Homemade TV antenna

This TV antenna is not only omnidirectional, but also compatible with the new digital television. I actually get more stations with the new digital television signals than the old system. I get 35 channels and I an a long way from any large city. Some of the stations are over 60 miles away.

Construction is simple using copper tubing, PVC pipe and minimal tools. Tools include a hack saw, drill (hand or electric) screw driver and tape measure.

Step 1 Making the antenna step 1

Start with some 3/8 or 1/2 inch copper tubing. Bend a half circle in a 26 inch diameter with an additional 1 inch extra on each end. Flatten the inch on the ends and bend them OUT. Now make another half circle and bend the ends IN.

Comments

[mercelevine]

 Do you think a bicycle rim cut into two half circles would work instead of the copper tubing? The bike rim is an alloy, so it has aluminum in it; the circumference is 26 inches but i am holding the halves a little over an inch apart on the rack. I haven't figured out what i am going to use to hold the two half rims to the pvc pipe, so i have yet to test it out....

[rbodell]

 I did use a bicycle rim on one, but it was a hassle fastening it to the PVC. I ended up using a couple of angle brackets. I finally ended up using the bicycle rim to bend the copper tubing around and just bent and flattened the ends and drilled them. Hint - The side that the ends are bent towards the center, flatten the end, drill it them bend it. Much easier then trying to hold it over something to drill it from the bottom.

[mercelevine]

  thanks for the reply - if i use copper tubing, unless i buy new stuff i have a piece of 3/8th and a piece of  1/2 inch. do you think the discrepancy in sizes would matter? also if i use teh copper do you think it would be advantageous to split the tubing open longitudinally to maximize the gain? not sure how i would do that...
did the bike rim work ok in terms of reception? thanks again

[rbodell]

It shouldn't make any difference

[rbodell]

 The bike rim worked OK but I was around the salt water and it rusted pretty fast and eventually the electrical connections corroded. In the new type posted here I used copper brass or stainless bolts (on different antennas) and they all worked the same. This isn't high tech here so you have a lot of leway. As for splitting the copper lengthways, I doubt very seriously it would make a noticeable difference. I also made one with 10 GA ground wire once too, same results.

[alyon]

absolutely fabulous. I used 9 gauge single strand recycled aluminium elec wire. popped it on the steel pole, leant it against our studio wall out of sight of transmission mast and was gobsmacked at 85% signal strength, perfect pictures on lots of channels.
Congrats on your great simple design. My wife thinks I'm very clever...
Thanks a bundle

[rbodell]

Any time, glad you wife likes it too.

[disgruntldtoad]

This antenna works like a champ! I built one using some 75ohm cable hard line as the halo (being sure to tie the shield and center conductor together) and mounted it to a piece of 3/4 inch galvanized conduit. Put it on my chimney mount and wowza, it kicks ass! We live about 5 miles out of the city so have local transmitters coming from every which direction and this thing pulls them all in!
I made a little miscalculation during construction and made the diameter of the halo about an inch to small, but honestly I think the losses incurred are marginal and MAY be in the neighborhood of a half a db to a full db. Honestly though, if you are building an omnidirectional antenna, gain isnt exactly at the top of the construction list, so who cares?

Need a tv antenna? BUILD THIS. Its a good starter project and just works.

[jovenhatsjr]

Does this work in the Phgilippines

[rbodell]

I think television uses the same frequencies all over the world so it should work fine

[dodybpn]

I interrested with this design, can it stack to increase the gain ?

[rbodell]

Stacking will help although in this application it will probably be minimal. If you still want to try it, it is not going to detract from the signal. You do need to do some research through the ARRL or an amateur radio operator and get the formula for the distance between antennas to get them to work properly together. If any readers happen to know that formula please post it. Let us know how it works out for you.

[jojeep]

I just built this antenna and must say it was a joy to build. I used 1/4 inch tubing instead of the 1/2 inch. Do you think this makes a difference?
I'm picking up 4 more channels. I did a check on the internet and theres a lot more out there. I only have it just above the back roof line do you think it would be beter to have it higher?

[rbodell]

Yes more height will help get a lot better reception, especially if there are trees or hilly terrain between you and the TV station. These signals travel in line of sight so the higher the better.

As for the materials, this design is very forgiving. It shouldn't make any difference in the diameter of the tubing. I used bigger because it was handy. Another possibility might be flat bar aluminum. I doubt aluminum would have much affect on it unless it got really corroded at the connections where the wire attaches.

[commentnlookr]

is it that easy ????)!?!?!??! 2 steps??? my dad and I are definetly going to make this for our new digatal tv!

[realkoolkat]

Just wondering how you get such good reception with out any reflector. Also is it better foe uhf or vhf. Would like to try this, nice and easy.
Thanks for posting this.
 

[rbodell]

 To be honest with you, I don't know. On the original I talked to a ham operator about my idea. They are familiar with antennas. For simplicity, he suggested trying it without a reflector and ti worked fine so I never went any farther. It is an interesting concept and just guessing, I would expect it to improve the signal. Why don't you give it a try and if ti improves the signal, put it up here on instructibles and give us a link. That would be great for people in very remote areas. 

[rbodell]

 There is a formula for the distance behind the copper tubing the reflector should be, check with a ham operator for the distance. I think a lat reflector would be better than a round one. Check with the ham about that too, it was just a guess.

[static]

 Given the circumference  I'd say as constructed this is best suited for UHF. building it with a circumference of 7 feet could make one that would work on both  high band VHF and UHF. However there would be a chance the further away from channel 7  you go there may be nulls in the reception pattern for UHF, nulls that might null out desired UHF stations. :(

[rbodell]

I don't think so, the original antenna was for my sailboat which I traveled in extensively and I never had any problem getting stations on uhf or vhf. I don't know what frequencies are used now days with the new tv but they said when the change went into affect we might have to upgrade our antennas. I got all the channekls I had before plus about 6 or 8 more I couldn't get. a coup[le of my neighbors did have to get different antennas for their house. I still use this one.

Why don't you build and publish your model so there are other versions available here.

[rbodell]

well, I get about double the channels my neighbors do and they have commercially made directional antennas. Since mine is inferior to the commercially made directional antennas, why do you think it works so good?

Why don't you build one and test it out and put it up on instructibles.

[rbodell]

 I am sure the good reception can be credited to the fact that this antenna is omnidirectional (all directions). Most commercially madeTV antennas are very directional. as for UHF and VHF, It worked equally well on the old TV, But now with digital TV, UHF and VHF are no longer involved.

[static]

 Respectfully VHF, and UHF are still valid terms.  The gain provided by directional antennas are is as important  today that it ever was, if not more important now after the switch to digital.

[rbodell]

Maybe so but along with the gain in the front of the antenna there is also a reduction on the back side of the directional antenna. It is a rural area here with stations a long way away, I live west of fort worth and I get stations east of dallas.  That Is probably a good 55 to 60 miles away. None of them are local so I would definately loose stations on the back side of a directional antenna. it takes a strong station to come through on the back side of a directional antenna.

[rbodell]

 Just a little update here, it is snowing big puffy flakes this morning and my directTV is not working. The antenna is working great. I really didn't expect it to work so good in snow.