Gray Hoverman TV Antenna Reflector Rods

The Gray-Hoverman homebuilt tv antenna requires a number of reflector rods of particular lengths, some made of two rods separated by a precise gap, others of one continuous rod. The reflector assemblies are not of the same length, and they must be installed in the appropriate locations in the antenna. I made mine from hollow rods scavenged from neighbors' defunct commercial antennas and developed my own way to attach them to my Gray-Hoverman. A second method used in a second antenna follows the first, and may be easier for most folks to build. This is one of several of my Instructables related to building this antenna. To see the others and my related Instructables, click on unclesam in the INFO box at right and repeatedly click NEXT to page through them all. To receive automatic notice about my future antenna construction postings, you can click in the INFO box to subscribe to me. In the final step I include links within Digitalhome.ca that further describe the antenna.

Step 1 Tools and Materials

Materials
Metal tubing, aluminum, three-eighths inch diameter (nominal), the amount depending upon the antenna version being built. Tubing scavenged from old tv antennas will have an open seam lengthwise.
PEX plastic plumbing tubing, three-eighths inch size, one five-inch long piece for each reflector assembly (eight for the example antenna)
CPVC plastic plumbing tubing, one-half inch size, one five-inch long piece for each reflector assembly (eight for the example antenna)
wood block, twelve inch length of two by four (actual 1 and one-half by three and one-half inches)


Tools
Flaring tool for flaring copper tubing
Hack saw, miniature
hex nut, metal, that will fit loosely over the metal rod
file, metal, for deburring cut tubing
Drill press or electric drill, bits of five-eighths (0.625) inch diameter and one-half inch (0.50) diameter for making the slitting fixture
Electric drill, portable, bits of 3-eighths inch (0.375) diameter, 25-sixty-fourths inch (0.390) diameter, and 13-thirty-seconths inch (0.406) diameter, for reaming PEX tubing
Band saw with wood blade (a hand hack saw will work)

Comments

[kelseymh]

Another very nice instructable! In the intro, you can provide a direct link to your Instructables, rather than a navigational description, if you wish. Similarly, in the closing step, you could make all those URLs active hyperlinks by using the Link To (globe with chain) icon in the editor box.