How to make an antenna for receiving digital television. Making a television antenna with your own hands

Despite the huge number of television antennas presented on the consumer market, which can be easily purchased at any electronics store, interest in how to make an antenna for a TV with your own hands does not disappear. This interest can be explained by a reluctance to spend money on buying an antenna, being away from retail outlets (if you are in the outback or at the dacha) or the failure of the purchased one.

Antennas for a television receiver can be divided into several types.

All-wave antenna– the design is easy to manufacture; it can be made from simple available materials. It picks up a digital signal quite well outside the city, where there is not much interference. When located near a broadcast tower, it can receive analog television.
Log-periodic band antenna also easy to make. It has perfect consistency with the feeder across all ranges, without changing its parameters. Since this design has average technical parameters, it can be used in the country, or as an indoor antenna in the city.
UHF antenna. A simplified modification of the Z-antenna is often used; it works well, regardless of the signal reception conditions.

All-wave antenna

All-wave TV signal catchers are also called frequency independent (FIN). Their designs can be different.

Of two petals

The figure shows an all-wave antenna made from two metal plates triangular in shape and two wooden slats on which copper wire is stretched in the shape of a fan.

Copper wire can be taken of any diameter, it does not play a special role. The ends of the wire are attached at a distance of 20 to 30 mm from each other. The plates with the other ends of the wire soldered together should be located at a distance of 10 mm from each other.

The metal plate can be replaced with a square piece of fiberglass, which has copper foil on one side.

Since the design of the homemade antenna is square in shape, its height will be equal to its width, and the angle between the panels will be 90 degrees. Zero potential point marked in yellow in the figure. There is no need to solder the cable braid in this place - tying it tightly will be enough.

A television signal receiver assembled in this way in the form of two lobes is capable of receiving both all decimeter channels and meter ones. Moreover, it picks up signals well in all directions. But if you install the CNA in an area of poor signal reception from a TV tower, it will only work normally with amplifier. Others can also be used.

Butterfly shaped

You can make a television antenna in the shape of a butterfly with your own hands. To make this fairly powerful antenna yourself, you need to prepare a board or plywood with dimensions of 550 x 70 x 5 mm, a wire with a copper core with a cross-section of 4 mm, and, accordingly, a PK75 cable.

Mark the holes on the plywood and drill them. Dimensions in the picture are in inches. Below the figure is a table for converting inches to mm.
From copper wire you need to cut 8 pieces of the same length, 37.5 cm each.
In the center of each wire, clear sections of insulation (2 cm each), as in the figure.
After this, you should cut off 2 more pieces of wire, already 22 centimeters each, divide them into 3 equal parts and remove the insulation at the separation points.
Give the segments V-shape. You should be careful to maintain a distance of 7.5 cm between the ends of the wire. This is the optimal distance to receive a clear signal.
Connect all the elements according to the figure below.
Next, you need to purchase a socket to connect the plug to it.
The cable must be soldered to the coil contacts, as in the figure.
Make 2 more pieces of wire of the required length to connect the antennae to the socket.
Screw the socket onto the board and connect all the elements.

That's all - you have made an antenna for your TV with your own hands.

From beer cans

To make such an original ChNA you will need 2 cans (0.5 l or 0.75) of beer or other drink. But before you make a television antenna, you need to consider some material requirements. Namely, it is recommended to purchase a high-quality television cable with a resistance of 75 ohms per meter. Which is correct? Make sure that the central core is strong and that the braid is double and continuous.

Don’t forget, the longer the cable, the stronger the signal attenuation will be, which is especially important for receiving meter waves, in contrast to UHF, for which the length of the wire also matters, but not so much.

It will also be necessary to prepare the usual wooden trempel, a couple of self-tapping screws, electrical tape or tape and, if possible, a soldering iron with tin.

An antenna made from beer cans can receive both the UHF and meter wavelengths.

To illustrate the entire process, you can watch the video.

Log-periodic antenna

A log-periodic antenna (LPA) can be used to receive radio waves in both the meter and decimeter ranges. To make such a signal receiver, you can use an aluminum tube with a diameter of 10 mm and metal rods (studs) as a stand, which can be purchased at a store that sells fasteners. Ideally, instead of threaded rods, it is better to use smooth tubes or rods. A plastic U-shaped box is used as a base.

When the soldering is completed, the manufacture of the device can be considered complete and you can begin testing your creation.

UHF antenna

Homemade decimeter signal catchers can have different shapes and designs, from the simplest to manufacture to more complex devices.

Ring-shaped

Most simple design for receiving UHF can be done in a short time with your own hands from scrap materials. All you need is a coaxial cable and a piece of plywood of the appropriate size.

Now all this needs to be assembled:

prepare a piece of coaxial cable (RK75) 530 mm long (a ring will be made from it);
also cut another piece of cable 175 mm long - this will be a loop;
make a ring (1), solder a loop (2) and a cable (3) to it, which connects to the TV;
secure it all to a plywood sheet and point the completed TV signal receiver towards the TV tower.

If your TV receiver uses such an antenna, try making a more complex device.

Figure 8

You can make your own home UHF antenna from wire in the shape of the number 8. To make such a receiver, you can use copper or aluminum wire with a diameter of 3 to 5 mm, as well as PK75 cable. During the manufacturing process you will also need glue gun

Manufacturing progress.

Using wire cutters, you need to cut 2 pieces of wire 56 cm each.
At the ends of each segment, make a loop, which should take 1 cm.
Bend the wire squares and connect the loops. Solder the cable to the squares as shown in the picture. The central core is soldered to one square, and the braid to the other. The distance between the elements should be 2 cm. The entire structure can be secured in the lid of a 20 liter water bottle, filled with glue.

Such a UHF receiver can be placed anywhere, and it does not require an amplifier. Perhaps an amplifier may be needed if the device is outdoors and the cable length is significant. In this case, to compensate for signal losses, its installation will be required.

From a metal-plastic pipe

You can make a television antenna with your own hands from an ordinary metal-plastic pipe. This will result in a device for receiving UHF with a possible range from 480 MHz to 1000 MHz. This “model” uses a pipe with a diameter of 16 mm and a cable of 5.5 m. The ring will require 55 cm of pipe, and the stand will require 14 cm, which is equal to a quarter of the wavelength. This serves to better match the outer braiding of the cable and reduces high frequency currents.

The cable exit in this design is made through a hole in the pipe. The cable braid should be attached with a clamp to the stripped part of the pipe. The central core of the cable is attached to the ring (you can use a screw with a washer and a nut). This homemade product works well as an indoor antenna in apartments with reinforced concrete walls that do not transmit television waves well. Thanks to the extended cable, you can take it out onto the balcony or place it on the windowsill - the quality of reception will only improve.

In the form of a frame

Another UHF antenna design is assembled in the form of a frame. It will be made from aluminum plates(stripes).

Thus, home-made antennas will help you save money on purchasing them, and in some cases get out of the situation where you have a TV, but the standard antenna is out of order, or it doesn’t exist at all. Moreover, the quality of reception of homemade products is no worse than their factory counterparts. If you do not want to make the device yourself, then the information in the store will be useful to you.

Gradually, everyone is abandoning analogue television, giving preference to digital broadcasting. The largest providers are also restructuring to work with a newer, modern format. The era of analogue TV is gradually coming to an end.

In order for previously installed home antenna devices to complete their resource, it is enough to connect a DVB-T receiver to the TV, as a result, digital signals will be received correctly.

You can make an antenna for digital television with your own hands, so there is absolutely no need to go to the store and spend extra money. You don’t need any special skills or equipment; you can create the necessary design using available tools.

Now we will answer in detail the question of how to make an antenna for digital TV. We will carefully analyze the process, select the optimal material, and also carry out all the necessary calculations. Nevertheless, first we will deal with the theoretical nuances.

Regardless of the signal format, it is transmitted from the tower emitters. Reception of the wave channel is provided by the antenna device. To receive a digital signal, you will need a sinusoidal device with the highest possible frequency, which is measured in MHz.

When an electromagnetic wave passes through the surface of the receiving beams of the antenna, a V-voltage is induced in it. Each wave contributes to the formation of a different potential, marking it with its characteristic sign.

Under the influence of an induced voltage, an electrical current flows in a closed receiving circuit with resistance R. It is gradually growing. Processing is carried out by the TV circuit, the picture is displayed on the monitor, and the sound is broadcast through the speakers.

You won't be able to connect digital broadcasting using a regular indoor antenna. Firstly, you will need an intermediate link that will provide decoding of information - a DVB-T receiver. Secondly, you should use decimeter antenna or Turkin antenna for DVB.

Antenna figure eight

How to make such an antenna with your own hands? First you need to prepare the material. Then carry out the appropriate calculations. At the final stage, assemble the structure and connect it to the TV. Nothing complicated. Every user can cope with this task.

Materials for antenna assembly

Making an antenna for digital television is not difficult. The list of materials used will vary depending on the type antenna device. For example, if you wish, you can make it even from the most ordinary beer cans.

To produce a good and simple TV antenna digital channels you will need copper or aluminum wire with a thickness of 2 to 5 millimeters. In general, it will take only 1 hour to create such a design. You also need to use:

handset;
corner;
copper or aluminum strip.

You will definitely need a tool that will allow you to bend the frames to the required shape. To bend the wire, use a hammer after securing the material in a vice.

You can make your own antenna not only from wire, but also from cable (coaxial). Choose a plug that matches the connector on your TV. Naturally, you also need to fix the structure; the bracket is made from scrap materials.

As for the cable, it must be taken with a resistance in the range of 50-75 Ohms. Particular attention should be paid to insulation if the device will be placed outdoors.

The specifics of fastening are determined in accordance with where the structure will be located. For example, residents of multi-storey buildings will be able to make their own antenna for digital TV and hang it like a home antenna, i.e. on the curtains. To do this, you will need large pins that will serve as a fastening element.

However, if you want to place the created device on the roof, then you need to make a bracket. To do this you will need a file, a soldering iron and a needle file.

We've sorted out the spiral antenna, but you can also make another design - a double square. It is made from copper, brass or aluminum tubes. Wire 3-6 mm thick is less commonly used. In general, the choice of material is determined in accordance with the MF band and the number of channels.

Double square - two frames that are connected by an upper and lower arrow. The small frame is a vibrator, and the large one is a reflector. To achieve maximum gain, increase the number of frames to three. The third square is the director.

The mast must be made of wood. At least her top part. Please note that it should start at a distance of one and a half meters from the level of the frames.

So, step by step instructions:

Take the coaxial cable and strip it from both ends.
One end will be attached to the antenna, the wire should stick out 2 cm.
The screen and braid are twisted into a bundle.
We get two conductors.
Solder the plug to the second edge of the cable. A distance of 1 cm is sufficient. If you use a crimped metal plug, you can skip further steps.
Tin and make 2 more conductors.
Wipe the solder joints of the plug with alcohol.
Place the plastic part of the plug onto the wire.
A single core is soldered to the central input of the plug.
A multi-core harness is soldered to the side entrance of the plug.
Crimp the grip around the insulation.
Screw on the plastic tip or fill it with glue.

Calculation

To set up digital television reception, it is absolutely not necessary to calculate the wavelength. Just try to make a broadband design. As a result, you will be able to take maximum amount signals. To achieve this result, add additional elements to the T2 antenna with your own hands. It is about them that will be discussed further.

The calculation of an antenna for digital TV is based on determining the signal transmission wave. Divide this value by 4 to get the required side of the square. To determine the distance between the two components of the device, make the outer sides of the rhombuses a little longer, therefore, the inner sides, on the contrary, should be shorter.

If you don’t want to calculate the dimensions of the antenna yourself, use ready-made drawings:

The inner side of the rectangle is 13 cm.
The outer side of the rectangle is 14 cm.

The difference is the distance between the squares; by the way, they should not be connected under any circumstances; the extreme sections provide the necessary maneuver for folding the loop. It is to this that the coaxial antenna wire is attached.

Antenna manufacturing

If we calculate the entire length, we will end up with a value of 112 centimeters. Cut the wire or any other material that you plan to use, take a ruler and pliers, and begin to bend the structure. The angle should be 90 degrees. If the sides do not match in length, it’s okay, a small error is acceptable.

Initial data for making an antenna for digital TV:

The first element is 13 centimeters and 1 centimeter per loop, by the way, it can be bent right away.
Two elements of 14 centimeters each.
Two are 13 centimeters each, but there must be a turn in the opposite direction; here a bend is created to another square.
Two more sections of 14 centimeters each.
The last one is identical to the first one.

The antenna frame for digital TV is ready. If you did everything correctly, then between the 2 halves there is a gap of several centimeters in the middle. Naturally, there may be minor differences. After this, the loops and bend areas must be cleaned until no metal is visible. Processing is carried out with fine-grain sandpaper. We connect the loops and crimp them with pliers to fix their position.

The design itself is ready, but in order for the antenna made for T2 to function correctly, the cable must be processed. We start with double-sided stripping of the wire. One edge will connect directly to the antenna. You need to strip the cable in this area so that the cord sticks out about two centimeters. If you get a little more, you can simply cut off the rest later.

We twist the screen and cable braid into a bundle, as a result we get 2 conductors - a central core and a twisted element of several braided wires. All this needs to be tinned.

Using a soldering station, solder the plug to the second edge of the cable. A centimeter length is quite enough, small errors are acceptable. According to the principle described earlier, you need to make a pair of conductors and tin them.

The plug is placed in those areas where soldering will be carried out in the future; first wipe it with alcohol or a special solvent. Then, using a file or emery, we clean it. Place the plastic plug element onto the cord. Now start soldering. Attach a core to the central entrance, and a multi-core braid to the side entrance. Crimp the grip around the insulation.

Screw on the plastic tip; some experts even fill it with glue or a special sealant to strengthen the fixation. While the fixing base is still wet, quickly assemble the plug by screwing on the plastic part, and then remove excess glue or sealant. As a result, it will be possible to maximize the service life of the plug. The homemade product has been created, it's time to connect it.

Connection

Connect the cable and the homemade frame DVB antennas T2. It is absolutely not necessary to bind to any specific channel, so solder the cord in the middle. As a result, it will be created broadband antenna, receiving the maximum number of TV channels. Solder the second split end of the wire to the other two sides again in the middle, previously you stripped them and also tinned them. To extend the reception range, do not solder the cable from the bottom.

When the structure is assembled, it must be checked. We connect the tuner and turn on the TV. If digital television receives, for example, you managed to set up 20 channels, you need to finally complete the assembly. Fill the areas where soldering was carried out with sealant.

However, if there are very few active channels or there is some interference, then you need to find a place where there will be an optimal signal. If there are no positive changes, change the antenna cable. To make the testing process as easy as possible, use telephone wire, it's quite cheap. Solder the plug and frames to it. If the signal quality has improved, then the problem is really in the cable. A digital set-top box will broadcast channels even if noodles are used, but as practice shows, its service life is extremely limited.

To protect the cable connection areas and antenna frames from precipitation and other atmospheric influences, wrap the solder joints with ordinary insulating tape. However, this is not a permanent solution. A more effective option is to install heat-shrinkable tubing on the soldering areas, which will ensure proper insulation.

An alternative option with maximum reliability is glue or sealant. The fact is that these substances do not conduct current. Be sure to make a housing for the antenna; an ordinary plastic cover will do for this. If necessary, make indentations so that the frame “settles down”; do not forget about the cord outlet. Pour in the sealant and wait for it to dry. Everything is ready, we connect the equipment and enjoy digital TV.

Double or triple square for weaker signal

The TV antenna is used in villages, dachas and in areas that are located on the border of the coverage area of television towers. The device allows you to receive even a very weak signal. If you do everything correctly, the power of the TV signal will increase noticeably.

A double or triple square has only one drawback - you need to direct the structure to the signal source with maximum accuracy. Therefore, if you do not know where exactly the tower is, difficulties will arise.

The number of frames determines the signal quality. Therefore, if you are outside the coverage area, you don’t have to limit yourself to 2-3 frames, you can make 5. Do not open the antenna with varnish or paint it. This negatively affects the quality of signal reception.

What are the strengths of the design? First of all, the quality of reception. Even if you are far from the repeater, the signal will be clear. However, it will be possible to achieve a positive result only if the user correctly determines the dimensions of the frames and matching device.

Materials

To make an antenna for digital TV yourself, you need to prepare materials that will later be used to make the structure. The antenna is made from metal tubes or wire:

1-5 meter channel - copper, brass, aluminum tubes 10-20 millimeters thick;
6-12 meter channel channel - copper, brass, aluminum tubes 8-15 millimeters thick;
decimeter range - copper, brass wire with a thickness of 3 to 5 millimeters.

Double square - 2 frames, which are connected by a pair of arrows (upper and lower). The smallest frame is the so-called vibrator, and the largest is the reflector. A device with three frames will have a higher TV signal gain. The third square is usually called the director.

Instructions for creating a T2 antenna:

The top arrow (made of metal) must connect the middles of all frames.
The lower boom is made using electrically insulating materials: wood, textolite.
Arrange all the frames so that their centers are on the same line.
The direct line should be sent to the repeater.
The vibrator must be open circuit. Its edges are fixed to a PCB plate.
If you made frames from metal tubes, then the edges should be flattened and holes should be made in them to fix the lower boom.
The mast must be made of wood, or at least its upper part.

Size calculation

The calculation of an antenna for digital TV will directly depend on the range - meter or decimeter. The dimensions of the antenna with three frames are characterized by a large distance between the ends of the vibrator. You need to leave more distance - 50 millimeters.

The tables show the dimensions of two-element loop antennas. Meter range:

Channel numbers

UHF:

Size of three-element antennas. Meter range:

Channel numbers

UHF:

Vibrator connection

Considering the fact that the frame is symmetrical, and the connection is made to an asymmetrical antenna cable, you need to use a matching device. The best option– short-circuited loop. It is made from pieces of coaxial cable. The left segment is a feeder, and the right one is usually called a train. In the place where the feeder and cable will be connected, we fix the cable, which is subsequently connected to the TV.

What should be the length of these segments? The calculation is carried out in accordance with the wavelength of the received TV signal.

At one end you need to cut the cable, removing the aluminum screen. The braid must be twisted into a tight rope. We cut off the central conductor down to the insulation. The feeder also needs to be cut. Remove the screen, made of aluminum, and then twist the braid. However, we leave the central conductor.

The further assembly process is carried out as follows:

Solder the cable braid and feeder conductor to the left edge of the vibrator.
The feeder braid needs to be soldered to the right edge of the vibrator.
A metal jumper connects the cable braid to the lower end of the feeder. These elements can also be fastened with metal wire. The main thing is that there is proper contact with the braid.
The braid determines not only the electrical connection, but also the distance between the sections of the matching device.
If there is no metal wire and jumper, then twist the braided lower part of the cable into a bundle, after first removing the screen and removing the insulation. To ensure proper contact, you need to solder the wire harnesses using solder that melts easily.
The cable pieces should be parallel to each other. Distance – 50 millimeters (small error is acceptable). To secure the distance, special clamps made of electrical insulating materials are used. You can also attach the matching device to the textolite plate.
The cable that is inserted into the TV socket should be soldered to the feeder (to the bottom). The braids are interconnected, like the central conductors.

To reduce the number of connecting elements, the feeder and cable connected to the TV can be made one. Remove the insulation where the feeder ends. This is done in order to install the jumper.

A matching device is a mandatory element that helps prevent interference. It will be especially useful if the signal transmitter (TV tower) is located at a great distance.

Butterfly antenna

The TV antenna can also be made in the shape of a butterfly. Such a device will be in no way inferior to a decimeter antenna. There is absolutely no need to do everything from scratch. It is much easier to convert a regular grille into a digital one for T2 tuning. To make it yourself, follow these simple instructions:

Take a small board that will become the basis of the future antenna.
Cut 8 wires, each 37.5 centimeters long.
The middle of all wires must be stripped about 2 centimeters.
Bend the wires until they form a V shape. The distance between the wires should be 7.5 centimeters.
Cut 2 more wires, each of them should be 22 centimeters long.
Strip the wires where they will be attached to the antenna base (board).
Place the screws along the base of the antenna, and then connect the V-shaped elements with two wires.
Connect the antenna and cable using the special plug.

Every user can create such a device. You don't have to buy anything. The antenna is made from improvised materials.

From coaxial cable

You can actually make a TV antenna manually using a cable:

Cut approximately 530 millimeters of cable.
Strip the cable on both sides, fastening the braid into a bundle and exposing the central core.
Twist the cable into a ring or diamond shape and secure it with tape to the plywood. The distance between the cable rings should be 2 centimeters.
Cut a piece of coaxial cable - 175 centimeters. Make a horseshoe-shaped matching device out of it. To do this, you need to strip the wire from both ends, as you did in the process of making rings.
Prepare the antenna cable. The plug is put on one side, and the other is stripped. It is necessary to remove the central core and braid.
Align the ring and matching device with the antenna cable.

As a base, you can use not only plywood, but also plexiglass.

Antenna made from tin cans

To make a simple TV antenna for digital channels you will need a cable, a couple of aluminum or tin cans, and a small plastic pipe. A wooden plank can also be used as a base.

Remember that the antenna can only be created from aluminum or tin cans. Plastic or glass will not work. The main requirement is smooth, not ribbed, internal walls. Anyone can install such a device with their own hands in just a few minutes.

Rinse well and then dry the jars.
The end of the coaxial cable must be cut.
Remove the insulation from the center core.
Twist the braid.
Once you have 2 wires, attach them to the jars.
If you have a soldering iron on hand, solder the conductors. They can also be secured with self-tapping screws with flat heads. Twist a loop at the ends of the conductors, and insert a self-tapping screw with a washer into it, then secure it to the can.
Pre-clean the metal, you need to take fine-grained sandpaper and remove plaque, as well as paint.
Attach the jars to a plastic pipe or wooden strip.
The distance is calculated individually.
Connect the cable to the TV and try tuning the channels.

This is an emergency solution to the problem. Don’t be under any illusions; at best, several channels will be available in good quality. The final result directly depends on how far away the TV tower is, how “clean” the corridor is, and also how well the antenna is made.

Now you know how to make an antenna for tuning digital channels using improvised means.

Note.

Today terrestrial television most common among users. It works by collecting radiation from the broadcaster to the receiver. Due to a number of factors, the antenna may fail, and install a new one in this moment does not seem possible.

In this case, you can make a homemade antenna for digital television, which will receive a television signal no worse than factory devices. This article will discuss the manufacture different types antennas for digital TV with your own hands for specific conditions, for temporary and permanent use.

Types of receiving antennas

A television antenna is a dipolar device that can emit and receive a signal in a specific frequency range.

Today, several types of devices are common for television:

Meter wave range (MV antenna, VHF). Designed to receive terrestrial analogue broadcasting, which occurs in the frequency range 1 - 300 MHz.
UHF wavelength (UHF antenna, UHF). They receive shorter wavelengths of radiation that transmit signals at frequencies of 0.3 - 3 GHz.

Today digital television broadcasts in the UHF range DVB standard.

In this case, the frequency range is divided between two DTV broadcast formats:

Terrestrial television (DVB-T2). It works by transmitting a signal from a broadcaster to a receiver via terrestrial repeaters. The signal is emitted at frequencies of 314 - 898 MHz.
Satellite television(DVB-C2). Broadcast at ultra-high frequencies from 1 GHz.

From the operating ranges discussed above, we can conclude that for a simple digital television antenna there is a limit to the minimum and maximum wavelength that it can receive. This means that before assembling an antenna with your own hands for digital television, you will need to calculate it.

Calculation

Depending on the design, you can make an all-wave antenna yourself or one that operates in a specific frequency range. There is one fundamental difference between them - all-wave devices are not capable of receiving a weak signal, especially one drowned out by the background of stronger radiation. Other homemade antennas do not cover all digital broadcast frequencies.

In order to correctly make a working antenna for digital TV, its calculation must be approached responsibly for one more reason - in practice it is impossible to check the quality of digital signal reception.

If, at a low signal level, analog television works with interference, but shows, then there is no image in digital and it is not clear whether the problem is in the device or in another (cable, weak reception signal). In this case, development work with the antenna already turned on will not work.

Modern Smart TVs and receivers display the level of the signal recorded at the receiver, but most conventional digital devices this function do not support. It is impossible to make even a simple decimeter antenna yourself without calculations, unless it is all-wave.

Calculation rules

Digital TV broadcasts from different multiplexes at different frequencies, which correspond to different wavelengths. To receive a high-quality signal, the emitted wave must completely “lie” on the active area of the receiver.

Therefore, calculating an antenna for digital television with your own hands must be done according to the following scheme:

calculate the DVB-T2 wavelength for the antenna, emitted during broadcasting of each multiplex;
select the longest wave;
calculate the half-length of the wave cross section, because it is projected perpendicularly onto the receiver.

Below we will consider the procedure for calculating the active area for a digital antenna with your own hands, and as an example we will take the calculation of the broadcast frequency in Moscow.

Case Study

Today in Moscow there are three packages of terrestrial DTV channels:

1st multiplex (32 TVC, 546 MHz);
2nd multiplex (24 TVC, 498 MHz);
3rd multiplex (34 TVC, 578 MHz).

The wavelength is calculated using the formula ƛ = 300/F, where F is the frequency in megahertz (MHz). As a result, each multiplex sends a wave:

ƛ1 = 300/546 = 0.55 m;
ƛ2 = 300/498 = 0.60 m;
ƛ3 = 300/578 = 0.52 m.

It turns out that the repeaters of the second multiplex of Moscow television emit a wave of the greatest length, which will later be used for calculations.

Important! For ease of calculation, the resulting value can be rounded, but only up!

The only thing left to do is to calculate the length of the active region of the future receiver, which will receive the signal. Because the emitted wave has a sinusoidal shape, then its cross section will be ½ of the length, and its half-length - ¼. The total is 0.60/4 = 0.15 m = 15 cm for digital television.

Advice! The calculation is shown for all multiplexes as an example, but it can be simplified by calculating the value for only one channel package. Radiation of a lower frequency will always have the longest electromagnetic wavelength.

Location and connection

When the theoretical calculations have been made, all that remains is to plan the future structure for assembly with your own hands.

There are two planning issues to consider:

location
connection .

These factors are interconnected and conflict with each other:

You can make a home or outdoor antenna with your own hands. The latter can be a simple unidirectional television receiver, which is not interfered with by signal-attenuating obstacles (house walls, other buildings).
Also, an outdoor digital antenna can be installed on the roof, which will significantly improve the quality of the received signal. It should be directed to a digital television repeater.
For installation outdoors, and especially on the roof, a long cable is required. It causes natural signal scattering (noise) and the longer its length, the weaker the signal level reaches the TV.

To make an antenna for digital television with your own hands that will work effectively, you will need to find a compromise between these factors.

In densely built areas or sparsely populated areas with a large distance from the television repeater, the digital antenna will have to be taken outside. In other cases, an indoor receiver also works effectively.

Advice! There is no clear rule for choosing a placement; each case is unique. The best indicator of a reliable installation is neighboring houses. If there are a lot of outdoor devices for receiving television, then make one. In an area of super-dense buildings, you need to look at the roofs of multi-storey buildings.

A small number of receivers does not indicate anything (sometimes, for greater confidence, residents install them even in conditions of good reception by room devices). Only if there are many antennas, and among them there are collective ones, installation on the roof will be required.

Manufacturing

When the calculation has been completed and the type of future receiver for terrestrial television has been selected, you can begin the main assembly work. It is worth noting that you cannot make a DVB-T2 digital TV antenna with your own hands, the design of which is suitable for all cases. Therefore, several types will be considered homemade devices for specific tasks.

From beer cans

An important advantage of such an antenna for television is its quick production from available materials. The whole process will take no more than 15 minutes. It is easy to assemble such an antenna, but for effective operation it will require a high-quality signal and the absence of obstacles. It is suitable for residents of small cities and suburban areas.

For assembly you will need the following parts and tools:

2 beer cans;
bolts and screws with a screwdriver;
2 wooden sticks;
a piece of copper wire;
electrical tape or tape;
antenna plug and cable.

The device requires a T-shaped or cross-shaped frame. It is made of wood.

Then comes the main manufacturing process according to the following scheme:

Make a hole for the bolts in the middle of the bottoms of the cans. You can use scissors or a self-tapping screw.
Remove the insulating coating from the cable to a length of three cans + 20 cm. the outer contour is not touched.
Place the cans parallel with their necks facing each other and pull the cable through one hole to the other. It must be secured at the end with a self-tapping screw or bolt.
Secure the cable coming out of the hole and its exposed area between the cans with wire.. The connection point is required, otherwise there will be a lot of noise in the cable and the image will not appear on the screen.
Banks fix one roll of adhesive tape or electrical tape to the horizontal frame bar.
Connect the plug to the cable.

Attention! You need to work carefully with cables on bends! Only a solid external circuit effectively suppresses noise in it, and if it is damaged, the transported signal will be greatly attenuated. There is no need to try to “save” the exposed part of the cable; for this there is a margin of 20 cm.

The ethereal antenna from beer cans has already been assembled, all that remains is to determine the optimal distance between the cans. To do this, you need to connect the plug to the antenna and move the cans along the bar (bringing them closer and further away from each other) until you catch good signal. In most cases, 6 - 7 cm is sufficient.

When will it be found optimal location cans, they need to be firmly attached to the circuit.

For outdoor use, it is recommended to cover the homemade television structure with polyethylene or make a special plastic frame. It is better to use a hook as fasteners and hang the structure. If there is a significant length of exposed cable left at the exit from the hole, it must be wrapped with electrical tape, leaving no more than 2 cm.

Figure 8

For digital TV, a homemade figure-of-eight antenna is popular, which is also called a biquadrat or Kharchenko antenna. Externally, its active region is represented by a double diamond-shaped square. This homemade design works successfully in almost any conditions, with the exception of ultra-dense buildings, because unable to receive the reflected signal.

For the “eight”, a calculation by wavelength will be required and each side of the square must correspond to the half-length of the wave’s cross-section, therefore, its perimeter is equal to the length of the wave itself. For Moscow DTV, the side and perimeter will be 15 and 60 cm, respectively.

The material for making the antenna can be 2-3 mm copper or 5-6 mm aluminum wire. In total, you need to make two squares. You need to cut 2 cm from the ends of the wires and connect them together so that you end up with a single structure of two squares with a common angle.

Important! The connected pairs of wire ends must be insulated from each other, otherwise the device will only be a signal emitter!

A beam can be used as a frame. The receiver can be immediately secured without preliminary fixation, because The antenna is made according to calculation and practical experiment with the signal is not required. The cable must be soldered in the middle to one of the points where the ends of the wires connect.

Double-triple square

The antenna is manufactured with the same calculations as a biquad device. The general design is represented by several squares of identical parameters, located one after the other. Unlike the G8, it is not capable of receiving a good signal from a very distant television repeater.

The purpose of a double or triple square is to receive a signal in conditions of strong background radiation. In an area of super-dense development, it often happens that a DTV tower is nearby, but besides it there are other stations of different frequencies, against the background of whose radiation the decimeter wave remains “in the shadow”.

Double-triple is a homemade digital television antenna for receiving a specific wavelength, and the multi-level antenna design acts as an amplifier.

The squares can be installed on any block, and a thick conductive element can be used as a tripod (legs) for vertical mounting.

Important! The squares can be connected to each other only by outgoing conductive elements, i.e. not in the active region section. If this is not possible, you can strip the cable to a greater length and solder it to the lower corner of each square, and then fasten the structure to the block.

After assembling several squares, you need to fix them and experiment with the distance between them until a good signal is caught, and then fix them.

From a cardboard box

To be more precise, the box serves as the source material for a DIY digital television antenna. From it you need to cut two flat rectangles 25x30 cm.

In addition to it, you will need the following materials and tools:

food or household foil paper;
glue (any kind, you can use stationery);
copper wire;
pair of bolts and nuts;
screwdriver and scalper(or razor blade);
TV cable with plug.

The first step is to cut out two squares from foil with a perimeter similar to that of cardboard blanks. Then glue them tightly to the cardboard. Remove residual adhesive material from the foil.

Important! You need to be patient and carefully place the foil on the cardboard. Gaps and protrusions must be excluded, otherwise good quality received signal is not guaranteed!

The finished foil squares will serve as an active signal-receiving area; you just need to connect the cable. To do this, using a blade or scalper, carefully cut holes for the bolts at the corners of adjacent sides of the squares.

The design is ready, but again it is necessary to determine the optimal distance between the squares. To do this, you need to connect the cable to the TV and move the squares apart so that adjacent sides remain parallel.

After finding the required distance, fasten the squares to the frame. Adjacent corners that are opposite to the contacts can be used as the fastening area. The DIY antenna is ready for use.

Butterfly

By design, it consists of a series of vertically located antennae and externally resembles Polish (whip) factory digital television antennas. The only difference is the absence of a phased array, instead of which a frame will be used.

To make it you will need the following materials:

wooden stick;
protractor and ruler;
aluminum wire 5-6 mm(3 meters);
16 bolts with nuts or soldering iron;
screws or drill;
wire cutters

All Polish digital television antennas are outdoor, therefore, this design will also be used only for outdoor installation. Long antennae will be vulnerable to a strong meter, so it will not be possible to use 2-3 mm copper wire and only a thicker aluminum analogue is more practical.

For reference: DTV programs work with 21 TVCs (physical television channels), which correspond to a frequency of 314 MHz. The wavelength will be 300/474 = 0.633 m ~ 64 cm. This is maximum value, emitted by RTRS repeaters. Consequently, the length of the active area will be 16 cm, and for all the “antennae” it will require 256 cm. Therefore, 3 meters of wire will be enough. The stick will serve as a frame; its length must be at least 60 cm. Markings for “antennae” must be made on it in the following way:

mark 4 points at the same distance from each other 18 - 20 cm;
from each point draw lines perpendicular to the frame, but parallel to each other;
From straight lines, measure 4 adjacent angles of 30°(two on the left and on the right) and put dots;
draw lines from the central to the marked points at an angle.

The result should be the same markings as shown in the antenna diagram in the figure below. The angled lines will serve as a guide for the placement of the antennae.

For the Moscow region, the half-length of the wave cross-section is 15 cm.

Based on this value, we will consider two ways to make a butterfly-shaped antenna with your own hands.

Using a soldering iron

When using it, the process is significantly reduced. It is necessary to attach a metal product in parallel to the wooden stick. These can be 4 pieces of steel (which then need to be connected) or wire. The conductive element should not cover the wooden frame so that the markings are visible.

The central points on the markings are the places where the antennae are soldered, and the lines at an angle are the places where they are placed. You need to use wire cutters to cut 16 pieces from the wire for the antennae of a homemade digital TV antenna measuring 15 cm, and solder 4 antennae to each point. For reliability, it is better to wrap each group of antennae with electrical tape.

With bolts

There is no need for a metal addition to the wood, and the overall structure will be much lighter. The stick itself should be 4 cm wide and 2 cm thick.

First you need to make “dimples” for the antennae using a drill or self-tapping screw, the thickness of which will be the same as theirs. They are performed from the side of the stick inward in the direction of the line at an angle on the marking. Then you need to make through holes that will go through the dimples tangentially. The frame is ready.

IN in this case pieces of wire are cut with a margin of 17 cm. The finished antennae are inserted into the dimples 2 cm deep, after which they are tightly fixed with a bolt and nut. Upon completion, wrap the antennae with thin wire and connect them together.

The result is a more reliable and practical design than soldering, but it will take much longer to assemble.

From coaxial cable

Sometimes it happens that the antenna comes out at the most unexpected moment and a football match or an important premiere is about to start. It’s easy to find tools in the city to assemble a homemade receiver; in extreme cases, you can buy it or ask a neighbor.

When a digital antenna breaks down at the dacha or at grandma’s in the village, you may not even have an ordinary screwdriver at hand, and you can forget about the soldering iron. And in this situation, a rather primitive cable antenna for digital TV, assembled in 5 minutes, comes to the rescue. This is the simplest do-it-yourself receiving device.

The television cable itself is used as the active region, which easily receives analog and digital TV. The popular name for such an antenna is “Loop”.

The assembly is performed as follows:

the cable is disconnected from the faulty digital television receiving device;
the end of the antenna wire is stripped of insulation;
measure 40 cm and carefully remove 2 cm of insulation from the section(it is important not to damage the outer contour);
the bare area and the section stripped of insulation are applied parallel to each other and firmly connected with wire.

The result will be a circle of cable with a diameter of slightly more than 15 cm, which will serve as a receiver. Now in the middle (on the opposite side from the connection point) you need to measure 4 cm and remove the insulation. A DIY device for digital television made from coaxial cable is ready.

Such a receiver will be noisy due to the open end of the cable, so it is not suitable for continuous use. Analogue television programs are always shown with interference, but the picture quality is satisfactory.

The indoor antenna allows you to receive terrestrial television, analogue and digital, at home. Analog television is gradually becoming a thing of the past, and digital television is becoming increasingly widespread.

Currently, there are two multiplexes with 10 channels each, work is underway to introduce a third multiplex with another 10 channels, some of them will be in HD quality. The first two multiplexes are free, but the third one may require a fee.

To connect to terrestrial digital television you will need:

install a decimeter antenna, indoor or outdoor;
purchase a special digital set-top box if your TV does not support receiving a DVB-T2 signal;
connect the antenna and set-top box with a television cable.

Many companies provide services for connecting to terrestrial television. But it’s actually easy to make and set up an indoor antenna with your own hands. After that, you will be able to watch 20 channels in digital quality for free.

Different ways to make an antenna

You can make an indoor TV antenna with your own hands different ways from different materials. First, make sure that your home is in a reliable reception area. This can be checked on the official website of digital terrestrial television. If you are far from the broadcast tower, then you will not be able to catch the signal with any antenna - neither purchased nor homemade. Buy passive or active external antenna. Although some of the instructions below on how to make an antenna with your own hands are also suitable for external use.

Let's consider one of the most simple ways- production from coaxial cable:

It’s also easy to make a TV antenna from beer cans with your own hands. Moreover, it can be used as an indoor room, or it can be placed outside:

This design works great, although it does not look very aesthetically pleasing.

A zigzag antenna is more difficult to make with your own hands, but it has proven itself to be universal and reliable:

You can easily make an antenna out of a cardboard box with your own hands:

The beer can design has a more aesthetic option, the so-called butterfly. 4 rows of screws are fixed on the board, and instead of transverse slats, pieces of copper wire bent in half are used. Thus, you get rows of copper “forks” sticking out in different directions. The rows are also connected to each other by wire, output to a cable, then you just need to connect it to the TV.

Connection and setup

Setting up an indoor antenna consists mainly of its correct installation:

Secure it as close to the window as possible so that there are no obstacles (reinforced concrete walls, metal bars) in the signal path.
Connect to your TV or digital set-top box.
Now you just need to configure the programs: run automatic search via digital channels.
If a channel is found, but the screen says “no signal,” try installing the antenna in a different location, and then tune the channels again by running auto search.

And finally, instructions on how to connect the cable to the TV connector:

These are some ways to make your own TV antenna. Theoretically, any piece of metal wire can serve as an antenna. But there is no guarantee that this will be enough to adjust the signal reception in your conditions. If you have ideas on how else you can design an effective indoor antenna yourself, leave your comments and tips below.

In contact with
regular form

do not use the one bought when your grandfather went to first grade;
don't buy the cheapest one with virtually no braid. Choose normal ones;
do not shorten as much as possible;
do not make sharp creases;
Do not roll the excess into a coil.

Even if you connect the pieces with a standard coaxial connector, the signal quality is guaranteed to deteriorate.

Using the amplifier

This inexpensive antenna for the garden gives good results. If you plan to receive only with this antenna, then its two long side “whiskers” can be unscrewed.

Wave channel

They give good results, especially for remote signal reception when it is quite weak.

Polish

Many TV viewers use the “Polish” antenna - a grid and four rows of antennae. It doesn’t matter where it was made, they used to call it “Polish”, and sometimes “mesh”. Very often she demonstrates not the best best characteristics to receive a digital signal.

In general, for reception at the dacha , very sensitive too. If the reception of the digital signal on it in your area turns out to be normal, then you are just lucky. The amplifier of this antenna can be powered by 5 Volts, which can be taken from a digital tuner, and then there is no need to use an additional power supply.

Zigzag

indoor antenna shows good results for . Even if you paid dearly for it, the result may be zero.

If you only want an indoor antenna as an on-air antenna for your dacha, you may be “advised” to buy it more expensive and “better”. But if you hope that she will start giving you a wonderful signal in your room, then this hope is in vain. If there is a bad signal in the house, no antenna will help. External - this is the solution to the problem if there is no reception in the room.

Satellite

Remember? We're talking about ethereal, so forget about satellites. You will not receive terrestrial television in the DVB-T2 standard through a satellite tuner. You will not connect the T2 tuner to the . We receive the T2 signal from the nearest broadcast tower in the UHF range. To a regular over-the-air antenna for a summer residence, not a “dish”.