[XCSSA] OT: Built my own DTV antenna

[X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio]

On Sunday 26 April 2009, X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio wrote:
[...]
> Can somebody explain in laymans terms "extraneous harmonics"? I'm just
> curious because I'm NOT using an amplified antenna so I shouldn't be
> affected by this problem.

If the transmitter is either overmodulating, or there is a chunk of metal near 
the transmitter (or near your receiver) that has nonlinear RF properties 
(such as a rusty bolt), this can create a type of "junction".. then extra 
harmonics  far outside the regular surrounding harmonics (1,3,5, etc) can be 
created far outside the carrier range.  

Ha! I actually found a link on this phenomena:
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty_bolt_effect

I specifically love the "Mathematics associated with the rusty bolt" seciton:
	E = Eo K1 + (Eo)2 K2 + (Eo)3 K3 + (Eo)4 K4 ..... etc
	For an ideal perfect linear object K2, K3, K4, K5 etc are all zero.
	For a 'rusty bolt' or a frequency mixer stage K2, K3, K4 and/or K5 
	etc are not zero.

Gotta love wikipedia... ;)

Fix?  A can a connector lubricant from Rat Shack and re-tightening all of your 
connections.

An alternate explanation of your problem COULD be that both of your bands are 
being interrupted by a localized, wide spectrum disturbance.  How long does 
the drop out last?

Tweeks