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Homemade decimeter antennas for digital television. Homemade television antenna: for DVB and analog signal - theory, types, manufacture

So, imagine this situation: in the evening you decided to watch your favorite TV program, and suddenly the TV stopped showing - cable TV was turned off. Or another case: you arrived at the dacha, already prepared for the rest and found that you forgot to buy an antenna for the TV - not a single channel works. How to proceed in such a case? The answer is simple - you need to make an antenna for the TV with your own hands from improvised materials, because most likely the cause of the breakdown is in this device. Next, we will look at the most simple options manufacturing, which require a minimum of improvised parts and time.

Idea #1 - Beer cans in action!

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, terrain features and distance to the TV tower.

To make a beer can TV antenna, 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 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);
  • tape or tape.

Finding all the materials in the house will not be a problem, so 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. We 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 a few cm. At the second end of the wire, there should be a regular antenna plug.
  2. Preparing banks. With containers that will 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 ones, but if there are none, containers of 0.5 and 0.75 liters will do a good job.
  3. Let's make contacts. At this stage, the twisted cable screen is fixed on one bank, and the copper core itself on the other. Fixation is carried out with bedbugs using a screwdriver or a conventional screwdriver. However, it is recommended to fasten the wire not with bedbugs, but with a soldering iron. The result should look like this:
  4. We collect a homemade antenna for the TV. The signal receiver is ready, now we are making a supporting structure, which we have a trempel or an ordinary hanger. In no case should it be made of wire or metal. Using electrical tape, we fix the containers to the trempel (as shown in the photo). We draw your attention to the fact that the banks must be strictly on the same straight line, otherwise the homemade product will not work and stably catch the signal.

  5. Setting up a TV antenna. Now you need to experiment with the optimal distance between the banks, as well as the place where the device is suspended and its position, so that the homemade product catches many channels. We turn on the TV and determine exactly how the receivers should be located and where is the most suitable place for their work. This completes the technology for 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 a window or on an outrigger mast. In individual cases, the distance between banks can be made larger or smaller.

Visual video instruction on creating a simple antenna from cans

Idea number 2 - Use wire

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

All you need to make is:

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

So, in order to make a copper wire antenna for a TV yourself, you need to follow these steps:


Pay attention - in the photo examples, both the amplifier, and the reflector, and the wire are covered with paint. Painting protects the structure from corrosion and other adverse factors, significantly extending the life of a homemade TV antenna.

Idea #3 - Home HDTV device

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

Although there is an instruction on the net for making a homemade transformer, you can find and use it, this 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 all this school set, let's get down to business!

First you need to draw (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:



After that, you need to make a reflector with dimensions of 35 * 32.5 cm (height and width). Cover one side with foil.



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



We glue the parts onto the rectangle, and when the glue sets, we drill holes for the TV cable.



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

Assembling a digital antenna from a TV cable and a cardboard box

Another option for a powerful device made at home:

HDTV antenna from improvised means

Idea number 4 - Apartment option

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

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

  • 4-meter wire made of copper, 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;
  • simple pencil;
  • screwdriver;
  • soldering iron;
  • antenna plug.

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

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

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

In the middle of each of the 37.5 cm pieces, insulation must be removed (as shown in the picture). To do this, use a sharp knife, stationery is perfect.

We cut off 2 more pieces of wire 22 cm long and divide them into 3 equal parts, bend slightly 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 a plug to the finished homemade product, and we already connect a television cable to it.

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

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

Related content:

Despite the rapid development of the Internet, television remains the main source of information for the majority of the population. But in order for your TV to have a high-quality picture, you need good antenna. It is not at all necessary to buy a television antenna in a store, because you can make it yourself and save decent money at the same time.

You can find out how to make high-quality antennas for various broadcasting ranges and what materials to use while reading our article.

There are many types and shapes of television antennas, the following are the main ones:

    • Antennas for receiving the "wave channel".

    • Antennas receiving the "traveling wave".

    • Frame antennas.

    • Zigzag antennas.

    • log-periodic antennas.

Array Antennas
  • Array antennas.

Antennas for receiving digital television

The whole world, including our country, switched from analogue to digital broadcasting. Therefore, when making an antenna with your own hands or buying it in a store, you need to know which antenna is best suited for receiving DVB-T2 format:

    • indoor antenna- suitable for receiving a signal in DVB-T2 format only at a distance of up to 10 kilometers from the repeater. In principle, at this distance, even an ordinary bare wire inserted into the antenna connector of the TV and directed in the right direction can receive the signal, but for a more stable and stable signal, it is better to use a room antenna.

    • Antenna type "Crow"- capable of receiving a digital signal at a distance of up to 30 kilometers. This type The antenna is installed outside the home and does not require a clear focus on the repeater. But in cases where the distance from the signal source is more than 30 kilometers or there are interference generators nearby, it is advisable to direct the antenna to the TV tower.

  • Antenna type DIPOL 19/21-69- receives a signal at a distance of up to 50 kilometers. Requires installation on a hill of 8-10 meters and a clear direction to the signal source. In conjunction with an amplifier, it is capable of receiving a digital signal at a distance of up to 80-100 kilometers. The excellent characteristics of this antenna make it one of the best options for receiving a DVB-T2 signal at a remote distance from the repeater.

If you live not far from the TV tower, then you can easily make the simplest antenna for receiving a signal in DVB-T2 format with your own hands:

  1. Measure 15 centimeters from the connector antenna cable.
  2. Remove 13 centimeters of outer insulation and braid from the cut edge, leaving only the copper rod.
  3. Referring to the picture of the TV, set the rod in the right direction.

All antenna is ready! It should be noted that such a primitive antenna is not capable of providing high-quality and steady signal at a distance from the TV tower and in places with sources of interference.

DIY antennas

Let's look at several options for television antennas that you can make yourself from improvised materials:

beer can antenna

An antenna from beer cans can be made in just half an hour, from the funds at your fingertips. Of course, such an antenna will not provide a super-stable signal, but for temporary use in a country house or in a rented apartment, it will fit perfectly.


beer can antenna

To make an antenna you will need:

  • Two aluminum cans of beer or other drink.
  • Five meters of television cable.
  • Plug.
  • Two screws.
  • A wooden or plastic base on which the jars will be attached (many use a wooden hanger or mop).
  • Knife, pliers, screwdriver, electrical tape.

After making sure that you have all of the above items, perform the following steps:

  1. Strip one end of the cable and attach the plug to it.
  2. Take the other end of the cable and strip 10 centimeters of insulation from it.
  3. Unwind the braid and twist it into a cord.
  4. Peel off the plastic layer of the cable insulating rod for a distance of one centimeter.
  5. Take the jars and turn the screws in them in the center of the bottom or lid.
  6. Attach the rod to one jar, and the cable braid to the other, screwing them onto the screws.
  7. Attach the jars to the base with electrical tape.
  8. Attach the cable to the base.
  9. Insert the plug into the TV.
  10. As you move around the room, determine the location of the best signal reception and fix the antenna there.

There are other variations of this antenna, with four and even eight banks, but there is no obvious effect of the number of banks on signal quality.
You can also learn how to make an antenna out of beer cans from the video:

Zigzag antenna Kharchenko

The antenna got its name in 1961, by the name of its inventor K. P. Kharchenko, who proposed using zigzag antennas for receiving television broadcasts. This antenna is very well suited for receiving digital signal.


Antenna Kharchenko

For the manufacture of zigzag antenna you will need:

  • Copper wire with a diameter of 3-5 mm.
  • TV cable 3-5 meters.
  • Solder.
  • Soldering iron.
  • Plug.
  • Insulating tape.
  • A piece of plastic or plywood for the base.
  • Mounting bolts.

First you need to make an antenna frame. To do this, take the wire and cut off a piece of 109 centimeters. Next, we bend the wire so that we get a frame of two parallel rhombuses, each side of the rhombus should be 13.5 centimeters, from the remaining centimeter make loops for fastening the wire. Using a soldering iron and solder, connect the ends of the wire and close the frame.
Take the cable and strip the end so that you can solder the stem and shield of the cable to the frame. Next, solder the rod and cable shield in the center of the frame. Please note that the screen and the rod must not touch.
Install the frame on the base. The distance between the corners of the frame at the junction with the cable should be two centimeters. Make the base about 10 by 10 centimeters.
Strip the other end of the cable and install the plug.
If necessary, attach the antenna base to the pole for further installation on the roof.
More detailed instructions for the manufacture of the Kharchenko antenna, you can see in the video:

Coaxial cable antenna

To make an antenna, you will need a 75-ohm coaxial cable standard connector. To calculate the cable length required for the antenna, you need to find out the frequency of digital broadcasting and divide it in megahertz by 7500, and round the resulting amount.


cable antenna

Once you have the cable length, do the following:

  1. Strip the cable from one side and insert into the antenna connector.
  2. Step back two centimeters from the edge of the connector and make a mark from which you will measure the length of the antenna.
  3. After measuring the desired length, bite off the excess with pliers.
  4. In the area of ​​the mark, remove the insulation and cable sheath, leaving only the inner insulation.
  5. Bend the cleaned part at an angle of 90 degrees.
  6. Set up your TV with a new antenna.

You can visually fix the information by watching the video:

Satellite antenna

It is worth mentioning right away that for admission satellite signal You need a tuner and a special prefix. Therefore, if you do not have this equipment available, then creating a satellite dish with your own hands will not be possible, since you yourself can only make a parabolic reflector:

  • Plexiglas parabola- made by heating. Plexiglas is placed on a blank that repeats the shape of a parabolic reflector and placed in a high temperature chamber. After softening the plexiglass, it takes the form of a blank. After the plexiglass has cooled, it is pulled out of the mold and covered with foil. The disadvantage of such a production of a home-made parabola is that the cost of its manufacture exceeds the market value of a factory reflector.
  • Metal sheet reflector- made from a sheet of galvanized iron, measuring a meter by a meter. The leaf is given a round shape and cuts are made according to the shape of the petals from the edge to the center. After that, the sheet is placed on the curved reflector template and the "petals" are fastened spot welding or rivets.
  • Mesh reflector- made from a frame and mesh. First, a template is made, the parameters of which are calculated by the formula. According to the template, radial parabolas are made of copper wire. The wire cross section is selected based on the diameter of the antenna. For example, for an antenna with a diameter of 1.5 meters, a wire with a diameter of 4-5 mm is taken. It is also necessary to make circular belts. The diameter of the belts changes in increments of 10-30 cm. After the frame is made, it is covered with a fine copper mesh.


All of the above methods can be considered seriously only for sporting interest, since the manufacture of a parabolic reflector by hand is a very time-consuming and expensive process. In addition, it is very difficult to make accurate calculations of the parameters of a satellite dish at home. Therefore, we advise you not to be original and buy satellite dish in a complete set.

Antenna amplifier

If in the place where you live there is a weak television signal and a conventional antenna cannot provide a high-quality picture on your TV, then an antenna amplifier can help in this situation. You can make it yourself if you know a little about electronics and know how to solder.


Amplifiers should be installed as close to the antenna as possible. It is better to feed the antenna amplifier via a coaxial cable through an isolation.


Decoupling Power Circuit

The decoupling is installed at the bottom of the TV and is supplied with 12 volt power from the adapter. Two-stage amplifiers consume no more than 50 milliamps, for this reason the power supply should not exceed 10 watts.
All connections of the antenna amplifier on the mast must be made using soldering, since the installation of mechanical connections will lead to their corrosion and rupture during further operation in an aggressive environment.
There are times when you have to accept and strengthen weak signal in the presence of strong signals from other sources. In this case, both weak and strong signals enter the input of the amplifier. This leads to blocking the operation of the amplifier or transferring it to a non-linear mode, mixing both signals, which is expressed in the imposition of an image from one channel to another. To correct the situation, reducing the supply voltage of the amplifier will help.
Please note that UHF amplifiers are very strongly affected by signals in the meter range. To attenuate the impact of meter signals, before UHF amplifier put a high-pass filter that blocks meter waves and only passes signals in the decimeter range.
Below is a diagram of a meter range antenna amplifier:


Scheme of the antenna amplifier of the meter range
  • The gain is 25 dB. at a voltage of 12.6 volts.
  • The consumed current is not more than 20 milliamps.
  • The back-to-back connection of diodes D1 and D2 protects the transistor from failure during a lightning strike.
  • The cascades have a common emitter.
  • Capacitor C6 provides correction constant characteristic amplifier in the high frequency region.
  • To stabilize the transistor mode, the amplifier is covered by a negative feedback from the emitter of the second transistor to the base of the first.
  • In order to avoid self-excitation of the amplifier, a decoupling filter R4 C1 is used.

We also suggest that you familiarize yourself with the circuit of a decimeter amplifier:


Decimeter amplifier circuit
  • Antenna amplifier decimeter range 470-790 megahertz.
  • Gain 30 dB. at a voltage of 12 volts.
  • Current consumption 12 milliamps.
  • The cascades have a common emitter and low-noise microwave transistors.
  • Resistors R1 and R3 provide temperature compensation for the transistors.
  • The amplifier is powered by a coaxial cable.

You can see the principle of operation of the antenna amplifier in the video:

Now, having familiarized yourself with the diagrams and armed with a soldering iron, you can safely begin manufacturing an antenna amplifier.

We hope that our article about television antennas was useful to you!

When relaxing outside the city, sometimes, in addition to enjoying nature and fresh air, sometimes you want to watch your favorite TV series or an important football match. In contrast to the city, the coverage of villages with a high-quality television signal leaves much to be desired. In this situation, even the purchase of an antenna operating in a wide range of decimeter and meter waves does not guarantee a high-quality picture.

You can also try to assemble the antenna yourself, because a country house is the best place for experiments.

The simplest version of the antenna

As you can see in the photo, the antenna is the simplest wave receiver. For manufacturing, you will need two handsets 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 within 271-276 cm. On channel 12, the same distance is 66 cm.

Information on the dependence of the length of blanks on the frequency of reception, as well as schemes of home-made antennas, can be easily found on similar thematic Internet resources.

To make an antenna in artisanal 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.
  • The presence 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 the margin for sagging of 50 cm.
  • Textolite blank or material from getinax (at least 5 mm thick).
  • Fixture for installation of pipes on the holder.
  • Bracket for the 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 along the 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 fixed with a rod in a vertical position.

To connect the cable, it is necessary to lay a loop designed for a resistance of 75 ohms. The middle conductors of the cable are stripped and twisted with flattened ends of the tubes, and the braid is connected using a 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, in order to avoid interference, should be securely fastened to a vertical rack. The required antenna installation height is adjusted locally, observing the change in the signal.

beer can antenna

It is one of the most popular ideas for homemade television signal receivers. Instead of tubes, in the absence of material, you can use simple beer cans.

For the manufacture of such a television receiver, the following parts will be required:

  • two beer cans of 0.5 l;
  • wooden or plastic blank 50 cm long;
  • television cable RG-58;
  • soldering iron, flux for aluminum soldering and solder;

To make a receiver from beer cans, follow the instructions below:

  • Through the bottom of the can, in its center, a hole 5-6 mm in diameter is drilled.
  • We lay the cable through the hole in the bank and bring it out through the neck.
  • The bank is evenly fixed on the left side of the workpiece in a horizontal position.
  • We bring the cable through the neck to a distance of 5 cm, cut the insulation by 3 cm, remove the wire sheath 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 jar 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 version of the antenna is also suitable for digital broadcasting. If the TV supports a popular format (DVB T2), or there is a set-top box suitable for an 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 of which the antenna should be directed to search for a signal.


This scheme is suitable for the manufacture of an antenna designed to receive meter wave channels. Only instead of half-liter jars, use a liter container.

In case you do not own soldering, there is another way to connect. Two beer cans are attached at a minimum distance from the workpiece holding the entire structure. At the end of the cable, carefully remove the insulation by 3-5 cm. Twist the wire braid into a bundle and, shaping the eyelet, put it on the self-tapping screw.

In the same way, put the eyelet on the self-tapping screw at the second conductor. Then attach the wires, using self-tapping screws, to each bank. In terms of long-term contact retention, soldering is much better than mechanical fasteners. Before soldering, it is desirable to carry out tinning of the surface.

Fastening with self-tapping screws, although it is reliable, but when moisture gets on the antenna, the contacts of the home-made device are oxidized, which will lead to signal loss.

Photo instructions on how to make an antenna

Despite the rapid development of satellite and cable television, the reception of on-air broadcasting is still relevant, for example, for places of seasonal residence. It is not at all necessary to buy a finished product for this purpose; a home decimeter (UHF) antenna can be assembled by hand. Before proceeding to the consideration of designs, we will briefly describe why this particular range of the television signal was chosen.

Why DMV?

There are two good reasons to opt for this type of structure:

  1. The thing is that most channels are broadcast in this range, since the design of repeaters is simplified, and this makes it possible to set more unattended low-power transmitters and thereby expand the coverage area.
  2. This range is selected for broadcasting "numbers".

Indoor antenna for TV "Rhombus"

This simple, but at the same time, reliable design was one of the most common in the heyday of on-air television.

Rice. 1. The simplest homemade Z-antenna, known under the names: "Rhombus", "Square" and "People's Zigzag"

As can be seen from the sketch (B Fig. 1), the device is a simplified version of the classic zigzag (Z-design). To increase the sensitivity, it is recommended to equip it with capacitive inserts ("1" and "2"), as well as a reflector ("A" in Fig. 1). If the signal level is acceptable, this is not necessary.

As a material, you can use aluminum, copper, as well as brass tubes or strips with a width of 10-15 mm. If you plan to install the structure on the street, then it is better to abandon aluminum, since it is susceptible to corrosion. Capacitive inserts are made of foil, tin or metal mesh. After installation, they are soldered along the contour.

The cable is laid as shown in the figure, namely: it did not have sharp bends and did not leave the limits of the side insert.

Decimeter antenna with amplifier

In places where a powerful relay tower is not located in relative proximity, you can raise the signal level to an acceptable value using an amplifier. Below is circuit diagram device that can be used with almost any antenna.


 Rice. 2. Antenna amplifier circuit for the UHF range

Item List:

  • Resistors: R1 - 150 kOhm; R2 - 1 kOhm; R3 - 680 Ohm; R4 - 75 kOhm.
  • Capacitors: C1 - 3.3 pF; C2 - 15 pF; C3 - 6800 pF; C4, C5, C6 - 100 pF.
  • Transistors: VT1, VT2 - GT311D (can be replaced with: KT3101, KT3115 and KT3132).

Inductance: L1 - is a frameless coil with a diameter of 4 mm, wound with copper wire Ø 0.8 mm (2.5 turns must be made); L2 and L3 are 25 µH and 100 µH high frequency chokes, respectively.

If the circuit is assembled correctly, we will get an amplifier with the following characteristics:

  • bandwidth from 470 to 790 MHz;
  • gain and noise coefficients - 30 and 3 dB, respectively;
  • the value of the output and input resistance of the device corresponds to the RG6 cable - 75 Ohm;
  • the device consumes about 12-14 mA.

Let's pay attention to the way the power is supplied, it is carried out directly through the cable.

This amplifier can handle most simple designs made from improvised means.

Indoor antenna made from beer cans

Despite the unusual design, it is quite functional, since it is a classic dipole, especially since the dimensions of a standard can are perfect for the arms of a UHF vibrator. If the device is installed in a room, then in this case it is not even necessary to coordinate with the cable, provided that it is not longer than two meters.


Designations:

  • A - two cans with a volume of 500 mg (if you take tin, not aluminum, you can solder the cable, and not use self-tapping screws).
  • B - places for fastening the shielding braid of the cable.
  • C - central vein.
  • D - the place of attachment of the central core
  • E - cable coming from the TV.

The arms of this exotic dipole must be mounted on a holder made of any insulating material. As such, you can use improvised things, for example, a plastic clothes hanger, a mop bar, or a piece of wooden beam of the appropriate size. The distance between the shoulders is from 1 to 8 cm (selected empirically).

The main advantages of the design are fast production (10 - 20 minutes) and quite acceptable quality of the "picture", provided that the signal strength is sufficient.

Making a copper wire antenna

There is a design that is much simpler than the previous version, which requires only a piece of copper wire. This is a narrow band loop antenna. This solution has undeniable advantages, since in addition to its main purpose, the device plays the role of a selective filter that reduces interference, which allows you to confidently receive a signal.


 Fig.4. A simple UHF loop antenna for receiving digital TV

For this design, it is necessary to calculate the length of the loop, to do this, you need to find out the frequency of the “numbers” for your region. For example, in St. Petersburg it is broadcast on 586 and 666 MHz. The calculation formula will be as follows: L R = 300/f, where L R is the length of the loop (the result is presented in meters), and f is the average frequency range, for Peter this would be 626 (the sum of 586 and 666 divided by 2). Now we calculate L R, 300/626 = 0.48, which means that the length of the loop should be 48 centimeters.

If you take a thick RG-6 cable, where there is a braided foil, then it can be used instead of copper wire to make a loop.

Now we will tell you how the structure is assembled:

  • A piece of copper wire (or RG6 cable) is measured and cut off with a length equal to L R .
  • A loop of a suitable diameter is folded, after which a cable is soldered to its ends, which goes to the receiver. If RG6 is used instead of copper wire, then the insulation is first removed from its ends, by about 1-1.5 cm (the central core does not need to be cleaned, it does not participate in the process).
  • The loop is installed on the stand.
  • An F connector (plug) is screwed onto the cable to the receiver.

Note that despite the simplicity of the design, it is most effective for receiving "numbers", provided that the calculations are carried out correctly.

Do-it-yourself indoor antenna MV and UHF

If, in addition to UHF, there is a desire to receive MV, you can assemble a simple multiwave oven, its drawing with dimensions is presented below.

To amplify the signal in this design, a ready-made SWA 9 block is used, if there are problems with its acquisition, you can use homemade device, the scheme of which was given above (see Fig. 2).

It is important to observe the angle between the petals, going beyond the specified range significantly affects the quality of the "picture".

Despite the fact that such a device is much simpler than a log-periodic design with a wave channel, nevertheless, it shows good results if the signal is of sufficient power.

Do-it-yourself figure-eight antenna for digital TV

Consider another common design option for receiving "numbers". It is based on classical scheme for the UHF range, due to its shape, called the "Eight" or "Zigzag".


 Rice. 6. Sketch and implementation of the digital eight

Construction dimensions:

  • the outer sides of the rhombus (A) - 140 mm;
  • inner sides (B) - 130 mm;
  • distance to the reflector (C) - from 110 to 130 mm;
  • width (D) - 300 mm;
  • step between the bars (E) - from 8 to 25 mm.

The cable connection point is at points 1 and 2. The requirements for the material are the same as for the Rhombus design, which was described at the beginning of the article.

Homemade antenna for DBT T2

Actually, all the examples listed above are capable of receiving DBT T2, but for a change, we will give a sketch of another design, popularly called the “Butterfly”.


As a material, you can use plates made of copper, brass, aluminum or duralumin. If the structure is planned to be installed on the street, then the last two options are not suitable.

Outcome: which option to stop?

Oddly enough, but the simplest option is the most effective, so the "loop" is best suited for receiving the "digit" (Fig. 4). But, if you need to receive other channels in the decimeter range, then it is better to stop at the "Zigzag" (Fig. 6).

The antenna for the TV should be directed towards the nearest active repeater, to select the desired position, rotate the structure until the signal strength is satisfactory.

If, despite the presence of an amplifier and a reflector, the quality of the "picture" leaves much to be desired, you can try to install the structure on the mast.


In this case, it is necessary to install lightning protection, but this is a topic for another article.

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

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

A television antenna is a device specially designed to receive broadcast television signals that are transmitted at frequencies from 41 to 250 MHz in the VHF band, and from 470 to 960 MHz in the UHF band.

Television antennas are of two types:

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

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

Also, antenna devices are divided into:

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

outdoor TV antenna is a device with high input power, it has a unidirectional radiation intensity, so its far end must always look at the broadcasting station.

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

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

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

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

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

When you listen to the radio, you notice that local channels can be easily tuned in the FM or VHF band, but you won’t be able to catch distant foreign broadcasts on them, for this you need to switch the receiver to MW and HF mode.

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

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

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

Materials and calculation

How and from what objects and materials can an antenna be made at home? Let's look at the TOP 5 most interesting options:

  • Powerful coaxial cable antenna;
  • All-wave antenna made of wire;
  • "Butterfly";
  • "Eight" or zigzag;
  • Beer can antenna.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Manufacturing and location

Today, all television is served in digital format, and analogue will soon be completely abandoned. Old antennas practically do not function with DVB signals, therefore, it is necessary to create a decimeter antenna.

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

DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) coding is insensitive to electromagnetic interference, however, if the air is heavily polluted, signal mismatch may occur in it, due to which the image may freeze or completely crumble. Therefore, it is more efficient to bring the antenna outside the house: out the window, onto the roof, onto the balcony.

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

And the last tip: experienced engineers recommend soldering all antenna connections, and not just twisting or screwing, as over time they will oxidize and affect the reception quality. External antennas made by hand, it is better to cover with paint, it will more reliably protect your structure from adverse weather factors.

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

Coaxial cable antenna

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

Step back 5 cm from the edge and remove the top layer of insulating impregnating composition. Then remove the winding from the central conductive core of the cable and tightly twist the remaining wire strands into one bundle.

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

Connect it to your TV and start channel tuning. Such an antenna is considered good option for reception digital television. It is better to install the antenna outside the window and from the side of the TV tower, since the walls of the building can drown out the desired signal. You can experiment with its position yourself.

All Wave Antenna

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

For this you will need:

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

Instead of metal triangles, a resilient foil laminate can be used, from which the triangles will need to be cut (or leave the triangular shape of the copper coating).


The width and height of the antenna must be identical. The sheets are installed at a right angle and fixed with a soldering iron. It is necessary to lay the cable of the PNA antenna to the point of zero potential, which is located at the intersection of the cable with the vertical guide. Moreover, it must be tied with a screed, and not soldered.

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

A simple digital TV antenna

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

  • Board or plywood about 60 cm long and 7 cm wide, about 20 mm thick;
  • Copper shielded wire with a 4 mm cross section of the core;
  • Coaxial cable "RK-75";
  • Washers, screws, soldering iron.

Below we give a marking scheme, according to which you need to make the basis of the butterfly antenna.

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

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

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

Now it remains just to assemble all the prepared elements into a single structure and solder the cable to the plug.

This is how easy it is to make an effective butterfly antenna for receiving digital television broadcasts.

Antenna "eight"

The next option for creating a simple decimeter television antenna has a name from the shape of its design "eight" or "zigzag". Such a device will reliably pick up the signal even in a remote village.

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

  • Amplifier (you can use any old one);
  • 2 pieces of copper wire (180 cm each);
  • Plate (wood or metal) 15*15;
  • TV cable;
  • An iron mast to raise the antenna.

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

We connect the amplifier and insert the cable plug into the connector. In general, everything. It remains to install the finished structure on an elevated mast, which must be securely dug into the ground.

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

beer can antenna

On-air antenna devices can be created from many simple materials that are used in the home, even from ordinary cans in which carbonated drinks are sold. Such a mini-receiver will not be very powerful, but you can catch about 7 channels, and not only in the UHF range, but also in the longer MV range.

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

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

  • About 5 meters of a regular TV cable marked "RK-75";
  • Wooden or plastic base structure;
  • A few self-tapping screws, electrical tape, and a soldering iron.

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

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

Now you should fix the jars on a wooden plank-base. This can be done using ordinary adhesive tape, electrical tape or a glue gun, you can even use a regular clothes hanger or any flat construction at hand for this. The main thing is that metal cans be of the same shape, of the same size (volume) and located strictly on the same line. The distance between the tin elements, as well as the location of the antenna, is selected experimentally.

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

Cable length affects signal attenuation: the longer the cord size, the stronger the on-air transmission is attenuated. This is especially true for receiving meter waves.

Tuning and searching for channels

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

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

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

If the zone of your location is not very favorable for TV broadcast, and auto-search did not give any results, then you need to perform the following actions:

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

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

When you get the best signal strength, start searching digital channels and save your settings. Perform the same algorithm of actions to search for the second multiplex. If the situation is completely sad and none of the methods has yielded results, you may need to make the design of your antenna more powerful or supplement it with an amplifier.

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