1. DTV Reception and Consumer Antennas
2005 PBS Technology Conference
Kerry W. Cozad
Dielectric Communications
Raymond, Maine USA

2. Purpose for Study
Document measured performance of typical receive antennas
Provide information to update “planning factors”
Assist station engineers in discussions with viewers

3. ATSC PS/WP3 Receiver Planning Factors

4. Testing Methods
CEA Guidelines
Outdoor Range
Computer Modeling

5. Antenna Parameters Principal plane patterns Polarization Response
Azimuth
Elevation
Polarization Response
Horizontal
Vertical

6. Antenna Parameters Frequency Response Directivity Gain
Variations within design band
Response out of design band
Directivity
Gain

7. Antenna Products Tested
“Set Top”
Zenith Silver Sensor 
Megawave
Radio Shack loop 
Terk Antenna Pro

8. Antenna Products Tested
Attic or Outdoor
RCA ANT3002 VHF/UHF
Winegard PR-8800
Channel Master 4228 
Winegard SS-1000 SquareShooter 

9. Test Range
Source Antenna
Antenna Under Test

10. Sample Test Results Typical Receive Antennas

11. Remember: Choose your standard carefully.

12. Coat Hanger UHF Patterns
Azimuth
Elevation

13. Radio Shack 1864

14. Radio Shack 1864 UHF Patterns
Azimuth
Elevation

15. Radio Shack 1864 VSWR
3:1
2:1

16. Zenith Silver Sensor

17. Zenith Silver Sensor UHF Patterns
Azimuth
Elevation

18. Zenith Silver Sensor VSWR
3:1
2:1

19. NEC Model of Zenith Silver Sensor

20. NEC Model of Zenith Silver Sensor AZ Pattern

21. NEC Model of Zenith Silver Sensor AZ Pattern

22. Channel Master 4228

23. Channel Master 4228 UHF Patterns
Azimuth
Elevation

24. Comparison of Measured to Calculated

25. Channel Master 4228 VSWR
3:1
2:1

26. Winegard Square Shooter

27. Spec Sheet Data Beamwidth 61° Avg. VSWR across band 1.3:1
Avg. Front to Back 13db
Avg. gain across band db
Max. Width Housing 16" x 16" x 4"
© 2003 Winegard Company. All Rights Reserved

28. Winegard Square Shooter UHF Patterns
Elevation
Azimuth

29. Winegard Square Shooter VSWR
3:1

30. Planning Factor Review

31. Planning Factor for UHF: 10 dBd
Gain Comparisons
Planning Factor for UHF: 10 dBd

32. Front to Back Ratio Planning Factor: -14 dB Loop: N/A
Indoor LP: -10 dB to -15 dB
Outdoor Dipole Array: -17 dB to -25 dB
Custom Array: -12 dB to -15 dB

33. What About Using Vertical Polarization?
Average V-Pol/H-Pol Ratios
Zenith: dB
Channel Master: -19 dB
Radio Shack 1864: dB

34. Summary Indoor Antennas typically have lower gain than planning factor
Use of vertical polarization is questionable when using linear array, higher gain receive antennas
Reduction of multipath reception dependent on antenna design