Today, the DVB-T digital standard has been used for broadcasting television signals. 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. The reception distance of 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, the overall dimensions of the antenna mustache are selected. 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 parameter is publicly available and can be easily installed through any Internet search engine.

Made from a cardboard box

The simplest version of a home antenna, which you can quickly make yourself using 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 sections 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 the place of best reception, which is determined experimentally.

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 distance of reliable reception, where the singal is quite powerful. If there is a large distance 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 reception quality 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;
• screws for wood or metal 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 at the 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.

The sequence of manufacturing a simple antenna is as follows:

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, a constant voltage of 3 to 5 V is used. 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, the circuit diagrams of which are given below.

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

In the process of self-assembly of such 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 requires no setup and runs on 9V DC power.

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 from 25 turns of PEV2 wire with a diameter of 0.8 mm (L3).

Analogue broadcasting, which was used previously, has been completely discontinued since 2009. Changing the format to digital created the need to use an appropriate receiving device. Digital TV is broadcast in the UHF range, which can accommodate many channels, being compact and of high signal quality. The increased level of transmission reduced the cost of maintaining equipment and made it more resistant to interference, although not all problems were completely solved. In rural areas, signal reception is almost impossible, and in a big city it becomes more difficult due to the ability of reinforced concrete structures of multi-story buildings to screen the signal. For reliable reception, it is quite possible to make an antenna for digital TV with your own hands, since its cost in the store is quite high.

Operating principle of a digital antenna

A digital signal differs from an analog signal in that it transmits not the wave itself, but information about it. That is, it consists of a continuous stream of “coordinates” of points on a specific sine wave graph transmitted by conventional analog devices. This makes it possible to significantly reduce interference and improve the quality of signal transmission, since a failure in the transmission of information does not cause major problems and is easily corrected when the signal is decoded in the receiver. Otherwise, the transmission technology remains the same - electromagnetic oscillations are emitted into space from the transmitter, they are received by antennas in the line of sight, on the contours of which a small voltage appears, which is transmitted to the TV decoding device and converted into image and sound.

To receive decimeter waves, a small antenna size is required, which distinguishes the devices from the previously used huge antennas that filled the roofs of houses. The dimensions of digital antennas are quite compact, so they can be freely placed in an apartment, on a balcony or other place that is convenient for the owner and provides high-quality reception. A homemade antenna has a simple design and is quite accessible to manufacture by people without special training who have only basic knowledge.

Making a loop antenna with your own hands

A round antenna for digital TV has the highest input impedance

A loop antenna is one of the simplest options. At the same time, the resistance to interference of such a device is very high, because the design combines a receiving antenna and an interference filter. The name “frame” speaks of a specific configuration - it is a closed contour in the form of a round or rectangular frame. Made from copper wire. Also, as an option, you can use a piece of antenna cable (RG6), freed from vinyl insulation.

Calculation

To calculate a loop antenna, you only need to determine the length of the wire from which the frame is made. The formula for calculating is as follows:

where LR is the length of the wire in the loop,

f is the wave coefficient, which is the arithmetic mean between the values ​​of the boundaries of the wave range. For example, if broadcasting is carried out in the range 568–720 MHz, then f = 568 + 720 / 2 = 644.

You can find out the required ranges on the websites of transmission companies or from other sources - this information is freely distributed. The starting and ending frequencies are used for the calculation. If there is no final frequency, then the value of f is taken equal to the initial frequency.

Some experts give another version of the formula, according to which the side of the square frame is equal to 0.254 of the wavelength (or f). That is, the value obtained from the calculation using the first formula must be increased by 1.5%. The difference is subtle, but in some cases it is important.

To make the antenna you will need:

• Pliers;
• Ruler;
• Soldering iron;
• A utility knife for stripping insulation (if an antenna cable is used).

Only the most basic tools are listed; depending on the skills and capabilities of the user, other devices that are more suitable for any purpose can be used.

Manufacturing instructions

Making a loop antenna is not difficult at all. You will need to do the following:

• Cut a piece of wire to the required length. Experienced users are advised to first cut a piece a little longer than required by the calculation, so that they can more accurately adjust the length when forming the antenna configuration.
• Give the antenna the required shape. If a round loop is used, then it is necessary to make as even a circle as possible; for a square frame, the length of the sides should be precisely maintained.
• The ends of the frame are connected to the antenna wire from the TV: one end to the braid, the other to the central core. To perform this task, you need a soldering iron or a mounting block with terminal clamps.
• All that remains is to install the device in the most favorable place for reception and adjust the position.

How to make a Kharchenko antenna

You can make such an antenna yourself for receiving Wi-Fi

The design was proposed by K.P. Kharchenko in 1961. The main task is to receive television broadcasts, but practice has shown the high suitability and versatility of the invention. Kharchenko's external antenna is shaped like a figure eight with an open middle. It consists of two squares, and the connection to the antenna wire is made at the middle points. Thus, we have a closed coil of thick copper wire having a specific shape. The difference from the frame design is precisely the more complex configuration, which allows for stable and reliable signal reception, noise immunity and reliability. Its peculiarity is its broadband and the ability to receive both television and radio signals. It all depends on the location of the antenna - vertical gives reception of a TV signal, horizontal - radio.

The figure eight shape is not the only possible option; you can increase the number of squares formed. Variants with the formation of circles, triangles, etc. are also known. The figure eight is used due to its ease of manufacture and configuration, as well as the absence of interference.

Calculation

Self-calculation of the Kharchenko antenna is not difficult, but it involves determining many quantities. You will need to calculate the length of the side of the square, the size of the reflector (reflector), the total length of the figure of eight from the top to the bottom point, the size of the gap between the reflector and the antenna, etc. Therefore, the simplest and most reliable solution is to use an online calculator, of which there are many on the Internet. To get a more accurate result, you can try to calculate on several services and compare the data.

Required tools and materials

To assemble the Kharchenko antenna you will need:

• Thick copper wire with a cross section of about 4 mm 2;
• Aluminum plate for reflector (reflector). In its absence, a metal grid (mesh) can be used as a reflector;
• Pliers, hammer, screwdriver;
• Electric drill with a set of drills;
• Soldering iron, terminal block;
• A metal pipe or long wooden bars for making a supporting structure (mast).

There are many design options, for the manufacture of which you can use various additional devices. If necessary, they are involved in work order.

Manufacturing instructions

• According to the calculated data, an eight is made.
• The connection at the middle point is soldered, the second point is tinning for subsequent connection of power.
• Holes are drilled in the reflector plate into which bosses are installed to mount the antenna.
• It is fixed on support bosses, and a wire is soldered to the central points.
• The reflector plate is attached to the mast. For this, screws or clamps are used if it is made of a metal pipe.
• The mast with the antenna is installed in the designated place.
• Connects to the TV and adjusts to the optimal position.

Other options

Design option for Sotnikov's antenna made of three squares

The options considered are not the only possible ones. There are many antenna designs for receiving television signals.

The following can be distinguished:

• Three-element wave channel. It is a rather complex structure of a horizontal strip on which two transverse stripes and a T-shaped frame are installed. A variant of this design is a four-element wave channel containing three crossbars and one T-shaped structure.
• Double square (Sotnikov antenna). It has a gain of 10–13 dB, consists of two square frames located parallel and connected by a crossbar. A variant of the design is a triple square, the author of which belongs to the same Sotnikov. The amplification capacity is higher - around 14–15 dB.
• Turkin antenna. The gain of this design is more than 15 dB. It consists of six rings of different diameters, mounted on a horizontal dielectric support rod. The device requires a fairly careful calculation of the diameter of the rings and the distance between them.

Video: How to make an antenna for digital TV with your own hands

The transition of television to a digital format occurred in order to eliminate interference, increase transmission quality, more reliable reception and compact equipment. The need to use your own antenna is due to a large amount of interference or distance from the repeater. In the absence of the possibility of purchasing a factory-made sample, which is quite expensive and is not always available for sale, it is quite possible to make a home-made device, since this is not particularly difficult.

High-quality antennas have always been difficult to obtain - the Soviet industry practically did not produce them, so people made them themselves from improvised materials. Today the situation has not changed much - in stores you can only find lightweight aluminum Chinese crafts, which do not show good results and rarely last more than a year. What to do if you like to watch TV, but there is no quality reception? The answer is simple - make a television antenna with your own hands. Given free time and a pair of skillful hands, anyone can handle this.

Introduction

More recently, analogue television operated in Russia, but now almost the entire country has switched to digital broadcasting. Its main difference is that it operates in the decimeter range.

You can create a homemade antenna for the digital range at home

This was done for reasons of economy and safety - maintenance of transmitting antenna-feeder stations is virtually not required, their maintenance is reduced to a minimum, and the harm from contact with powerful transmitters for masters is minimal. But such stations have one serious drawback - low power. And if in a big city the signal can often be caught even on a piece of copper wire, then far from the transmitter, reception may be difficult. If you live outside the city, in remote areas or villages, you will have to assemble your own antenna and take it outside to catch the desired signal.

Attention: Signal problems can occur even in the city center. Decimeter waves are practically not dampened by other sources, but are reflected from thick reinforced concrete walls. In modern high-rise buildings there are many places where they are completely attenuated before reaching the TV receiver.

It's also worth noting that DVB-T2 (the new TV standard) offers a fairly constant but weak signal. When the noise level is one and a half to two units higher than normal, the TV reproduces the broadcast quite clearly, but as soon as the noise exceeds 2 dB, the signal disappears completely. Digital television is not sensitive to electromagnetic interference - it is not knocked down by a running refrigerator or microwave. But if a mismatch occurs anywhere in the system, the picture stops or falls apart. A high-quality homemade TV antenna will solve this problem, but in some cases it will have to be taken outside or onto the roof.

Basic requirements for antennas

The current television standards in the USSR do not fit modern realities - the protective and directional coefficients today have virtually no effect on the signals. The airwaves in cities are clogged and contain a lot of dirt, so you shouldn’t pay attention to these coefficients. You are guaranteed to get interference on any antennas, so there is no need to reduce the efficiency factor and efficiency factor. It is better to improve the antenna gain so that it receives a wide range of airwaves and selects the desired stream, rather than focusing on a specific signal. The processor of the set-top box or TV itself will isolate the necessary signals and create a normal picture.

Classic Polish antenna with amplifier

So, how to make a TV antenna with your own hands? Experienced engineers recommend building band antennas. They must be correctly calculated, receiving signals in a classical way, and not through engineering “optimizations” and traps. The ideal option is that the device fully complies with theoretical calculations and geometry. Also, the constructed antenna must be consistent with the cable at operating ranges without the use of matching devices. In this case, it is best to create a frequency response that is smooth and even, since when the amplitude-frequency response dips or jumps, phase distortions appear.

Attention: analog antennas with ferrite USS, which provide full reception of the old signal, practically do not work with DVB. You need to build a “digital” antenna.

In the article we will analyze modern types of antennas that work with new digital broadcasting.

Antenna types

What antennas for digital TV can you assemble yourself at home? There are three most common options:

1. All-wave, or as radio amateurs call it, frequency-independent. It is assembled very quickly and does not require high knowledge or specialized tools. Well suited for the private sector, villages, dacha cooperatives - where the airwaves are not clogged with garbage, but not too far from the transmitter.
2. Do it yourself log periodic band TV antenna. It has a simple design and receives the signal well at close and medium distances from the transmitter. Can be used as a remote antenna if the transmitter is located far away, or as a home wall antenna.
3. Z-antenna and its variations. Many radio amateurs are familiar with meter-long “zeshki” - they are quite large and require a lot of effort to assemble. But in the decimeter range they are quite compact and do their job well.

Nuances of construction

If you want to build a quality antenna, you must master the art of soldering. You cannot twist the contacts and guides - during operation they oxidize, the signal is lost, and the picture quality deteriorates. Therefore, all connections are soldered.

Such connections are unacceptable - be sure to solder them

You also need to deal with points of zero potential, where currents arise even in the absence of voltage. Experts recommend making them from a single piece of metal, without using welding at all. Even well-welded pieces can make noise at the boundary values, while a solid strip will “pull out” the signal.

Also, when creating a homemade antenna for digital TV, you need to deal with soldering cables. Today, copper is practically not used for braiding, since it is expensive and quickly oxidizes. Modern braiding is made of steel, which is not afraid of corrosion, but it is very difficult to solder. It should not be overheated or squeezed. For connections, use 36-40 watt soldering irons, flux and light solders. Dip the winding well into the flux and apply solder - it takes up perfectly with this method of application.

All-wave antenna

The all-wave antenna has a fairly simple design. It consists of triangles, copper wire and wooden slats. You can study the design in more detail in the picture - it does not represent anything supernatural.

The thickness of the wire can be any, the distance between adjacent wires is 25-30 mm, the distance between the plates is no more than 10 mm. The design can be improved by eliminating plates and using PCB. It needs to be given the appropriate shape or simply remove the copper foil in the shape of a triangle.

The remaining proportions are standard - the height of the device must match the width, the plates diverge at right angles. Zero potential is located at the extreme line of the home TV antenna, just at the intersection of the cable with the vertical guide. To avoid loss of quality, the cable must be tied to it with a tie - this is enough for coordination. Such an antenna, hung outside or directed at a window, receives virtually the entire frequency range, but has a slight dip, so you need to set the correct angle when fixing the antenna.

By the way, this design can be modernized using ordinary aluminum beer and cola cans. The principle of its operation is as follows: as the shoulder span increases, the working band expands, although other indicators remain within the original limits. The Nadenenko dipole, often used in military developments, works on the same principle. Aluminum cans are ideal in shape and size, creating vibrator arms in the decimeter range.

Two-can antenna for TV

You can create a simple can antenna by simply soldering two cans to a cable. This DIY indoor TV antenna is suitable for watching channels at a short to medium distance from transmitters. There is no need to coordinate anything in this scheme, especially if the cable length is less than 2 meters.

You can complicate the design by assembling a full-fledged array from eight cans and using an amplifier from a regular Polish antenna. This design is perfect for hanging outdoors in areas remote from the transmitter. To enhance the signal, a metal mesh can be placed at the back of the structure.

Z antenna

Complex Z-antenna designs with multiple loops exist, but in most cases they are not needed. You can easily assemble a structure from ordinary copper wire 3 mm thick. If you don’t have one, then just buy a 3 mm single-core copper wire 120 mm long - this will be enough for your work. This design consists of two segments. We bend the wire according to this pattern:

1. The starting section is 14 centimeters long. Its edge is bent into a loop to connect with the last one (loop 1 cm, total length of the first piece - 13 cm).
2. The second piece is bent at 90 degrees (it is better to bend it with pliers to maintain the angles). Its length is 14 cm.
3. The third piece is bent 90 degrees parallel to the first, length 14 cm.
4. The fourth and fifth pieces are 13 cm each, the bend does not reach the loop by 2 cm.
5. The sixth and seventh pieces are 14 cm each, bent at 90 degrees.
6. Eighth - returns to the loop, length 14, 1 cm goes to a new loop.

Next, you need to thoroughly strip the two loops and solder them. The opposite corner is also cleaned. The cable contacts are soldered to them - one is central, the other is braided. There is no difference which contact to solder to.. It is advisable to insulate the soldered areas; for this you can use sealants or hot-melt adhesive. The ends of the cable are soldered to the plug and also insulated with cambric.

You can assemble such an antenna in half an hour.

To avoid displacement of segments, the edges can be strengthened. To do this, take a regular plastic cap from a five-liter bottle, cut 4 slits in it so that the wire is recessed to the base. Cut the fifth hole for the cable. Then place the antenna in the cover (after checking the quality and reliability of the soldering), and fill it with hot-melt adhesive. The resulting design will be practically eternal - it is capable of receiving a stable signal at a distance of up to 10 km from the source.

So, you already know what you can use instead of an antenna for a TV. In fact, the structures are much larger than those we described, but even these will be quite enough for you. If you live far from the signal source, then you will need amplifying antennas - you can get by with a classic “polka” with amplification. Well, if everything is bad with the airwaves, then use satellites.

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A simple antenna for receiving digital TV - we do it ourselves

Digital television T2 is gaining momentum in popularity. And this is natural, analogue television is being replaced by digital television and this is an irreversible process. Moreover, in the near future, analogue broadcasting will be stopped altogether. What should users who have TVs without a T2 receiver and no cable television do?

The answer is simple - buy a T2 set-top box. Today, the price of T2 consoles has dropped greatly and does not look exorbitant. The advantages are quite large: you get many channels in digital quality, without a monthly fee, at minimal costs and without buying a new TV.

Only by comparing the quality of digital and analog TV will you never regret your choice.

Quite a lot has been written on the choice of T2 receivers. Moreover, new models are constantly being released. I would advise you to take an inexpensive, but new model, after reading reviews on online store sites. As a rule, any receiver works, but the antenna is of great importance. Even if you are close to a TV tower, but are blocked by high-rise buildings, etc.

- and this is almost always the case, then a good antenna is the key to problem-free (and most importantly, stress-free) high-quality reception of the maximum number of digital TV channels.

But an expensive antenna is not always a good antenna. Especially if you are 50 km or more away from the TV tower. Stores offer “special” antennas for T2. In fact, there is nothing “special”; you need a good antenna for the DCM range.

If you still have an old DCM antenna, try connecting it first. Widespread “Polish” antennas are not suitable for receiving T2 digital channels.

I offer a proven option that is simple, but at the same time has proven itself, homemade antenna for T2.

The shape of the antenna is not new; it has been used for a long time and when receiving DCM analog television, but the dimensions are optimized for receiving T2 digital channels.
It is worth noting that the Internet offers a large number of options for homemade antennas for T2: from beer cans, from the antenna cable itself, a converted Polish one, etc.

This is for the completely lazy, and you shouldn’t expect quality from such antennas.

So. The long-known “figure eight” was taken as the shape of the antenna. The antenna body is made of any conductive material of suitable cross-section. This can be copper or aluminum wire with a thickness of 1 to 5 mm, a tube, strip, busbar, corner, profile.

Copper is, of course, preferable. I used 6mm diameter copper tube. Copper wire is also a good option. I just had such a pipe.

Dimensions

The outer side of the square is 14 cm, the inner side is slightly smaller - 13 cm. Due to this, the middle of the two squares does not converge, leaving a gap of about 2 cm.
In total, you will need a tube, wire or other material 115 cm long (with a small margin).

The first section is 13 cm + 1 cm for a loop (for strength), if made of wire, or riveted for overlapping soldering for a tube.

The second and third - 14 cm each, the fourth and fifth - 13 cm each, the sixth and seventh - 14 cm each, and the last eighth - 13 cm + 1 cm, again for connection.

We strip the ends by 1.5 - 2 cm, twist the two loops behind each other, and then solder the joint. This will be one cable connection pin. After 2 cm another.

From a copper tube it looks like this

It’s a little more difficult to bend the tube, but we don’t need much precision.

Minor flaws in the shape do not affect the performance of the antenna. But the fact that the conductor area increases is a plus.

Well, the conductivity of copper is higher than that of aluminum and, especially, steel. The higher the conductivity, the better the antenna reception.

The connection prepared for soldering is first riveted and cleaned.

For soldering you need to use a powerful soldering iron (from 150 W). Simple amateur radio at 30 watts. don't solder. You can use acid for soldering.

Check the geometry again and solder the connection

All simple DIY antenna for T2 ready.

If you are not particularly bothered by the aesthetic appearance, you can simply attach the antenna to a glazing bead or any other available holder. This antenna was located in the attic, so the simplest mounting method was used - electrical tape. If the antenna will be placed outdoors, take care of more aesthetic and reliable mounting.

This is a version of the T2 antenna made of aluminum wire with a diameter of 3 mm.

Secure with one screw to the window. The distance to the TV tower is about 25 km. True, the 6th floor, I didn’t check it below, but under these conditions the signal level is 100% and the quality is 100%. The cable is old, 12 meters to the TV. Receives all 32 channels. At first I was worried that it wasn’t copper, but as it turned out, it was in vain. Everything worked out perfectly on ordinary aluminum wire (which happened to be available). That is, if you have a reliable reception zone, then you don’t have to bother and feel free to use aluminum (I don’t know, maybe steel will do).

This antenna does not use any amplifiers. It is very easy to set up - turn it according to the maximum signal level and quality on the channels of your tuner.

DIY digital antenna

Check other channels and fix the antenna. If reception is poor, you can experiment with not only rotating, but also changing location and height. Very often, the signal can be many times stronger if the antenna is shifted only 0.5-1 m to the side or in height.

Good luck - the antenna has been tested - 100% functional and better than at least half, or even more, of purchased antennas, where they save on everything and sell garbage for good money.

Types of television receiving antennas

Split vibrator (dipole)

There are dipoles: wave, half-wave, quarter-wave.
Wave vibrators have a length equal to the wavelength of the received signal, half-wave - half, quarter-wave - quarter. The characteristic impedance of the dipole is 300 Ohms, therefore, to match the television cable and television in amateur conditions, a matching half-wave loop made from a piece of television cable is used.

The reduction cable (for all TV antennas) must have a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms. A dipole is an analogue of the indoor antenna that comes with TVs.
Well-known antennas: Locus, Delta and the like, in the meter range, are a split dipole that is matched with the cable using a special transformer.
Antenna properties: broadband.

Gain: 1 dB. The radiation pattern has front and rear lobes of equal size, so it “catches” radio waves in the operating band from all directions, the useful signal and interference with equal success.

The tilt of the vibrators has a slight effect on the gain and radiation pattern of the antenna.

Combined antenna: meter - split dipole, decimeter - log periodic

The loop vibrator is a single-channel antenna.

Gain: 1 dB. Radiation pattern with equal front and rear lobes.

Used as a reference antenna.

Antenna type "wave channel"

The loop vibrator is not used individually and is the active part for wave channel antennas. The "wave channel" antenna is a set of an active element - a vibrator (usually a loop vibrator) and passive elements - a reflector and several directors installed on one common boom.

Passive vibrators located in front of the active vibrator (in the direction of the television center) are called directors. Vibrators located behind the active vibrator are called reflectors.

The reflector serves to weaken the reception of signals from the rear of the antenna, which improves the noise immunity of the over-the-air antenna. As the number of directors increases, the width of the antenna pattern narrows and its gain increases. For long (more than 15 elements) antennas, the gain can be considered to increase by approximately 2.2 dB for every doubling of the antenna length.

It should be noted that one trouble is associated with the use of multi-element antennas of the “wave channel” type: when passive elements are added to the loop vibrator, the input impedance of the antenna decreases. For consumers this does not matter, since all antennas are equipped with a matching transformer. The uniformity of the antenna's frequency response strongly depends on the quality of its matching with the cable and the TV; with a slight mismatch, the unevenness increases and individual television channels will be “caught” with attenuation.

In some cases, the best result is obtained by a log-periodic antenna, which has a lower gain (with an equal number of elements) but a more uniform frequency response.

Antenna type "wave channel"
Dual element antennas	Three element antennas	Five element antennas
are rarely used, since their characteristics are not much better than those of a single vibrator.	Gain: 5.1-5.6 dB. The front lobe of the radiation pattern is larger than the rear lobe, the opening angle is 70 degrees.	Gain: 8.6-8.9 dB. The front lobe of the radiation pattern is larger than the rear lobe, the opening angle is 50 degrees.
Seven element antenna type	Eleven element antennas	Sixteen element antennas
Gain is approximately 10 dB. The front lobe of the radiation pattern is larger than the rear lobe.	Gain is approximately 12 dB. The front lobe of the radiation pattern is larger than the rear lobe.	Gain is approximately 13.5 dB. The front lobe of the radiation pattern is larger than the rear lobe

Lumax antenna "Wave channel", 6-12 channel

Antennas of the "Wave Channel" type are widely used in various professional radio communication and radar devices.

Most industrially manufactured collective and individual television antennas are also “Wave Channel” antennas. This is due to the fact that such antennas are quite compact and provide high gain with relatively small dimensions.

Log-periodic antennas

Log-periodic antennas— broadband antennas that provide reception of TV channels in a wide range of frequencies: meter and decimeter waves.

The operating frequency band of a log-periodic antenna at low frequencies is limited by the sizes of the largest and smallest antenna vibrators. In the operating range, good matching of the antenna with the feeder is ensured, and the gain remains practically constant. A log-periodic antenna with a number of vibrators equal to 10-11 is equivalent in gain to a three- to four-element antenna of the “Wave Channel” type. At the same time, a log-periodic antenna operates in a much wider frequency band than an antenna of the “Wave Channel” type, which allows one antenna to receive meter and decimeter wave TV channels.

The feeder is connected to the LPA without a special balancing and matching device. A cable with a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms is inserted into the lower pipe from the end and exits at the end, which is directed to the television center, here the cable braid is connected to the end of the lower pipe, and the central core is connected to the end of the upper pipe.
Operating principle: depending on the wavelength of the received signal, several vibrators are excited in the antenna structure, the dimensions of which are closest to half the wavelength of the signal, which in principle resembles several “Wave Channel” antennas connected together, each of which contains a vibrator, a reflector and director.

At a given signal wavelength, only one trio of vibrators is excited, and the rest are so detuned that they do not affect the operation of the antenna. This leads to the fact that the gain of the LPA turns out to be less than the gain of the Wave Channel antenna with the same number of elements, but the bandwidth is much wider.

By analogy with amplifiers, the “antenna gain area”: the product (GA) by the width (W) is a constant value, therefore, the wider the bandwidth, the lower the gain for given antenna dimensions.

Log-periodic antenna REMO, 6-69 TV channel

A log-periodic antenna is used in the area of ​​reliable reception of TV channels, to receive a large number of TV channels in favorable reception conditions (no interference or reflected TV signals).

Loop antennas

Loop antennas are intended for conditions of reception of TV channels, when the simplest antennas or antennas of the “wave channel” type cannot provide satisfactory image quality on the TV screen.

Two- or three-element loop antennas are used, which are otherwise referred to as “double square” or “triple square”, respectively. Loop antennas combine increased gain with simplicity of design with a relatively narrow bandwidth and do not require tuning.

Practical applications as television receiving antennas are rarely found. They were widely distributed (homemade versions) in the “Soviet era”, when there was a shortage of television antennas on sale.
"Double square" Single channel. Gain: 9-11 dB.

Characteristic impedance is about 70 Ohms. The front lobe of the radiation pattern is significantly larger than the rear lobe.
"Triple square" Single channel. Gain: 14-15 dB. Characteristic impedance is about 70 Ohms. The front lobe of the radiation pattern is significantly larger than the rear lobe.

Common Mode Antenna Arrays

Common Mode Antenna Array is a complex directional antenna system consisting of individual weakly directional antennas, spaced apart in space and located in such a way that the phases of the signals induced in them are the same.

As a rule, a common-mode array is assembled from identical antennas arranged in several rows and several floors. The use of several antennas connected in an in-phase array instead of one antenna leads to a narrowing of the radiation pattern and an increase in the gain compared to the gain of a single antenna included in the array.
Single channel.

Gain - increases in the range from 4 to 5 dB when the number of antennas in the array doubles. Characteristic impedance approximately 70 ohms. The front lobe of the radiation pattern is several times larger than the rear lobe.

Common-mode array from Channel Master, USA

"Polish" antennas

They are a four-story in-phase array equipped with a built-in amplifier.

How to make an antenna for digital TV with your own hands

They have a reflector in the form of a grid located behind the antenna. Polish antennas became widespread in the early 90s, when the antenna market was not very diverse. Actually, this was not a Polish idea, the developments were from Philips and other well-known companies, the Poles made a cheap, affordable option.

The array is equipped with a built-in antenna amplifier and shows good results for receiving remote television signals from TV channels 6 to 69. Due to its cheapness, the antenna design is very fragile and short-lived, and the long whiskers of the meter range instantly bend under the weight of birds or the influence of wind and lose their receiving properties.

Amplifiers are not protected from electrostatic electricity and often “fly out” during a thunderstorm. The antenna is poorly protected from interference, and often the “excited” amplifier is itself a source of interference.

The antenna is not suitable for use in urban environments.
All-wave. Gain - own on UHF 13-14 dB, with an amplifier up to 40 dB. Characteristic impedance - 75 Ohms with matching transformer.

Traveling wave antennas

Traveling wave antennas It is customary to call directional antennas, along the geometric axis of which the traveling wave of the received signal propagates, these are aperiodic antennas.

Typically, a traveling wave antenna consists of a collecting line to which several vibrators are connected, located at the same distance from one another. The EMF induced by the electromagnetic field in the vibrators is added to the collecting line in phase and enters the feeder.

The gain of a traveling wave antenna is determined by the length of the collecting line and is proportional to the ratio of this length to the wavelength of the received signal. In addition, the antenna gain depends on the directional properties of the vibrators connected to the collecting line. In a traveling wave antenna, all vibrators are active; the signal energy they receive is transferred to the collecting line. If “Wave Channel” antennas are narrowband and are capable of effectively receiving a signal only through one specific frequency channel, to which their size corresponds, then traveling wave antennas are broadband and do not need tuning at all.

Combined antenna: meter, traveling wave, decimeter, “wave” channel from Channel Master, USA. Reception radius up to 60 miles

Combined antenna: meter, traveling wave, decimeter, “wave” channel from Channel Master, USA.

Reception radius up to 100 miles

As can be seen in the pictures: in the first case, the working band of the antenna is formed by inclined vibrators of various lengths, in the second case, the working band is formed using vibrators of two types and different sizes.

These antennas are not widely used in Russia, but these antennas, without exaggeration, are an installer’s dream. The working conditions for installers on the roof are not a gift: snow and wind, frost and ice, rain and scorching sun. Assembling antennas in such conditions is not easy, but you take the Channel Master out of the box, straighten the vibrators until they are fixed in special clamps, and the antenna is ready for installation.

The price of these antennas is comparable to tri-band antennas, they are mechanically durable and have good receiving characteristics. Two types of antennas are available with different numbers of vibrators.

Good afternoon, V.Yu.
The visitor in the latest posts with experience on FM radio antennas is me. The antenna turned out to be easy to manufacture and I decided to repeat it for FM reception and compare it with previously made ones, by ear, instrumentation, and ease of use. The goal was to obtain a signal with a minimum of interference for high-quality radio sound in stereo mode. I made two antennas. The first one is made of wire 3 mm thick. The second is made of metal-plastic. Made from metal plastic it turned out to be a little better in terms of the level of received signals. By ear - less low frequencies, more high frequencies and distinctness of each instrument in the orchestra.
Measurement method - there is a receiver with a signal level indicator in decibels. We number the FM stations and look at the level of the received signal from the station in dB, then we sum up all the values. We obtain the numerical value of the antenna based on the received signal level parameter. All antennas were placed under the same directional conditions. A wire on a window 303 cm long in the form of a rectangle with a gap on the larger side of 2 cm (51 cm x 102 cm) - has a value of 491 dB, a directional loop phased loop antenna made of wire - 459 dB, the same one made of metal - 485 dB. As can be seen from the presented values, a metal-plastic antenna is comparable to a full-size frame equal to the wavelength of the middle FM range.
Now on to the manufacturing technology. It is somewhat different from yours and is made without soldering. The base is a rail (30 x 6 x 3 cm). Remained from renovation (2 pieces). Wire antenna - circumference 75 cm (quarter wave mid FM range). Two circles of the same length. We take a light self-tapping screw (not dark - it has a cone head) with a flat head for a Phillips screwdriver. We make a hole in the rail with a drill or other method so that the wire enters the hole with little resistance. You can slightly bend the ends of the wire for this purpose. We insert the two ends of the loop into the hole in the rail and do not connect them to each other (leave 5 mm between the ends of the loop). We do the same with the second loop at the other end of the rail. The distance from the end of the rail is 1 cm. We screw the screws on top of the rail so that the end of the screw fits into the loop wire at the end. This ensures contact of the coax with the frame. We screw the central core of the coaxial and the braiding on different sides of the frame under the self-tapping screws. For example, the central core is on the left, and the braid is on the right in the direction from the beginning of the rail to its end. We lay the coaxial between the frames and attach it to the screws (screw it under the screw head). The second loop is also attached and the ends of the coaxial are secured under the screws securing the second loop. The descent is in the form of a coaxial - I got a length of 7.5 meters, we fasten it under the screws of one of the frames (the central core is on the left, and the braid is on the right. We tighten everything - the screws ensure contact of the wires with each other with the head, and contact with the loop with the end. The distance between with self-tapping screws - 2 cm We connect the other end of the coaxial cable to the receiver through the connector you need. That's it - the antenna is ready.
Metal-plastic differs in manufacturability. 20 mm pipe, also after repair. Bent into a ring without any problems. The length of the loop is 75 - 1.5 cm (as recommended in the article) = 73.5 cm. Attaching the loop to the rail is also a self-tapping screw, but of a larger size so that it goes through the metal-plastic and is well secured to the wood, by 10-15 mm. There is a distance of 1 cm between the ends of one loop. The screws from the end of the loop are still at a distance of 0.5 cm. We get a distance of 2 cm between the screws of one loop. We lay a piece of plastic between the loops and fasten it with screws to the rail, so that the coax can be inserted inside. We connect the coax in the same way as in the first case to the ends of the loop, the central core and the braid. We ground the tube between the antenna loops (connect it to the braid). We insert a piece of coax into the pipe between the loops, connect the c.z. and braid. We also connect the reduction coaxial to the self-tapping screws of one of the loops (central ring and braid). We first clean the ends of the loops from vinyl to aluminum so that the head of the screw presses the wires to the aluminum and at the same time secures the loop to the wooden batten.
With all respect, Andrew

Digital encoding of the television signal allows it to be delivered to the receiver while minimizing any losses. To support the technology, the TV needs an antenna for DVB-T2. Making such a device with your own hands is much cheaper than buying a ready-made one, paying about 3 thousand rubles for it. Terrestrial digital television displaces all similar types of signal transmission, while offering high-quality broadcasting and a variety of channels.

Changes on air

Making an antenna for an old-style tube TV was considered prestigious at one time and showed the level of skill; in the modern world, interest in homemade devices does not fade, and many make DVB-T2 over-the-air antennas with their own hands. Manufacturers of industrial equipment adapt to the changed reception conditions by connecting modern electronics to standard well-known designs, completely ignoring the fact that the main condition for the operation of the antenna is its interaction with the terrestrial signal.

In recent years, almost all broadcasting occurs in the DVB-T2 range, which reduces the cost and simplifies, from an economic point of view, the antenna-feeder system of transmission stations. Periodic maintenance requires fewer highly qualified personnel, and their work becomes less harmful and dangerous.

Television broadcast transmitters cover all large cities and sparsely populated villages with signals, so catching waves from unattended low-power stations in remote areas becomes important if you install an antenna for DVB-T2 reception, made with your own hands from scrap materials.

Due to the expanded construction of reinforced concrete buildings within the city, the conditions for signal propagation in populated areas have changed significantly. Multi-storey buildings with a metal frame are like mirrors, reflecting waves several times until they are completely attenuated.

There are many TV channels broadcast on the air today. A digital signal differs from others in that it either exists or it doesn’t; there is no middle position. Other transmission systems differ in that the channels perceive interference differently, which reduces their broadcast quality, and sometimes the image may simply disappear. A self-made antenna for DVB-T2 will allow you to receive the same signal for all channels that show the same high-quality picture.

The digital broadcasting signal is special in that it is not affected by interference; if it is one and a half decibels higher than the noise, then good reception is achieved. Signal dropout is affected by cable mismatch or phase distortion at any point in the transmission from the camera to the tuner, and the image can be scattered into small pieces even with a strong signal.

Basic features for making an antenna

Before making DVB-T2 with your own hands, you should study the principle of its operation.

To capture a digital signal, it is required that it can be very simply constructed, even from a simple cable, after making the correct calculation.

The theory says that digital signals are easily transmitted in the UHF range and can be received by any type of antenna, but in reality this does not always work out.

You can make a television antenna yourself at minimal cost and without the help of others, but you should remember that the resulting device is inferior in reception quality to professional devices.

Requirements for antennas

New conditions for broadcasting, distribution and on-air reception have changed the basic requirements that DIY TV antennas must meet. DVB-T2 has abolished the previously significant directional and protective coefficients. In modern devices they do not matter, since the air is polluted, and even small penetrating interference can only be dealt with using electronic means. At the same time, the antenna's own gain (GA) plays an important role.

An antenna that tracks the air well has a power reserve for the received signal, which allows the electronics to sift it from interference and noise. A modern antenna for DVB-T2, made with your own hands, preserves electrical parameters in a natural way, and does not adapt to acceptable parameters using engineering techniques. It is consistent over the entire operating frequency range without the use of balancing devices.

Antenna amplitude and frequency characteristics

The antenna is made as smooth as possible; phase distortions arise due to sharp emissions and dips. Single-frequency antennas are stretched to an acceptable noise-to-signal ratio, thus allowing them to receive up to 40 channels. But they are additionally equipped with matching amplifiers, which absorb waves or distort phase indicators.

The most effective digital DVB-T2 antenna is made by yourself:

• frequency-independent - with low performance, but cheap and easy to manufacture, designed in a short period of time, designed for reception in relatively clean air at a short distance from the transmitted station;
• periodic band, catching all waves in space, ideally sorting them, which has a simple design, ideally works in tandem with a freeder throughout the entire reception range.

If we talk about design, the simplest DVB-T2 antenna is made by hand in the “eight”, “Polish” and “square” versions.

Figure-of-eight antenna

Refers to easily constructed devices, made like a standard figure eight, from which the reflector is removed. The ideal material is an aluminum strip, corner, tube, tire, or other profile. The top dimension is 140 mm, the side length is 130 mm, but these dimensions are given as a guide; during manufacturing they should not be kept exactly to the millimeter.

To begin with, cut a wire 112 cm long, begin to bend the first part 140 mm long, of which 130 mm goes to the antenna, and 10 mm remains for the loop. The next two sections are bent equally to a length of 140 mm, the next two - 130 mm, the next pair - 140 mm, then another 140 mm, then - 130 mm and make a second loop. The connections are pre-cleaned, connected and soldered; they are also contacts for fastening the cable core.

Stripping the cable and plug is done using a scalpel and a file. After soldering, the joints are sealed and secured with glue from a hot gun. If we talk about the plug, then the glue is poured into the solder joint, then into the cavity of the cap, the excess is then removed. The joint is assembled so quickly that the adhesive mass does not harden. The result is an eternal, strong and elastic connection. To make contact, we strip the ends of the cable from the plug side by 1 cm, from the antenna side by 2 cm.

When connecting by soldering, a do-it-yourself indoor digital DVB-T2 antenna is also sealed with glue, where it is recommended to install a rigid frame at the point of contact according to the size of the joint. If the device is made for yourself and will be rigidly fixed during operation, and transfer is not needed, then the frame is not made. A device made of this type easily picks up digital signals in the direct line of sight of a television tower at a distance of up to 10 km when installed outdoors.

Using a “Polish” antenna

The “Polish” antenna received its name during the times of the former Soviet Union as a reliable device for receiving signals from Soviet television, as well as channels in the UHF range. Digital broadcasting is practically not received on it due to its low efficiency. Some amateurs are trying to bring the design to ideal by shortening the long decimeter mustache and removing the reflector. In some cases, such a change allows you to adjust the image in digital format, but it is impossible to guarantee a reliable result. Speaking about Polish devices, we can note the high-quality operation of the amplifier, which works effectively with a digital signal.

Antenna type "square"

This DIY indoor DVB-T2 antenna is a modified copy of the standard design, known as “three squares,” which has six components and a matching transformer. A homemade antenna of this type confidently copes with receiving digital TV channels at a distance of up to 10 km in a straight line; for longer distances a signal amplifier is required.

The antenna design is simple to implement. The main structural element consists of round aluminum wire and single-core wires. The wire is bent to obtain six squares and a matching tap is made, which is a high-frequency transformer, so that the cable and the DVB-T2 antenna with the amplifier match the signal. With their own hands they solder the wires to the points, wrap them with copper wire and tin them with a soldering iron.

The cable is attached to the antenna with special clamps or using ordinary insulating tape. The cable is connected by placing a support, using a wooden plank or other material. When installing indoors or outside a building, the main condition is precise alignment with the television tower. This is done using a navigator; if there is no line of sight, the direction is clarified until the effect of receiving a powerful signal.

Antenna made from beer cans

The technology for manufacturing such an effective antenna is very simple and does not require special skills.

Using a thick awl or screwdriver, make neat holes in the neck of each of the two cans, then screw screws into them. The cable ends are freed from the braid, the copper wires are cleared of varnish with a knife, and they are attached under the screw heads. It is very good to solder the resulting connection, but not necessary.

The DVB-T2 digital antenna is almost made with your own hands; it remains on the prepared rail or pipe to secure the cans so that there is a distance of 7.5 cm between them. The second cable end is equipped with a standard plug that is connected to the receiver, the device is installed in the place where the signal is best recorded. Placing this type of device outdoors requires reliable protection from the weather. This is done with any waterproof material; large plastic bottles are often used. The antenna receives up to 15 satellite television channels and digital broadcasting.

Using Instruments and Amplification

At a certain distance from the television tower, the antenna is capable of receiving signals without installing additional amplifying devices. To receive a signal from a greater distance, use a wave amplifier with separate power supply. The device is installed near the tuner, and the matching device is made additionally; for its manufacture you need:

• potentiometer for gain adjustment;
• standard decoupled throttles L4 and L3;
• coils L2 and L1 are wound according to dimensions from the directory;
• a metal screen to separate the output circuits from the device circuit.

The amplifiers are placed no further than 3 meters from the place where the DVB-T2 cable antenna is installed, which receives power from its own unit with its contacts. When installing an antenna near a broadcasting tower, it is not recommended to use an additional amplifier, since a strong signal degrades the image and has an additional effect on the entire structure. The recommended cable length is three meters; a larger wire will lead to imbalance of the balun.

Application of a symmetrizer

This device is needed for any type of antenna, and it does not matter whether it was made at a factory or in a craftsman’s workshop. A self-made antenna for DVB-T2 produces good image quality when connected to a tuner. If the cable length is more than 10 m, then when installed outside the building, inconsistencies in the resistance of the external space and the cable arise. In this case, it is necessary to use a symmetrizer in a comprehensive antenna solution, which greatly improves the quality of the image on the screen.

Cable laying and antenna installation

The main rule is to install the antenna at a height. If this cannot be done in the room, you need to move the device to an external wall. To install an antenna in a private building, digital broadcasting operators rely on a device height of 10 m. If the antenna is located on the ground floor of a house, then nearby metal structures and industrial facilities cause poor reception.

When placing the antenna under a canopy or the roof of a house, pay attention to the roofing material - it should not contain a metallized coating or spraying. Metal tiles, corrugated sheets, iron or foil insulation create significant interference with the reception of digital television signals.

For high-mounted receiving antennas on a metal mast or pin, a steel rod of at least one meter in size is provided, to which a grounding wire is connected. The device located on the roof is included in the general grounding system of the house.

The cable is not routed through smoke and ventilation ducts, and is not hung on existing electrical wires, even if they look more than reliable. The holes in the walls are placed at an angle so that moisture from the street does not flow into the room; special commercially available plugs are used. If the antenna is made well and correctly, take a cable and wall sockets of high quality, since after the final finishing of the walls it is difficult to redo the cable in the wall and replace it with a more reliable one.

Compliance with safety precautions when installing the antenna

Before installing or adjusting an already mounted antenna at a height, make sure that this action is safe:

• do not climb onto weakly secured and shaky structures; if working at height is associated with danger, be sure to wear a mounting belt and attach it to a fixed part of the building structure;
• The assistant is not allowed to hold the end without first securing it; if he falls, the assistant will not be able to hold his body weight in his hands;
• It is forbidden to climb to a height alone, when structures are icing, to walk on an old roof, or to step on connecting seams;
• It is prohibited to install the antenna in rain and fog.

In conclusion, it should be said that it is quite simple to make your own receiving device in order to watch digital television. DVB-T2, a home-made antenna, is almost as good in quality (if you follow the right technology) as store-bought counterparts. The cost of materials will allow you to save a decent amount of money, which is important for some people.