How to make a TV antenna - 4 simple ideas

Idea # 1 - Beer cans to go!

This version of a homemade television antenna is the simplest and fastest to manufacture. The maximum number of channels that you can catch is 7, but this figure can vary significantly depending on the region, the terrain features and the distance to the TV tower.

To make an antenna for a TV from beer cans, you will need the following materials:

• 2 small self-tapping screws, also called "bugs" (not needed if you have a soldering iron);
• 2 prepared beer cans (empty, washed and dried);
• from 3 to 5 meters of television cable (can be taken from a failed device);
• soldering iron and tin (for better fixing of contacts), availability is optional;
• screwdriver;
• wooden trempel (hanger);
• electrical tape or tape.

All the materials found in the house will not be a problem, therefore, having prepared them, we immediately get down to business.

In order to make a homemade antenna from cans, you need to perform the following steps:

1. Prepare the cable. First, at a distance of 10 cm from the edge, you need to make a shallow circular incision and remove the top layer of insulation. Having opened access to the screen, we turn it into one bundle. After that, we cut off the middle insulating layer, exposing the copper core of the cable by several cm. At the second end of the wire there should be a regular antenna plug.
2. We prepare jars. With capacities that act as a signal receiver, there will also be no difficulties. First you need to choose the optimal dimensions of beer cans. It is better to use liter, but if there are none, they will cope well with the task and the capacity of 0.5 and 0.75 liters.
3. We make contacts. At this stage, the twisted cable screen is fixed to one bank, and the copper core itself to another. Fixation is carried out by bugs using a screwdriver or a conventional screwdriver. However, it is recommended to fix the wire not with bugs, but with a soldering iron. The result should look like this:
4. We assemble a homemade antenna for the TV. The signal receiver is ready, now we are making the supporting structure, which we use as a trempel or an ordinary hanger. In no case should it be made of wire or metal.Using electrical tape, we fix the capacitance to the trempel (as shown in the photo). We draw your attention to the fact that the banks should be strictly on one straight line, otherwise the homemade product will not work and stably catch the signal.
   
5. Set up the antenna for the TV. Now you need to experiment with the optimal distance between the banks, as well as the place of suspension of the device and its position so that the homemade product catches many channels. We turn on the TV and determine how the receivers should be located and where the most suitable place for their work is. This completes the technology of creating the device.
   

As you can see, the whole process is quite simple and does not represent anything complicated. The optimal distance is 75 mm between the ends of the cans, and the best installation location is near the window or on the remote mast. In individual cases, the distance between the banks can be made larger or smaller.

Idea # 2 - Using wire

Another no less good option, which is advisable to use in the village - a homemade antenna made of copper wire with an amplifier.

All you need for manufacturing is:

• an amplifier (suitable from an old device, for example, a broken or disassembled antenna);
• two pieces of wire of 180 cm, it is advisable to choose thick and hard so that the wind does not damage the device;
• a piece of metal (or wooden) plate 15 * 15 cm;
• an electric drill with a set of drills (a welding machine is desirable);
• small bolts;
• hammer;
• iron pipe;
• a suitable cable with a plug (sold at radio stores, not expensive, can be removed from a non-working device).

So, in order to make the antenna for the TV from copper wire yourself, you need to perform the following steps:

1. We prepare the trap: we bend the wire with a rhombus so that all sides are strictly 45 cm in length - these are the optimal sizes of the receiving part, while the figure must be closed, for this the ends of the bar must be welded together, or soldered with a powerful soldering iron.
   
2. We fix the wire to the prepared board: we drill holes and twist the bolts for reliable fastening. Immediately need to connect the amplifier. It has two large platforms and contacts for connecting a coaxial cable. To large areas you need to use the screws to connect the different arms of the antenna in the center. Try to ensure high-quality contact, so it is recommended to clean the surfaces, you can even tin.
   
3. Connect the cable. Everything is simple here, because you just need to tighten a couple of screws on the amplifier and insert the plug into the connector.
4. We create a mast, for which we use a metal pipe of suitable height. We dig it in and the home-made antenna for the TV is ready, you can begin to configure the channels.

Please note - in the photo examples, the amplifier, the reflector, and the wire are coated with paint. Painting protects the structure from corrosion and other adverse factors, significantly extending the life of a makeshift antenna for a TV.

Idea # 3 - Home HDTV device

If the first 2 options worked at a frequency of no more than 270 MHz, then the next manufacturing method will allow you to enjoy a better picture, because signal range can reach up to 490 MHz. The only detail that is unlikely to be found among small things is the matching transformer from 300 to 75 Ohms. It will need to be bought in advance in a specialized store, however, some plugs already contain this part.

Although there is a manual for making a homemade transformer on the network, you can find and use it, it will significantly increase your skills in assembling homemade antennas.

From the materials you will need:

1. Scotch
2. Cardboard
3. Stationery knife
4. Foil
5. Stapler
6. Scissors
7. Marker
8. Roulette
9. Glue (pencil or PVA)

Having prepared this whole school kit, let's get down to business!

First you need to copy (or print on a computer) this diagram:

Now, according to the scheme, we cut out all the spare parts, including the necessary pieces of foil:

Next, glue the cardboard butterfly over with foil and, if desired, paint over the back with a marker for aesthetics.

After that, you need to make a reflector measuring 35 * 32.5 cm (height and width). We seal one of the sides with foil.

In the middle, we cut out two identical rectangles, which are necessary in order to fully assemble the signal trap for a makeshift antenna for a TV. The rectangle should be 3.5 cm long, its purpose is to withstand the distance between the reflector and auxiliary parts.

We glue the spare parts on the rectangle, and when the glue seizes, we drill holes for the television cable.

We connect the transformer and cable using twists, tape or a soldering iron. A more powerful TV antenna is ready to use! It should also be noted that this version of homemade is suitable only for indoor use, because paper will quickly get wet from outdoor use.

Another version of a powerful device made at home:

Idea # 4 - Apartment Option

There is another way to make a powerful antenna for a TV from improvised means, which is suitable for both street and apartment use.

To make the device you will need the following materials and tools:

• 4-meter copper wire with a cross section of 4 mm.kv;
• a board of arbitrary thickness, 55 cm long and 7 cm wide;
• wood screws;
• ruler or tape measure;
• a simple pencil;
• screwdriver;
• soldering iron;
• antenna plug.

So, first, transfer the drawing to the workpiece and drill holes in the board:

Then we transfer the drawing data to the board and drill it in the corresponding attachment points.

Next, the copper wire must be straightened and cut into 8 equal pieces of 37.5 cm.

In the middle of each of the 37.5-centimeter segments it is necessary to remove the insulation (as shown in the picture). To do this, use a sharp knife, perfect clerical.

We cut off 2 more pieces of wire 22 cm long and divide them into 3 equal parts, slightly bend and in these places, again, remove the insulation.

We bend the prepared wire in bare places. We draw your attention to the fact that for those segments that are bent in half, the distance between the ends must be made 7.5 cm (the optimal value for receiving a signal from a home-made television antenna).

Next, we attach the plug to the finished homemade product, and we already connect the television cable to it.

This completes the manufacturing process. We select a suitable place and direction where the signal reception is the best, and install the device.

We tried to select the simplest instructions. We hope that now you know how to make a home TV antenna with your own hands! We draw your attention to the fact that today on the Internet you can find many other options in which inventors come up with more and more manufacturing options, using, for example, copper and aluminum tubes, disks, electrodes ... The choice of components for assembly is usually determined only by their availability, therefore, do not be afraid to experiment and come up with your own, original manufacturing methods.

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