How to make an antenna for a TV with your own hands (55 photos): tips, drawings and installation diagrams. Instructions for making a television antenna for a summer residence with your own hands The principle of operation of an antenna for digital packet television

A homemade television antenna is configured to receive over-the-air signals no worse than purchased ones. However, it is distinguished by great quality and efficiency.

Any craftsman can make such a device from scrap materials and install it in a suitable place.

Briefly about modern antennas

Modern receivers operate in the UHF range and are characterized by a high level of signal propagation and the use of low-power sensors.

However, digital television broadcasting is becoming the most popular, which has a number of advantages:

Resistance to interference or other cable distortions;
High image clarity and sharpness;
Ability to select the most interesting channels.
The simplicity of the design allows you to make such equipment at home and using available materials.

Types of antennas

There are a large number of antenna device options, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. Before you start making the receiver, you need to decide on the type of model: all-wave, speech therapy or zigzag.

You can make an all-wave antenna in an hour and from cheap materials. It is frequency independent and perfectly receives the signal within the city, but in settlements remote from powerful receivers it will be useless.

The speech therapy antenna is universal, but not rich in a large number of received channels.

The simple design and average characteristics ensure stable reception.

A Z-shaped antenna will require a large amount of time and materials, which pays off in a wide receiving range.

Required level of training

Despite the simplicity of most antennas, sufficient experience and knowledge of higher mathematics and electrodynamics are still required. This knowledge will help you better understand diagrams and drawings and understand all the terms used.

However, even unprepared but motivated craftsmen have a chance to assemble a high-quality digital antenna.

First of all, you need to familiarize yourself with the photo of the antenna device and the basic terms found in the instructions:

“KU” – designation of the device’s power strength, indicating the ratio of the received signal to its main “lobe”;
“KND” is the coefficient of proportion of the area of the antenna’s body circle to the level of inclination of the angle of all lobes of the device;
“KZD” – correlation of the signal received on the main sheet and the total power of the device.

The following points should also be considered:

The power of a band antenna depends on the level of the useful signal.
These characteristics are not always interrelated, which requires special attention when setting up equipment.
Each element of the device is securely welded or soldered to its neighbor.
Street units are thoroughly fixed with all kinds of fastenings.
In places of zero potential, it is mandatory to use solid bent metal.
Coaxial cable or other corrosion-resistant coaxial cable is most often used as the central core.
It is recommended to connect the elements with a 40 V soldering machine, while using low-melting solders and flux paste.
For an outdoor antenna, it is necessary to set up high-quality protection of connections from precipitation, temperature changes and other negative natural influences.

All-wave antenna circuit

To make an all-wave digital antenna you will need 2 triangular metal plates or square fiberglass with a reflective coating, as well as 2 wooden slats with a cross section of 2-3 cm and wire.

Prepare all the necessary materials and tools, including a soldering or welding machine, wire, ruler, meter, pliers, safety glasses, rope, scissors.
Place the plates at an angle of 90 degrees so that the width of the device is equal to the height.
Fix with a soldering iron.
Attach the cable to the point of zero potential, but do not solder it, but tie it.

Beer can antenna

Beer or soda cans have good reception of digital television signals, which makes them an excellent material for a homemade antenna.

Note!

This material is used to increase the diameter of the arms on a linear vibrator, which enhances the signal quality and makes it possible to connect directly to the cable.

Optimization of an old antenna

To receive a higher-quality digital signal, you can upgrade your analog television antenna and make a T2 receiver out of it. The main requirement will be strict adherence to all dimensions of the equipment: the outer side of the square is 14 cm, the inner side is 13 cm, a gap of 2 cm and a wire 115 cm long. Next, all elements are cleaned, soldered and connected to the television cable.

Having understood the principle of operation of the antenna, you can experiment with its design, tuning into new channels and improving the quality of already received ones.

You can use any materials at hand, for example, to make an antenna for a modem, a box of laser discs will be useful.

DIY antenna photo

Note!

The era of digital signals has arrived. All broadcast television companies began to work in a new format. Analog TVs are reaching their end. They are still in working order and are found in almost every family.

In order for older models to successfully complete their service life, and for people to be able to use them when watching digital broadcasting, it is enough to connect the DVB-T set-top box to the TV receiver and pick up the TV wave signals with a special antenna.

Any home craftsman can not buy an antenna in a store, but make it with his own hands from available materials for watching digital TV programs at home or in the country. The two most accessible designs are described in this article.

A little theory

Operating principle of an antenna for digital packet television

Any television signal propagates in space from the emitters of the transmitting television tower to the TV antenna by an electromagnetic wave of a sinusoidal shape with a high frequency, measured in megahertz.

When an electromagnetic wave passes through the surface of the receiving beams of the antenna, a voltage V is induced in it. Each half-wave of a sinusoid forms a potential difference with its own sign.

Under the influence of an induced voltage applied to a closed receiving circuit of the input signal with resistance R, an electric current flows in the latter. It is amplified and processed by the digital TV circuit and output to the screen and speakers as image and sound.

For analog models of TV receivers, an intermediate link works between the antenna and the TV - a DVB-T set-top box, which decodes digital information of an electromagnetic wave into a normal form.

Vertical and horizontal polarization of digital TV signal

In television broadcasting, state standards require electromagnetic waves to be emitted in only two planes:

horizontal.

In this way, transmitters send emitting signals.

And users simply need to rotate the receiving antenna in the desired plane to maximize the power potential.

Requirements for a digital packet television antenna

TV transmitters propagate their signal waves over short distances, limited by the line of sight from the top point of the TV tower emitter. Their range rarely exceeds 60 km.

For such distances, it is enough to provide a small power of the emitted TV signal. But, the strength of the electromagnetic wave at the end of the coverage area should form a normal voltage level at the receiving end.

A small potential difference, measured in fractions of a volt, is induced at the antenna. It creates currents with small amplitudes. This imposes high technical requirements on the installation and quality of manufacturing of all parts of digital reception devices.

The antenna design should be:

manufactured carefully, with a good degree of accuracy, eliminating loss of electrical signal power;
directed strictly along the axis of the electromagnetic wave coming from the transmitting center;
oriented according to the type of polarization;
protected from extraneous interference signals of the same frequency coming from any sources: generators, radio transmitters, electric motors and other similar devices.

How to find out the initial data for calculating an antenna

The main parameter influencing the quality of the received digital signal, as can be seen from the explanatory first figure, is the length of the electromagnetic wave of radiation. Under it, symmetrical arms of vibrators of various shapes are created, and the overall dimensions of the antenna are determined.

The wavelength λ in centimeters can be easily calculated using a simplified formula: λ=300/F. It is enough just to find the frequency of the received signal F in megahertz.

To do this, we will use a Google search and ask it for a list of regional TV communication points for our area.

As an example, a fragment of a data table for the Vitebsk region is shown with the transmitting center in Ushachi highlighted in red.

Its wave frequency is 626 megahertz, and its polarization type is horizontal. This data is quite sufficient.

We carry out the calculation: 300/626=0.48 m. This is the length of the electromagnetic wave for the antenna being created.

We divide it in half and get 24 cm - the desired half-wave length.

The tension reaches its maximum value in the middle of this section - 12 cm. It is also called amplitude. The whip antenna is made to this size. It is usually expressed by the formula λ/4, where λ is the electromagnetic wavelength.

The simplest TV antenna for digital television

It will require a piece of coaxial cable with a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms and a plug for connecting the antenna. I managed to find a ready-made two-meter piece in the old stock.

I cut off the outer shell from the free end with a regular knife. I take the length with a small margin: when setting up it is always easier to bite off a small piece.

Then I remove the shielding layer from this section of the cable.

The work is done. All that remains is to insert the plug socket into the connector on the TV signal set-top box and direct the bare wire of the inner core across the incoming electromagnetic wave, taking into account horizontal polarization.

The antenna should be placed directly on the window sill or secured to the glass, for example, with a piece of tape, or tied to the blind mount. Reflected signals and interference can be shielded with a strip of foil located a short distance from the central core.

Such a design can be done in literally ten minutes and does not require any special material costs. It's worth trying. But, it is capable of working in an area of reliable signal reception. My building is screened by a mountain and a multi-story building. The transmitting television tower is located at a distance of 25 km. Under these conditions, the digital electromagnetic wave is reflected many times and is poorly received. I had to look for another technical solution.

And for you on the topic of this design, I suggest you watch the video by the owner of Edokoff “How to make an antenna for digital TV”

Kharchenko antenna at 626 MHz

To receive analogue television signals of various wave frequencies, the design of a zigzag broadband antenna, which does not require complex manufacturing, worked well for me before.

I immediately remembered one of their effective varieties - the Kharchenko antenna. I decided to use its design for digital reception. I made the vibrators from a flat copper bar, but it’s quite possible to get by with round wire. This will make it easier to bend and straighten the ends.

How to determine the dimensions of a specific antenna

Online calculator

Let's use the all-knowing Google search. We write on the command line: “Calculation of the Kharchenko antenna” and press Enter.

We choose any site you like and perform online calculations. I went into the first one that opened. This is what he calculated for me.

I presented all his data with a picture indicating the size of the Kharchenko antenna.

Manufacturing of antenna design parts

I took the information provided as a basis, but did not accurately maintain all the dimensions. I know from previous practice that the antenna works well in the broadband wavelength range. Therefore, the dimensions of the parts were simply slightly increased. The half-wave of each harmonic of the sine wave of the electromagnetic TV signal will fit into the arm of each vibrator and will be received by it.

Based on the selected data, I made blanks for the antenna.

Vibrator design features

The connection of the ends of the figure eight busbar is created in the center at the bending stage. I soldered them with a soldering iron.

I created it according to the “Moment” principle, made it with my own hands from old transformers, and has been working for two decades. I even soldered 2.5 square copper wire with it in thirty-degree frost. Works with transistors and microcircuits without burning them out.

In the near future I plan to describe its design in a separate article on the website for those who also want to make it themselves. Follow publications, subscribe to notifications.

Connecting the antenna cable to the vibrator

I simply soldered the copper core and braid to the metal of the figure eight from different sides in its center.

The cable was tied to a copper bar, bent into a loop in the shape of a semi-square vibrator. This method matches the resistance of the cable and antenna.

Screening grid design

In fact, the Kharchenko antenna often works normally without signal shielding, but I decided to show its manufacture. For the base I took a wooden block. I did not paint or varnish: the structure will be used indoors.

In the back side of the block I drilled holes for attaching the screen wires and inserted them, and then wedged them.

The result was a screen for the Kharchenko antenna. In principle, it can be made of a different design: cut from a piece of frontal armor of a tank or cut from food foil - it will work approximately the same.

On the back side of the bar I secured the vibrator structure with a cable.

The antenna is ready. All that remains is to install it on a window to work in vertical polarization.

When a television receiver is located at a great distance from the transmitting generator, the power of its signal gradually weakens. It can be increased by special electronic devices - amplifiers.

You just need to clearly see the difference between the signals received by the antenna, which can be:

simply weakened;
contain high-frequency interference that distorts the shape of the digital sinusoid into the shape of some kind of “doodleball”.

In both cases, the amplifier will fulfill its role and increase the power. Moreover, the TV will clearly perceive and display a weakened signal, but with an amplified signal, playback problems will arise.

The waves are designed to eliminate such interference:

high-pressure filters;
screens.

They must be measured with an oscilloscope, and the methods of using various designs must be analyzed individually in each specific case. The antenna is not to blame here.

Making your own antenna is a good idea. You don’t have to spend money on buying a finished product, and you don’t want to attract intruders with a beautiful dish or a high-quality radio installation.

If you have a private house or a summer cottage with a small garage, you can make your own television antenna in literally 20-30 minutes. TV is not only a source of information, but also a special atmosphere of comfort and homeliness.

A television antenna is a device specifically designed for receiving broadcast television signals that are transmitted at frequencies from 41 to 250 MHz in the VHF range, and from 470 to 960 MHz in the UHF group.

There are two types of television antennas:

Internal – located on top or next to the TV;
External - installed on the roof or attic of the house.

Outdoor antennas are more complex to manufacture and install, but such devices are necessary for adequate reception in peripheral areas remote from television stations.

Antenna devices are also divided into:

Active, which are complemented by an amplifier and require connection to an electrical power source;
Passive, which amplify the signal only due to design features.

An outdoor TV antenna is a high input power device and has a unidirectional radiation intensity so its far end must always face the broadcast station.

Based on the wavelength that television antennas are capable of receiving, they are divided into three groups:

MV antennas - such devices receive very long meter waves, the size of which can be from 0.5 to 1.5 m;
UHF antennas - these devices operate in the decimeter range, in which the wavelength is in the range from 15 to 40 cm. It is in this coverage that digital television (DTV) is supplied;
Broadband antennas are a hybrid design in which both VHF and UHF elements are installed. Such radio installations are used to receive digital and analogue broadcasts simultaneously.

The most commonly used design is an outdoor television antenna based on a log-periodic dipole matrix. Such products consist of several half-wave elements consisting of metal rods. They act as resonators in which energy is stored by radio waves, which cause electrons to move and create stable waves of oscillatory voltage. An antenna can have a different number of rod elements: the more, the higher its gain.

Another popular design, used primarily for UHF reception, is the reflective TV antenna. Such a device consists of a vertical metal screen with several dipole elements installed in front of it.

The television broadcast bands that must be covered by a single antenna are too wide in frequency, so either separate antennas or combined devices are used for the VHF and UHF bands. In such designs there are two types of elements: long elements that pick up the MF (these are located at the rear of the antenna boom and often function as a log-periodic antenna) and short elements that pick up the UHF broadcast (these are located at the front of the boom).

When you listen to the radio, you notice that local channels can be easily tuned in the FM or VHF range, but you won’t be able to catch distant foreign broadcasts on them; to do this, the receiver needs to be switched to MF and HF mode.

This suggests that meter, medium and short waves are well transmitted over long distances, while ultrashort and decimeter signals have a small coverage area. However, the disadvantage of the UHF range in which our digital television operates is minimized thanks to two things:

Firstly, the presence of a large number of towers;
Secondly, the ability of large objects to reflect the signal.

If you live in a private house next to a high-rise building, then it is more correct to point the TV antenna not at a distant tower, but at a neighboring house, which perfectly reflects the waves. The right choice of direction largely determines the qualityTV signal.

Materials and calculations

How and from what items and materials can you make an antenna at home? Let's look at the TOP 5 most interesting options:

Powerful coaxial cable antenna;
All-wave antenna made of wire;
"Butterfly";
"Eight" or zigzag;
Antenna made from beer cans.

A tube, rod or wire made of copper or aluminum are excellent materials for making an antenna. They are flexible, bend well and hold their shape well. You can use any conductive metal products: wires, corners, rods, strips, etc.

Coaxial cable has the same properties as copper cable, but is much cheaper, and, in addition, coaxial is also mechanically strong, which is important for antenna design. To save money, you can use pieces of wire that are available in your household or buy them in the hardware store.

First of all, let's decide on the size of the antenna. The antenna cable length (L) is calculated depending on the broadcast frequency. To calculate we need two values:

The speed of wave propagation in vacuum is ≈ 300 million m/s;
F – reception frequency (digital TV signal frequencies are usually in the range of 500-800 MHz).

If we take the frequency parameter in MHz, then the desired wavelength value will be in meters. The calculated speed of light parameter is 300. The wavelength in the cable can be calculated using a simple formula:

Calculation example: let digital broadcasting be carried out at an average frequency of 610.5 MHz. Then the average wavelength = 300/610.5 = 0.491 m. This is exactly what the length of the antenna loop should be.

To receive a digital signal, it is not necessary to accurately calculate the wavelength; you can simply make the product design more broadband.

Manufacturing and arrangement

Today, all television is presented in digital format; analogue will soon be completely abandoned. Old antennas practically do not function with DVB signals, so you need to create a decimeter antenna.

Digital TV transmission in DVB-T2 format is carried out in the UHF range, and since the signal is broadcast digitally, its reception will always be in good quality, or it simply cannot be caught, and there will be no signal at all. Interference, distortion or unclear picture - this is typical only for analog television.

DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) encoding is insensitive to electromagnetic interference, however, if the air is heavily polluted, signal mismatch may occur, which can cause the image to freeze or completely crumble. Therefore, it is more efficient to place the antenna outside the house: outside the window, on the roof, on the balcony.

To reduce the amount of interference, a reflector (reflector) can be built behind the antenna. The simplest materials with a metallic tint are suitable for the antenna design: foil, coffee or juice packaging, tin can, CD, etc. In order for the reflector to have a narrowly targeted effect, the shape of the reflector can be made parabolic. Although this is more relevant for analog receivers, reflectors also help out when the digital signal level is weak.

And the last piece of advice: experienced engineers recommend soldering all antenna connections, and not just twisting or screwing them, as over time they will oxidize and affect the quality of reception. It is better to coat external antennas made by yourself with paint; it will more reliably protect your structure from adverse weather factors.

To connect antenna elements, it is better to use soldering machines with a power of 36-40 watts, flux and soft solders.

Coaxial cable antenna

To create this version of the antenna, you will need about 0.5 m of the most common television cable marked “RK-75”. One end of the insulated wire needs to be stripped to connect to the TV socket (put on the F-connector and an adapter for connecting to the TV), and on the second we will create a round antenna.

Step back 5 cm from the edge and remove the top layer of insulating impregnation compound. Then remove the winding from the central conductor of the cable and tightly twist the remaining wire strands into one bundle.

From this point, measure the next 22 cm and cut through the outer layer of insulation to the shielded foil. Now you need to connect the cable into a ring: to do this, we confidently screw the first prepared end to the newly created cut. That's all - you have in your hands a powerful antenna made of coaxial cable, made by yourself.

Connect it to the TV and start tuning channels. This antenna is considered a good option for receiving digital television. It is better to install the antenna outside the window and on the side of the TV tower, since the walls of the building can drown out the desired signal. You can experiment with its position yourself.

All-wave antenna

A TV antenna can have different shapes. For example, from copper wire with a diameter of 2-5 mm, you can build an all-wave antenna in the form of two versatile elements. Such devices are frequency independent, so they are very popular among summer residents. A CHNA device can be built in literally an hour and receive a good signal level far from television centers.

For this you will need:

Enameled copper wire;
2 metal structures in the shape of an isosceles triangle;
2 wooden or plastic slats.

Instead of metal triangles, you can use elastic foil laminate, from which you will need to cut the triangles (or leave the copper coating in a triangular shape).

The width and height of the antenna must be identical. The blades are installed at right angles and fixed with a soldering iron. The CNA antenna cable must be laid to the point of zero potential, which is located at the intersection of the cable with the vertical guide. Moreover, it must be tied with a tie, and not soldered.

The distance between adjacent wire threads should be 25-30 mm, and between the plates - no more than 10 mm. It is better to install the antenna structure inside the window at 150 cm. The signal catcher in the form of two expanded elements, which you just made yourself, will confidently receive all UHF and HF channels. If you live in an area with poor signal levels, it would be advisable to supplement such a device with an amplifier.

A simple antenna for receiving digital TV

Another useful type of home antenna for the dacha is the “butterfly”. This is a very simple design, to create which you will need:

Board or plywood about 60 cm long and 7 cm wide, thickness about 20 mm;
Shielded copper wire with a 4 mm core cross-section;
Coaxial cable “RK-75”;
Washers, screws, soldering iron.

Below we provide a marking diagram according to which you need to make the base of the butterfly antenna.

After this, prepare 8 pieces of copper wire, each 37.5 cm long. Step back 17.75 cm and remove 2 cm of the insulating layer in the center of each piece. Give them a V-shape so that the ends of the elements are at a distance of 7.5 cm from each other (this shape is considered optimal for high-quality and clear TV signal reception).

The next step is to prepare two more wire elements about 22 cm long. Mark each element into 3 equal parts and strip the wire insulation between the resulting sections.

We will need two more small pieces of wire to connect the antenna to the socket.

Now all that remains is to simply assemble all the prepared elements into a single structure and solder the cable to the plug.

This is how you can easily make your own effective butterfly antenna for receiving digital television.

Figure-of-eight antenna

The next option for creating a simple UHF television antenna is named after the shape of its design, “figure eight” or “zigzag”. Such a device will reliably pick up the signal even in a remote village.

In order to make an outdoor antenna for digital television with your own hands, you will need:

Amplifier (you can use any old one);
2 pieces of copper wire (180 cm each);
Plate (wood or metal) 15*15;
TV cable;
Iron mast for raising the antenna.

First of all, we create the body of the catcher: from copper wire we form two rhombuses with an optimal side size of 45 cm each. We attach the ends of the two elements to the plate: we form a ring from the core and slightly flatten it, screw it with bolts or solder it using a soldering machine.

We connect the amplifier and insert the cable plug into the connector. In general, that's all. All that remains is to install the finished structure on an elevated mast, which must be firmly dug into the ground.

To make an outdoor antenna for a TV, any conductive material of the appropriate cross-section is suitable: copper or aluminum tubes, strips or a profile element with a thickness of 1 to 5 mm. The main thing is to give the antenna body the correct shape.

Beer can antenna

Ether antenna devices can be created from many simple materials that are used in household use, even from ordinary cans in which carbonated drinks are sold. Such a mini-receiver will not be very powerful, but you can pick up about 7 channels, not only in the UHF range, but also in the longer one - VHF.

There is one important condition: the cans must be smooth, not ridged, clean and dry. The essence of this design is very simple: you just need to solder 2 cans to the cable and place them on opposite sides on a wooden base.

The number of cans can be used differently; it is believed that it is optimal to create 3 or 4 lines of cans, since 1-2 lines pick up the signal weakly, and more than 5 lines are difficult to coordinate. In addition to cans, you need to prepare the following materials:

About 5 meters of ordinary TV cable marked “RK-75”;
Wooden or plastic base structure;
Several self-tapping screws, electrical tape, and a soldering iron.

First you need to prepare the TV cable: step back 10 cm from the edge, make a shallow cut and remove the top layer of insulation. Carefully twist the inner braided screen into a single bundle. On the same side of the cable, remove the plastic insulation and expose the central core. A plug must be connected to the opposite end of the cable.

Next, we will need to connect the coaxial cable to the banks. To do this, it is better to use small flea screws for drywall: screw a twisted cable braid to one can, and a copper core to the second can. For better contact, connections can be soldered.

Now you should secure the cans to a wooden base plate. This can be done using ordinary adhesive tape, electrical tape or a glue gun; you can even use an ordinary clothes hanger or any flat structure at hand. The main thing is that the metal cans are of the same shape, the same size (volume) and are located strictly on the same line. The distance between the sheet metal elements, as well as the location of the antenna installation, is selected experimentally.

You can improve the design by creating a grid of several lines with banks, and if there is such an opportunity, then connect an amplifier. If a homemade antenna made from beer cans is placed on the street, then its elements will have to be hidden in larger plastic bottles.

The length of the cable affects the signal attenuation: the longer the cord, the more the on-air transmission is attenuated. This is especially true for receiving meter waves.

Setting up and searching for channels

Today, digital television offers us as many as 22 television channels in two packages, and in some metropolitan areas there are even more. Setting them up on your TV or set-top box will be quite simple.

In DTV broadcast on 1 frequency, not one channel is broadcast, as it once was on analogue broadcast, but up to 10 channels in one package or multiplex. For example, on frequency 43 you can receive 10 TV channels and 3 radio stations. Therefore, setting up digital broadcasting uses only 2 frequencies. However, the frequency parameter of the channels will be different for different areas.

If you are using a home-made antenna in an area with good signal strength, then there are no special recommendations for setting up channels. You simply turn on the function on your TV "Automatic channel search" and the receiver finds all available channels in digital and analogue air.

If the area of your location is not very favorable for TV broadcasting, and the auto search did not produce results, then you need to perform the following steps:

Check which direction your antenna is facing. It should be turned towards the television tower or directed towards the nearest high-rise building. If you don't know which way the broadcast base is located, pay attention to your neighbors' antennas (but don't look at the satellite dishes that pick up signals from satellites).
In channel settings, set a restriction: search only for digital channels (or DTV). Well, if you know the frequency parameter, then you can go into the manual channel tuning mode, use the remote control to dial the channel number on which the package is being broadcast, and a signal level scale in percentage should appear on the display. Change the position of the antenna device and see how the stability of this indicator changes.

The change in signal level when rotating the antenna will not change instantly, but after 5-10 seconds. Therefore, pause when changing the position of the catcher.

When you get the best signal strength, start scanning for digital channels and save your settings. Perform the same algorithm of actions to search for the second multiplex. If the situation is completely sad and not a single method has yielded results, you may need to make the design of your antenna more powerful or supplement it with an amplifier.

Despite the constant development of television broadcasting (transition to digital format, the possibility of installing satellite or cable television, Internet TV), the use of antennas still remains relevant. This is especially true in suburbs and rural areas. Sometimes the TV antenna breaks down, and there is no place nearby where you can buy it. Therefore, information on exactly how you can make an antenna for a TV with your own hands may be useful.

An antenna is a device that can receive or transmit radio waves. Types of over-the-air television antennas (that is, those that receive signals from towers or repeaters) can be divided by location into:

External;
Indoor.

It makes sense to use indoor antennas for a TV only if there is a good signal, but in the country or away from TV repeaters they use external ones. In addition to location, TV signal receivers are divided into:

Passive - they receive a signal only due to their shape;
Active - the signal passes through the converters.

The quality of the signal from a passive TV antenna will directly depend on its size - the larger it is, the better.

The advantages include:

Ease of manufacture;
Low cost: can be made from scrap materials;
No separate power required.

However, the disadvantages are quite significant:

Interference Immunity: It is very important to choose a location for a good signal;
Requires a greater height for installation, additional reinforcements must be used;
Bulky, not suitable for home installation due to their size, mainly used for outdoor installation.

Active antennas additionally use various decoders and amplifiers, which make the signal more powerful. Therefore, their advantages are as follows:

Can be used anywhere, even with low signal levels;
Can be of different sizes and shapes;
You can adjust the level of gain and noise reduction;
Low influence on signal quality from terrain, weather, and various buildings.

The disadvantages include:

Complex device;
Need a power source;
Higher cost;
Less reliable due to the presence of electronics.

Radio waves that are transmitted over the air (wave transmission medium) have a certain size and frequency. The television channel is in the range of meter and decimeter frequencies:

Meter waves (MV) have a length from 1 to 10 m and a frequency from 30 to 300 MHz;
Decimeter waves (UHF) have a length from 0.1 to 1 m and a frequency from 300 to 3000 MHz.

Based on the frequencies of received signals, television antennas can be divided into the following types:

All-wave. They are capable of receiving both analog and digital signals, but the reception distance is short.
Log-periodic. Can receive waves in the meter and decimeter range.
Decimeter. Designed for short waves only.

All-wave, otherwise called frequency-independent, receiving devices are extremely simple in design, so you can make them yourself. The most famous of them: “butterfly”, made from beer cans, from two petals. Most often they are used at a short distance from the repeater and with a low level of interference.

Log-periodic receiving devices consist of a main rod and transverse bars of increasing length. It is much more difficult to manufacture than the previous ones. Correct design requires knowledge of all frequencies used, as well as orientation to the repeater. But if the design calculations are done correctly, the antenna will transmit the signal very well.

Decimeter ones can have both very simple and very complex designs. The most famous: “eight”, ring, frame.

Most channels, including digital ones, are broadcast in the UHF range. The design of such repeaters is simpler. But rounding obstacles with waves of this length is worse, and reflections and distortions play a strong role in the quality of the signal.

Based on these features, you need to figure out how TV antennas can be made on your own.

In addition to typing by wave reception, location, as well as the presence of electronic elements, television antennas also differ in all possible design implementations: wave channel, traveling wave, zigzag, frame, etc.

Assembly principle

In order for a made TV antenna to work properly, you need to adhere to some principles.

First you need to decide where the structure will be used: in a garage, in a country house, in a house, in an apartment, etc. Based on this, choose the type of receiving device and what the antenna can be assembled from.

The main elements that may be needed are a television cable, metal strips, wires, insulating materials, adhesive tape, a soldering iron, and self-tapping screws.

It is better to connect the elements of the receiving device, especially through which the useful signal will pass, by soldering> yo

The best signal reception will be if the distance from the TV tower to the receiver is not blocked by buildings, trees and other obstacles. In this case, in order to catch the signal, a simple wire will be enough. And an indoor TV antenna in such a situation will be very easy to manufacture and will not require an amplifier.

Outdoor antennas can be similar in design to indoor antennas, but must be made of more durable materials that can withstand weather conditions. Should be placed directly near windows or on the roof.

If the signal is too weak, an amplifier may be required.

So, how to make a television antenna with your own hands:

The device should be made carefully and with the least possible connections to reduce signal loss;
The television antenna must be positioned along the axis of the electromagnetic wave for the best capture of its constituent elements;
Must be protected from interference;
It is important to know the television broadcast frequency, which will determine the size of the receiving device.

DIY antenna options

A simple TV antenna can be made from materials that are usually found in any home.

For example, you can even make a satellite dish yourself from foil, a metal can, an umbrella and a wire.

Using foil you can make the following receiver:

The foil is leveled and glued at the bottom of the box.
From 2 pieces of television cable you need to remove 2.5 cm of insulation.
Twist the cable braid into a separate contact.
Make a figure eight from the pieces of cable, while the contacts should not be fastened in the middle and should be spaced 1 cm apart.
Place the cable on the outside of the box (without foil).
Another cable is taken that will connect the antenna to the receiver.
Its end is stripped, the braid is also twisted separately.
3 central cores and 3 cable braids are connected in one place.
We place the TV antenna in the place of best reception.

Let's consider simple and popular options for TV antennas: from beer cans, coaxial cable and zigzag.

From coaxial cable

This is the most basic version of a cable TV antenna for receiving a digital or analog signal. You can complete this design yourself within half an hour.

Coaxial cable is an electrical wire for transmitting radio frequency signals. Comprises:

Outer shell;
An external conductor, otherwise called a screen or braid;
Insulation that separates the central core from the braid;
Internal conductor (central core).

Such a cable can have a resistance of 50 or 75 Ohms. To make homemade antennas, it is recommended to use 75 ohms.

You will need a piece of cable at least 0.5 meters long. On one side, remove the top insulation and the insulation of the central core by 5 cm. The core with braid should be twisted. Now you need to step back 20-22 cm from this end and remove everything until the insulation of the central core. The length of this section will be about 2 cm. Next, the same distance is measured as it was before this section, that is, 20-22 cm. From a section of 1 cm, only the top insulation is removed. Now a loop is made: the bare end is screwed to the gap without external insulation.

It is better to wrap bare areas with electrical tape, especially if the antenna will be used outdoors>e

The device must be directed towards the tower.

You can make an antenna from copper wire.

To do this, the ends are stripped of insulation. One end is attached to the TV, and the other to the heating pipe, which will act as an amplifier. Such a wire antenna will be able to receive about 5 channels.

It is possible to make a receiving loop device from wire to receive a digital signal. To do this you will need to calculate the length of the loop. You need to know the average frequency of the signal. And 300 divided by this frequency. The resulting value will be the length of the loop. A piece of wire is closed into a ring, and a cable is soldered to the ends. Coax can be used instead of wire. Then the ring antenna will be similar to the option described above.

Despite the simplicity of the design, this method, with correct calculations, reduces interference and reliably receives the signal.

To improve the signal, you can try boosting the antenna.

Let's consider options for how to strengthen a TV antenna with your own hands:

Place the receiving device as close to the window as possible, eliminating obstacles;
Adjust position;
You can extend the antenna with a piece of wire;
Add a signal amplifier to the design;
Place external ones as high as possible.

From beer cans

The easiest way to replace a broken TV antenna is to create one out of beer cans.

Let's look at the method of making a simple antenna for digital TV, made from improvised means, namely from metal cans.

You will need the following materials:

Beer cans with a smooth surface (pre-wash and dry), in the simplest version – 2 pieces;
Self-tapping screws;
A piece of television cable;
Plug;
Electrical tape or tape;
A stick made of a material that does not conduct electricity (you can use a trempel).

The stages of work are as follows:

The cable must be of such a size that it is sufficient for the height at which you plan to hang the antenna. If there is no plug on a piece of cable, it is stripped from one side of the winding and a plug is placed on it.
The second end is also cleared of the winding. Inside there is a central core and a braid (screen).
Holes are made in the jars on equal sides. It doesn't matter if it's the top or bottom of the jar.
The central core is attached to one can using a self-tapping screw, and the braid to the other. In this case, you need to make a loop that will wrap around the self-tapping screw. And when screwing in, he should clamp it well with his cap.
Instead of screws, you can solder contacts.
You need to attach the cans to the stick so that they are on the same axis. The distance between the banks is usually taken from 7 to 10 cm.
When the optimal distance is selected, the cans are securely fixed with adhesive tape.

It is better to first secure the cans with an elastic band so that it is convenient to adjust the distance

When you have made such an antenna with your own hands, when using it outdoors, it is advisable to build a protective cap, for example, from a plastic bottle. If moisture gets in, the contacts will oxidize and the signal will deteriorate. The street version can be improved by adding several sections with banks.

Zigzag

This TV antenna is also called the “eight” or Kharchenko antenna. Shows one of the best signal reception among devices that you can make yourself. Its diagram looks like:

Dvb t2 is the newest digital television broadcast format. The digital format has many advantages over analogue: greater resistance to interference, the signal will be more widely available, and its quality will be better. The digital format requires smaller antennas and lower transmitting power.

Making an antenna for dvb t2 reception is quite simple. It should be noted that digital TV is transmitted to the UHF.

Now let's look at how you can make an antenna for digital TV with your own hands:

You need any material that conducts electric current. This could be a tube, wire, corner, etc. The easiest way is to use wire made of aluminum, brass or copper (these 2 options are better), with a thickness of 2 to 5 mm. You will need to make 2 diamonds from the material, as in the figure. You can also use welding electrodes, each of which will be a side of a rhombus.

Dimensions available for this pattern:

– B1=14 cm;

– B2=13 cm;

– angles are preferably about 90 0.

The outer sides should be slightly longer. This is done so that the diamonds in the middle do not connect.

But these parameters are more suitable for home use. More often you can find a recommendation to take the side of the rhombus 45 cm.

You can independently calculate the dimensions of the antenna for digital TV. To do this, you need to know the wavelength of the signal broadcast and divide by 4. These will be the sides of the rhombuses

There are also calculators for calculating the parameters of “bi-square” antennas, which can be found in Internet resources.

When measuring the length of the wire, you need to take a margin of 1-2 cm for the loop that will close the loop. You can simply twist or solder the remaining end.

After this, a coaxial cable is taken and stripped. The contacts will need to be soldered to the central corners of the diamond, which do not meet. The central core is soldered to one corner, and the braid to the other. The central part can be placed in a plastic case and filled with glue for reliability.

To reduce third-party interference, you can install a screen behind the receiver. It can be simply foil stretched over plywood or a lattice made of metal tubes or wire. The screen should be located on the opposite side of the tower and not in contact with the antenna.

If the antenna will be used outside, you can assemble it with an amplifier. The amplifier can be a simple board that is attached to the antenna antenna or a larger device that requires power from the network.

In the case of an amplifier, the “figure eight” is attached to the plate, and the wire can be flattened at the attachment point, and the amplifier can be immediately attached to the central part.

You can improve the figure eight design by adding more rhombuses symmetrically.

Let's look at a few more complex TV antenna devices.

Double and triple square

This option is a narrowband TV antenna, that is, you can receive only a few channels, but with high-quality transmission. It can be used to receive a weak signal or if the signal is being overwhelmed by other, more powerful signals. But precise orientation to the source of television waves is important.

For manufacturing you will need tubes or wire. To obtain up to 5 channels in the meter range, the thickness should be 10-20 mm. For larger quantities – 8-15 mm. For UHF it is only 3-6 mm.

In a double square, 2 squares are made from the material, with one slightly larger than the other. The smaller one is called a vibrator, and the larger one is called a reflector. A vibrator is present in every antenna and is a system for producing vibrations.

The frames are attached parallel to each other. They are secured at the top and bottom centers with the help of arrows, which, in turn, are attached to a vertical support. The lower boom must be made of non-conductive material. The centers of both frames should be on the same line and directed towards the TV transmitter. In a three-frame design, an even smaller square is added.

Another design for the UHF - frame.

The population receives the bulk of information through television, viewing of which requires a receiving antenna. You can buy a receiving device at any store, but this is not always possible. In this case, you can make an antenna with your own hands. Next, the main varieties and the order of their assembly will be considered.

The main advantage of homemade devices is that they require a minimum of financial costs. It also happens that homemade options are superior to factory ones in many respects.

The advantage is that handicrafts can be called “all-wave”; this is not done intentionally, it turns out just like that. The disadvantages of homemade devices are their unaesthetic appearance, although this depends on the hands of the master. A significant disadvantage is the inaccessibility of some materials.

Undoubtedly, there are more advantages, so let’s look at the main handicrafts.

Varieties

"Beer"

To make the product you will need an even number of beer cans. The most common options are made of two pieces. The installation process is quite simple and requires a minimum of tools and consumables.

Instructions:

To begin with, take a wooden strip(a hanger will also do), which will serve as a support for the structure.
Beer cans are attached to the rail using tape, at a distance of about 6 centimeters.
Next, a television cable is attached to the banks. The procedure can be performed using either self-tapping screws or solder.
The last step is to attach the base to the mast and adjust the position. A more complex version is made from 6-8 cans. Such an antenna will require two bases installed vertically.
4 cans are attached to the installed bases, parallel to each other.
Using a copper plate or wire, you should connect the cans, located on one rack, then perform the procedure on another.
The next step is to install the racks into one structure, it should be taken into account that the distance between the bottoms of the cans must be at least 60 mm.
It remains to secure the cable at the extreme points connecting plates.

Antenna with minimal costs

It should be remembered that television travels in space in the form of waves that are well perceived by metal objects. To watch several TV channels, you can use a piece of wire, one end of which is attached to the heating system, and the other into the TV to the central contact.

The principle of operation of such an antenna is based on the area of the system, and it envelops almost the entire house at different heights. The reception quality of the design is not the highest. A more interesting option requires a balcony with metal strings for laundry.

The assembly technology is completely similar to the battery system. There are places with reliable signal reception, where you can use a knitting needle, which will make it possible to view the main channels.

Regular antenna

Assembling the antenna yourself is quite simple; you will need a tube made of aluminum or brass. The latter option is more convenient, since this material practically does not oxidize.

Instructions:

The length of the tubes should be 276 mm– it is this that ensures the reception of most channels, thickness 20 mm. The tubes should be flattened on one side, then holes should be drilled in these places.
The next stage is preparing the base. It must be made of dielectric material, measuring 150 by 50 mm and at least 5 mm thick.
Next, a mock-up of the antenna is laid out on a flat surface. The base is laid, the tubes are placed on top of it, the distance between the flattened ends of the tubes is 65 mm, the locations of the holes in the tubes are marked and a hole is made in the base with a drill of the same diameter.
The next stage is the assembly of the structure. The tubes are attached to the base using bolts; it is advisable to use an additional fastening in the form of a clamp - this will ensure the strength of the structure. The bolts used for fastening are 15-20 mm long, this is necessary for fastening the loop.
Antenna assembly completed, all that remains is to connect the cable; you cannot do this directly to the antenna. The correct connection is made through a ring of wire with a resistance of 75 ohms. The length of the loop is calculated individually depending on the length of the tube; in this situation it is 280 centimeters.

The outlet cable is already connected to the loop.

Powerful antenna

Having dealt with the classic options, you should consider antennas designed to receive the weakest signal. To create one, you will need a minimum of materials, namely a brass tube, a plate of the same material, desire and hands.

Instructions:

The manufacture of the receiving device begins with bending two squares of the same size from the tube, mounted on a dielectric base in such a way that the distance between the corners of the squares is 10-15 mm.
The next step is making the screen, designed to strengthen the signal power and smooth out radio interference. The screen is curved in the shape of a rectangle 11x10 centimeters, with a side height of 23 mm and a width of 6 mm.
When connecting two components, a distance of 12 mm must be maintained. The finished product is connected to the TV using a cable with a resistance of 75 Ohms. An important fact is that this design does not allow the use of bolted connections, only solder is allowed.

When assembled correctly, the model outperforms its factory counterparts.

UHF antenna

Digital television is covering more and more territories, but for its reliable reception a special module is required. Often, the device is purchased separately, but there are TVs that have a built-in module.

But one receiver is not enough; you need an antenna that receives UHF waves. The simplest option is made on a sheet of plywood.

Instructions:

For assembly you will need a 75 Ohm TV cable 53 cm long. This segment is fixed on the sheet in the shape of a ring; it can be secured either with clamps or with glue.
When bending the loop, make sure that there is a gap of 5-10 mm between the ends of the cable. The second element of the product is made from a similar cable, 15.5 cm long, from which a loop is made.
The connection between the ring and the loop is as follows– the inner core of the ring is connected to the winding of both sides. The loop of the central conductor is attached to this twist, and the outer winding is connected between the edges. The central core of the antenna cable is connected to the inner core of the loop, and the winding is connected to the loop winding.

Settings

Installation of do-it-yourself products is carried out similarly to factory-made analogues. Most options require a mast to raise them to maximum height.

In most cases, a height of 2-3 meters higher than the height of the roof of the building is sufficient. Additionally, when installing, you should choose a place with the strongest signal, this is especially true for indoor devices.

Configuration is carried out by rearranging or rotating the antenna towards the tower; sometimes it is necessary to install an additional screen on the rear side.

DIY amplifier

There are often situations when a properly assembled and well-tuned antenna refuses to reliably receive a signal, then you simply cannot do without a signal amplifier.

Most of these devices have a complex design, which is difficult to assemble without certain knowledge. A simpler version can be made with your own hands in 10 minutes.

You will need a magnet onto which several turns of television cable are wound. This device can be assembled either near the TV or on an antenna. The latter option is most popular in factory amplifiers.

Results

Concluding the topic, you should pay attention to the fact that the highest quality of reception can be achieved by using soldering (bolts and nuts oxidize, significantly deteriorating the signal). An important aspect is the correct choice of cable. The most popular option is a product with a resistance of 75 Ohms, made of silicone.

Such products have a long service life, plus they are not affected by climate. The way you connect the cable to your TV is important. It is recommended to use special plugs; solderless options are allowed.

Before starting to assemble the product, you need to decide on the type of product; to do this, you should find out the frequency at which the signal is broadcast, this depends on the specific area.