Radio Shack Dbl-bowtie antennae

[BrettD]

Anyone in a large market area and close to the transmission towers (within 5 miles) use one of those bowtie attennnaea? I hear about one put out by Radio Shack, but not the model number. Do they do a relatively decent job of pulling in UHF and VHF signals?

[freddyfred89]

I've posted on this before. The double bow-tie is no longer available in the U. S. (as far as I can tell), but you can get it in Egypt.

I bought a $50 antenna from Radioshack (third link below) and I find that this boosts HDTV signals by around 20% (from a signal strength of 40% to 60%). I was initially very skeptical about spending this much on an antenna, but my wife and I are now happy that we did so. You have to spend a bit of time finding "hot spots" in the room where the signal strength is maximal (and also the proper angle for the antenna). Overall, though, I recommend this antenna.

Radioshack USA has a website for the bowtie with information, follow the first link below. The Egyptian Radioshack website is at the second link. Here is my former post, best of luck:



Originally posted by freddyfred89 on 07-10-2002 at 12:59 AM
FYI, Radioshack's website lists the double bowtie antenna as no longer available. Radioshack Egypt has it, but there's no way I'm going to that part of the world anytime soon.

;)

Here is Radioshack US' site for double bow tie (http://www.radioshack.com/ProdSupport/DocumentDetail/DocumentDetailIndex.asp?URL=http://support.radioshack.com/support_video/39284.htm)

note the lack of info and the inability to buy.

On the other hand ...

Here is Radioshack Egypt's site (note the address) (http://www.deltars.com.eg/main/product_details.asp?product_id=4541)

Personally, I've had decent luck with this rather expensive unit from RS:

Expensivo (http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F002%5F002%5F008%5F001&product%5Fid=15%2D1890)

[Ratman]

The infamous Radio Shack double bowtie can be found with a little travelling and a helpful R/S guy or gal.

They are discontinued, but there are still stores that have some laying around. Just takes persistence. I just read a post on another forum that a guy found one for $1.97

That other R/S antenna that was recommended may work, but it ain't worth the $$ for the performance. I tried it (at 20 miles from towers) and got a lot of droputs. I also tried two different Terks and an RCA. Crap! I wound up with a $21 R/S UHF only yagi and stuck it in my attic. Works Great!.
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F002%5F004%5F002%5F000&product%5Fid=15%2D2160

[JimP]

Picked up one of the RS bowtie UHF antennas todat for $1.97 hope it works.

[Ratman]

Great! Hope it works out!
How was Egypt?

[freddyfred89]

LOL