A simple cable antenna. How to make an antenna for digital television with your own hands

Once upon a time, good television antennas were in short supply, but most of the commercially available ones did not differ in quality and durability, to put it mildly. At that time, any master who could make a TV antenna with his own hands was in great demand. But interest in homemade antennas does not fade away even today. There is nothing strange here: TV reception conditions have changed dramatically, and manufacturers, believing that there is and will not be anything essentially new in antenna theory, most often adapt electronics to well-known designs, without thinking about the fact that the main thing for any antenna is its interaction with a broadcast signal.

This is the most popular TV antenna - almost everyone can do it with their own hands. The secret of its popularity lies in the simplicity and availability of materials. cans can be made even in the country or at a picnic. Experienced craftsmen say that it takes only 10 minutes to make such an antenna for a TV with your own hands, while it receives many more channels than a stationary one.

To make a TV antenna out of empty tin cans, you will need:

  • antenna cable;
  • a couple of cans from beer or other low-alcohol drinks;
  • self-tapping screws;
  • plug;
  • insulating or adhesive tape;
  • screwdriver;
  • stick.

Antenna Assembly Instructions:

  1. Tape the cans to the stick with insulating tape at a distance of about 7 cm from each other (although you can select the distance using the empirical method).
  2. Screw self-tapping screws into the beer container and attach the antenna cable stripped from both ends to them. If the jar has rings for opening, then the cable can be attached with self-tapping screws to them.
  3. Tie the cable to the stick with adhesive tape (this is necessary for the stability of the receiver). Instead of a wooden stick, you can use a hanger - then it will be more convenient to hang the antenna for tuning.
  4. So that the antenna does not lose its working properties due to the influence of bad weather, the jars must be closed with a plastic bottle with a capacity of 2-3 liters, after cutting off the bottom and neck. In the center of the bottle, it is necessary to drill a hole through which the cable will be pulled. After connecting, this place must be scalded with boiling water - then the plastic will deform from high temperature and make the hole hermetically closed.

The antenna from empty beer cans is ready, all that remains is to connect it to the TV and set it up. You can improve the design by making the antenna from several sections.

This TV antenna can be used as an indoor antenna.

A simple TV antenna

If you don’t consider yourself a great master, but you still want to try to make an antenna for a TV with your own hands, you can make the simplest version of it.

To do this, you must perform the following steps:

  1. Connect the antenna input to any metal circuit, pre-insulated.
  2. Install the circuit on a plastic or wooden stand and place it on the TV or balcony itself.
  3. Since you need to connect the antenna to the TV using a plug and cable, you need to cut off about 5 cm of insulation on the cable.
  4. Divide in half and bend the opened winding.
  5. Carefully cut off the inner winding and expose the cable core.
  6. Fasten the core with the winding in the plug with screws. If your plug does not have a place to attach the winding, then you need to cut it off.
  7. Strip the other end of the cable, make a ring from the core and fasten it to the loop.
  8. Wrap the connection points with insulation for structural reliability.

To improve the signal on the home antenna, you need to use electronic signal amplifiers.

Powerful homemade antenna

In order for the antenna to work no worse than the purchased one, or even better, it is necessary to improve its receiving circuit.

  1. The first step is to buy a signal amplifier for a television antenna, which connects directly to the antenna, and be sure to wrap the cable at both ends with electrical tape so that there is no interference in the signal.
  2. In order for the reception to be of high quality, you need to make a screen - this is a metal mesh that is isolated from the TV and placed behind the receiver. As a screen, you can use a metal mesh Chain-link from the fence.
  3. The reception area should be increased as much as possible - for this, metal rods can be attached to the screen, paying attention to the fact that the entire structure is made of one metal, so that oxidation does not occur over time. It is necessary to connect the rods to the screen symmetrically in order to get the largest possible area.
  4. In the center of the structure, you need to place another amplifier by soldering the contacts to the receiver.

Antennas for this type of TV are not installed in the house, they are usually taken out to the roof, turning towards the nearest TV tower.

An antenna made from a minimum of materials

Since the available tools do not always allow making an antenna for a TV at home, 2 completely elementary methods are widely used:

  1. For the first option, you will need the simplest wire. But not aluminum - it is subject to very rapid oxidation. Copper or brass wire works great. Strip the wire from both ends of the insulating material, then attach one end to the battery or pipe, and insert the opposite end into the television connector. You will notice that the signal immediately appeared, since the pipe, passing through most of the house and going up, is an amplifier of the desired frequencies. In this way, you can "catch" about 5 channels.
  2. The second option will be available only to those who have a balcony. You need to take the same wire as in the first option, only longer so that it connects the TV and the balcony area. Strip the wire on both sides, connect one end to the TV, and wind the other to the stretched strings on which the laundry is hung. Such an improvised antenna will not only help increase the number of received channels, but also make the image quality an order of magnitude higher.

With your own hands, you can make not only simple, but also satellite dishes for a TV. This is especially true for those who live far from big cities and cannot buy a parabolic receiver in a store. It is good if the TV tower is located at a distance of no more than 35 km from the house so that the signal is strong enough. And if there is a tall building nearby, then the task will become even easier.

To make a satellite dish for a TV, you will need:

  • unnecessary umbrella;
  • foil;
  • antenna cable (preferably copper);
  • can of beer;
  • signal amplifier with power supply.

Antenna Assembly Instructions:

  1. Make a measurement of the antenna array (umbrella): measure the length between the spokes, take into account the height of the desired segment and the angle at which the spokes are attached.
  2. Transfer all calculations to the foil and cut out the details so that they fit the triangular sector of the umbrella.
  3. Sew the foil parts to the fabric of the umbrella with nylon threads - as a result, its entire inside should be covered with foil.
  4. Install the signal receiver at the focus of the antenna array. You can either buy an amplifier in a store or make it yourself. In the latter case, it is enough to remove 4 cm of the outer winding from the cable, cut the screen that protects against interference and leave the core (it will transmit the signal).
  5. Cut an oval out of a beer can, make a hole in the center of the oval, thread a core into it and solder the contact.
  6. Cover the joint with plasticine - so the metal will not rust and oxidize.
  7. Attach the receiver to the handle of the umbrella with adhesive tape, wind the cables with an allowance of 10 cm - this way it will be possible to adjust the design. It is very important to make sure that the receiver does not come into contact with the metal on the umbrella handle, otherwise interference may occur. Plasticine or other insulating material must be stuck at the point of contact.
  8. Fix the antenna by pointing it at the TV tower and tune the channels by turning the umbrella in different sides. Place the power supply next to the TV, because the amplifier is powered through a cable.

We hope that experienced craftsmen will also draw some useful information from this article. And for beginners who do not yet feel the ether, it is best to start with a "beer" antenna.

Do-it-yourself home TV antenna was last modified: May 11th, 2016 by MaximB

The length of the tubes, and hence the total length of the vibrator, depends on the frequency of the received television station. And it can lie in the range from about 50 to 230 MHz. This entire operating range is divided into 12 channels - they are marked on the TV's program selector knob. the second - 229-234 and then, respectively - 177-179, 162-163, 147-150, 85, 80, 77, 75, 71, 69, 66 cm. Therefore, before you start building the antenna, find out on which channel it leads broadcasts local TV center or repeater.

So, the length of the tubes was determined. Their diameter can be 8-24 mm (most often used, tubes with a diameter of 16 mm). Flatten one of the ends of each tube and attach the tubes with metal clamps to the Holder and? insulating material (textolite or getinaks with a thickness of at least 5 mm) so that the required distance is obtained between the remote ends, and the flattened ends are 60-70 mm apart from each other. Attach the mounting petals to the flattened ends with screws - they will serve as a kind of tube outlets. It is better, of course, to weld the petals to the ends of the tubes so that the contact is more reliable.

Install the tube holder. on the mast, which will later be installed on the roof. Now you need to connect a reduction to the antenna from a coaxial cable RK-1, RK-3, RK-4 or another with a wave impedance of 75 ohms. But it is impossible to solder the cable conductors directly to the tube leads. A matching device is installed between the drop cable and the antenna, which is a loop of two segments of the same coaxial cable. The length of the segments depends on the received television channel.

For the first channel, the size should be 286 cm, and 12 - 95 cm, for subsequent channels - 242 and 80, 187 and 62, 170 and 57, 166 and 52, 84 and 28, 80 and 27, 77 and 26, 74 and 25, 71 and 24, 68 and 23, 66 and 22 cm.

The connection of the matching device is shown in Figure 2. The central cores of the cable and the segments are soldered directly to the terminals of the tubes and to each other, and the metal braids are connected by segments of copper wire without insulation. Soldering must be strong and reliable, and soldering points are protected with insulating tape.

The matching loop and drop cable are attached to the mast. The length of the drop cable must be long enough to connect to the TV after installing the roof antenna. At the end of the cable, a connector is installed that plugs into the TV jack.

The antenna is strengthened with braces so that it stands firmly, and the vibrator is at a distance of at least 2 m from the roof.

To get the most powerful signal from the antenna, it must be oriented as accurately as possible to the television center (or to the repeater antenna). This work is best done by two or even three people. One slowly rotates the antenna around its axis, and the other, watching the TV screen, tells him about the change in contrast and image quality. The antenna is installed and fixed in such a position that the contrast is greatest and there is no multi-contourism in the image (the result of receiving a signal reflected from nearby buildings).

How to make a TV antenna for receiving in the decimeter wave range with your own hands? This question is asked by those who like to make everything with their own hands. Both at home and in the country, the antenna will allow you to watch digital TV without resorting to buying a factory-made antenna.

Antenna for digital TV

Digital terrestrial television- is the transmission of a television signal using digital coding, which ensures its delivery to the receiving device with the most minimal losses. Accordingly, the TV must support a technology called DVB-T2. For reliable reception, you need a special antenna, which you can buy, or you can make yourself.

There are currently a large number of ways to make antennas with your own hands. Consider the most simple and common.

From beer cans

A simple decimeter indoor TV antenna can be made from beer cans.

For the manufacture of an all-wave home-made antenna of this design, the following materials, components and tools will be needed:

  • 2 cans with a volume of 750 or 1000 ml;
  • coaxial television cable (RK75);
  • antenna plug;
  • electrical tape or tape;
  • self-tapping screws for metal;
  • polypropylene pipe or wooden stick for attaching cans to it;
  • screwdriver;
  • wire cutters;
  • file;
  • ruler.

Antenna for TV from beer cans

How to make an antenna out of beer cans? The manufacturing algorithm is as follows:

  • using a screwdriver, make 1 hole in the neck of each can, making sure that it does not deform;
  • screw the screws into these holes with a screwdriver;
  • clean the ends of the cable with a knife, remembering to clean the copper wire from varnish with a file;
  • screw the wire twisted into a ring and the cable braid to the screws (it will be more reliable if it is welded or soldered, but this is with the appropriate tool);
  • securely fasten the cans to the pipe or stick, using electrical tape or adhesive tape for this purpose, keeping the distance between the cans (it has long been established empirically, and this size is 7.5 cm);
  • put a plug on the other end of the cable, which will connect the cable to the receiving device.
  • place the antenna in the desired location, i.e. where signal reception would be ideal.

The most painstaking work is the preparation of the PK75 cable. One end must be cleaned from the upper shell at a distance of 10-12 cm with a knife, without damaging the copper braid. Next, you need to twist this braid into a pigtail and remove the aluminum screen. After that, cut off the polyethylene sheath by 6-7 cm and expose the central core. The resulting copper twist and bare core is then attached to the banks.

The second end of the cable must also be stripped and a plug consisting of 2 halves connected to it. The central core of the cable passes through the hole in one half of the plug, and the braid is connected to the plug body. Both halves are wound one on one, and a reliable device is obtained for connecting to the antenna jack of the TV.

If the antenna from cans is planned to be placed on the street, then it must be reliably protected from external weather influences. Plastic bottles are suitable, in which it is necessary to cut off the neck and bottom and place antenna elements in them. In such conditions, it will reliably carry out the functions assigned to it.

This is the simplest broadband antenna, made from improvised materials without the use of special tools, it is done quickly. It can be made by hand and installed in 20-30 minutes. You can make sure that a homemade antenna receives most channels satellite television, including TVB-T2. At least it receives up to 15 channels.

in the shape of a figure eight

Home satellite antenna may be in the form of eight. It can also be used for outdoor installation. Works without an amplifier.

Figure eight TV antenna

To make an antenna in the form of a figure eight, you will need:

  • copper or aluminum wire Ø 3-5 mm;
  • coaxial television cable RK75 (can be replaced with a densely braided cable with a resistance of 50 ohms);
  • antenna F-plug;
  • screwdriver;
  • knife or scalpel;
  • glue gun;
  • soldering iron;
  • solder;
  • flux paste;
  • ruler;
  • wire cutters;
  • pliers;
  • file;
  • a solid base (a plastic cover will do).

The production order is as follows:

  • cut 2 pieces of wire 56 cm each;
  • at each end, after exposing the central core, make a loop (approximately 1 cm on each side will be spent on its manufacture);
  • bend the wire in the form of a square with pliers, connecting the loops;
  • put on the antenna plug on one side of the coaxial cable, before that, carefully twisting the braid and exposing the central core;
  • solder the second side of the cable to 2 squares as follows: the central core to one square, and the braid to the other at a distance of 2 cm;
  • place everything in a lid and pour glue.

The figure shows how to do it correctly.

Making an antenna in the form of a figure eight

Such an antenna can be placed anywhere, and this is its main advantage, you just need to choose the right cable dimensions. You need to know that an amplifier is not needed for its operation. It makes sense to install it on the antenna, with a cable that has a significant length to compensate for losses.

From a cardboard box

A simple satellite dish for TVB-T2 is made using a cardboard box. For its manufacture you will need:

  • cardboard box (can be from under shoes);
  • foil;
  • antenna F-plug;
  • screwdriver;
  • knife or scalpel;
  • glue;
  • ruler or tape measure;
  • wire cutters;
  • file.

Such a simple homemade indoor antenna will provide high-quality TVB-T2 reception.

Butterfly

Do-it-yourself all-wave television antenna can be like a butterfly. Such an antenna is no different from a conventional decimeter one. It is easier to convert a simple array antenna, which can be bought at a low price in a retail chain, into a digital one that will receive satellite (T2) channels. To make it yourself, you will need the following materials, components and tools:

  • plank or plywood measuring 550x70x5 mm;
  • copper wire with a central core Ø 4 mm;
  • self-tapping screws for metal;
  • cable coaxial television RK75;
  • antenna F-plug;
  • screwdriver;
  • knife or scalpel;
  • soldering iron;
  • solder;
  • flux paste;
  • ruler or tape measure;
  • wire cutters;
  • pencil.

Butterfly TV Antenna

Manufacturing steps:

  • mark the board as shown in the figure:

Butterfly Antenna Board

To convert measurements in inches to cm, remember that 1 inch equals 2.5 cm.

  • cut 8 wires 37.5 cm long;
  • strip the middle of each wire by 2 cm;
  • bend each wire with the letter V so that the distance between the wires is 7.5 cm;
  • cut 2 wires 22 cm long;
  • strip these 2 wires at the points of attachment to the plank or plywood;
  • collect all the wires with self-tapping screws, as shown in the figure;

Making an antenna in the form of a butterfly

  • connect the antenna with the cable using a special plug.

Antenna plug connection with cable

From coaxial cable

There is a do-it-yourself dmv antenna made of coaxial cable. To make such a simple antenna you will need:

  • coaxial cable PK75;
  • plexiglass or plywood;
  • matching device;
  • antenna plug;
  • pliers;
  • wire cutters;
  • scotch;
  • ruler;
  • pencil.

Antenna for TV from a coaxial cable

Manufacturing steps:

  • cut a piece of cable 530 mm long;
  • strip the pieces of the cable from both sides, exposing the central core and connecting the braid into a pigtail;
  • twist into a ring (it can be in the form of a rhombus) and fix it on a piece of plexiglass or plywood with adhesive tape, leaving a distance between the ends of the cable of about 2 cm;
  • from a piece of coaxial cable 175 cm long, make a horseshoe-shaped matching device. To do this, it is necessary to strip the ends of the cable in the same way as in the manufacture of the ring;
  • prepare the antenna cable. Put on a plug on one side, and strip the other side until the central core and braid are exposed;
  • match the ends of the ring wire with the matching device and the cable going to the antenna, which will then be connected to the television receiver using a plug.

Homemade antenna. Video

A visual aid on how to make a homemade digital TV antenna is presented in this video.

Do-it-yourself antennas for reception digital signal make simple. In terms of reception quality, they are no worse than factory antennas with an amplifier, and their cost is much lower. They can be used in apartments, private houses and cottages. Everyone can make them from improvised materials, you just have to delve into the manufacturing technology.

Television today and twenty years ago are two big differences. The number of channels, transmission range, broadcasting format has changed. But, in fact, the principle of transmitting a television signal remained the same. Radio waves of a certain frequency propagate through the air, they can be received using an antenna and directed 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).

As a couple of decades ago, and today, economical 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 acquiring a high-quality TV antenna (total shortage), today a television antenna is made by hand solely for reasons of economy.

Homemade Design Options: General Principles

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


Beer cans (from Pepsi-Cola are also suitable)

Why is this material so popular?

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

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

Despite relatively high quality reception, this design does not have a high intrinsic gain. Connecting a standard amplifier may have no effect, due to the complexity of selecting coefficients.

Necessary materials:

  1. Two identical liter cans of beer, washed and dried. In extreme cases, you can use a half-liter, 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 that matches your TV.
  4. Bracket for fixing from a dielectric for fixing cans: a wooden block, hangers for clothes, a plastic pipe (metal-plastic will not work).
  5. Fasteners: electrical tape, adhesive tape, or plastic clamps.
  6. Soldering iron, standard solder, flux for aluminum soldering.
  7. Knife, side cutters, sandpaper.

It makes no sense to paint the formulas for calculating the sizes for the reception frequency; anyway, it will not be possible to change the sizes of the segments. The DIY beer can antenna has been repeatedly tested in various conditions, so let's just use the finished sample.

We cut the antenna cable. There will be a plug at one end, and we open the other end so that there is at least 100 mm from the central core to the screen wound into a bundle. So that the “bare” braid is not exposed to corrosion, it can be hidden in heat-shrinkable cambric.

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

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

Each end of the wire is folded into a ring 3-5 mm in diameter, and carefully soldered. Then we fasten the resulting terminal to the bank using a galvanized self-tapping screw. After that, we clean the joints with a flux and solder, until the solder “sticks” normally.

We fix the banks (from the point of view of the theory of radio reception, now these are symmetrical vibrators) in such a way 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 the product for optimal TV signal reception. Most likely, you know the direction to the tower of the broadcasting center. If not, Yandex cards will help you. Find a TV center, your home, and spend a virtual straight line. If you do not want to mess with the azimuth (this is impossible without a compass), determine the direction landmark in the line of sight. For example, a boiler room pipe or another object. For reliable reception, the home television antenna is located strictly perpendicular to the vector on the tower, and horizontally.

If the signal is received confidently, you are lucky the first time. At a considerable distance from the transmitter, you can catch the reflected signal. Even simple antenna, made from cans, requires the correct orientation in space (although this is not a satellite dish). In an area of ​​poor reception, all-wave technology can suddenly "shoot" in any direction.

Do-it-yourself "beer" decimeter antenna allows you to confidently catch analog channels. And how to make an antenna for digital TV? No additional secrets. Digital broadcasting is carried out 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 do antenna amplifier with your own hands.

Typical diagram in the illustration:

However, in order to solder and set up such a device yourself, elementary knowledge in radio engineering is required. Still, it is easier to buy a ready-made device, especially since you have already saved on the antenna.

"Eight", she is a rhombus, she is also a "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 1-3 floor in a densely built-up microdistrict, where dozens of high-rise buildings are located between you and the television center.

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

Antenna Kharchenko with such dimensions falls just in the middle of a typical broadcast range. If you need to capture other channels (in some regions, the grid can operate at non-standard frequencies), you can make a wire structure in several rows. The illustration shows a drawing from the magazine "Radio" 50 years ago.

Then the meter range was accepted, and the antennas had corresponding gigantic dimensions. They were made of wire to reduce windage. This manufacturing technique requires patience and a large number material. Modern "homemade" prefer a copper tube or an aluminum plate.

To make an indoor antenna using this technology, a piece of wire is enough. The device is hung in a window opening (in the direction of the TV center) and there is no need to worry that it will be blown by the wind. You can make several diamonds, while the reception range will be significantly expanded. An ideal option for digital television, which you can do with your own hands in the country or in a private house.

Amplify the signal without an amplifier

The reception efficiency (primarily this applies to the option under consideration) can be improved without additional electronics. It is enough to install a reflector, or a reflector 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 continuous. A row of metal tubes or openwork mesh is enough.

You can enhance the effect by applying the "double bi-square" design. The same dimensions apply, but the range remains the same. The extra length simply increases the signal strength.

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

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

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

Note:

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

Can be used with a screen that helps to amplify a weak signal.

Outcome

Making a homemade antenna is not just cost savings. This is an excellent opportunity to practice radio engineering, without the risk of damaging expensive radio elements and materials. And if your receiving point is located in an unfavorable location, you can always try a different configuration without buying several factory-made antennas.

Related videos

Humanity lives in the digital age. Television is moving to digital signal transmission. The peculiarity of digital broadcasting is that it is conducted in the decimeter range.

Transmitting stations have low transmitted encoded signal power. Therefore, in order to receive a signal and display an image on TVs that are far from the station, a receiving digital antenna is required. If you don’t know how to make a TV antenna, then the answer is simple: you can assemble it with your own hands from improvised materials in just one hour.

Receiving Antenna Types

For reliable reception of a signal from a TV tower, there are many different television antennas. They differ in shape and range of receiving frequencies.

Antennas can be divided into several main types:

Currently, the vast majority of television signals are transmitted by digital coding. Broadcasting is carried out in the decimeter range. The format of such a transmission is called DVB - T2.

Theoretically, this signal can be received on some old universal antennas, which marketers took advantage of, calling them DVB - T. In order to distinguish new narrow-profile decimeter antennas from the old classic ones, and the number "2" was added at the end of the abbreviation.

Fundamentals of digital television

Television transmitters transmit a digital signal over relatively short distances. The transmission range does not exceed sixty kilometers and is limited by the line of sight of the emitter from the TV tower.

For these distances, a signal of low power is enough. But the design of the receiving antennas must meet certain requirements:

The digital signal has its own unique feature. You can either get caught or you can't. He has no middle ground.

If a digital signal is one and a half decibels higher than the noise, then its reception is always of high quality. The signal may disappear if the cable is damaged or the phase is distorted in the transmitted section. In this case, even if the signal is strong, the image breaks up into small squares.

In order to catch a UHF broadcast, an appropriate antenna is required. In theory, any antenna will do, but in practice there are nuances.

There are several types of antennas for DMV reception. offered by manufacturers:

It is not difficult to make a do-it-yourself antenna for digital TV.

Assembling antennas at home

bends should be as smooth as possible. Basic phase distortion appear due to dips and outliers of a sharp nature.

Homemade digital antennas are frequency-independent. They don't have the most best performance, but are easy to assemble and take little time and money to design. Suitable for operation in noise-free air with short distance to the repeater.

Signal reception on beer cans

From ordinary beer cans, you can construct a simple all-wave antenna. Of course, it is inferior to industrial designs and is not always able to provide a stable signal, but it does its job well. This device receives at least fifteen channels as a minimum.

To assemble this design, you will need:

After washing and drying the metal cans, DVB - T2 can begin to assemble the antenna.

Carefully, so as not to deform, it is pierced through the hole in the upper parts of both cans. A screwdriver is suitable for this procedure. With its help, self-tapping screws are screwed into the prepared holes.

Then take one end of the cable PK75 and at a distance of ten to twelve centimeters with a knife is cleaned from the upper shell. In this case, the copper braid must not be damaged. The braid is twisted into a pigtail. The aluminum shield is removed.

Then the polyethylene sheath is cut off by six to seven centimeters and the central core is exposed.

The resulting pigtail and central vein screwed to the screws. If you have a soldering iron and the skills to use it, then it is best to solder parts of the wire to the banks.

Banks are sequentially, with the help of adhesive tape, fixed along a plywood board or other base that is at hand. The distance between the banks should be seven and a half centimeters.

At the end of the work, a plug is attached to the second end of the cable.

To do this, the end of the cable is stripped and the central core is passed through the hole in one of the halves of the plug. The cable sheath is attached to the plug body. One half is screwed onto the other and as a result we get a plug ready to go.

It remains to connect it to the antenna input of the TV and place the antenna in the right place where the quality of the received signal will be good.

In the event that the created structure is placed outdoors in the open air, it is necessary to protect the device from moisture and dampness. For these purposes, you can use plastic bottles in which the bottom and necks are cut off. Inside them are the metal parts of the antenna.

The resulting model is easy to "customize" by turning it in space and simply moving around the apartment, balcony or summer cottage.

Antenna zigzag Kharchenko

This zigzag broadband design was invented by engineer K. P. Kharchenko in 1961. For receiving a digital signal, it perfectly suited and received wide well-deserved recognition. The people called it the "eight" and the complete assembly looks like two rhombuses located one above the other.

In the manufacture of the eight you will need:

  • Copper wire with a diameter of 3-5 millimeters.
  • Coaxial antenna cable with a length of 3-5 meters and a resistance of 75 ohms.
  • Soldering iron with solder.
  • Tape or duct tape.
  • Plug.
  • Bolts for assembly.
  • Base: plywood or plastic sheet.

At the first stage, we assemble the antenna frame. We take a wire 109 centimeters long and bend it in the form of a frame. The frame has the shape of two successive rhombuses with sides equal to thirteen and a half centimeters. One centimeter left. A loop is made from it, which fastens the wire. The ends of the frame are soldered to each other and thus it turns into a closed loop.

After that, the coaxial cable is stripped. The cable screen is folded into a tight rod and soldered to the frame wire at the place where the diamonds converge. The central core of the cable is also soldered in the central part of the frame. The core and braid must not touch each other.

The other end of the cable is connected to the plug. Beforehand, the plug in the places of soldering is wiped with alcohol and processed with sandpaper. The monocore is soldered to the central outlet of the plug, and the twisted braid is soldered to the side.

If the frame will be used outdoors, then the future plywood base can be painted or varnished. Soldering points can be wrapped with tape or electrical tape. But it's not the best the best option because the adhesive tape may unwind over time. If plastic tubes of a suitable diameter are put on the wire before soldering, then at the end of the work the tubes are pulled over the soldered places and reliably protect the frame. After that, the frame is installed on the prepared base.

Do-it-yourself digital antenna assembled and ready for use.

If desired, you can assemble an antenna tuned to a specific wavelength. To do this, you need to calculate the length of the square. It's easy: the wavelength of the desired signal is divided by four. As a result, it turns out desired value the length of the rhombus frame.

The simplest cable antenna

It requires one television cable with a resistance of 75 ohms. The required cable length is calculated based on the desired digital broadcast frequency. Its value in megahertz is divided by 7500, rounding the resulting amount.

The resulting value is the required cable length.

After that, one end of the cable is cleared of external insulation and inserted into the antenna connector of the TV. From two centimeters after the connector, a mark is made on the cable.

It is from this mark that the required cable length is calculated. Pliers pinch off the excess part.

After that, you need to return to the mark on the cable. In this place, only the core with insulation is left, and the outer braid is removed. The cleaned part is bent at an angle of ninety degrees.

All is ready. The TV can be tuned with a new antenna.

Installation Safety

For reliable operation of such antennas, they must be placed above the ground at a level of 7–10 meters. Therefore, during installation, it is necessary to strictly observe safety regulations:

  • Do not mount the structure in heavy rain or heavy fog.
  • It is undesirable to go upstairs alone, especially in ice, cold, snow.
  • If it is necessary to climb a shaky structure or work at height is carried out in dangerous places, then a fixed mounting belt is required.

After correct installation homemade antennas work no worse than factory ones with significant budget savings.