How to make a TV antenna with your own hands: for the garden and at home

Television today and twenty years ago are two very different things. The number of channels, transmission range, and broadcast format have changed. But, in essence, the principle of transmitting a television signal remains the same. Radio waves of a certain frequency travel through the air; they can be received using an antenna and sent to the TV tuner. We will not consider cable and fiber optic TV signal transmission systems, as well as IPTV (broadcasting via the Internet and SMART TVs).

Just like a couple of decades ago, and today, thrifty owners have a reasonable question: how to make an antenna for a TV with your own hands? And if during the USSR there really was a problem in purchasing a high-quality TV antenna (total shortage), today a TV antenna is made with your own hands solely for reasons of economy.

Options for homemade designs: general principles

Depending on the distance between your TV receiver and the transmitting antenna of the television center, the signal level will change. Another negative factor affecting the quality of television wave propagation is the presence of obstacles. Ideal reception occurs when there is a direct line of sight between the two antennas. That is, you can see the mast of the television center, even through binoculars. If there are buildings or tall trees in the path of the TV signal, there will be no reliable reception. However, waves reflected from other objects can be received by a TV antenna amplifier. If even weak waves do not “break through” to your house, you will have to make a mast. The network of television and radio broadcasting stations is located in such a way that you can receive a signal in any locality.

• Indoor antenna. Operates without an amplifier in relative proximity to the transmitting mast. If you can see the television center from your window, some of the channels can be caught literally with a piece of wire. How to make a television antenna with your own hands can be seen in the illustration.

  
  The quality of workmanship in such conditions affects only the aesthetic component. But if you live on the 1st–3rd floor, and even surrounded by concrete boxes of a residential neighborhood, a simple design will not work. An indoor antenna, especially one made by yourself, will require a signal amplifier.

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  Information: Indoor version, these are not necessarily the classic “horns” installed on top of the TV receiver. The product can be located on the wall, in a window opening, inside a glazed loggia.

  The advantage of this design is that there is no need for weather protection.

• Street TV the antenna may look exactly the same as an indoor one. In this case, a prerequisite is high strength (so that the wind does not change the geometry) and protection of the contact group from corrosion. It is usually placed in close proximity to the window (in high-rise buildings) or on the roof of a private household. The connecting cable is relatively short, so an amplifier is not required to reliably receive a digital or analog signal. Except when the transmitting center is far away.

  
  The structure is accessible for maintenance and repair; this is an undeniable advantage of being located nearby.

• Outdoor antenna for long-range TV. As a rule, this is a rather bulky design with a screen and additional elements that amplify a weak signal. An electronic amplifier is welcome, but with proper design it may not be needed. Perhaps to compensate for a long cable (there will definitely be losses in it). Such devices are mounted on the roofs of high-rise buildings or on masts in private households. The fastening must be strong, otherwise the wind can easily destroy the structure.

• The antenna type is selected based on the reception characteristics and wind load in the region. For example, the Kharchenko antenna (the most popular homemade option) should not have a high windage. It may be necessary to choose another, more complex project.

Next, let's look at examples of making antennas at home using scrap materials, from simple to complex.

Location and connection

Speaking about homemade devices, they do not need to be connected to the roof. It is enough to simply attach the “homemade product” to the window (on the wall of the house), pointing it towards the tower.

The TV antenna is connected via a TV cable, attached on one side to the TV, on the other - to the structure itself. Next you need to go to the settings section by clicking on the “auto settings” button.

Beer cans (Pepsi-Cola cans work too)

Why is this material so popular?

• firstly, the missing segment sizes are compensated by a large receiving area: if you unfold the can into a plane, you get a standard sheet;
• secondly, aluminum has excellent conductivity, falling slightly short of copper: accordingly, resistance losses will be minimal;
• thirdly, the aerodynamic shape reduces windage (which is especially important when placed outdoors), and the lightness of the structure does not require particularly strong fastening;
• and, finally, this is an affordable and absolutely free raw material; in addition, lacquered aluminum perfectly resists the influence of moisture.

Important!

Before making an antenna out of beer cans, make sure that there are no high-rise buildings between the television center and the reception point that could block the signal.

Despite the relatively high reception quality, this design does not have a high self-gain factor. Connecting a standard amplifier may not have an effect due to the complexity of selecting coefficients.

Necessary materials:

1. Two identical liter beer cans, washed and dried. As a last resort, you can use half-liter ones, but the reception range will be reduced.
2. Antenna cable RK-75 of the required length (a design with a wiring length of more than 10 meters will most likely not provide reliable reception).
3. Antenna plug to match your TV.
4. A dielectric fastening bracket for fastening cans: a wooden block, clothes hangers, a plastic pipe (metal-plastic will not work).
5. Fastening elements: electrical tape, tape, or plastic clamps.
6. Soldering iron, standard solder, flux for soldering aluminum.
7. Knife, side cutters, sandpaper.

There is no point in describing formulas for calculating sizes based on the reception frequency; anyway, it will not be possible to change the sizes of the segments. This DIY antenna made from beer cans has been tested many times under various conditions, so we’ll just use a ready-made sample.

We cut the antenna cable. There will be a plug at one end, open the other end so that there is at least 100 mm from the central core to the screen wound into a bundle. To prevent the “bare” braid from being exposed to corrosion, it can be hidden in a heat-shrinkable casing.

We clean the areas for soldering the cable: at the upper ends of the cans. Fine sandpaper is suitable for this.

Important:

Stripping is carried out immediately before soldering and to the “bare” metal.

We roll each end of the wire into a ring 3–5 mm in diameter and carefully coat it with solder. Then we screw the resulting terminal to the can using a galvanized self-tapping screw. After that, we clean the joints with flux and solder until the solder “sticks” normally.

We fix the cans (from the point of view of the theory of radio reception, these are now symmetrical vibrators) so that there is exactly 75 mm between the ends with the cable. This is the optimal gap for receiving analog and digital television.

An important step: setting up the product for optimal TV signal reception. Most likely, you know the direction to the broadcast center tower. If not, Yandex cards will help you. Find a television center, your home, and conduct a virtual live broadcast. If you don’t want to bother with azimuth (this is impossible without a compass), determine the direction reference within your visibility zone. For example, a boiler room pipe or another object. For reliable reception, the home TV antenna is positioned strictly perpendicular to the vector to the tower, and horizontally.

If the signal is received reliably, you were lucky the first time. At a considerable distance from the transmitter, you can catch the reflected signal. Even a simple antenna made from cans requires correct orientation in space (although it is not a satellite dish). In an area of ​​uncertain reception, all-wave technology can unexpectedly “shoot” in any direction.

A do-it-yourself “beer” decimeter antenna allows you to confidently catch analogue channels. How to make an antenna for digital TV? No additional secrets. Digital broadcasting is produced in the same range. If you have a DVB-T2 tuner, you can tune in to one or two multiplexes, and receive a free set of Russian channels on beer cans.

Information:

If the signal strength is still not enough, you can make an antenna amplifier yourself.

Typical diagram in the illustration:

However, in order to solder and configure such a device yourself, basic knowledge of radio engineering is required. Still, it’s easier to buy a ready-made device, especially since you’ve already saved on the antenna.

Method of gluing with a concrete base

When making a homemade satellite dish, do not forget to draw a detailed drawing of the device, taking into account all measurements and calculations of consumables, in order to get the desired result. It is thanks to your accurate calculations and values ​​that you will save yourself from the risk of getting the wrong shape and similar unforeseen troubles.

The entire manufacturing process of such equipment is as follows:

• We draw a parabola in the drawing, which a little later will be transferred to a steel sheet 0.05 cm thick.
• Using a welding machine, we make a frame from metal rods with a diameter of 10 mm. We bend the steel ribs along the knife, and then weld the bearing onto the top of the structure.
• We install the frame on a flat surface. We mount the pipe vertically in the center under the mounted bearing. After securing the part, install the knife on the bearing of the large washer.
• Fill the plate with thick concrete mortar.
• Dry the resulting matrix for 4-5 days (preferably in the open air).
• Now let's glue the antenna. We divide the finished structure into several parts. We got 8 sectors.

Important! This is necessary in order to make the further work process a little easier. Don't forget to ensure equal spacing between matrix elements.

• For the pattern we use special fiberglass fabric, cut into identical strips, and epoxy primer. Apply regular machine oil to the surface of the now dry matrix, and then place the washer in the installed pipe. We lubricate the matrix with resin, onto which we apply a strip of fiberglass. Smooth the applied component with your hands so that bubbles do not appear on the surface of the glued matrix.
• Cover the reflector with aluminum foil.

That's all the work. This satellite dish can be used for its intended purpose.

“Eight”, aka rhombus, aka “Z” shaped

Perhaps the most popular design for do-it-yourselfers. This fairly powerful Kharchenko antenna confidently receives meter and decimeter frequencies in analog and digital format. When the question arises: “How to make an antenna with your own hands?”, this option is first of all assumed.

What is its advantage? With compact dimensions, in most cases no amplifier is required. Unless you want to receive a signal on the 1st–3rd floor in a densely built-up microdistrict, where there are dozens of high-rise buildings between you and the television center.

How to make a homemade antenna without complex calculations? For a typical broadcast grid, there is a basic diamond arm size: 140 mm. Distance between wire connection points: 10–15 mm.

Kharchenko's antenna with such dimensions falls right in the middle of the typical broadcast range. If it is necessary to capture other channels (in some regions the grid may operate at non-standard frequencies), a wire structure can be made in several rows. The illustration shows a drawing from Radio magazine from 50 years ago.

Then the meter range was accepted, and the antennas had correspondingly gigantic dimensions. They were made from wire to reduce windage. This manufacturing technology requires patience and a large amount of material. Modern “homemade” people prefer a copper tube or an aluminum plate.

To make an indoor antenna using this technology, all you need is a piece of wire. The device hangs in the window opening (in the direction of the television center) and there is no need to worry about it being bent by the wind. Several diamonds can be made, and the reception range will be significantly expanded. An ideal option for digital television, which you can do yourself at the dacha or in a private home.

Calculation procedure

Today's digital broadcasting is organized on different frequency bands and from different multiplexes. The wavelength is also different. In order for the antenna to receive and tune in to a good signal, the emitted waves must be adjusted as close as possible to the active area of ​​the station.

Calculation scheme:

1. We calculate the T2 wavelength for each multiplex.
2. We denote the sinusoid with the maximum length.
3. We calculate the half-length of the cross section of the optimal wave.

Let's look at examples of calculations for residents of Moscow and the Moscow region.

There are three digital television multiplexes in the capital:

1. 1 package – 546 MHz;
2. Package 2 – 498 MHz;
3. Package 3 – 578 MHz.

To calculate the wavelength, you need to use a simple formula - L = 300 / F. The letter F denotes the frequency in MHz. That is, we divide 300 by 546, we get 0.55 meters, etc. From the calculations performed, it can be seen that each packet sends waves of the following length:

1. L1 = 0.55 m;
2. L2 = 0.60 m;
3. L3 = 0.52 m.

The multiplex of the second station has a sinusoid with a maximum length, which means that it will be necessary to use it in further calculations. It remains to find out the value of the active region of the future antenna. The wave has the shape of a sine wave, so its cross section will be half the length and a quarter of the half-length. We substitute the data: divide 0.6 by 4 and get 0.15 m. That is, 15 cm for digital TV.

We amplify the signal without an amplifier

The reception efficiency (primarily this concerns the option under consideration) can be increased without additional electronics. It is enough to install a reflector or reflective screen. It will return television waves back to the antenna field, almost doubling the level. The canvas is located at a distance of 100 mm on the opposite side of the TV tower. A prerequisite is no electrical contact. Moreover, the reflector does not have to be solid. A series of metal tubes or openwork mesh is sufficient.

You can enhance the effect by using the “double biquadrate” design. The same dimensions apply, but the range remains the same. The extra length simply increases the signal strength.

How to make a satellite dish at home from wire?

To make such homemade equipment, you will need a large inflatable ball, which will serve as a model for the frame of our future wire antenna.

The manufacturing technique is as follows:

1. We mark the largest radius of our satellite dish on the ball with a pencil. The curved surface will be represented by that part of the ball that is separated by a circle.
2. We take in our hands a coil of copper (preferably) wire with a diameter of 3 mm (you can take it from an old transformer), and then make circle No. 1 from it, which we place on our ball.
3. Now we make wire circle No. 2 a little larger in size so that the interval between it and the previous one is about 20 mm. So we will gradually reach the required maximum diameter.
4. We connect the finished circles with rays so that the places where they intersect are twisted with thick wire and soldered using the tin method.
5. Leave empty space inside the smallest circle. This is where the antenna stand will be mounted.
6. We cover the finished frame with aluminum mesh (possibly foil), observing the rear curvilinearity of the reflective structure.

And finally, the most complex antenna for digital TV that you can make yourself

The log-periodic circuit allows you to get maximum gain without additional circuits.

The principle of operation of the design: in the direction of the signal source there are two conductive busbars, on which perpendicular vibrators are installed in strict sequence. Their length and distance between each other are calculated according to a strict algorithm. An error of 2–5% will lead to complete system inoperability. But a properly assembled antenna will receive analog and digital signals with the highest quality.

Note:

This type of antenna requires careful orientation towards the TV tower.

Can be used with a screen that helps strengthen a weak signal.

Types of receiving antennas

1. Linear. It is a horizontal metal rod with vertical iron dowels.
2. Phased array. Made in the form of a huge air conditioner with many emitters.
3. Mirror. A plate familiar to everyone, in the opening of which an electromagnetic field is formed.
4. Horn. It is made in the form of a metal horn, consisting of a channel through which an electromagnetic wave passes.

Assembly principle

The workpiece, selected according to its length, is divided into two equal tubes, which are crimped on one side. The tubes are fixed at a distance of 6-7 cm from each other, and their ends are attached to the textolite blank with clamps. The resulting structure is secured with a rod in a vertical position.

To connect the cable, you need to lay a loop designed for a resistance of 75 ohms. The middle cores of the cable are stripped and twisted with the ends of the tubes flattened, and the braid connection is made using copper wire. The connection of the rest of the loop and the cable going to the output to the television device follows the same principle.

The resulting loop and the remaining length of the cable should be securely fastened to a vertical stand to avoid interference. The required antenna installation height is adjusted locally by monitoring the signal change.

Home digital HDTV device

A powerful antenna for a TV, capable of receiving a signal at 490 MHz, is made from a transformer, which is better to purchase, since it will not be easy to make it yourself. You will also need:

• cardboard;
• scotch:
• foil;
• stapler;
• glue.

To make a television receiver, a diagram is used according to which all the parts are cut out of cardboard. The elements are covered with foil, bent and trimmed. It is best to first find a template and diagram through a search engine and print it out on a printer or copy it from a printed publication.

First you need to make a reflector about 35 cm long and cover it on one side with foil. In the middle, 2 rectangles of the same size are cut to attach the catcher.

The antenna is assembled from the prepared parts. Departing 35 mm from the reflector, butterfly-shaped elements are glued to the plate. They can be attached using a stapler. In the middle of each such element, a hole is made for the cable, to which a transformer is connected and a plug is attached.