Omnidirectional TV antenna verses rotor TV antenna

Learjet wrote:

cire wrote:

Is the reception of an omnidirectional antenna as good as an antenna with a rotor?

No.

That really should read NO in bold capital leters.

I have yet to find an omnidirectional antenna that is any good. Go with directional. There is a simple device that you can add - some even come with this - that will tell you when to stop turning the antenna when it is getting the strongest signal. Simple and fast and no frustration.

Antennas 101

Take a map, lay it on a properly prepared table and stick a pin in it, THIS pin is your omni direcitonal antenna.

NOW. take a necklace chain,,, Arrainge it in a prefect circle aroudn the pin.. IF the station is within the chain, the Omni can see it,, Of course if there is a reflective surface behind the antenna but still within the curcle, that may cancel out the main signal.....

Now, Take a common craft (Popscicle) Stick and stick the pin back in the map, but now through the center of the stick.... Arrainge the stick so it points up and down from your point of view.. now pull the sides of the chain circle so it forms an oval about 2 times as long as it is high... That's the BATWING.

now take 1/2 of a 2nd craft stick and lay it against the first stick right were the pin sticks so the stick goes off to the right,,, Pull the chain to the right while shaping it abit so it is now EGG SHAPED. As you can now see that reflection from the back side of the antenna... No longer visible so it can not cancel the incoming. You might also notice your main lobe is much longer.

That's Batwing with Wingman

Now to add the Sensar Pro... you will need a much longer necklace chain.

Please note that the above is descriptive but is NOT to scale.. The actual difference will likely be greater than what I have described above.

The one time the Omni works well is if you are in the center of a fairly small circle with stations to the north, south, east and west all within about 30 miles... I tend to park 60-80 miles from transmitters I'm viewing during the summer.

Our omnidirectional was worthless! We decided shortly after buying camper it had to go and it went. Cost us money but it was well worth it.

Double yup ... Omnidirectional antennas work equally poorly in all directions.

Yup, omni's work equally poorly in all directions

That being said, there are time when they are the best solution, like when stations are in different directions.

My omnidirectional antenna stinks and yes I've tightened the connections, turned on the booster (I won't get anything with it off), set the TV to antenna, and done a channel scan. At home very close to towers I can usually get 3 of my 4 local channels. Move out to rural areas as in 15 miles out and I might find something. So yes stay with a directional antenna. :D

When talking about one versus the other, no.

cire wrote:

Is the reception of an omnidirectional antenna as good as an antenna with a rotor?

No.