New Dinova Boss Mix antenna

[comfortably_numb]

Recently, cpalmer2k posted information in the Dish forum about a new antenna from Televes. It is called the Dinova Boss Mix. It seeks to improve upon its predecessor, the Diginova Boss.

Based on a review I read at Solid Signal, I decided to give it a try.

The most notable difference between the older antenna and this one, is the appearance of two "rabbit ear" side lobes for VHF (see photos).

The included preamp is placed inside the building and has two output ports, which eliminates the need for a two-way splitter (and saves you the insertion loss).

The antenna is extremely easy to install- all you have to do is extend the rabbit ears, slide the bracket through the holes in the back, and mount it on a standard J-pole.

Signal strength and quality are comparable or slightly better than my former antenna, an RCA ANT751R with Channel Master HD7777 preamp.

The antenna was purchased brand new on Ebay for about $50.

I believe this antenna would be good for anyone who wants the signal strength of a small yagi, but doesn't want to spend a lot of money on a preamp.

To be honest, I am surprised at the results this antenna is giving. I am located approximately 45 miles from my TV towers. If anyone is interested, you can view my real-time signal strength and quality data here: RabbitEars Mobile

 

[ncted]

So, is the VHF portion of the antenna, just a simple dipole? If so, you can get stations 45 miles away on that? I don't see any VHF stations on your chart, so I wasn't sure.

 

[comfortably_numb]

So, is the VHF portion of the antenna, just a simple dipole? If so, you can get stations 45 miles away on that? I don't see any VHF stations on your chart, so I wasn't sure.

You're right, there aren't any VHF stations in my area. Occasionally I would receive WIBW and KTWU from Topeka on the RCA ANT751R, but that's very rare. So correct, I have no way to test VHF reception on this unit. However, I will note that certain weak UHF stations seemed to increase in signal strength with the dipoles extended, so I left them that way.

 

[david_jr]

I am looking for an antenna for my mother's house. She needs RF channels 6, 7, 12 & 13 in addition to UHF channels. She is 19 miles from the tower. Solid Signals shows good performance in the VHF HI range, but 6 might be a challenge.

 

[primestar31]

I am looking for an antenna for my mother's house. She needs RF channels 6, 7, 12 & 13 in addition to UHF channels. She is 19 miles from the tower. Solid Signals shows good performance in the VHF HI range, but 6 might be a challenge.

This will get you HIGH-Vhf channels, 7-13, and I can highly recommend it. https://www.newark.com/stellar-labs/30-2476/deep-fringe-directional-antenna/dp/71Y5462

There's a slightly shorter and cheaper little brother version of the above VHF antenna, if you don't need the real high gain long distance of the above one. It's small enough to fit in an attic, though I do NOT recommend antennas in attics as a rule.

Yes, this one is an FM radio antenna, BUT, it also covers RF channel 6: https://www.newark.com/stellar-labs/30-2460/four-element-directional-outdoor/dp/97W3565

IF I was you, I'd buy the High-VHF one for sure, for channels 7, 12, 13 and hook it up for her, and aim it in the direction of the station towers (IF the towers are mostly in the same direction) then do a channel scan and see what happens. MAYBE it'll also pick up channel 6. IF the towers are in various directions, you will need to aim "in-between" and see if you can find a happy medium that picks up all of them. Do NOT setup VHF antennas near power poles, or anything that can transmit (electrical spark) such as LED lights, and some power bricks or outside power transformers

Oh, Chain Link fence "Top Rail" pipe is cheap, is swaged (fits together to make longer), comes in 10ft lengths, and makes GREAT mast pipes for outdoor tv antennas.

By the way, ANY of these Stellar Labs antennas are VERY good, and reasonably cheap, if anybody else needs one. There's ones for nearly every need: https://www.newark.com/c/audio-video/antennas/aerials?brand=stellar-labs

 

[cpalmer2k]

So, is the VHF portion of the antenna, just a simple dipole? If so, you can get stations 45 miles away on that? I don't see any VHF stations on your chart, so I wasn't sure.

I'm going to put the VHF to the test in the next few weeks (if it EVER quits raining here in SC). We have three major stations on VHF- ABC, CBS and PBS from as far away as 70 miles. It'll be a good test of its' abilities:

RF Channel: 7
RX Strength: 62 dbuV/m
Tower Distance: 43 mi; Direction: 276°

RF Channel: 9
RX Strength: 53 dbuV/m
Tower Distance: 51 mi; Direction: 257°

RF Channel: 13
RX Strength: 49 dbuV/m
Tower Distance: 73 mi; Direction: 288°

 

[cpalmer2k]

I should have posted this earlier but here is the .pdf of the manual I saved from the Televes website. They had up full information pages but for some reason took them down. Thankfully I had saved the .pdf of the manual on my hard drive. I also posted the reception patterns they sent me. It is very directional in UHF mode, but VHF is much broader

 

[satnewb]

Recently, cpalmer2k posted information in the Dish forum about a new antenna from Televes. It is called the Dinova Boss Mix. It seeks to improve upon its predecessor, the Diginova Boss.

Based on a review I read at Solid Signal, I decided to give it a try.

The most notable difference between the older antenna and this one, is the appearance of two "rabbit ear" side lobes for VHF (see photos).

The included preamp is placed inside the building and has two output ports, which eliminates the need for a two-way splitter (and saves you the insertion loss).

The antenna is extremely easy to install- all you have to do is extend the rabbit ears, slide the bracket through the holes in the back, and mount it on a standard J-pole.

Signal strength and quality are comparable or slightly better than my former antenna, an RCA ANT751R with Channel Master HD7777 preamp.

The antenna was purchased brand new on Ebay for about $50.

I believe this antenna would be good for anyone who wants the signal strength of a small yagi, but doesn't want to spend a lot of money on a preamp.

To be honest, I am surprised at the results this antenna is giving. I am located approximately 45 miles from my TV towers. If anyone is interested, you can view my real-time signal strength and quality data here: RabbitEars Mobile

View attachment 137621
View attachment 137617 View attachment 137618 View attachment 137619 View attachment 137620

I have the older version of that antenna and it's been hassle free for 3 years now feeding tvs at my house and my neighbors. Probably a dozen tvs total. I have it on my detached garage and the power inserter in the garage.

Question...did you plumb the mast after you took the picture or leave it like that? From the literature and other installations I've seen it seems like you have it pointed into the ground if anything...

I don't have much in terms of vhf in my area or I would consider buying one of these.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Question...did you plumb the mast after you took the picture or leave it like that? From the literature and other installations I've seen it seems like you have it pointed into the ground if anything...

It's pointed downward on purpose; my house is in a valley and for some reason pointing the antennas downward always yields better results here. Beats me as to why. It also worked that way when I had my yagi antenna on the same mast.

 

[satnewb]

Okay thanks for clarifying.

 

[comfortably_numb]

I've had this antenna up since March 10th and it performs like a champ. Very consistent signal levels. It gets significantly higher readings on 2 UHF channels I always had a hard time with on the yagi. I'd say the "Boss" passes muster

 

[FTA4PA]

It's pointed downward on purpose; my house is in a valley and for some reason pointing the antennas downward always yields better results here. Beats me as to why. It also worked that way when I had my yagi antenna on the same mast.

View attachment 137863

Yep, tv reception can be a real challenge. We have a large hill with a treeline across the top between us and the towers over 40 miles away. I have to point the antenna up a bit to take advantage of the knife-edge effect. If I point it level we lose some stations.

 

[ncted]

I am still curious about the VHF-High performance of this antenna. I cannot seem to find any good info.

 

[primestar31]

I am still curious about the VHF-High performance of this antenna. I cannot seem to find any good info.

If you can't find it, that means it doesn't really exist, or not very good. Maybe it'll work for very powerful high VHF, if they are close by.

 

[ncted]

If you can't find it, that means it doesn't really exist, or not very good. Maybe it'll work for very powerful high VHF, if they are close by.

Not sure if it is that, or just that this a newer model, and people haven't been having to deal with the repack that much yet, so there aren't that many VHF-High stations to receive.

 

[comfortably_numb]

VHF-HI performance is poor with this antenna. The RCA ANT751R does a better job. This antenna excells with UHF and exceeds the RCA in that regard, but if you need VHF-HI support, I wouldn't recommend this model.

 

[ncted]

VHF-HI performance is poor with this antenna. The RCA ANT751R does a better job. This antenna excells with UHF and exceeds the RCA in that regard, but if you need VHF-HI support, I wouldn't recommend this model.

Thanks. Looks like the repack is going to result in 3 VHF-High channels (7-9), and everything else on 14-20.

 

[primestar31]

Thanks. Looks like the repack is going to result in 3 VHF-High channels (7-9), and everything else on 14-20.

See my post above if you need a new High vhf antenna. One made for that: New Dinova Boss Mix antenna

Here's the combiner if you need both UHF and VHF antennas: https://www.newark.com/stellar-labs/33-2230/uhf-vhf-antenna-combiner/dp/48Y8153?st=antenna combiner

 

[comfortably_numb]

Not sure you can use a combiner with the Dinova Boss Mix, as the preamp is a required component and it's located close to the TV.

 

[primestar31]

You can IF the combiner passes power on the UHF side, which this one does.