What does the antenna look like? What is digital TV multiplex? The final stage of antenna assembly

Antenna is a radio device designed to receive and emit electromagnetic waves through the air.

To watch TV shows in high quality, it is best to connect your TV to a cable network. In conditions of great distance from the city, an alternative is an antenna (dish) satellite television. But there are situations when these options cannot be used. In this case, you can do a simple TV antenna from scrap materials with your own hands.

If you live away from the line of sight from TV tower, then for receiving analog and digital TV signal The simplest indoor television antenna, the design of which is presented in this article, is quite suitable. This indoor television antenna is designed to receive television broadcasts in the UHF range (470-790 MHz), but with a sufficiently powerful signal, it also satisfactorily receives a meter range signal (48.5-100 MHz, 174-230 MHz).

The design of a television antenna is simple and does not require special knowledge to repeat. To make it you will need 70 cm of copper wire with a diameter of 2-3 mm, a piece of double-sided fiberglass sheet, 1.5 m of coaxial television cable with a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms and an F-plug.

Instructions for making a UHF television antenna

The first thing you need to do is select a piece of copper wire with a diameter of 2-3 mm and a length of 70 cm. For these purposes, a single-core copper wire is well suited for laying electrical wiring. If there are several conductors in the cable, then you need to carefully cut off one conductor along the groove, being careful not to damage the insulation. It is not needed for the antenna to work; the insulation is left only for aesthetic appearance. An aluminum wire will also work, but then it will have to be connected to the contacts of the matching transformer board using a threaded connection. Please note that the nut should not touch the shielding foil of the transformer; if it does, you need to lay an insulating washer or trim the foil.

If you use a wire without insulation, you can put a vinyl chloride tube on it for beauty.

Next, the wire needs to be bent into a ring with a diameter of approximately 220 mm. High precision is not needed here. A paint bucket holder or any other round container of suitable size works well for this.

When the antenna ring is ready, you can begin manufacturing the printed circuit board for the matching transformer.

The printed circuit board is made of fiberglass or getinax, foil-coated on both sides, 1.5 mm thick, 25x30 mm in size. The photo shows the appearance of the transformer printed circuit board from both sides.

This photo shows a negative of the antenna circuit board. The width of the current-carrying tracks is 1 mm, the distance between the tracks is 1.5 mm. Antenna board size 25×30 mm.

If it is not possible to make a printed circuit board for the manufacture of an antenna using a chemical method, then it can be made mechanically. To do this, you need to remove unnecessary sections of the foil, leaving only the contact pads, and lay out the current-carrying paths from copper wire with a diameter of 0.3-0.5 mm, gluing it to the board, for example, with “Moment” glue.

To give an aesthetic appearance and increase the mechanical strength of the antenna, the transformer is placed in a plastic or metal box in which holes for the ring and antenna cable are pre-drilled.

When all the parts are prepared, you can begin assembling the antenna. The ends of the ring, pre-tinned with solder, are inserted into the box and bent at a right angle at a distance of 3 mm. Next, the ends are inserted into the printed circuit board of the antenna transformer and soldered with solder using a soldering iron.

The antenna board is rotated to the bottom of the box and secured with an M3 screw and nut.

Threads through the hole in the box tv cable with a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms, 1.5-1.8 m long. You can learn about choosing the type of cable and its cutting, about installing the F-connector from the article “Connecting a TV to an antenna cable”. You first need to install a television F-connector on one end of it, and cut the other one and solder its ends onto a printed circuit board. The center core of the cable is soldered directly to the right end of the ring, and the braided shielding is soldered directly to the foil of the antenna board.

For reliable operation of the antenna, you need to solder or attach the cable in the following order. First, the shielding braid is soldered, then you need to pull the cable well to remove the slack, and only then solder the central core. In this case, when moving the antenna to find a place in a room with maximum level signal and tensioning of the cable, the central core will not break.

If the cable screen is made of aluminum foil, then it can be pressed to the foil of the board using a metal clamp placed on a screw and secured with a nut. The technology for attaching the screen with a clamp is discussed in the article “How to make a TV crab with your own hands.”

All that remains is to close the box with a lid, insert the connector into the TV and tune the channels to necessary programs. In order to ensure image quality with minimal noise, you need to move the antenna around the room to find a place with the maximum television signal.

How to replace the matching printed circuit board
cable loop

The use of a printed circuit board to match the antenna with a coaxial cable allows you to make the antenna more compact.

If there is no desire or opportunity to make a printed circuit board, then without losing the quality of the antenna’s performance, it can be replaced with a loop, which I also call a U-elbow, which is a section of television cable bent in half, connected to the antenna according to the circuit, as in the photograph below.

To make a matching loop, you need to take a piece of television cable 162 mm long, with which the antenna will be connected to the TV. Cut its ends and solder the central cores to the ends of the ring, the distance between which should be 60 mm. Next, the end of the cable going to the TV is cut and its central core is soldered to either end of the antenna ring, and the shielding wire is connected to the shielding wires of the loop, as shown in the photograph.

When soldering the shielding braid, care must be taken so that the insulation of the central core does not melt and the braid does not come into contact with it.

The photo shows the soldering of a cable to an antenna ring made of aluminum wire with a diameter of 3 mm. Since it is difficult to solder wires to aluminum with soft solder, the ends of the ring were slightly flattened, holes were drilled in them, and brass petals were secured with rivets. The central cores of the cable are soldered securely to the petals.

In the days of huge tube TVs, a good antenna for high-quality analogue television reception was in short supply. Those that could be bought in stores were not of high quality. Therefore, people made UHF television antennas with their own hands. Today, many are interested in homemade devices. And even when digital technologies are everywhere, this interest does not fade.

Digital era

This era also affected television. Today T2 broadcasting is developing especially widely. It has its own characteristics. In those places where the signal level slightly exceeds the interference, sufficient quality reception. There is simply no further signal. A digital signal does not care about interference, however, in a situation where there is a cable mismatch or various phase distortions almost anywhere in the transmitting or receiving path, the picture can appear in squares even with a strong signal level.

There have been other changes in modern television. Thus, all broadcasting is carried out in the UHF range, the transmitters have good coverage. The conditions under which radio waves travel through cities have changed greatly.

Antenna parameters

Before starting manufacturing, you need to determine some parameters of these structures. They, of course, require in-depth knowledge in various fields of mathematics, as well as the laws of electrodynamics.

So, the gain is the ratio of the input power reference system to the input strength of the antenna used. All this will work if each of the antennas creates values ​​of intensity and flux density with the same parameters. The value of this coefficient is dimensionless.

Directional coefficient is the ratio of the field strength created by the antenna to the field strength in any direction.

It is necessary to remember that parameters such as KU and LPC are not interrelated. Exists UHF antenna for digital TV, which has very high directivity. However, its gain is small. These structures are directed into the distance. Highly directional designs also exist. Here it comes in combination with a very powerful gain level.

Today you don’t have to look for formulas, but use special programs. They already take into account all the necessary parameters. All you have to do is enter some conditions - and you will receive a complete calculation of the UHF antenna, so that you can then assemble it.

Manufacturing nuances

Any structural element in which signal currents flow must be connected using a soldering iron or welding machine. Such a node, if it is located in the open air, suffers from contact failure. As a result, various antenna parameters and reception levels can become significantly worse.

This is especially true for points with zero potentials. According to experts, voltage can be observed in them, as well as current antinodes. To be more precise, this is the maximum current value. Is it available at zero voltages? This is not surprising.

Such places are best made of solid metal. Creeping currents are unlikely to affect the picture if the connections are made by welding. However, due to their presence, the signal may disappear.

How and what to solder with?

It is not very easy to make a UHF antenna with your own hands. This involves working with a soldering iron. Modern television cable manufacturers no longer make it copper. Now there is an inexpensive alloy that is resistant to corrosion. These materials are difficult to solder. And if you heat them long enough, there is a risk of burning out the cable.

Experts recommend using low-power soldering irons, low-melting solders, and fluxes. Don't skimp on paste when soldering. Solder will lie correctly only if it is under a layer of boiling flux.

Catching T2

In order to enjoy digital television, it is enough to purchase a special tuner. But it does not have a built-in antenna. And those that are offered as digital specials are too expensive and pointless.

Now we will learn how to catch T2 on a completely homemade design. A homemade UHF antenna is simple, cheap, and of high quality. Try it yourself.

The simplest antenna

To assemble this structure, you don’t even need to go to the store. To make it, a regular antenna cable is enough. You need 530 mm of wire for the ring and 175 mm from which the loop will be made.

The TV antenna itself is a ring of cable. The ends need to be stripped and then connected to the loop. And to the latter you need to solder a cable that connects to the T2 tuner. So, on the ring, the screen and the central core are connected to the loop screens. At the latter, the central cores are also connected. And the cable to the tuner is soldered as standard to the screen and central core.

So we got a UHF antenna, made with our own hands. Its design turned out to be very cheap and practical. And it works no worse than expensive store-bought options. It needs to be fixed to plywood or plexiglass. Construction clamps are perfect for this.

"People's" antenna

This design is a disk made of aluminum. The outer diameter of the element should be 365 mm, and the inner diameter should be 170 mm. The disk should have a thickness of 1 mm. First you need to make a cut in the disk (10 mm wide). In the place where the cut was made, a printed circuit board made of PCB should be installed. It should be 1 mm thick.

The board must have holes for M3 screws. The board must be glued to the disk. Then you need to solder the cable leads to it. The central core should be soldered to one side of the disk, the screen to the other. As for quality, such a TV antenna will receive better with two discs, especially if it is located far from the television repeater.

Universal antenna

Nothing supernatural will be used to make this design. We will make it from various available materials. However, even though it is homemade, it will work perfectly in the entire decimeter range. So, this UHF antenna, quickly made with your own hands, is in no way inferior to store-bought, more expensive designs. It will be completely enough to take T2.

So, to assemble this structure, you will need empty cans of canned food or beer. You need 2 jars with a diameter of 7.5 cm. The length of each is 9.5 cm. You also need to stock up on strips of textolite or getinax, always with foil.

Our cans need to be connected to PCB strips using a soldering iron. The plate of this material that will connect the containers at the top should have a continuous coating of copper foil. The foil on the bottom plate should be cut. This is done for convenient cable connection.

It is necessary to assemble the structure in such a way that the total length is not less than 25 cm. This antenna (UHF range) is a broadband symmetrical vibrator. Due to its surface area, it has large gain factors.

If suddenly you cannot find suitable jars, then you can use containers with a smaller diameter. However, then the foil will have to be cut on the upper connecting plate as well.

"Beer" antenna

Do you like to drink beer? Don't throw away cans. You can make a good antenna out of them. To do this, you need to attach two beer cans to any dielectric material.

First you need to choose a suitable cable, and then bring it to mind. To do this, the cable must be stripped. You will see shielding foil. There will be a protective layer underneath. But under it you can directly observe the cable.

For our antenna, you need to strip the top layer of this wire by about 10 cm. The foil needs to be carefully twisted so that you end up with a branch. The protective layer for the central core needs to be stripped to 1 cm.

On the other side, you need to solder a plug for the TV onto the cable. If you were a cable network subscriber, then you don’t even have to purchase this part and cable separately.

Now about the cans. It is advisable to use 1 liter beer containers. However, good German beer in such cans is expensive, and domestic beer is not sold.

Banks must be uncorked very carefully. Then you need to empty the container of its contents, and then dry it well. Next, use a self-tapping screw to connect our screen on the cable and the can. You need to screw the central core to the second one.

For more high quality image, it is better to connect the containers and cable using a jumper.

The cans must be secured to some kind of dielectric material. It is necessary to take into account that they should be located on the same straight line. The distance between them depends on the capacity. All this can only be determined empirically.

Zigzag

The UHF zigzag antenna has the simplest possible design. The part itself is broadband. Its design allows for various deviations from the original design parameters. At the same time electrical parameters it will hardly be violated.

Its input impedance in a certain range depends on the size of the conductors that will form the basis of the fabric. There is a dependency here. How larger width or the thickness of the conductors, the better the antenna will be matched to the feeder. In general, any conductors can be used to make the fabric. Plates, tubes, corners, and much more are suitable for this.

In order to increase the directivity of such an antenna, it is permissible to use flat screen, which will play the role of a reflector. The latter will reflect high-frequency energy toward the antenna. Such screens often have serious size, and the phase depends mainly on the distance.

On the practical side, only in rare cases is a reflector made from a single sheet of metal. More often it is made in the form of conductors that are connected in the same plane. For design reasons, you should not make the screen too dense. The conductors from which the screen itself will be made are connected by welding or soldering to a metal frame.

This design is very simple to make. It works well in the UHF range. In the USSR it was a real folk and irreplaceable model. It is small in size, so it can be used as an indoor UHF antenna.

The material will be copper tubes or aluminum sheet. The side parts can be made of solid metal. They are often covered with mesh or covered with a tin. If one of the above methods is used, then the structure must be soldered along the contour.

The cable must not be bent sharply. You can see how to carry out this element in the presented pictures.

It must be guided in such a way that it reaches the side corner, but does not go beyond the antenna or side square.

UHF indoor antenna

This design is designed to be lightweight and confident reception signals digital television. It can be made easily and very quickly. To do this you will need an aluminum or copper rod. Its length should be up to 1800 mm. This antenna can also be used as an outdoor one.

The design is a diamond-shaped frame. There should be two of them. One acts as a vibrator, the second works as a reflector. To receive T2, we need the side of our rhombus to be approximately 140 mm, and the distance between them to be 100 mm.

After the frame is made and the structure becomes rigid, a dielectric is mounted between the two ends of our rod. It could be anything. The shape and size are completely unimportant. The distance between two points of the bars should be approximately 20 mm. The upper parts of our diamonds need to be connected.

The feeder can be made from cable. It must be connected to brass or copper petals, which should already be attached to the antenna terminal.

If the resulting design does not meet your expectations, for example, the reception quality is poor or the repeater is located far away, you can equip the antenna with an amplifier, and the result will be an active UHF antenna. It is used both in the city and in the country.

The simplest UHF loop antenna

This design resembles the number "zero". By the way, this is its gain factor. It is ideal for taking T2. This part can work better than the products offered in stores.

It is also called digital because it can be used to perfectly catch digital broadcasts. It is narrowband, which is a significant advantage. It operates on the principle of a selective valve, which allows us to talk about reliable protection against interference.

For assembly you will need an ordinary coaxial cable with a resistance of 75 Ohms, as well as regular TV plug. Of all the options, it is better to choose a cable with a larger diameter. You can use a cardboard box or anything else as a stand.

We determine how long the frame will be using programs for calculating antenna parameters. The material for making the frame can be used the same as for the cable. By the way, for calculations you need to know the frequencies digital broadcasting in your city.

The central cable core is not needed in the frame design. The stripped wire is twisted together with the core and braid of the frame. Then this connection needs to be soldered.

The structure must be placed on a dielectric base. It's best to keep it away from your tuner. It is important that there is no voltage at the antenna input.

So, we found out how to make a UHF antenna with your own hands. As you can see, this is not such a difficult task. But now you can watch your favorite TV shows in digital quality. And such a structure is installed in the same way as a regular store one - on the roof. You can use screws or a bolted connection. It should be installed in a safe place so that during gusts of wind it does not fly off along with a piece of slate. It is advisable that the antenna be mounted at the highest possible height. This way you will avoid interference when showing cable or digital television.

Television antenna - when the need to choose arises, many find it difficult to decide which antenna to purchase to receive free digital television. For this reason, many people buy into advertising gimmicks and there is a high probability of purchasing an unimportant antenna for a lot of money.

Hello dear readers! The author of this blog, Vitaly, is in touch! In my previous article on this topic, I talked about the antenna known as “The Key to Digital Television.” And readers of this note very often ask the question of which antenna should they choose?

In order to answer most of these questions at once, it was decided to write another article which will contain a selection of antennas recommended by me and other experts. And also some explanations and recommendations. Please read them carefully, perhaps this will answer some of your questions.

P.S. The article gives the names of the antennas, but please note that different manufacturers they may differ. This means that antennas of a similar type and characteristics can be named LOCUS, DELTA, MERIDIAN, ether, etc. Therefore, it is not necessary to focus on the names given, look at the appearance!

All images in the article will be numbered, but this is only so that I can easily indicate the recommended antennas if asked about this in the future. There is no rating in this numbering! For convenience only. So! Let's go!

Quick navigation through the article

Indoor antennas

Sirius 2.0 indoor antenna without amplifier. Designed for use in a stable signal area. These are settlements in which transmission towers are located and at a short distance from them, 5-15 km. With line of sight. Signal gain 5 dB. Such antennas can also be equipped with an amplifier, but this does not make them suitable for difficult signal reception conditions.

Indoor antenna with amplifier DVS-Z2. Although this antenna has a high gain, up to 32 dB (due to the amplifier), it will be of little use. I also recommend using it in areas of reliable reception and on short distances from the tower 5-15 km. With line of sight. It is good to use such an antenna in the city to receive the reflected signal; an amplifier can be useful for this. And it is powered through a 5 volt antenna plug.

The next group of indoor antennas

They have approximately the same characteristics. These are passive (no amplifier) ​​antennas. Signal gain 4-7 dB. But there will be several more efficient than antennas provided above.

This is not bad antennas, they can be successfully used to receive Digital Television in areas with both a strong signal and at some distance from television towers. For example, I receive a signal from antennas of this kind from a distance of about 20 km. and from the first floor, but not everyone is so lucky!

All this depends on many factors. Transmitter power, terrain, clutter with high-rise buildings... In general, if there is nothing like that very close on the way from you to the TV tower, then these antennas can handle it quite well.

Indoor antennas with amplifier

These antennas cope with their task approximately as well as those without an amplifier. But an amplifier in some cases turns out to be useful and helps to pull the weakened signal to an acceptable level. They can be used not only in areas good signal, but also, let’s say, a slightly complicated or reflected signal.

But still this indoor antennas and this limits them. For example, if your windows do not face the TV tower, and there is no way to catch the reflected signal from the opposite side, they may be useless.

By the way! There is no need to underestimate the reflected signal; you can watch digital television perfectly on it.

Locus L999.06 Next — Active broadband antenna. Supplied unassembled. The amplifier is powered by 12 Volts from external unit nutrition. UHF gain 23-27 dB.

Locus L922.06 Not a bad indoor antenna. It looks neat, there are options with and without an amplifier. The amplifier version is equipped with a power control, which can be very useful.

Delta K131A.02 and the other two from the above group are also active antennas, but with an amplifier supply voltage of 5 Volts. It can be supplied directly from the DVB-T2 set-top box or through a special injector from the USB port of the LCD TV. The gain of these antennas is up to 22-27 dB.

Active antenna Cayman , - can be in two versions: 1) With power supply via an antenna plug. 2) With a built-in injector for power from the USB port, which is very convenient for use with LCD TVs that have this port. There is no need to purchase an additional 5 volt power supply with an injector and occupy another outlet.

Outdoor antennas for digital television

We move on to more serious designs, the task of which is to provide a high-quality signal where indoor antennas cannot cope. Gain from 19 dB to 35 dB.

These are antennas that can be used in more difficult conditions and at slightly longer distances. If you noticed, they are structurally similar to indoor antennas, but only slightly larger. And this is the important factor that makes them more powerful. The longer the arrow in the antenna, the greater its own gain. This is the gain that is achieved not by the amplifier, but by the design of the antenna. And the installed amplifier only “swings” this signal even more.

In addition, outdoor installation allows them to be more accurately directed at the TV tower, avoiding obstacles in the form of walls.

Hummingbird — Interesting antenna. Works in both meter and dmv bands. Its peculiarity is its unusual design, which, despite its small dimensions, provides fairly good signal reception. Very convenient in urban environments and for searching for reflected signals; its short length allows it to be installed in confined spaces. It has several modifications and can be equipped with an amplifier with both 12 and 5 volt power supply.

Locus -14 AF — This antenna also has several modifications, designated AF - with an amplifier, F - without an amplifier. There is also Locus - 20 AF/F, which has a longer boom, and therefore an even greater self-gain coefficient. The amplifier operates at 5 volts.

Delta N3111.02 — There are also options with and without an amplifier, in addition, it may have a different name (depending on the manufacturer) and differ in the way the television cable is connected to it.

Meridian - 07 AF — Made of aluminum.

Antennas numbered 11 -14 This is good antennas, and affordable, only “Hummingbird” will be slightly more expensive

They can be used at a distance of up to 30 km. But again, if there are factors that interfere with the signal, then even at closer distances you may need even more powerful antenna.

Powerful antenna for digital television

These antennas are good for long distances and even more difficult conditions, for example, if your house is located in a strong lowland.

At what long distances can they be used? For example, I had to install Ether 18AF (by the way, not the strongest in this trio) on a house located 45 kilometers from the TV tower. The house was located in a low area, and the antenna was attached to the ridge of the roof of the house; there was some kind of pin sticking out there, and the antenna was attached to it. Everything is being received perfectly!

Ether 18 — The antenna is made of steel, powder-coated, there are options with and without an amplifier. The letter A in the name indicates that the antenna is active, with an amplifier. If there is only F in the name, then this is an antenna without an amplifier. Meridian -12 AF/F antennas are also marked

Meridian-12 and Triton — Made of aluminum and even more powerful than Ether-18. The reason is not only in the material, but also in the design. For example, the Meridian antenna is about 1.5 meters long. And the Triton has short arrows, but there are only three of them. It adds up to one long one.

The active antennas of this trio have amplifiers powered by 5 Volts. Which is convenient for use with DVB-T2 set-top boxes. The Triton antenna also has an injector for power via USB, as indicated in the labeling. The gain of these antennas reaches 35 dB. due to the amplifier. But thanks to their design, the amplifier has something to strengthen)))

THOSE. the antenna itself pulls a signal from the air at a level of approximately 10-12 dB (this is called the antenna’s own gain) and the amplifier accelerates it to a level of 35 dB.

The most powerful antenna for DVB-T2

Well, if you carefully read the previous descriptions, then you should understand why these antennas are the most powerful of those presented in this review.

For example, the GoldMaster-GM500 antenna is a passive antenna, without an amplifier. But its own gain, only due to the design, is as much as 22 dB. Such amplification is provided by mid-range antennas, and then only at the expense of an amplifier. And here in its purest form!

The following antennas from this “red zone” are just as effective, plus they are also active. Their amplifiers are powered by 5 Volts. That is, they are designed for digital set-top boxes. Or, if you don’t use a set-top box because you bought a TV set with DVB-T2, then you will need either a separate power supply for the antennas, 5 volts, or an injector for power from USB.

This is the class of antennas that you need to take if you live at a distance of 50 km from the transmitting tower and further and have a very difficult area for receiving a TV signal.

Why you don't need to strive for an antenna with an amplifier

It has been noticed that the word “Amplifier” has some kind of magical property! And when a person chooses an antenna, he gives preference to just such active antennas. Why is this a wrong point of view?

• In the area of ​​reliable reception, the amplifier can lead to the fact that your TV/set-top box will not receive anything at all! Reason: over-amplification of the signal!
• The amplifier amplifies not only the useful signal, but also radio noise. And it is the antenna design that pulls out the useful signal!
• The amplifier is always weak link in the antenna design. It fails, it is hit by a thunderstorm, it oxidizes from moisture. As a result, periodic intervention in antenna repair is required.
• It is necessary to provide power to the amplifier located in the antenna, and this is another additional weak link, the adapters fail and require replacement. In addition, another connection point, socket or USB port is required, and this is not always convenient!
• If connected, this is much easier to do with an antenna that does not have an amplifier.

When do you need an amplifier?

• If the total length of the television cable exceeds several tens of meters.
• If you live on great distance from the transmission tower, in the area weak signal and the design of the antenna itself does not allow “pulling” the signal to the required level.

Conclusion! - If in the place where you live it is possible to confidently receive a signal on an antenna without an amplifier, always strive for an antenna without an amplifier!

How to power up an active antenna amplifier

There are several ways to supply power to an antenna amplifier.

• If you use a digital set-top box, then power is supplied directly from it, by antenna cable. There is no need to be clever. Just go to the console menu and find the “Ant power supply” item. on" B different models consoles, this inscription may differ, but the essence is the same. Turn on power to the antenna! Even if the amplifier in the antenna is 12 volt, often 5 volt from the set-top box will be enough.
• If you do not use the set-top box, then for power active antenna you will need either a special adapter with an injector that can be connected to USB port TV and so power the antenna. Or purchase an antenna powered via USB. These methods are very convenient for LCD TVs, especially those hanging on the wall.
• The classic way, through a power supply for antennas with a voltage corresponding to the amplifier.

Well, I guess I’ll end here! In the “Television” section of this blog, there are many more articles on the topic of antennas, digital set-top boxes and television.

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 value, 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.

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 for a summer residence is made with your 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).

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:

1. We drill a hole (5-6 mm in diameter) in the bottom of the jar strictly in the center.
2. We pull the cable through this hole and take it out through the hole in the cover.
3. We fix this can on the left on the holder so that the cable is directed to the middle.
4. We pull the cable out of the can by about 5-6 cm, remove the insulation by about 3 cm, and disassemble the braid.
5. We trim the braid, its length should be about 1.5 cm.
6. We distribute it over the surface of the can and solder it.
7. The central conductor sticking out 3 cm needs to be soldered to the bottom of the second can.
8. 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.
9. 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 for reception digital signal only decimeter is needed terrestrial antenna and the 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 a digital set-top box and connect the antenna output 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. Styling copper wire start 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 DIY antenna for your dacha 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.

Today, it has been used for broadcasting television signals. digital standard DVB-T. To receive broadcasts on analog TVs, you can make an antenna for digital TV with your own hands, which is connected to a special set-top box that converts the signal.

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Requirements for a digital packet television antenna

To ensure signal reception and transmission to the amplifier, the antenna must meet the following requirements:

1. The collecting elements must be located along the axis of the waves coming from the transmitter.
2. Have protection against interference with a frequency close to the television signal. Sources of interference can be other radio signals, interference from operating electric motors and generators.
3. The antenna design should minimize signal power loss during transmission.
4. The antenna circuit must be oriented according to the type of polarization.

Types of TV Antennas

Antennas for receiving television signals are divided into several types, differing in the frequencies of the received signals.

The following types are widespread:

1. An all-wave antenna that can receive digital and analog signals. Reception distance analog signals is not large and does not exceed the line-of-sight range of a television tower.
2. Log-periodic antenna capable of receiving meter and decimeter waves.
3. A decimeter antenna designed to receive only short waves.

The author of the video, Dmitry, will talk about making a simple antenna for digital TV.

How to find out the initial data for calculating an antenna

The key parameter on which the quality of digital signal reception depends is the wavelength of the radiation. Based on this length, select overall dimensions antenna whiskers. To determine the wavelength, a calculation is used using the formula λ=300/F, where F is equal to the frequency of the transmitted signal in MHz. This option is in open access and can be easily installed through any Internet search engine.

Made from a cardboard box

The simplest option home antenna, which you can quickly make yourself from available materials, is a device based on a cardboard shoe box.

For production you will need:

• food grade aluminum foil;
• a piece of standard coaxial cable;
• masking or stationery tape;
• a tube of quick-drying glue, for example, rubber “Moment”.

The manufacture of the antenna is as follows:

1. Cut the foil to the shape of the bottom of the box. Lubricate the box with glue and stick the foil, smoothing it evenly along the bottom.
2. Cut two pieces of coaxial cable 500 mm long.
3. Remove the cable shielding insulation from each end to a distance of no more than 25 mm.
4. Move the screen and twist it into a separate core.
5. Bend each segment into a circle shape.
6. Secure the pieces on the outside of the box lid in the shape of a number 8 using tape. The ends of the cable should be directed towards the center of the figure eight and located at a distance of at least 10 mm from each other.
7. At a length of about 100 mm, strip the outer insulation of the cable that will connect the antenna to the receiver.
8. Twist the screen into a separate core.
9. Gradually remove the insulation of the central conductor until a section of bare wire with a length of about 95-100 mm is obtained.
10. Pierce the bottom of the box along with the foil and insert the cable inside.
11. Lead the wire through the cover and run it along the contour of one of the parts of the “eight” to the central part. Secure the cable.
12. Connect three braid strands together. Then fasten the three terminals of the central wire. Re-secure the knot with tape.
13. Install the plug on the opposite end of the coaxial cable.
14. Place the antenna in place best regards, which is determined empirically.

If everything is done correctly, the antenna will allow you to receive the main television channels in DVB T2 format. The photo below shows the main stages of antenna manufacturing.

Covering the bottom with foil Laying rings on the lid Main cable supply Connection of conductors

How to make an all-wave antenna

Those who want to save on purchases can make an antenna for receiving a digital signal themselves by choosing one of the designs described below.

From coaxial cable

The simplest antenna design can be considered a piece of coaxial cable 2-3 m long, which has a plug at one end. The free end is cleared of the outer layer of insulation, the screen is woven into a separate conductor and taken to the side. Then the insulation of the central wire is cut off in small pieces. After this, the wire is placed on a window or windowsill, selecting a suitable location experimentally.

It should be noted that this design is only effective at a range of reliable reception, where the singal is quite powerful. If you are far away from the repeater or the receiver is located in a densely built area, it is necessary to use other antenna designs.

Of two petals

This version of the TV antenna is made from a pair of small metal plates shaped like an isosceles triangle and two wooden or plastic slats. Copper wire with a diameter of 2-4 mm is stretched between these elements.

Lobe antenna circuit

The pitch of fastening the wire on the slats is 25-30 mm. The triangular bases are connected to each other by soldering at a distance of 10 mm from each other, the wire is also soldered to the triangles. To connect to the television receiver, a coaxial cable RK75 is used. The wire screen is connected to the rail (the place is indicated by a yellow dot), and the central wire is connected to the junction of the triangles. In areas of poor reception, it is recommended to use the antenna in conjunction with an amplifier.

Butterfly

For more stable reception of the terrestrial television signal, a “butterfly” antenna is used. A homemade device of a similar design can be used at home and in the country. It will provide good quality reception only with a stable broadcast signal.

To make a receiving device you will need materials and tools from the list:

• a board with a length of at least 600 mm and a width of about 70 mm, the thickness can be any, but preferably 15-20 mm;
• single-core copper wire with a conductor diameter of at least 4 mm;
• wood or metal screws and washers;
• coaxial cable RK75;
• plug connector for antenna;
• roulette;
• side cutters;
• Phillips screwdriver;
• wire stripper;
• soldering iron with a power of 40-60 W;
• solder and flux for soldering.

A do-it-yourself digital TV antenna is assembled as follows:

1. Mark the board that will serve as the antenna frame in accordance with the schematic drawing below. The distance between the vertical rows of holes is 25 mm. The holes are located on same distance from the edges of the board.
2. Cut the wire into 8 pieces of 375 mm and two pieces of 220 mm.
3. Remove approximately 25mm of insulation from the center of each long piece.
4. Bend the cables into a V shape with equal lengths. The distance between the ends should be 75 mm.
5. Install the V-shaped sections on the board using self-tapping screws. For tight fixation, washers should be placed under the heads of the screws.
6. Before tightening the screws, install additional short connectors. On short wires, it is necessary to remove the insulation at the points of contact with the V-shaped conductors.
7. Connect the coaxial cable to the bottom row of screws. The installation diagram is shown below.

Can antenna with protective cover

How to make a log periodic antenna

To make the frame of such a device, the following are used:

• aluminum U-shaped profile with a side height of about 15 mm;
• studs with a suitable diameter and length or smooth tubes and rods are used as antenna whiskers;
• a small piece of aluminum tube with a diameter of 10-15 mm, which is used as a support.

Manufacturing sequence simplest antenna looks like this:

1. Flatten the tube at both ends and bend it into a U shape. One flattened end should be attached to the U-shaped profile using self-tapping screws.
2. Make pairs of antenna whiskers with lengths of 70, 85, 100, 120, 140 and 170 mm. Cut a thread on one side.
3. Drill holes in the U-shaped profile to install the mustache. The distances between the holes are indicated in the diagram.
4. Screw a nut onto each whisker and install the assembled part into the hole of the U-shaped profile.
5. Secure the mustache inside the profile using nuts. Place a connecting terminal under each nut, which can be factory-made or homemade from a copper conductor.
6. Solder the mustache outputs in a certain sequence (shown in the diagram).

Ring antenna diagram: 1 - ring, 2 - additional loop, 3 - main cable

In the form of a frame

Another option is a frame structure called a Kharchenko antenna, made of thick copper wire with a diameter of 30-4 mm.

The antenna assembly looks like this:

1. Cut the wire 112 cm long.
2. Strip and tin the ends of the wire that will be bent into loops.
3. Bend it in the form of two rectangles in the following sequence - a fixation loop of 10 mm, then a rib 130 mm long, then two ribs of 140 mm, two of 130, two of 140, the last rib is 130 mm long and ends with a loop that The last 10 mm of wire goes away.
4. Connect the loops at the ends and solder the joint.
5. Move this angle apart from the opposite one by 20 mm (shown in the photo below). Tin the wire located opposite the joint of the loops.
6. Strip the coaxial cable 20 mm for the screen and 10 mm for the central core.
7. Solder the leads to the tinned corners on the frame.
8. Make a central body from a plastic cap of a suitable size.
9. Place the squares of the frame with the cable into the housing and fill it with hot glue. After the glue has hardened, install the antenna in the place of best signal reception.

To calculate the parameters of the Kharchenko antenna, there are specialized online calculators that calculate all the product data.

Amplifier based on the MAX2633 circuit

To make an amplifier, you will need three capacitors with a capacity of 1 nF and a resistance with a nominal value of 1 kOhm. To power such a device it is used constant voltage from 3 to 5 V. The device does not require adjustment, but the degree of amplification is adjusted by setting a resistance of a different value (to reduce the degree of amplification, it is necessary to increase the resistance). Such an amplifier is not broadband and is applicable only for the shortwave range.

For broadband amplification when receiving signals over long distances, transistor devices are used, circuit diagrams which are given below.

Amplifier on base common emitter transistor KT368 Amplifier based on the common base of the KT315 transistor Two-transistor amplifier

In the process of self-assembly similar devices it is necessary to produce printed circuit boards with tracks. When using wires to connect elements, the amount of interference increases, which will reduce the gain of the device.

For an amplifier based on KT368 you will need resistances and capacitors with the following parameters:

• 100 Ohm (R1 and R4);
• 470 Ohm (R2);
• 51 kOhm (R3);
• 1000 pF (C1);
• 33 pF (C2);
• 15 pF (C4 and C3).

The assembled amplifier is installed as close as possible to the receiver and can be used for any type of antenna. It does not need configuration and works from the source DC with a voltage of 9 V.

To expand the frequency range, amplifiers built on a common transistor base are used. These devices also do not require additional adjustment of operating parameters.

During the assembly process you will need the following components:

• 51 Ohm (R1);
• 10 kOhm (R2);
• 15 kOhm (R3);
• 1 kOhm (R4);
• The capacitors have the same rating as in a common emitter circuit.

The amplifier circuit uses a choke coil, which is wound from 300 turns of 0.1 mm wire (PEV type) on a ferrite ring.

In the case of a very weak signal, it is possible to use multi-stage circuits operating from direct current with a voltage of 12 V and built on two transistors of the GT311D type.

The amplifier circuit for long-range antennas uses:

• 680 Ohm (R1);
• 75 kOhm (R2);
• 1 kOhm (R3);
• 150 kOhm (R4);
• 100 pF (C1, C2, C4);
• 6800 pF (C3);
• 15 pF (C5);
• 3.3 pF (C6);
• 100 µH (L1);
• 25 µH (L2);
• homemade choke made of 25 turns of PEV2 wire with a diameter of 0.8 mm (L3).