into the antenna to provide the best possible customer experience when installing. The Flatwave Amped Pro uses a built-in tuner to get real-time signal data

Specification
  • Capture signal more than 60 miles away
  • Built-in Clear Circuit Technology boosts reception, cuts dropout, and clears pixelation.
  • Ultra low noise (1 dB) digital amplifier is attached directly to the Antenna
  • Bluetooth Signal Meter and Integrated Channel Finder 

1ByOne Amplified Indoor Digital HDTV Antenna
1ByOne Amplified Indoor Digital HDTV Antenna

High Performace with on Budget Price , high gain Antenna almost 28dB


Price : $27.99 from Amazon

Specification

  • VHF/UHF Band Frequency Range
  • HDTV Compatible/ ATSC Compatible
  • Amplifier Included

The Best VK3UM downloads

VK3UM downloads -  was a software develop by Dough McArthur,Doug VK3UM. For VK3UM Downloads please click here    , VK3UM downloads software consist of EME Calculator [EMECalc] , EME Planner, VK3UM Libration Calculator [LibCalc], VK3UM Electro Magnetic Radiation Calculator [EMRCalc], Atmosphere , Atmosphere calculates the absorption attenuation at Microwave frequencies for both terresttail and slant paths for Amateur frequencies from 10-241 GHz. and VK3UM Noise Source Planner, VK3UM 4 Stage Inter Digital Filter Design [IDF], Transmission Impedance Calculator, VK3UM Auto Track, VK3UM Sun Noise and Measurements.


The software provides the ability to  :
 • select the Radiation Limit to suit your Governing Authority’s Standard. 
 • select the transmission frequency (1.8MHz to 49GHz).  
 • vary the transmitter output power and associated feed losses.
 • select the transmission mode duty factor and averaging period characteristics.
 • select ground reflection factor if required
 • vary the antenna size and efficiency of a Parabolic reflector or select single or multiple yagi arrays  
 • select pre programmed rectangular aperture antennae types for HF (High Frequency) calculations or adjust antennae gain as necessary.
 • vary the height of the HF antennae and display the resultant on axis Exclusion Zone. (bore sight direct line distance)
 • select metric or imperial display presentation.  
 • save and recall user specific preference configurations as required.  
 
The RF Radiation Calculator provides the On Axis Exclusion Zone (General Public), for both near and far field radiation levels, is displayed in both text and graphical (RFGraph) formats. 
 
The System Performance Calculator will simultaneously display both S/N of the Moon Echo and the Sun and Cold Sky to Ground Y factor levels for variables generally not provided in other calculators. These include the added ability to vary; • 10.7cm Solar flux. 
• dish mesh characteristics.
• derived spill over and feed through values. 
• Preamplifier and pre first amplifier gain and loss characteristics. 

Through out the World many Government Authorities have indicated that they are proposing to implement, or are in the process of implementing mandatory standards of radiation limits pertaining to the Radio Amateur Service.  Because of the nature of EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) and other Amateur communications, radiated power levels can be quite high and may, under certain situations, pose a radiation hazard. This software calculates the level of RF Radiation and specifically addresses the near field radiation characteristics of a circular aperture radiating antennae. (RFGraph.exe). This characteristic could be most significant in being able to demonstrate that an EME Station is able to meet Governing Authority’s radiation limits. 

VK3UM Opening Screen
VK3UM Opening Screen

VK3UM HF Option



Program Aim 

The prime purpose of the software is to define the Radiation Level of the On Axis Exclusion Zone, commensurate with the stations effective radiated power, mode of operation and antennae gain. The secondary purpose is to provide the most accurate calculations for the EME budget, Sun Y factor (relative to the solar flux), and Sky (Cold) to ground Y factor.  The user has the ability to vary all or any of the interacting factors and determine, with a high degree of accuracy, your system’s performance. 
 
 
Screen Options
 
The first time the program is run the default parameters as listed in Part 6 of this document will be displayed.  

The VHF-SHF Screen provides access to the Parabolic Reflector (default) and the yagi Array. To select the yagi array click on the button to the left of the display. Similarly to reselect the Parabolic Reflector display click on its button.  

The HF Screen may be selected by clicking on the small button (HF) in the bottom right hand corner of the frequency panel. The options available within this screen may be selected by clicking one of the available options (Low Gain Antennae, Yagi Array or Parabolic Reflector). Access to all the Low Gain Antennae options may be gained by clicking on the associated panel (it will high light in white) and further choose other options by use of the up/down arrows . To return to VHF-SHF screen click on the SHF button.  

Transmission Mode Form Factor options should be selected in accordance with the Standard chosen. In the case of the FCC OET Bulletin 65 they select Carrier or 100%.  

Six Minute Period Average options should also be selected in accordance with the Standard chosen. In the case of the FCC OET Bulletin 65 they select Conversational or 100%.  

Ground Reflection. Select his option where required. This will depend upon the situation under question and should be applied as appropriate. In the case of the FCC OET Bulletin 65 they stipulate this option (in most instances) as a worse case scenario.  

RF Radiation Standards. Three are provided as indicated plus a variable facility to allow for any other Radiation Limit. Many Countries have as yet to define their Standard and the variable option is provided for such eventualities.  

Transmitter Power. Levels from 1-9999 are provided to cover most Amateur situations.  

Transmission Loss. Actual power measured at the radiator. Adjust to suit your particular situation. Remember to include all feed, relay, balun, and divider losses as appropriate.  

Metric/Imperial Button. Selecting either will reflect on all displayed calculations. Note that this function is a ‘stored parameter’.  

System Performance Calculator. There are 14 variables that the user may adjust to suit their situation. The ability to ‘reverse engineer’ your results provides the user with a system analysis tool of considerable effectiveness. 

 File Handling Options  

The Data button provides access to data file management options. 


Save data allows the user to store as many files, with whatever file name you choose (extension is set to *.dug) .  Get Data allows the user to recall the file as stored above. 

Cancel aborts the process and returns the user to the main screen. 
 
Note. 1 All the screen variables available to the user are stored. 2. You may also cancel the save or get file options by using the cancel option when in these screens. 
 
 

Default Option allows for the retrieval of user defined set up parameters. When the program is first initiated the parameters displayed should be changed to suit the users preferred options. They should be stored as ‘default.dug’. This file will be recalled automatically when clicking on the default button. If the file has not been created then the user will receive an error message warning of the requirement. as well as all the other  variables of frequency, sky temperature, LNA, receiver noise figure, band width and system loss factors. The calculator will provide most accurate data for typical installations and allow the user to define and analyse the operational capabilities of the station. 


In the Next Articles I will write about Default Parameters , Parameters Description, Calculation Methods and Display Presentation.