A Better HDTV Antenna
This is a how to video for building a HDTV antenna rhat will beat the coathanger design, and most commercial antennas, for that matter. This antenna can easily be made with tools you mat already have on hand. All of the materials can be picked up at the local home center with the possible exception of the balun (300 to 75 ohm transformer). Sometimes that item is unavailable, but they’re supposed to stock it. Same for Wal-Mart, and K-Mart.
Duration : 0:7:25
12 Comments »
DRIF74 said :
December 17, 2009 at 11:59 pm
alright cheers for …
alright cheers for that. i’ll make sure i keep them seperated but before i do so i’ll try and see what happens if they touch. i just wanted to make sure that doing so would not casue any harm to the device i connect it up to.
jwwm2 said :
December 17, 2009 at 11:59 pm
@DRIF74 Hmm, …
@DRIF74 Hmm, haven’t tried that. I guess there’d be a more serious than minor loss in reception, rather than a complete failure. Professionally made antennas have a minimum of a half inch seperation. I think a minimum of one inch is best.
DRIF74 said :
December 17, 2009 at 11:59 pm
i was just …
i was just wondering about what would happen if the crossovers touched each other? would there be a minor loss in reception or a complete failure?
MrTony8172 said :
December 17, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Thanks for sharing …
Thanks for sharing the demostration of this antenna.I made one about a month ago to see if it really works. I was really impressed. I’m receiving stations 92 miles from my home and just slightly on a hill.once again thanks for the video.
Buskieboy said :
December 17, 2009 at 11:59 pm
At the crossovers …
At the crossovers of the phase lines (top & bottom) it seems that you simply use a section of PVC to space and slightly bend/twist the phase line at that point to ensure they won’t touch. My thinking is that if you make the connection slightly higher, i.e. a spacer, on one of the top and one of the bottom screws, it would elevate the phase line at the crossover and ensure it wouldn’t be accidentally pushed back down. (I hope I’ve made this clearer….:P)
ferretgrace said :
December 17, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Thank you for the …
Thank you for the vid, I did a complete PVC build as this will always be outside. I created it with a simple to disassemble 12 foot piece of 1 1/4″ pvc vs the 34″ 1×3. Just awesome for the small campers. I have a feeling that part of the reason that I receive from such distance is that I am located basically in the plains, so flat is good on days that the wind is not blowing : ) Thanks again for the video.
jwwm2 said :
December 17, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Wow, that’s some …
Wow, that’s some serious reception. I’m pleased it’s working so well for you.
jwwm2 said :
December 17, 2009 at 11:59 pm
I can’t quite …
I can’t quite picture what you mean, but try it if you think it’ll be an improvement. Personally, I don’t think a spacer is critical if everything is screwed together properly.
ferretgrace said :
December 17, 2009 at 11:59 pm
One note that I …
One note that I forgot to add is that the station that is over 70 miles is exactly 72.3 miles and has an elevation that is about 730 feet above my central Indiana location. Thought I should add this disclamer for those who know that the world is round and therefore limits the broadcast distance on clear days.
ferretgrace said :
December 17, 2009 at 11:59 pm
My wife recently …
My wife recently bought an older camper and was in need of something for an antenna. I looked into buying one and it seemed the best I could buy for under $100 could receive about 40 miles. I built this with stuff lying around the garage, 8 guage copper, pvc etc. Put a reflector on it (construction mesh) and WOW, grabbing stations over 70 miles away. Full HD the whole nine yards, well worth the 40 minutes to build!!
Buskieboy said :
December 17, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Oh, so you simply ” …
Oh, so you simply “bend” the phase lines at the crossover points top and bottom with a pvc piece so that the crossover is the same spacing as the parallel ones right? I was wondering if you could use some kind of spacer on the screws holding the top and bottom crossovers? You would only do it on one side so that the phase line would be permanently separated at the correct width? Perhaps using a measured piece of plastic/pvc that has a hold drilled through?
jwwm2 said :
December 17, 2009 at 11:59 pm
@Buskieboy No, they …
@Buskieboy No, they aren’t touching. They’re about an inch apart. I use a piece of PVC to accomplish that.
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