When arranging a summer cottage, we try to make it as comfortable as possible for relaxation. This means that over time it acquires the amenities that we are so accustomed to in Everyday life– water supply, heating and, of course, electricity. And where the latter exists, sooner or later television will definitely appear. But how, you ask, can you spend it at your dacha if purchasing an antenna, which, by the way, is not cheap at all, is not included in your personal budget? Yes, very simple! A few basics of radio electronics, a couple of pieces of iron and a minimal soldering kit and now, having thoroughly tired of the garden, you settle down on the country terrace to watch the evening news block.
Radio electronics and television broadcasting: simply about the complex
The most important thing for any antenna is its ability to interact with a signal distributed over the air.
Currently, TV broadcasting is carried out in one single band - the decimeter band, and television transmitters cover almost the entire more or less populated territory. This makes it possible to “catch” a TV signal anywhere.
But for this you will have to take into account a few simple nuances.:
Based on this, among the variety of television antennas, the most accessible types for independent production will be the following types:
- All-wave (frequency independent)
It does not have high parameters, but it is the simplest and cheapest to manufacture - its basis is a metal frame, and ordinary beer cans or other tin containers act as receivers.
- Log-periodic range
Such an antenna can be compared to a fishing net, which sorts the prey during catching. This type antenna systems also have a simple design, but provide higher parameters than all-wave.
- Decimeter zigzag
For the decimeter range, the dimensions and complexity of the design of such an antenna are significantly simplified, and it can operate in almost any reception conditions.
Subtleties of making television antennas
The antenna elements through which the useful signal currents pass are always connected by soldering or welding. But if the device is placed outdoors, for example, on the roof of a country house, such contacts will soon be corroded by corrosion.
If we are talking about a homemade antenna for a summer residence, you should not strive for ideal quality of contacts - even if they rust or burst, then at least not soon. But it is desirable that there be as few connections as possible in the antenna design, which will ensure stable and fairly clean reception.
The braid and core of coaxial cables are now made from inexpensive alloys that are corrosion resistant. Unlike classic copper, they are difficult to solder. Therefore, you need to be careful not to burn the cable.
To make an antenna and its cable connection, it is advisable to use:
Aluminum wire should not be used to make antenna elements - it will oxidize very quickly and lose its ability to conduct an electrical signal. Copper or cheaper brass is best suited for this.
The antenna reception area should be as large as possible. To do this, several metal rods made of the same metal should be symmetrically attached to the screen - a frame that filters out ethereal and electrical noise.
Buying a simple signal amplifier connected directly to the antenna will solve the problem with a weak and dirty signal.
As a result, the system will provide normal reception power. All you need to do is take the antenna to the roof of the country house and point it towards the nearest television tower.
DIY frequency independent antenna
The simplest all-wave unit is a pair of metal plates mounted on a wooden slats and connected by several turns of copper wire of any diameter. The width of such an antenna should be equal to its height, and the opening angle of the panels should be 90 degrees. It is not necessary to solder the wire to the zero potential point of the all-wave oven - it is enough to ensure that it is securely fastened.
A frequency-independent antenna is capable of receiving both meter and decimeter signals from almost any direction. The disadvantage of this option is the unity gain and zero efficiency factor - an indicator of the ratio of the signal power received at the main lobe of the antenna to the sum of the interference power at the frequency received by the other elements. That is why the all-wave radio is not suitable for receiving a television signal in an area with strong interference or where the on-air signal is too weak.
To make your own frequency independent antenna you will need:
- antenna cable;
- several tin cans;
- self-tapping screws;
- plug;
- insulating tape;
- screwdriver;
- wooden slats;
- copper wire.
The cans are secured to the rail (mast) using electrical tape at a distance of about 7 cm from each other.
Self-tapping screws are screwed into them, and the stripped ends of the antenna cable are screwed to the protruding ends of them. The latter is fixed to the rail and laid along the external building structures of the country house to the place where you plan to put the TV.
You can improve the design of the all-wave unit by adding a few more sections from tin containers. Afterwards, all that remains is to securely secure its mast in a vertical position, connect it to the TV and set up the tuner.
Another option for an all-wave antenna designed to receive a meter signal is a fan vibrator, which is popularly called a slingshot antenna.
Manufacturing a log-periodic television antenna
The “speech therapy” antenna is a receiving line (a pair of metal tubes) with halves of linear dipoles perpendicularly connected to it - pieces of conductor with a diameter of a quarter wave of the working signal. The length and distance between the latter varies exponentially.
To manufacture a log-periodic antenna, it is necessary to perform a number of calculations:
- The calculation of the length of the dipoles begins with the second longest one.
- Taking the reciprocal of the progression index, the length of the longest dipole is calculated.
- Next, it remains to calculate the shortest - the first - dipole, and then, based on the selected frequency range, the length of the “zero” dipole is accepted.
To achieve maximum reception power, there must be a distance between the dipoles of 0.03-0.05 wavelengths, but not less than double the diameter of any of them.
The length of the finished LP antenna is about 400 mm. The diameter of the base of the LP antenna should be 8-15 mm, and the gap between their axes of the receiving line should be no more than 3-4 dipole diameters.
For normal operation For LP antennas, you need to select a high-quality and fairly thick (about 6-8 mm in sheath) coaxial cable. Otherwise, you will not be able to compensate for the attenuation of decimeter waves, as a result of which the television tuner will be unable to sense the signal.
The cable to the receiving line cannot be secured from the outside, as this will sharply reduce the quality of signal reception.
When installing such an antenna, you need to ensure its wind resistance, and if you use a metal pipe as a mast, you need to install a dielectric insert - a wooden block - at least 1.5 cm long between it and the receiving line.
You can improve the design of an LP antenna by installing linear or fan-shaped hangers of a meter field on it. This system is called “delta”.
Delta antenna circuit
Zigzag antenna for a summer residence
The Z-antenna system with a reflector provides almost the same TV signal reception parameters as the LP antenna. However, its main petal is horizontally twice as long. This makes it possible to catch a signal from different directions, which is especially important for rural areas.
The decimeter zigzag antenna has small dimensions, but its operating range is practically unlimited. The material for the manufacture of such a system is a copper tube or aluminum sheet about 6 mm thick. If you choose the latter, you won’t be able to solder it with regular solder or flux - in this case, the fastenings are made with bolts. For outdoor installation, such an antenna will be ready only after sealing the connection points with silicone.
The design of the zigzag antenna consists of the following elements:
- barbell;
- wire cloth;
- metal plates for fastening the canvas;
- cross slats;
- dielectric plates and gaskets;
- mounting plate;
- feeder line;
- power plate.
Any of them can be made with your own hands from scrap materials or purchased at the nearest radio electronics store.
The sides of the Z-antenna are made of solid metal or in the form of a mesh covered with a sheet of tin. When laying coaxial cable along the body of the antenna, sharp bends should be avoided. To do this, it is enough to reach the side capacitive insert and not let it go beyond it. At the point of zero potential, the cable braid is carefully soldered to the fabric.
This class also includes types of antennas such as ring and reflector, which are also not particularly difficult to manufacture.
Options for making television antennas yourself in the photo
There are other types of antennas suitable for self-production - wave, “Polish”, simple frame and even primitive satellite. But no matter which option you choose, proper calculation of the parameters is required. The technique can be found in the technical literature on radio electronics. However, it is much easier and simpler to ask advice from those who already have experience in making this kind of antennas.
Making your own antenna for a summer house on video
In this article you will learn how to make an antenna for digital TV with your own hands. Types of antennas, advantages and disadvantages of these types of antennas. We will also look at the simplest types of DVB T2 antennas: from tin cans, a decimeter antenna, a Kharchenko antenna, from a coaxial cable and a double and triple square.
An era is coming when all television companies begin to work in the new format of digital television. But analog TVs are installed in almost every home and continue to work properly, and what to do if the receiver was purchased not so long ago, but there is no money for new equipment.
This problem can be solved quite simply by connecting a DVB-T set-top box and a special antenna to the TV to catch the signal. You don’t have to buy it in a store, but make it yourself using publicly available materials.
Types of antennas for digital television
To receive digital television signals, you need good antenna, capable of receiving a decimeter signal. Such devices differ from meter ones in their small size. If we consider the way the devices are arranged, they can be divided into three categories:
- indoor;
- street;
- hybrid.
Before you go shopping for a structure, you need to determine how far away the tower is from your home. If it is not far away, and the windows of the apartment face exactly in its direction, then you can safely purchase a room option.
On a note! Each manufacturer of such devices has several assembly options that can be selected for specific parameters based on personal preferences.
Advantages and disadvantages of all types
All types of antennas have both positive and negative characteristics, which are worth studying before purchasing a device.
Advantages of indoor antennas:
- affordable cost;
- ease of connection;
- small dimensions;
- using an amplifier can supply a good quality signal to the receiver.
Flaws indoor antennas:
- you will have to look for an individual location for each channel;
- image instability due to frequent signal interruptions;
- it is impossible to configure many channels;
- sensitivity to external factors;
- if the tower is located far away, then its productivity is reduced to zero.
This option is perfect in a country house or in an apartment only if the broadcasting tower is very close.
Indoor antenna made of coaxial cable to amplify the signal
Positive factors of external devices:
- the ability to configure all channels at the same time;
- high reliability;
- accepts good signal and enhances it when positioned correctly;
- is relatively inexpensive.
Minuses:
- has significant dimensions;
- you need to prepare the mast;
- A TV cable is not always included in the package;
- An assistant is required when installing on the roof.
But, despite these shortcomings, these devices remain the most popular in dachas and villages, as they have proven themselves to be excellent.
DIY outdoor TV antenna in the shape of a butterfly
Hybrid types of antennas have many more positive aspects:
- excellent signal reception at any distance from the transmitter;
- thanks to them, you can tune in to all the channels available in a given area at once.
The only downsides are the complexity of installation and the fairly high cost.
On this moment Many home craftsmen prefer to make antennas for receiving digital signals with their own hands. If you approach this process wisely and apply a little perseverance and patience, you can independently assemble a structure that will be in no way inferior to a purchased device.
DIY DVB T2 antennas
TV transmitters are capable of propagating their waves over a distance of no more than 60 km, while ensuring a low signal propagation power from the top of the television tower. Therefore, high technical requirements are imposed on the installation of all components of a digital receiver. The antenna itself must have the following design features:
- precise, careful manufacturing, which can eliminate all losses of electrical signal power;
- the direction of the device must coincide with the electromagnetic waves that come from the transmission center;
- match in type of polarity;
- have protection from extraneous signals coming from other devices.
Antenna made from beer (tin) cans
From empty beer cans you can make a simple decimeter antenna, which will catch the signal well while in the room. Before you begin installation, you should prepare everything you need:
- two empty beer cans up to 1 liter;
- coaxial cable (RK75);
- antenna plug;
- self-tapping screws;
- insulating tape;
- an element for attaching cans - this can be a polypropylene pipe or a wooden stick;
- knife, screwdriver and wire cutters;
- ruler and file.
Once everything is ready, we proceed to assembly according to a certain algorithm:
- Carefully, so as not to dent, make holes in the bottom of each jar using a screwdriver or an awl;
- screw a self-tapping screw into each hole;
- clean the ends of the wire from all contaminants with a file and trim with a knife;
- Twist a ring on each wire, not forgetting about the braiding, and put it on the screws. The ideal solution would be to solder the wire. If you don’t have the necessary tool, you can simply insulate it with electrical tape or tape;
- the cans are attached to the pipe using tape, at a distance of 7.5 cm from each other (determined experimentally);
- then put the antenna plug on the free end;
- install the antenna in a place where the signal is received in the desired format.
Important! If you plan to install such a device outdoors, then you should take care to protect it from wind and rain. The most optimal solution in this situation would be to use plastic bottles in which tin cans are placed, having previously cut off the necks and bottom.
Just 30 minutes of time is enough to make such an antenna yourself, without the use of special devices and tools. At the same time, it will freely receive up to 15 digital channels.
Below is a video instruction on how to assemble an antenna from beer cans:
UHF antenna
A similar TV antenna is mounted from a simple 75-ohm cable and a regular connector:
- The cable is stripped at one end and a plug is installed on it.
- Step back 2 cm from the connector and put a mark from which the length of the future device will be measured.
- Remove excess wire using wire cutters.
- Two centimeters from the edge of the connector, a mark is placed from which the length of the future antenna should be measured.
- The excess part of the cable is bitten off.
- Where the mark was previously placed, an incision is made in the insulation and the entire braid is removed. Only the internal insulation should remain on the cable itself.
- The finished part of the wire that has been cleaned should be bent at a right angle.
- Connect the antenna to the TV and start searching for channels in the “Manual settings” section.
On a note! If the tower distributing the TV signal is located 15 km from the antenna, then it will freely receive digital channels without amplification. Otherwise, you can't do without an amplifier.
Antenna Kharchenko
This broadband system in the form of a zigzag was invented by engineer K. P. Kharchenko in 61 of the last century. It is excellent for receiving digital signals.
For assembly you will need:
- copper wire up to 5 mm in cross-section;
- regular antenna cable for 75;
- insulating tape;
- soldering equipment;
- plug;
- fastener
Assembly algorithm:
- For the base on which the structure will be attached, you can use a regular plywood sheet with the required parameters.
- First of all, the frame itself is mounted; to do this, a meter-long wire needs to be bent in the shape of two rhombuses, which are located in series. The sides of the structure are 13.5 cm
- The diamonds are secured using a loop, which is formed from the free end of the wire.
- In order for the structure to acquire a closed contour, the ends should be soldered at the intersection.
- Then strip the cable, twist it into a tight bundle and solder it to the intersection of the diamonds. It is important that the braid and core should not touch each other.
- An antenna plug is installed on the second end of the cable and soldered so that the braid is on the side exit of the plug, and the core is in the central part.
If the antenna is installed outdoors, the plywood base should be varnished or painted, and all soldered areas should be reliably insulated. Once all preparations are completed, you can secure the structure - it is ready for use.
Watch the video below and you will learn how to make a Kharchenko antenna at home:
Antenna double and triple square
This device is used in dachas and villages; it allows you to receive even the weakest signals from towers, especially if done correctly.
Fact! The number of frames is determined based on the signal quality. If you want to make it optimal, you can build 2-3 and even 5 if the tower is very far away.
For assembly, prepare the following:
- brass or copper wire with a cross-section of at least 5 mm;
- television cable;
- plug;
- wire cutters and knife;
- soldering accessories;
- tube on which the antenna will be attached:
- fasteners.
Manufacturing instructions:
- top arrow - will connect all frames exactly in the middle of one side. Made from wire;
- the lower boom is made of wood or any material that does not transmit a signal;
- the central part of the frames should be at the same level;
- all frames are sent by the center strictly to the repeater;
- The lower boom must be installed in such a way that the ends of the frames do not touch each other:
- the mast on which the device will be installed must be wooden;
- build 2 or 3 squares - the first is the largest, the last is the smallest:
- connect them with the upper and lower arrow;
- solder the TV cable to the antenna;
- attach a plug to the opposite end of the cable;
- install the device on the mast using fasteners and lift it to the desired height.
To catch a good signal, it is enough to slowly rotate the structure around its axis.
Watch the video below and you will learn how to make a double and triple square antenna with your own hands:
From coaxial cable
This is a fairly simple option for making a TV signal catcher with your own hands. Before you begin installation, you should prepare:
- RK75 coaxial cable;
- plywood;
- plug;
- matching apparatus;
- wire cutters, knife;
- ruler, pencil;
- sticky tape.
The manufacturing algorithm consists of the following steps:
- prepare a cable 53 cm long;
- strip both ends, while the braid should be wrapped in a tight bundle and kept separate from the core;
- twist the structure into a ring shape and secure it with tape on a piece of plywood so that there is at least 2 cm between the ends;
- Now it’s time to make a matching device from a piece of similar cable 1.75 m long. The ends are stripped in the first case. A plug is soldered on one side;
- connect the other end to the antenna.
Watch the video on how to make an antenna from coaxial cable for digital television below:
Finally
Assembling an antenna for receiving digital broadcasts is not difficult. The selection describes the simplest and most inexpensive devices that any home craftsman can install in a few minutes. But if there is no desire to do this work, and there are funds, then you can always install a special satellite structure that will work without interruption in any situation. But you should understand that you will have to pay for such television subscription fee monthly.
In life, “stuff” happens. Sometimes it happens that you are left even without a TV. Moreover, there is a TV itself, but there is no antenna for it. How to receive the signal in this case? In fact, a quite effective receiver can be built quite easily on your own. All you need for this is a piece of suitable cable.
Create a modern TV antenna You can do DVB-T2 yourself using scrap materials. To do this, you will need to find a television coaxial cable 20 cm long, an F type connector, and also an RF connector. Of course, you will need some tools, including a tape measure, wire cutters, a knife and pliers.
Before you start making such an antenna, you should find out the broadcast frequency in your locality. In most cases, such information is contained on the official website of the country's broadcasting company. The broadcast frequency will be indicated in MHz. It is needed to determine the minimum antenna length. Most often, the receiver should be around 10 cm. To do this, 7,500 must be divided by the broadcast frequency in your region (the resulting figure will be the required length).
Now let's move on directly to the manufacturing process. We take our coaxial cable 20 cm long and remove 3 cm of insulation from one of its sides for connector F. The cable must be cut to the central copper core. After this, you can screw on the connector, but the copper tail should not extend beyond it by more than 1 cm. Now on F we screw on the HF, which will connect to the plug.
Having stepped back 3-4 centimeters from the connector, we retreat a few more centimeters (as much as we got when calculating the length depending on the broadcast frequency) and cut off the rest, the edge is stripped of insulation. The antenna itself is bent at an angle of 90 degrees for better signal reception.
Video
In the past there were many other interesting and useful information about how you can do something with your own hands. Here, for example, is a small guide about things that happen in life one way or another.
The era of digital signals has arrived. All broadcast television companies began to work in a new format. Analog TVs live out their lives. They are still in working order and are found in almost every family.
In order for older models to successfully complete their service life, and for people to be able to use them when watching digital broadcasting, it is enough to connect the DVB-T set-top box to the TV receiver and pick up the TV wave signals with a special antenna.
Any home craftsman can not buy an antenna in a store, but make it with his own hands from available materials for watching digital TV programs at home or in the country. The two most accessible designs are described in this article.
A little theory
Operating principle of an antenna for digital packet television
Any television signal propagates in space from the emitters of the transmitting television tower to the television antenna by an electromagnetic wave of a sinusoidal shape with high frequency, measured in megahertz.
When an electromagnetic wave passes through the surface of the receiving beams of the antenna, a voltage V is induced in it. Each half-wave of a sinusoid forms a potential difference with its own sign.
Under the influence of an induced voltage applied to a closed receiving circuit of the input signal with resistance R, an electric current flows in the latter. It is amplified and processed by the digital TV circuit and output to the screen and speakers as image and sound.
For analog models of TV receivers, an intermediate link works between the antenna and the TV - a DVB-T set-top box, which decodes digital information of an electromagnetic wave into a normal form.
Vertical and horizontal polarization of digital TV signal
In television broadcasting, state standards require electromagnetic waves to be emitted in only two planes:
- horizontal.
In this way, transmitters send emitting signals.
And users simply need to rotate the receiving antenna in the desired plane to maximize the power potential.
Requirements for a digital packet television antenna
TV transmitters distribute their signal waves to short distances, limited by the line of sight from the top point of the TV tower emitter. Their range rarely exceeds 60 km.
For such distances, it is enough to provide a small power of the emitted TV signal. But, the strength of the electromagnetic wave at the end of the coverage area should form a normal voltage level at the receiving end.
A small potential difference, measured in fractions of a volt, is induced at the antenna. It creates currents with small amplitudes. This imposes high technical requirements on the installation and quality of manufacturing of all parts of digital reception devices.
The antenna design should be:
- manufactured carefully, with a good degree of accuracy, eliminating loss of electrical signal power;
- directed strictly along the axis of the electromagnetic wave coming from the transmitting center;
- oriented according to the type of polarization;
- protected from extraneous interference signals of the same frequency coming from any sources: generators, radio transmitters, electric motors and other similar devices.
How to find out the initial data for calculating an antenna
The main parameter influencing the quality of the received digital signal, as can be seen from the explanatory first figure, is the length of the electromagnetic wave of radiation. Under it, symmetrical arms of vibrators of various shapes are created, and the overall dimensions of the antenna are determined.
The wavelength λ in centimeters can be easily calculated using a simplified formula: λ=300/F. It is enough just to find the frequency of the received signal F in megahertz.
To do this, we will use a Google search and ask it for a list of regional TV communication points for our area.
As an example, a fragment of a data table for the Vitebsk region is shown with the transmitting center in Ushachi highlighted in red.
Its wave frequency is 626 megahertz, and its polarization type is horizontal. This data is quite sufficient.
We carry out the calculation: 300/626=0.48 m. This is the length of the electromagnetic wave for the antenna being created.
We divide it in half and get 24 cm - the desired half-wave length.
The tension reaches its maximum value in the middle of this section - 12 cm. It is also called amplitude. The whip antenna is made to this size. It is usually expressed by the formula λ/4, where λ is the electromagnetic wavelength.
The simplest TV antenna for digital television
It will require a piece of coaxial cable with a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms and a plug for connecting the antenna. I managed to find a ready-made two-meter piece in the old stock.
I cut off the free end with a regular knife outer shell. I take the length with a small margin: when setting up it is always easier to bite off a small piece.
Then I remove the shielding layer from this section of the cable.
The work is done. All that remains is to insert the plug socket into the connector on the TV signal set-top box and direct the bare wire of the inner core across the incoming electromagnetic wave, taking into account horizontal polarization.
The antenna should be placed directly on the window sill or secured to the glass, for example, with a piece of tape, or tied to the blind mount. Reflected signals and interference can be shielded with a strip of foil located a short distance from the central core.
Such a design can be done in literally ten minutes and does not require any special material costs. It's worth trying. But, it is capable of working in an area of reliable signal reception. My building is screened by a mountain and a multi-story building. The transmitting television tower is located at a distance of 25 km. Under these conditions, the digital electromagnetic wave is reflected many times and is poorly received. I had to look for another technical solution.
And for you on the topic of this design, I suggest you watch the video by the owner of Edokoff “How to make an antenna for digital TV”
Kharchenko antenna at 626 MHz
To receive analogue television signals of various wave frequencies, a zigzag design previously worked well for me. broadband antenna, which do not require complex manufacturing.
I immediately remembered one of their effective varieties - the Kharchenko antenna. I decided to use its design for digital reception. I made the vibrators from a flat copper bar, but it’s quite possible to get by with round wire. This will make it easier to bend and straighten the ends.
How to determine the dimensions of a specific antenna
Online calculator
Let's use the all-knowing Google search. We write to command line: “Calculation of the Kharchenko antenna” and press Enter.
We choose any site you like and perform online calculations. I went into the first one that opened. This is what he calculated for me.
I presented all his data with a picture indicating the size of the Kharchenko antenna.
Manufacturing of antenna design parts
I took the information provided as a basis, but did not accurately maintain all the dimensions. I know from previous practice that the antenna works well in the broadband wavelength range. Therefore, the dimensions of the parts were simply slightly increased. The half-wave of each harmonic of the sine wave of the electromagnetic TV signal will fit into the arm of each vibrator and will be received by it.
Based on the selected data, I made blanks for the antenna.
Vibrator design features
The connection of the ends of the figure eight busbar is created in the center at the bending stage. I soldered them with a soldering iron.
I created it according to the “Moment” principle, made it with my own hands from old transformers, and has been working for two decades. I even soldered 2.5 square copper wire with it in thirty-degree frost. Works with transistors and microcircuits without burning them out.
In the near future I plan to describe its design in a separate article on the website for those who also want to make it themselves. Follow publications, subscribe to notifications.
Connecting the antenna cable to the vibrator
I simply soldered the copper core and braid to the metal of the figure eight from different sides in its center.
The cable was tied to a copper bar, bent into a loop in the shape of a semi-square vibrator. This method matches the resistance of the cable and antenna.
Screening grid design
In fact, the Kharchenko antenna often works normally without signal shielding, but I decided to show its manufacture. For the base I took a wooden block. I did not paint or varnish: the structure will be used indoors.
In the back side of the block I drilled holes for attaching the screen wires and inserted them, and then wedged them.
The result was a screen for the Kharchenko antenna. In principle, it can be made of a different design: cut from a piece of frontal armor of a tank or cut from food foil - it will work approximately the same.
On the back side of the bar I secured the vibrator structure with a cable.
The antenna is ready. All that remains is to install it on a window to work in vertical polarization.
When a television receiver is located at a great distance from the transmitting generator, the power of its signal gradually weakens. It can be increased with special electronic devices- amplifiers.
You just need to clearly see the difference between the signals received by the antenna, which can be:
- simply weakened;
- contain high-frequency interference that distorts the shape of the digital sinusoid into the shape of some kind of “doodleball”.
In both cases, the amplifier will fulfill its role and increase the power. Moreover, the TV will clearly perceive and display a weakened signal, but with an amplified signal, playback problems will arise.
The waves are designed to eliminate such interference:
- high-pressure filters;
- screens.
They must be measured with an oscilloscope, and the methods of using various designs must be analyzed individually in each specific case. The antenna is not to blame here.
In summer cottages, a television signal can rarely be received without amplification: it is too far from the repeater, the terrain is usually non-uniform, and trees get in the way. For normal “picture” quality, antennas are needed. Anyone who knows at least a little how to handle a soldering iron can make an antenna for their dacha with their own hands. Aesthetics outside the city are not given the same great importance, the main thing is the quality of reception, simple design, low cost and reliability. You can experiment and do it yourself.
Simple TV antenna
If the repeater is located within 30 km from your dacha, you can make the simplest receiving part in design. These are two identical tubes connected to each other by a cable. The cable output is fed to the corresponding TV input.
The design of an antenna for a TV in the country: it’s very easy to do it yourself (to enlarge the size of the picture, click on it with the left mouse button)
What is needed to make this TV antenna?
First of all, you need to find out what frequency the nearest TV tower is broadcasting on. The length of the “whiskers” depends on the frequency. The broadcast band is in the range of 50-230 MHz. It is divided into 12 channels. Each requires its own length of tubes. Channel list terrestrial television, their frequencies and parameters of a television antenna for self-production are given in the table.
| Channel number | Channel frequency | Vibrator length - from one end to the other end of the tubes, cm | Length of cables for matching device, L1/L2 cm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50 MHz | 271-276 cm | 286 cm / 95 cm |
| 2 | 59.25 MHz | 229-234 cm | 242 cm / 80 cm |
| 3 | 77.25 MHz | 177-179 cm | 187 cm / 62 cm |
| 4 | 85.25 MHz | 162-163 cm | 170 cm / 57 cm |
| 5 | 93.25 MHz | 147-150 cm | 166 cm / 52 cm |
| 6 | 175.25 MHz | 85 cm | 84 cm / 28 cm |
| 7 | 183.25 MHz | 80 cm | 80 cm / 27 cm |
| 8 | 191.25 MHz | 77 cm | 77 cm / 26 cm |
| 9 | 199.25 MHz | 75 cm | 74 cm / 25 cm |
| 10 | 207.25 MHz | 71 cm | 71 cm / 24 cm |
| 11 | 215.25 MHz | 69 cm | 68 cm / 23 cm |
| 12 | 223.25 MHz | 66 cm | 66 cm / 22 cm |
So, in order to make a TV antenna with your own hands, you need the following materials:
It would be nice to have a soldering iron, flux for soldering copper and solder on hand: it is advisable to solder all connections of the central conductors: the image quality will be better and the antenna will work longer. The soldering areas then need to be protected from oxidation: it is best to fill it with a layer of silicone, or you can use epoxy resin, etc. As a last resort, seal it with electrical tape, but this is very unreliable.
Even a child can make this homemade antenna for a TV, even at home. You need to cut the tube to the length that corresponds to the broadcast frequency of a nearby repeater, then saw it exactly in half.
Assembly order
The resulting tubes are flattened on one side. With these ends they are attached to a holder - a piece of getinax or textolite 4-6 mm thick (see picture). The tubes are placed at a distance of 6-7 cm from each other, their far ends should be at the distance indicated in the table. They are secured to the holder with clamps; they must hold firmly.
The installed vibrator is fixed to the mast. Now you need to connect the two “whiskers” through a matching device. This is a cable loop with a resistance of 75 Ohms (type RK-1, 3, 4). Its parameters are indicated in the far right column of the table, and how it is done is on the right side of the photo.
The middle cores of the cable are screwed (soldered) to the flattened ends of the tubes, and their braid is connected with a piece of the same conductor. Getting the wire is simple: cut a piece from the cable slightly larger than the required size and remove all the sheaths. Clean the ends and screw them to the cable conductors (it’s better to solder them).
Then the central conductors from two pieces of the matching loop and the cable that goes to the TV are connected. Their braid is also connected with copper wire.
Last step: the loop in the middle is attached to the rod, and the cable going down is screwed to it. The barbell is raised to the required height and “adjusted” there. To set up, you need two people: one turns the antenna, the second watches TV and evaluates the picture quality. Having determined where the signal is best received from, the home-made antenna is fixed in this position. To avoid having to struggle with “tuning” for a long time, take a look at where your neighbors’ receivers (over-the-air antennas) are pointing. The simplest antenna Made for the dacha with my own hands. Set and “catch” the direction by turning it along its axis.
Watch the video on how to cut a coaxial cable.
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Loop from a pipe
This do-it-yourself antenna for a summer residence is a little more difficult to manufacture: you need a pipe bender, but the reception radius is larger - up to 40 km. The starting materials are almost the same: metal tube, cable and rod.
The bend radius of the pipe is not important. It is necessary that the pipe has the required length, and the distance between the ends is 65-70 mm. Both “wings” should be the same length, and the ends should be symmetrical about the center.
Homemade antenna for a TV: a TV signal receiver with a reception radius of up to 40 km is made from a piece of pipe and cable (to increase the size of the picture, click on it with the left mouse button)
The length of the pipe and cable is indicated in the table. Find out what frequency the repeater closest to you is broadcasting on, select the appropriate line. Saw off a pipe of the required size (diameter is preferably 12-18 mm, the parameters of the matching loop are given for them).
| Channel number | Channel frequency | Vibrator length - from one end to the other, cm | Cable length for matching device, cm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50 MHz | 276 cm | 190 cm |
| 2 | 59.25 MHz | 234 cm | 160 cm |
| 3 | 77.25 MHz | 178 cm | 125 cm |
| 4 | 85.25 MHz | 163 cm | 113 cm |
| 5 | 93.25 MHz | 151 cm | 104 cm |
| 6 | 175.25 MHz | 81 cm | 56 cm |
| 7 | 183.25 MHz | 77 cm | 53 cm |
| 8 | 191.25 MHz | 74 cm | 51 cm |
| 9 | 199.25 MHz | 71 cm | 49 cm |
| 10 | 207.25 MHz | 69 cm | 47 cm |
| 11 | 215.25 MHz | 66 cm | 45 cm |
| 12 | 223.25 MHz | 66 cm | 44 cm |
Assembly
The tube of the required length is bent, making it absolutely symmetrical relative to the center. One edge is flattened and welded/sealed. Fill with sand and seal the other side. If there is no welding, you can plug the ends, just attach the plugs to good glue or silicone.
The resulting vibrator is mounted on a mast (rod). The central conductors of the matching loop and the cable that goes to the TV are screwed to the ends of the pipe, and then soldered. The next step is to connect a piece of copper wire without insulation to the braided cables. The assembly is complete - you can start “setting up”.
Beer can antenna
Even though it doesn't look serious, the image becomes much better. Tested many times. Try it!
Outdoor antenna made from beer cans
We collect it like this:
- We drill a hole (5-6 mm in diameter) in the bottom of the jar strictly in the center.
- We pull the cable through this hole and take it out through the hole in the cover.
- We fix this can on the left on the holder so that the cable is directed to the middle.
- We pull the cable out of the can by about 5-6 cm, remove the insulation by about 3 cm, and disassemble the braid.
- We trim the braid, its length should be about 1.5 cm.
- We distribute it over the surface of the can and solder it.
- The central conductor sticking out 3 cm needs to be soldered to the bottom of the second can.
- The distance between the two banks must be made as small as possible and fixed in some way. One option is duct tape or duct tape.
- That's it, the homemade UHF antenna is ready.
Terminate the second end of the cable with a suitable plug and plug it into the required socket on the TV. This design, by the way, can be used to receive digital television. If your TV supports this signal format (DVB T2) or has a special set-top box for your old TV, you can receive a signal from the nearest repeater. You just need to find out where it is and point your television antenna there, made with your own hands from tin cans.
Simple homemade antennas can be made from tin cans (beer or beverage cans). Despite the frivolity of the “components,” it works very well and is very easy to manufacture
The same design can be adapted to receive VHF channels. Instead of 0.5 liter jars, use 1 liter jars. Will receive MV band.
Another option: if you don’t have a soldering iron, or you don’t know how to solder, you can do it easier. Tie two cans at a distance of several centimeters to the holder. Strip the end of the cable by 4-5 centimeters (carefully remove the insulation). You separate the braid, twist it into a bundle, and make a ring out of it, into which you insert a self-tapping screw. Make a second ring from the central conductor and thread a second screw through it. Now at the bottom of one can you clean out (with sandpaper) a spot to which you screw the screws.
Actually for better contact soldering is required: it is better to tin and solder the braid ring, as well as the point of contact with the metal of the can. But it also works well with self-tapping screws, however, the contact periodically oxidizes and needs to be cleaned. When it starts snowing you will know why...
DIY digital TV antenna
The antenna design is frame. For this version of the receiving device you will need a cross made of wooden boards and a television cable. You will also need electrical tape and a few nails. All.
We have already said that to receive a digital signal you only need a decimeter terrestrial antenna and a corresponding decoder. It can be built into televisions (new generation) or made as a separate device. If the TV has the function of receiving a signal in the DVB T2 code, connect the antenna output directly to the TV. If your TV does not have a decoder, you will need to purchase digital set-top box and connect the output from the antenna to it, and connect it to the TV.
How to decide on a channel and calculate the perimeter of the frames
Russia has adopted a program according to which towers are constantly being built. By the end of 2015, the entire territory should be covered by repeaters. On the official website http://xn--p1aadc.xn--p1ai/when/ find the tower closest to you. The broadcast frequency and channel number are indicated there. The perimeter of the antenna frame depends on the channel number.
For example, channel 37 broadcasts at a frequency of 602 MHz. The wavelength is calculated as follows: 300 / 602 = 50 cm. This will be the perimeter of the frame. Let's calculate the other channel in the same way. Let it be channel 22. Frequency 482 MHz, wavelength 300 / 482 = 62 cm.
Since this antenna consists of two frames, the length of the conductor should be equal to twice the wavelength, plus 5 cm for the connection:
- for channel 37 we take 105 cm of copper wire (50 cm * 2 + 5 cm = 105 cm);
- for channel 22 you need 129 cm (62 cm * 2 + 5 cm = 129 cm).
Assembly
It is best to use copper wire from the cable that will then go to the receiver. That is, you take the cable and remove the sheath and braid from it, freeing the central conductor of the required length. Be careful not to damage it.
- for channel 37: 50 cm / 4 = 12.5 cm;
- for channel 22: 62 cm / 4 = 15.5 cm.
The distance from one nail to another must correspond to these parameters. Laying copper wire begins on the right, from the middle, moving down and further to all points. Only in the place where the frames come close to each other, do not short-circuit the conductors. They should be at some distance (2-4 cm).
When the entire perimeter is laid, the braid from a cable several centimeters long is twisted into a bundle and soldered (wound if soldering is not possible) to the opposite edge of the frame. Next, the cable is laid as shown in the figure, wrapping it with electrical tape (more often, but the laying route cannot be changed). The cable then goes to the decoder (separate or built-in). The do-it-yourself antenna for receiving digital television is ready.
How to make an antenna for digital television with your own hands - another design - is shown in the video.