Calculation of a wire antenna for T2. Simple DIY UHF antenna
How to make an antenna for a TV for reception in the UHF range with your own hands? This question is asked by those who like to do everything with their own hands. Both at home and in the country, the antenna will allow you to watch digital TV without having to buy a factory-made antenna.
Antenna for digital TV
Digital terrestrial television is the transmission of a television signal using digital encoding, which ensures its delivery to the receiving device with 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 methods for making antennas with your own hands. Let's look at the simplest and most common ones.
From beer cans
A simple decimeter indoor TV antenna can be made from beer cans.
To manufacture an all-wave homemade antenna of this design, you will need the following materials, components and tools:
- 2 tin cans of 750 or 1000 ml;
- coaxial television cable (RK75);
- antenna plug;
- electrical tape or tape;
- metal screws;
- a polypropylene pipe or wooden stick for attaching cans to it;
- screwdriver;
- wire cutters;
- needle file;
- ruler.
TV antenna made from beer cans
How to make an antenna from 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 become deformed;
- screw the screws into these holes using a screwdriver;
- clean the ends of the cable with a knife, not forgetting to remove the varnish from the copper wire with a file;
- screw the wire and cable braid twisted into a ring to the self-tapping screws (it will be more reliable if it is welded or soldered, but this is only if you have the appropriate tool);
- Securely secure the cans to a pipe or stick using electrical tape or scotch tape for these purposes, maintaining the distance between the cans (it has long been established experimentally, and this size is 7.5 cm);
- Attach a plug to the other end of the cable, which will connect the cable to the receiving device.
- place the antenna in the required place, i.e. where signal reception will be ideal.
The most painstaking work is preparing the RK75 cable. One end must be cleaned from the top 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 this, cut off the polyethylene sheath by 6-7 cm and expose the central core. The resulting copper strand and bare core are then attached to the cans.
The second end of the cable must also be cleaned and a plug consisting of 2 halves must be 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 screwed on one another, and you get a reliable device for connecting to the antenna socket of the TV.
If you plan to place an antenna made from tin cans outdoors, then it must be reliably protected from external weather influences. Plastic bottles are suitable; you need to cut off the neck and bottom and place the 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 scrap materials without the use of special tools, and it is made quickly. You can make it yourself and install it in 20-30 minutes. You can make sure that your homemade antenna receives most satellite television channels, including TVB-T2. At a minimum, it receives up to 15 channels.
Figure 8
A home satellite dish can be in the shape of a figure eight. It can also be used for outdoor installation. Works without an amplifier.
Figure 8 TV antenna
To make a figure eight antenna 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;
- needle file;
- a solid base (a plastic lid will do).
The manufacturing procedure 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 making it);
- bend the wire into a square using pliers, connecting the loops;
- put the antenna plug on one side of the coaxial cable, first 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 the lid and fill it with glue.
The picture shows how to do this correctly.
Making a figure eight antenna
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 you don't need an amplifier to operate it. 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 antenna for TVB-T2 is made using a cardboard box. To make it you will need:
- cardboard box (can be used as a shoe box);
- foil;
- antenna F-plug;
- screwdriver;
- knife or scalpel;
- glue;
- ruler or tape measure;
- wire cutters;
- needle file
Such a simple homemade indoor antenna will provide high-quality TVB-T2 reception.
Butterfly
A DIY all-wave television antenna can be like a butterfly. Such an antenna is no different from a regular decimeter antenna. It is easier to convert a simple array-type 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:
- board or plywood measuring 550x70x5 mm;
- copper wire with a central core Ø 4 mm;
- metal screws;
- coaxial television cable RK75;
- antenna F-plug;
- screwdriver;
- knife or scalpel;
- soldering iron;
- solder;
- flux paste;
- ruler or tape measure;
- wire cutters;
- pencil.
TV antenna in the form of a butterfly
Manufacturing stages:
- Mark the board as shown in the figure:
Board for antenna in the shape of a butterfly
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 in a V shape so that the distance between the wires is 7.5 cm;
- cut 2 wires 22 cm long;
- strip these 2 wires where they are attached to the board or plywood;
- assemble all the wires using self-tapping screws, as shown in the figure;
Making a butterfly antenna
- Connect the antenna to the cable using a special plug.
Connecting the antenna plug to the cable
From coaxial cable
There is a DIY UHF antenna made from coaxial cable. To make such a simple antenna you will need:
- coaxial cable RK75;
- plexiglass or plywood;
- matching device;
- antenna plug;
- pliers;
- wire cutters;
- scotch;
- ruler;
- pencil.
TV antenna made from coaxial cable
Manufacturing stages:
- cut a piece of cable 530 mm long;
- strip the pieces of cable from both sides, exposing the central core and connecting the braid into a pigtail;
- twist it into a ring (possibly in the form of a diamond) and secure it to a piece of plexiglass or plywood with tape, leaving a distance between the ends of the cable of approximately 2 cm;
- Make a horseshoe-shaped matching device from a piece of coaxial cable 175 cm long. To do this, you need to strip the ends of the cable in the same way as when making a ring;
- prepare the antenna cable. Place the plug on one side and strip the other side until the central core and braid are exposed;
- align 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 antenna for digital TV is presented in this video.
It’s easy to make DIY antennas for receiving a digital signal. 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 country houses. Anyone can make them from scrap materials, you just have to delve into the manufacturing technology.
When relaxing outside the city, sometimes, in addition to enjoying nature and fresh air, you sometimes want to watch your favorite TV series or an important football match. Unlike the city, coverage of villages with a high-quality television signal leaves much to be desired. In this situation, even purchasing an antenna operating in a wide range of decimeter and meter waves does not guarantee high-quality images.
You can try to assemble the antenna yourself, because a country house is the best place for experiments.
The simplest antenna option
As can be seen in the photograph, the antenna is a simple wave receiver. To manufacture, you will need two tubes and a television cable, as well as knowledge of the signal transmission range of the nearest television tower.
Typically, reception is carried out at frequencies from 50 to 230 MHz, forming twelve channels. For each of them, tubes of certain sizes are used. To receive a signal at a frequency of 50 MHz, the distance between the outer edges of the tubes must be in the range of 271-276 cm. On channel 12, the same distance is 66 cm.
Information on the dependence of the length of the blanks on the receiving frequency, as well as circuits of homemade antennas, can be easily found on similar thematic Internet resources.
To make an antenna in makeshift conditions, we present you a list of what you can make an antenna from:
- Two tubes made of steel, aluminum or any other metal alloy with a diameter of 8 to 24 mm. They must be the same in diameter, material and wall thickness.
- Availability of a television broadcasting cable designed for a resistance of 75 Ohms. The length of the wire is cut at the connection point, taking into account a sagging margin of 50 cm.
- Textolite blank or getinax material (at least 5 mm thick).
- Fasteners for installing pipes on a holder.
- A bracket for a future antenna in the form of a metal pipe or corner. When installing the receiver at a low height, you can use a wooden stand.
- Soldering kit, silicone fluid to prevent oxidation and electrical tape.
Assembly principle
The workpiece, selected according to its length, is divided into two equal tubes, which are crimped on one side. The tubes are fixed at a distance of 6-7 cm from each other, and their ends are attached to the textolite blank with clamps. The resulting structure is secured with a rod in a vertical position.
To connect the cable, you need to lay a loop designed for a resistance of 75 ohms. The middle cores of the cable are stripped and twisted with the ends of the tubes flattened, and the braid connection is made using copper wire. The connection of the rest of the loop and the cable going to the output to the television device follows the same principle.
The resulting loop and the remaining length of the cable should be securely fastened to a vertical stand to avoid interference. The required antenna installation height is adjusted locally by monitoring the signal change.
Beer can antenna
It is one of the most popular ideas for homemade television signal receivers. Instead of tubes, if there is no material, you can use simple beer cans.
To make such a television receiver, you will need the following parts:
- two beer cans of 0.5 l each;
- wooden or plastic blank 50 cm long;
- television cable RG-58;
- soldering iron, flux for soldering aluminum and solder;
To make a beer can receiver, follow these instructions:
- A hole 5-6 mm in diameter is drilled through the bottom of the jar, in its center.
- We lay the cable through the hole in the can and bring it out through the neck.
- The can is evenly fixed on the left side of the workpiece in a horizontal position.
- We bring the cable out through the neck to a distance of 5 cm, trim the insulation by 3 cm, remove the wire braid by 1.5 cm and solder it to the surface of the can.
- Solder the outgoing cable to the bottom of the second can.
- Attach the second can to the first at a minimum distance, using tape or other sticky material.
At the other end of the cable, a connector is installed to enter the TV. This antenna option is also suitable for digital broadcasting. If the TV supports a popular format (DVB T2), or there is a set-top box suitable for the old TV, then the signal can be received from the nearest relay tower. In this case, it is necessary to know the location of the repeater, in the direction in which the antenna should be directed to search for a signal.
This circuit is suitable for making an antenna designed to receive meter wave channels. Just use a liter container instead of half-liter jars.
If you don't know how to solder, there is another connection method. Two beer cans are attached at a minimum distance from the workpiece that holds the entire structure. At the end of the cable, carefully remove 3-5 cm of insulation. Twist the wire braid into a bundle and, shaping it into an eyelet, put it on a self-tapping screw.
In the same way, put the eyelet on the self-tapping screw of the second conductor. Then attach the wires, using self-tapping screws, to each can. From the point of view of long-term contact retention, soldering is much better than mechanical fastening. Before soldering, it is advisable to tinning the surface.
Although fastening with self-tapping screws is reliable, if moisture gets on the antenna, the contacts of the homemade device will oxidize, which will lead to signal loss.
Photo instructions on how to make an antenna
Buying a good antenna for your dacha is not always advisable. Especially if she is visited from time to time. The point is not so much the cost, but the fact that after a while it may not be there. Therefore, many people prefer to make an antenna for their dacha themselves. Costs are minimal, quality is good. And the most important point is that a TV antenna can be made with your own hands in half an hour or an hour and then, if necessary, can be easily repeated...
Digital television in the DVB-T2 format is transmitted in the UHF range, and there is either a digital signal or it is not. If the signal is received, the picture is of good quality. Due to this. Any decimeter antenna is suitable for receiving digital television. Many radio amateurs are familiar with the TV antenna, which is called “zigzag” or “figure eight”. This DIY TV antenna can be assembled literally in a matter of minutes.
To reduce the amount of interference, a reflector is placed behind the antenna. The distance between the antenna and the reflector is selected experimentally - according to the “purity” of the picture 
You can attach foil to the glass and get a good signal... 
Copper tube or wire is the best option; it bends well and is easy to bend.
It is very simple to make; the material is any conductive metal: tube, rod, wire, strip, corner. Despite its simplicity, she accepts it well. It looks like two squares (rhombuses) connected to each other. In the original, there is a reflector behind the square for more reliable signal reception. But it is more needed for analog signals. To receive digital television, you can do without it or install it later if the reception is too weak.
Materials
Copper or aluminum wire with a diameter of 2-5 mm is optimal for this homemade TV antenna. In this case, everything can be done in literally an hour. You can also use a tube, corner, strip of copper or aluminum, but you will need some kind of device to bend the frames to the desired shape. The wire can be bent with a hammer, securing it in a vice.
You will also need a coaxial antenna cable of the required length, a plug suitable for the connector on your TV, and some kind of mount for the antenna itself. The cable can be taken with a resistance of 75 Ohms and 50 Ohms (the second option is worse). If you are making a TV antenna with your own hands for installation outdoors, pay attention to the quality of the insulation.
The mounting depends on where you are going to hang your homemade antenna for digital television. On the upper floors, you can try to use it as a home decoration and hang it on curtains. Then you need large pins. At the dacha or if you take a homemade TV antenna to the roof, you will need to attach it to a pole. For this case, look for suitable fasteners. To work, you will also need a soldering iron, sandpaper and/or file, and a needle file.
Do you need a calculation?
To receive a digital signal, there is no need to count the wavelength. It is simply advisable to make the antenna more broadband in order to receive as many signals as possible. To do this, some changes were made to the original design (pictured above) (further in the text).
If you wish, you can make a calculation. To do this, you need to find out what wavelength the signal is broadcast on, divide by 4 and get the required side of the square. To obtain the required distance between the two parts of the antenna, make the outer sides of the diamonds slightly longer and the inner ones shorter.
Drawing of a figure-of-eight antenna for receiving digital TV
- The length of the “inner” side of the rectangle (B2) is 13 cm,
- “external” (B1) - 14 cm.
Due to the difference in lengths, a distance is formed between the squares (they should not be connected). The two extreme sections are made 1 cm longer so that you can fold the loop to which the coaxial antenna cable is soldered.
Making a frame
If you count all the lengths, you get 112 cm. Cut off the wire or whatever material you have, take pliers and a ruler, and start bending. The angles should be 90° or so. You can make a little mistake with the lengths of the sides - this is not fatal. It turns out like this:
- The first section is 13 cm + 1 cm per loop. The loop can be bent immediately.
- Two sections of 14 cm each.
- Two 13 cm each, but with a turn in the opposite direction - this is the point of inflection onto the second square.
- Again two 14 cm each.
- The last one is 13 cm + 1 cm per loop.
The antenna frame itself is ready. If everything was done correctly, there will be a distance of 1.5-2 cm between the two halves in the middle. There may be small discrepancies. Next, we clean the loops and the bend point to bare metal (treat it with fine-grain sandpaper), and tin it. Connect the two loops and crimp them with pliers to hold them tightly.
Cable preparation
We take the antenna cable and carefully clean it. How to do this is shown in the step-by-step photo. You need to strip the cable on both sides. One edge will be attached to the antenna. Here we strip it so that the wire sticks out 2 cm. If it turns out more, the excess (later) can be cut off. Twist the screen (foil) and braid into a bundle. It turned out to be two conductors. One is the central monocore of the cable, the second is twisted from many braided wires. Both are needed and need to be tinned.
We solder the plug to the second edge. A length of 1 cm or so is sufficient here. Also form two conductors and tin them.
Wipe the plug in the places where we will solder with alcohol or solvent, and clean it with emery (you can use a needle file). Place the plastic part of the plug on the cable, now you can start soldering. We solder a monocore to the central output of the plug, and a multicore twist to the side output. The last thing is to crimp the grip around the insulation.
Then you can simply screw on the plastic tip and fill it with glue or non-conductive sealant (this is important). While the glue/sealant has not hardened, quickly assemble the plug (screw on the plastic part) and remove the excess compound. So the plug will be almost eternal.
DIY DVB-T2 TV antenna: assembly
Now all that remains is to connect the cable and the frame. Since we were not tied to a specific channel, we will solder the cable to the middle point. This will increase the broadband of the antenna - more channels will be received. Therefore, we solder the second cut end of the cable to the two sides in the middle (those that were stripped and tinned). Another difference from the “original version” is that the cable does not need to be routed around the frame and soldered at the bottom. This will also expand the reception range.
The assembled antenna can be checked. If the reception is normal, you can finish the assembly - fill the solder joints with sealant. If the reception is poor, try first to find a place where the fishing is better. If there are no positive changes, you can try replacing the cable. To simplify the experiment, you can use regular telephone noodles. It costs a penny. Solder the plug and frame to it. Try it with her. If it catches better, it’s a bad cable. In principle, you can work on “noodles”, but not for long - they will quickly become unusable. It is better, of course, to install a normal antenna cable.
To protect the junction of the cable and the antenna frame from atmospheric influences, the soldering points can be wrapped with regular electrical tape. But this method is unreliable. If you remember, you can put on several heat-shrinkable tubes before soldering to insulate them. But the most reliable way is to fill everything with glue or sealant (they should not conduct current). As a “case” you can use lids for 5-6 liter water cylinders, ordinary plastic lids for jars, etc. We make indentations in the right places - so that the frame “sits” in them, do not forget about the cable outlet. Fill it with a sealing compound and wait until it sets. That's it, your DIY TV antenna for receiving digital television is ready.
Homemade double and triple square antenna
This is a narrowband antenna, which is used if you need to receive a weak signal. It can even help if a weaker signal is “clogged” by a stronger one. The only drawback is that you need precise orientation to the source. The same design can be made to receive digital television.
You can also make five frames - for a more confident reception 
It is not advisable to paint or varnish - reception deteriorates. This is only possible in close proximity to the transmitter 
The advantages of this design are that reception will be reliable even at a considerable distance from the repeater. You just need to specifically find out the broadcast frequency, maintain the dimensions of the frames and the matching device.
Construction and materials
It is made from tubes or wire:
- 1-5 TV channel MV range - tubes (copper, brass, aluminum) with a diameter of 10-20 mm;
- 6-12 TV channel MV range - tubes (copper, brass, aluminum) 8-15 mm;
- UHF range - copper or brass wire with a diameter of 3-6 mm.
The double square antenna consists of two frames connected by two arrows - upper and lower. The smaller frame is a vibrator, the larger one is a reflector. An antenna consisting of three frames gives a higher gain. The third, smallest square is called the director.
The upper boom connects the middle of the frames and can be made of metal. The lower one is made of insulating material (textolite, gettinax, wooden plank). The frames must be installed so that their centers (the points of intersection of the diagonals) are on the same straight line. And this straight line should be directed towards the transmitter.
The active frame - the vibrator - has an open circuit. Its ends are screwed to a textolite plate measuring 30*60 mm. If the frames are made from a tube, the edges are flattened, holes are made in them and the lower arrow is attached through them.
The mast for this antenna must be wooden. At least the upper part of it. Moreover, the wooden part should start at a distance of at least 1.5 meters from the level of the antenna frames.
Dimensions
All dimensions for making this TV antenna with your own hands are given in the tables. The first table is for the meter range, the second is for the decimeter range.
In three-frame antennas, the distance between the ends of the vibrator (middle) frame is larger - 50 mm. Other sizes are given in the tables.
Connecting an active frame (vibrator) via a short-circuited cable
Since the frame is a symmetrical device, and it must be connected to an asymmetrical coaxial antenna cable, a matching device is required. In this case, a balancing short-circuited loop is usually used. It is made from pieces of antenna cable. The right segment is called the “loop”, the left one is called the “feeder”. A cable is attached to the junction of the feeder and the cable, which goes to the TV. The length of the segments is selected based on the wavelength of the received signal (see table).
A short piece of wire (loop) is cut at one end by removing the aluminum screen and twisting the braid into a tight bundle. Its central conductor can be cut down to insulation, since it does not matter. The feeder is also cut. Here, too, the aluminum screen is removed and the braid is twisted into a bundle, but the central conductor remains.
Further assembly proceeds like this:
- The braid of the cable and the central conductor of the feeder are soldered to the left end of the active frame (vibrator).
- The feeder braid is soldered to the right end of the vibrator.
- The lower end of the cable (braid) is connected to the feeder braid using a rigid metal jumper (you can use wire, just make sure there is good contact with the braid). In addition to the electrical connection, it also sets the distance between sections of the matching device. Instead of a metal jumper, you can twist the braid of the lower part of the cable into a bundle (remove the insulation in this area, remove the screen, roll it into a bundle). To ensure good contact, solder the bundles together with low-melting solder.
- The cable pieces must be parallel. The distance between them is about 50 mm (some deviations are possible). To fix the distance, clamps made of dielectric material are used. You can also attach a matching device to a textolite plate, for example.
- The cable going to the TV is soldered to the bottom of the feeder. Braid is connected to braid, center conductor to center conductor. To reduce the number of connections, the feeder and cable to the TV can be made single. Only in the place where the feeder should end must the insulation be removed so that the jumper can be installed.
This matching device allows you to get rid of noise, blurred contours, and a second blurry image. It is especially useful at a great distance from the transmitter, when the signal is clogged with interference.
Another variation of the triple square
In order not to connect a short-circuited loop, the triple square antenna vibrator is made elongated. In this case, you can connect the cable directly to the frame as shown in the figure. Only the height at which the antenna wire is soldered is determined in each case individually. After the antenna is assembled, “testing” is carried out. The cable is connected to the TV, the central conductor and braid are moved up/down, achieving a better image. In the position where the picture will be clearest, the antenna cable branches are soldered, and the soldering points are insulated. The position can be any - from the bottom jumper to the transition point to the frame.
Sometimes one antenna does not give the desired effect. The signal turns out to be a weak image - black and white. In this case, the standard solution is to install a television signal amplifier.
The simplest antenna for a summer residence is made from metal cans
To make this television antenna, in addition to the cable, you will only need two aluminum or tin cans and a piece of wooden plank or plastic pipe. Cans must be metal. You can take aluminum beer beers, or you can take tin ones. The main condition is that the walls are smooth (not ribbed).
The jars are washed and dried. The end of the coaxial wire is cut - by twisting the braided strands and clearing the central core of insulation, two conductors are obtained. They are attached to banks. If you know how, you can solder it. No - take two small self-tapping screws with flat heads (you can use “fleas” for drywall), twist a loop at the ends of the conductors, thread a self-tapping screw with a washer installed on it through it, and screw it to the can. Just before this you need to clean the metal of the can by removing the deposits using fine-grain sandpaper.
The cans are secured to the bar. The distance between them is selected individually - according to the best picture. You shouldn’t hope for a miracle - there will be one or two channels in normal quality, or maybe not... It depends on the position of the repeater, the “cleanliness” of the corridor, how correctly the antenna is oriented... But as a way out in an emergency, this is an excellent option.
A simple Wi-Fi antenna made from a metal can
An antenna for receiving a Wi-Fi signal can also be made from improvised means - from a tin can. This DIY TV antenna can be assembled in half an hour. This is if you do everything slowly. The jar should be made of metal, with smooth walls. Tall and narrow canning jars work great. If you will be installing a homemade antenna on the street, find a jar with a plastic lid (as in the photo). The cable is an antenna, coaxial, with a resistance of 75 Ohms.
In addition to the can and cable, you will also need:
- RF-N connector;
- a piece of copper or brass wire with a diameter of 2 mm and a length of 40 mm;
- cable with a socket suitable for a Wi-Fi card or adapter.
Wi-Fi transmitters operate at a frequency of 2.4 GHz with a wavelength of 124 mm. So, it is advisable to choose a jar such that its height is at least 3/4 of the wavelength. For this case, it is better that it be more than 93 mm. The diameter of the can should be as close as possible to half the wavelength - 62 mm for a given channel. There may be some deviations, but the closer to the ideal, the better.
Dimensions and assembly
When assembling, a hole is made in the jar. It must be placed strictly at the desired point. Then the signal will be amplified several times. It depends on the diameter of the selected jar. All parameters are shown in the table. You measure the exact diameter of your can, find the right stitch, and have all the right dimensions.
| D - diameter | Lower limit of attenuation | Upper limit of attenuation | Lg | 1/4 Lg | 3/4 Lg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73 mm | 2407.236 | 3144.522 | 752.281 | 188.070 | 564.211 |
| 74 mm | 2374.706 | 3102.028 | 534.688 | 133.672 | 401.016 |
| 75 mm | 2343.043 | 3060.668 | 440.231 | 110.057 | 330.173 |
| 76 mm | 2312.214 | 3020.396 | 384.708 | 96.177 | 288.531 |
| 77 mm | 2282.185 | 2981.170 | 347.276 | 86.819 | 260.457 |
| 78 mm | 2252.926 | 2942.950 | 319.958 | 79.989 | 239.968 |
| 79 mm | 2224.408 | 2905.697 | 298.955 | 74.738 | 224.216 |
| 80 mm | 2196.603 | 2869.376 | 282.204 | 070.551 | 211.653 |
| 81 mm | 2169.485 | 2833.952 | 268.471 | 67.117 | 201.353 |
| 82 mm | 2143.027 | 2799.391 | 256.972 | 64.243 | 192.729 |
| 83 mm | 2117.208 | 2765.664 | 247.178 | 61.794 | 185.383 |
| 84 mm | 2092.003 | 2732.739 | 238.719 | 59.679 | 179.039 |
| 85 mm | 2067.391 | 2700.589 | 231.329 | 57.832 | 173.497 |
| 86 mm | 2043.352 | 2669.187 | 224.810 | 56.202 | 168.607 |
| 87 mm | 2019.865 | 2638.507 | 219.010 | 54.752 | 164.258 |
| 88 mm | 1996.912 | 2608.524 | 213.813 | 53.453 | 160.360 |
| 89 mm | 1974.475 | 2579.214 | 209.126 | 52.281 | 156.845 |
| 90 mm | 1952.536 | 2550.556 | 204.876 | 51.219 | 153.657 |
| 91 mm | 1931.080 | 2522.528 | 201.002 | 50.250 | 150.751 |
| 92 mm | 1910.090 | 2495.110 | 197.456 | 49.364 | 148.092 |
| 93 mm | 1889.551 | 2468.280 | 194.196 | 48.549 | 145.647 |
| 94 mm | 1869.449 | 2442.022 | 191.188 | 47.797 | 143.391 |
| 95 mm | 1849.771 | 2416.317 | 188.405 | 47.101 | 141.304 |
| 96 mm | 1830.502 | 2391.147 | 185.821 | 46.455 | 139.365 |
| 97 mm | 1811.631 | 2366.496 | 183.415 | 45.853 | 137.561 |
| 98 mm | 1793.145 | 2342.348 | 181.169 | 45.292 | 135.877 |
| 99 mm | 1775.033 | 2318.688 | 179.068 | 44.767 | 134.301 |
The procedure is as follows:
You can do without an RF connector, but with it everything is much simpler - it’s easier to position the emitter vertically upward, connect the cable going to the router or Wi-Fi card.
Bread and circuses - this is what the Roman poet and satirist Juvenal said, and in some ways he was absolutely right. Modern society, and in particular modern people, can no longer do without pretentious pictures, shocking videos, exciting films, and comedy skits. One of these “elements” that can provide us with access to the world of entertainment is television. But even here it is not enough to have a TV, it also needs to have an antenna. After all, without a blooming antenna, radio waves are as difficult to catch as a fish on a hook without bait. What an antenna is needed for is not only prosaic to say, especially since we have already mentioned this in a utilitarian way, but more disrespectful to our reader. So, skipping the description of the antenna's purpose, let's proceed to the description of its creation. We wanted to talk about how to make an antenna with your own hands in this article.
Below we will present one of the simplest and, most importantly, affordable ways to make an indoor antenna for your TV. It is made utilitarianly out of nothing, or rather - 2 beer cans, self-tapping screws, a dress hanger, a wire and a plug.
DIY TV antenna made from beer cans
So, we need a couple of beer cans, a soldering iron, a TV cable, solder and a few other things. More on this in the course of our story.
Here you need to know in what order and what to do to get the much-desired television antenna. If we talk about the requirements for the materials used to make the antenna, then first of all, buy a good television cable. A good television cable requires a resistance of 75 ohms per meter, a strong central core and dense continuous double shielding. How much cable to buy depends on the location of the antenna, but know that the longer the cable, the more “useful” signal will be canceled out in it. (the rule clearly works for MV shafts). For UHF it also works, but is not so critical.
So, we make a cut for the plug and install it on the wire.
The plugs are now such that they don’t even require soldering, so everything will depend on the accuracy of your cuts and the size (diameter) of the cable. The photo shows a not very good option for installing a plug on the cable going to the antenna, try to do it better. In principle, a lot of detail about installing a plug on a television cable can be found in the article “How to insert a plug onto a cable to connect to a TV.”
Next, let's start working on the second TV cable cover. Here you need to bring out 2 cable conductors, one from the very edge, and the second after about 10-15 cm. The first conductor is considered the core, the second is shielding. Here you will also need to be careful not to cut through unnecessary layers of insulation and conductors. As a result, the efficiency of the antenna and the clarity of reception of television channels will depend on the quality of each and the total of all works - remember this. In the photo below you can see how the first and second conductors are removed from the cable. The top insulation is dropped to a distance of 10-15 cm from the edge of the cable.
Now about beer cans. We don't know what kind of beer you can afford and like, but cans are needed more. We repeat, not many, but big ones. 0.75 is good, but liter ones are even better. It’s hard to say anything about the 5 liter kegs of beer. This will probably go beyond the “framework” of an indoor antenna. After drinking beer, rinse the jars in water and dry them so that the aroma of the intoxicating drink does not change from them. Such a smell will not attract radio waves, but it certainly will attract flies.
Now we take the cable that we prepared earlier. Using small self-tapping screws, we fasten one conductor to the end of the first can, the other to the end of the second. To improve contact between the can body and the screw, use solder. Fill any possible gaps to improve contact.
Now our antenna is almost ready, we don’t have enough frame to base the cans together and to attach the antenna to something. In our case, the frame was a dress hanger. There are all criteria “FOR” for this. Low price, availability, proper rigidity and size. Yes, there is also a hook to hang everything at once in the chosen place.
So, we place the jars on one level surface, so that they are symmetrical relative to the center. “Play around” a little with the distance between them, since the quality of signal reception will depend on this. You can secure the cans with tape or tape. The standard distance for cans on the antenna is about 75 mm.
As a result, we get a not crafty, but functional thing - an indoor television antenna made from beer cans. Of course, such an antenna is only capable of operating in an area where a television signal can be reliably received. This is not an antenna for receiving a signal 20 km from the city, this is just something that will slightly make the reception more confident, but not ideal.
Professionals, perhaps, are already laughing sarcastically at this article and the antenna, because in fact, a television antenna requires a severe and precise calculation of its elements, depending on the received wavelength. In this they are absolutely right. But this calculation is not always accessible to the average person, which encourages him to undertake similar adventures in making antennas, such as in particular for the antenna shown here, from beer cans.
Next, we will consider a more serious option. First of all, its big advantage is that it will tell you how to make an antenna according to all the rules, taking into account the physiological characteristics of the propagation of radio waves.
Radio waves received by a TV antenna
Since we have climbed so far away, it is necessary to at least talk about the basics, because how could it be otherwise!? Radio waves of analogue television channels propagate in the range of meter (MV) and decimeter shafts (UHF).
In essence, this is the same thing, except that MV and UHF waves propagate at different radio wave frequencies. Meter shafts are from channels 1 to 21, and UHF from channels 21 to 40. It is important to note here that, depending on the wavelength, it will be necessary to use an appropriate antenna for VHF or UHF shafts. It is also necessary to say that antennas are available for both indoor and outdoor use. Let's consider one and the other option.
Do-it-yourself indoor TV antennas (MV and UHF)
MV indoor antenna
The strength of magnetic waves indoors is much less than outside. Therefore, it makes sense to use indoor antennas only in the immediate vicinity of the television center. So the simplest indoor antenna can be made from an electric wire or any other insulated conductor. An insulator is installed in the center of the antenna. Two guides are attached to it using fasteners (bolt - nut). The ends of the conductors are stretched so that they are even, like strings or rods.
The total length of the conductors of the two antenna frames is taken according to the wavelength and the received channel. These can be taken from the table.
If you choose the length of the antenna leads according to the television channel you are watching, then it will be much more effective than beer cans.
Next we will present another option for an indoor TV antenna that you can make yourself. This is a UHF antenna. Despite the fact that UHF channels are practically not used, broadcasting is still sometimes carried out somewhere. This means that we cannot ignore this topic either. Here is an example of a UHF antenna.
UHF indoor antenna
The mounting wire used, referred to as KPTA-1, serves to increase the antenna's noise immunity. To do this, as you can see, at a distance of 140 mm from the edge of the cable, the insulation was stripped to the screen and this mounting wire - a loop - was soldered. You can use another wire with a cross section of 0.35 mm.
The frequency of received radio waves from this antenna will be from 470 to 630 MHz, that is, UHF waves.
All antenna elements are mounted on a stand, which is a dielectric.
Do-it-yourself outdoor TV antennas (MV)
Antenna - half-wave linear vibrator
This outdoor antenna is designed to receive television waves near the city, 20-30 km away. In fact, this is an analogue of the simplest indoor antenna, which we already talked about a little earlier, except that it is adapted for the street.
So, as we have already learned, the antenna must have certain dimensions, which will affect the reception of television radio waves. The dimensions will depend on which channel you are going to watch. All dimensions for the antenna can be found in the table.
Rice. 1. Antenna - half-wave linear vibrator (Imagines a simple television antenna)
The input impedance of the linear vibrator (antenna) is 73 Ohms. The bandwidth of a linear vibrator depends on the outer diameter of its tubes and increases with increasing final diameter.
You should not choose D greater than 30 mm, since with its further increase the image quality does not noticeably improve, and the weight and dimensions of the antenna increase.
In table 1 shows the dimensions of the linear vibrator elements. The gap A between the ends of the tubes is equal to 50-70 mm.
The antenna is connected to a TV with an unbalanced 75-ohm input using a coaxial cable (RK-75-4-15, RK-75-9-12, etc.) The cable is connected to the antenna through a special balun (see Fig. 2 ).
The required dimensions of elements of matching structures are selected according to table. 2.
The antenna is made of steel, aluminum or brass tubes and metal strips. To attach antenna tubes to a metal or wooden mast, porcelain insulators and textolite are used.
An antenna - a half-wave vibrator is used in conditions of close enrollment, we have already talked about this. (20-30 km). This antenna option is, of course, a lot more labor-intensive than an indoor antenna, but its efficiency will be much higher. To receive television broadcasts far from the city, or rather from the transmitter, a “wave channel” antenna is used.
Do-it-yourself "wave channel" antenna for MV and UHF - calculation and diagram
At large distances from the transmitter, that is, the television center, this is about 40-90 km, antennas of the “wave channel” type are used. Such antennas have very good gain, but require strict directionality. If you use such an antenna in populated areas, this will reduce interference from adjacent sources, thereby improving the image.
The antenna “wave channel” in its structure consists of an active loop and linear vibrator. We talked about the linear vibrator in the previous paragraphs. The size of the antenna is selected based on the consideration of signal amplification; the farther it is, the more complex the antenna will be. Also, the number of directors can improve the receiving properties of the antenna by changing its sensitivity to the direction of the transmitter.
however, a large increase in the number of directors leads to a decrease in bandwidth. Here we need to find a “golden mean”. So on MV channels, 3, 5 and 7 element antennas are used.
The geometric dimensions of such antennas of the “wave channel” image are given in the table. At the same time, for channels 1-5, tubes measuring 18 mm are used in the design, and for channels 6-12, 12 mm.
| TV channel number | Dimensions in mm, for three-element "wave channel" antenna | |||||
| A | B | IN | A | b | V | |
| 1 | 2710 | 3040 | 2360 | 880 | 595 | 800 |
| 2 | 2300 | 2580 | 2000 | 750 | 505 | 800 |
| 3 | 1780 | 2000 | 1550 | 580 | 390 | 800 |
| 4 | 1620 | 1820 | 1410 | 530 | 355 | 800 |
| 5 | 1480 | 1660 | 1290 | 480 | 325 | 800 |
| 6 | 795 | 900 | 695 | 260 | 175 | 550 |
| 7 | 165 | 860 | 665 | 250 | 170 | 550 |
| 8 | 735 | 825 | 640 | 240 | 165 | 550 |
| 9 | 705 | 795 | 615 | 230 | 155 | 550 |
| 10 | 680 | 765 | 590 | 225 | 150 | 550 |
| 11 | 650 | 730 | 570 | 220 | 145 | 550 |
| 12 | 630 | 705 | 550 | 205 | 140 | 550 |
| TV channel number | Dimensions in mm, for a five-element "wave channel" antenna | |||||||||
| A | B | IN | G | D | A | b | V | G | d | |
| 1 | 2780 | 3150 | 2520 | 2510 | 2450 | 1210 | 735 | 705 | 750 | 800 |
| 2 | 2350 | 2660 | 2135 | 2125 | 2070 | 1040 | 625 | 595 | 630 | 800 |
| 3 | 1800 | 2035 | 1630 | 1620 | 1580 | 780 | 475 | 480 | 480 | 800 |
| 4 | 1620 | 1830 | 1470 | 1460 | 1420 | 700 | 425 | 430 | 430 | 800 |
| 5 | 1490 | 1680 | 1350 | 1340 | 1300 | 645 | 390 | 395 | 395 | 800 |
| 6 | 810 | 915 | 730 | 725 | 710 | 350 | 215 | 215 | 215 | 550 |
| 7 | 780 | 880 | 705 | 700 | 680 | 340 | 205 | 205 | 205 | 550 |
| 8 | 740 | 840 | 670 | 665 | 650 | 325 | 195 | 195 | 195 | 550 |
| 9 | 715 | 810 | 650 | 645 | 625 | 310 | 190 | 190 | 190 | 550 |
| 10 | 690 | 780 | 625 | 620 | 600 | 295 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 550 |
| 11 | 660 | 750 | 60 | 595 | 585 | 285 | 175 | 175 | 175 | 550 |
| 12 | 635 | 720 | 575 | 570 | 550 | 270 | 170 | 170 | 170 | 550 |
| TV channel number | Dimensions in mm, for seven-element "wave channel" antenna | ||||||||||||
| A | B | IN | G | D | E | AND | A | b | G | d | e | and | |
| 1 | 2760 | 3220 | 2200 | 2180 | 2160 | 2130 | 2105 | 1180 | 415 | 845 | 870 | 905 | 800 |
| 2 | 2340 | 2730 | 1870 | 1850 | 1830 | 1810 | 1790 | 910 | 350 | 715 | 735 | 765 | 800 |
| 3 | 1810 | 2120 | 1450 | 1430 | 1415 | 1400 | 1380 | 710 | 275 | 560 | 570 | 595 | 800 |
| 4 | 1650 | 1920 | 1320 | 1300 | 1290 | 1270 | 1260 | 645 | 250 | 505 | 520 | 540 | 800 |
| 5 | 1510 | 1760 | 1200 | 1190 | 1180 | 1160 | 1150 | 590 | 225 | 460 | 475 | 495 | 800 |
| 6 | 710 | 925 | 700 | 655 | 620 | 565 | 520 | 310 | 125 | 385 | 400 | 425 | 550 |
| 7 | 680 | 885 | 670 | 625 | 595 | 540 | 500 | 295 | 120 | 370 | 385 | 405 | 550 |
| 8 | 650 | 850 | 640 | 600 | 570 | 520 | 480 | 285 | 115 | 355 | 370 | 390 | 550 |
| 9 | 625 | 815 | 620 | 575 | 545 | 500 | 460 | 275 | 110 | 340 | 350 | 375 | 550 |
| 10 | 600 | 785 | 595 | 555 | 525 | 480 | 440 | 265 | 105 | 325 | 330 | 360 | 550 |
| 11 | 580 | 755 | 570 | 535 | 505 | 460 | 425 | 255 | 100 | 315 | 325 | 345 | 550 |
| 12 | 560 | 730 | 555 | 515 | 485 | 445 | 410 | 245 | 95 | 305 | 320 | 335 | 550 |
But for UHF shafts a 16 element antenna is used. The diameter of the tubes is 6-10 mm, and for the boom 14-16 mm.
For her, the dimensions are also shown in the table.
| TV channel number | Dimensions in mm, for an 11-element UHF wave channel antenna | ||||
| 21-25 | 26-30 | 31-35 | 36-40 | 21-40 | |
| A B IN G D E AND Z AND TO L A b V G d e and h And To l | 308 377 293 290 287 283 279 276 272 269 265 140 72 92 104 121 132 133 134 136 137 240 | 284 348 270 267 264 260 257 254 251 248 245 129 67 85 96 112 122 123 124 126 127 240 | 264 324 252 249 246 243 240 237 234 231 228 120 62 79 89 104 113 114 115 117 118 240 | 247 303 235 232 229 226 223 220 217 214 210 112 58 74 83 97 105 106 107 109 110 240 | 274 336 261 258 255 252 249 246 243 240 237 125 64 82 92 104 117 118 119 121 122 240 |
After the antenna is ready, you will need to extend the television, antenna cable from it to the TV. About this in the article “Connecting a TV to an antenna cable through a plug.”
Good afternoon, dear readers. I haven’t written on the blog for a long time, due to the May holidays and a lot of work. But I managed to make one craft, very simple and useful - an antenna for digital TV with my own hands. At the same time, I’ll tell you, everything is quite simple.
Of course, cases are different, but before making this antenna, think: do you need it or not. This is what I'm getting at: nowadays it's easier to buy a digital antenna than to make it. If you just want to watch digital TV at home, constantly and preferably without interruptions, or the tower is far from your home, then it is better to seek advice and buy a good antenna in a store.
You need to understand that if you are making an antenna for the first time, you have little experience in electronics, or maybe none at all, then no one will be responsible for the fact that the antenna either will not work at all, or will stop working, and so on.
Personally, I don’t understand much about electronics, but I test what I do in practice and try to understand it as much as possible. The antenna samples presented below are quite simple and easy to manufacture.
Of course, if you need an antenna for a dacha where you rarely go, then a homemade antenna for digital TV with your own hands is perfect. I won’t bore you with calculations and various terms, I’ll just show and tell you, and you choose and try.
Write comments after the article, leave your opinion and, if there are errors, tell everyone about them.
I'll start with this antenna, since I made it myself for the first time. It seemed to me not difficult and at the same time quite powerful. Other sites said it was homemade. But I made it for my mother-in-law, in the village, where it was about 80 km from the broadcast tower to the antenna.
Butterfly antenna
My mother-in-law has been using it for more than two years now and there are practically no problems. Such an antenna is no different from a regular decimeter antenna. It is easier to convert a simple array-type antenna, which can be bought at a low price in a retail chain, into a digital one that will receive satellite (T2) channels.
But you can also make such an antenna for digital TV with your own hands, if you have everything you need, quickly and easily.
We will need:
- board or plywood measuring at least 550x70x5 mm;
- copper wire with a central core Ø 4 mm (6 mm is possible) - 4 m;
- self-tapping screws with caps (or buy washers separately);
- coaxial television cable;
- antenna F-plug;
- screwdriver or screwdriver;
- knife or scalpel; soldering iron;
- solder;
- flux paste;
- ruler or tape measure;
- wire cutters;
- pencil.
We find a board according to size, approximately and mark it as in the picture.
board markingEverything here is indicated in inches, let's translate. 1 inch equals 2.5 cm, it's simple.
We cut 8 wires 37.5 cm long. We strip the middle of each wire by 2 cm.
We bend each wire with the letter V so that the distance between the wires (its ends) is 7.5 cm.
We cut off 2 wires 42 cm long. We strip these 2 wires at the points of attachment to the board or plywood.
Step 5.
Then I cut two more pieces from the same wire to bring the wires from the center to the back wall of the board. Here you can see the dimensions for yourself, or you can avoid making them at all and attach the wire to the front wall.
We assemble all the wires using self-tapping screws, as shown in the figure at the beginning of the article.
Now let's work with a soldering iron. We only need this plug for the correct resistance so that it is 75 ohms at the output.
To do this, open the lid and do as in the picture below. I screwed the cap itself to the antenna.
Then we attach everything in a convenient place and then the antenna itself. Let's try and use it.
This is how I did it I have had this antenna for over 2 years now. The only thing is that sometimes the antennae themselves bend, as if a strong wind bends or heavy birds perch. But everything can be fixed, I removed it, corrected it and continue to use it.
By the way, I tried without this plug, so as not to suffer, everything works, only a little worse.
Wire antenna with amplifier.
Here is another antenna for digital TV with your own hands, perfect for a country house or village. We make everything from copper wire, and the amplifier can be taken from an old antenna or bought in a store.
What we need:
- Two pieces of wire 180 cm each;
- Amplifier (old one will do);
- A piece of metal or wood plate 15 cm * 15 cm;
- A drill or screwdriver, or a welding machine;
- Small bolts with nuts;
- Hammer;
- TV cable of suitable length.
First, we bend the pieces of wire into a diamond shape with sides of 45 cm. This is the optimal length. But if you make calculations for specific frequencies, then the length will be different, but this is for advanced people.
Now we immediately drill holes on the plate in the places where the diamonds are attached, flatten the ends, which we immediately attach to the amplifier. If the plate is metal, then use a welder to attach the catchers to it and that’s it.
We twist everything together and screw the TV cable wires to the amplifier.
Now we attach the antenna to the mast and point it towards the tower. We use it.
Please note that the entire antenna is painted. This will avoid corrosion and the DIY digital TV antenna will last longer.
Beer cans will help you.
This antenna picks up many different channels well. It is better, of course, to use it indoors and where the repeater tower is not far away.
We will need:
- 2 tin cans of 750 or 1000 ml;
- Coaxial television cable (RK75);
- Antenna plug;
- Electrical tape or tape;
- Self-tapping screws for metal;
- A polypropylene pipe or wooden stick for attaching cans to it;
- Screwdriver;
- Wire cutters;
- Needle file;
- Ruler.
Using a screwdriver, make 1 hole in the neck of each can, making sure that it does not become deformed.
Screw the screws into these holes using a screwdriver.
Step 2.
Clean the ends of the cable with a knife, not forgetting to remove the varnish from the copper wire with a file; screw the wire and cable braid twisted into a ring to the self-tapping screws (it will be more reliable if it is welded or soldered, but this is only if you have the appropriate tool).
Securely secure the cans to a pipe or stick using electrical tape or tape for this purpose, maintaining the distance between the cans (it has long been established experimentally, and this size is 7.5 cm).
Attach a plug to the other end of the cable, which will connect the cable to the receiving device.
Place the antenna in the required location, i.e. where signal reception will be ideal. The most painstaking work is preparing the RK75 cable. One end must be cleaned from the top 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 this, cut off the polyethylene sheath by 6-7 cm and expose the central core. The resulting copper strand and bare core are then attached to the cans. The second end of the cable must also be cleaned and a plug consisting of 2 halves must be 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 screwed on one another, and you get a reliable device for connecting to the antenna socket of the TV.
If you plan to place an antenna made from tin cans outdoors, then it must be reliably protected from external weather influences. Plastic bottles are suitable; you need to cut off the neck and bottom and place the 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 scrap materials without the use of special tools, and it is made quickly. You can make it yourself and install it in 20-30 minutes. You can make sure that your homemade antenna receives most satellite television channels, including TVB-T2. At a minimum, it receives up to 15 channels.
Antenna figure eight.
Once upon a time, when there was no digital TV yet, we made such an antenna at school. It is quite simple to manufacture and picks up the signal very well.
It’s a lot to write, and I haven’t made it myself for a long time, here you can watch the video:
Of course, such an antenna is not prohibited, this video just describes the process well.
Buy or find copper wire with a cross-section of 2 - 3 mm. in isolation. Bend the antenna to the dimensions indicated by the author of the video, minimally strip the soldering areas of insulation, solder the cable and seal it from moisture.
If you don’t have a copper wire, you can use aluminum; not much will be lost. The grille can be made from wire, not critical, even from an old refrigerator. If you are in an area of good reception, then it is not necessary to install a grille at all; this is digital and not analogue TV where repetitions on the screen can be observed due to the reflected signal.
What I like about this type of antenna is that it is easy to manufacture, does not require a filter for matching, and has good characteristics. You can increase the power of the antenna if you make it from four squares; you also make a cable tap from the middle, the closest distance between the conductors is 10 mm.
Well, here we have an antenna for digital TV with our own hands and in different ways. That's all for me, leave your comments below, also join us in Odnoklassniki. Bye everyone and see you later.
