Terrestrial digital television has firmly entered our lives. But the issue of acquiring a high-quality inexpensive antenna has always remained relevant. In our article we will tell you how to make an antenna for digital television with your own hands, the so-called Kharchenko zigzag. This antenna is not inferior, but in many respects it surpasses purchased analogues. We will also teach you how to calculate the antenna for the frequency of the channel on which digital television is broadcast in your region.
Content:
Read also: The ideal TV antenna for a summer residence or a country house: tips for choosing the right signal receiver, an overview of popular manufacturers
Materials for manufacturing
To make antenna, you will need:
- copper wire ø3 mm;
- soldering iron;
- knife;
- pliers;
- junction box;
- glue gun;
- antenna cable and connector;
- ruler, marker;
- TV, for testing.
Step 1. Calculate the antenna
The principle of operation of the selected antenna option is based on the fact that the perimeter of each of its squares is equal to the wavelength at which digital television broadcasts.
To calculate the wavelength, you need to divide its speed (the speed of light) by the frequency (i.e. the formula for the wavelength in meters is 300/frequency in MHz). If the signal is transmitted on different channels, you can calculate the antenna for the average of them, because the antenna is wide enough.
In our example, we will make an antenna for a television signal transmitted at a frequency of 690 MHz. It is easy to calculate that the wavelength is ≈0.42 m, which means that one side of the square is 10.5 cm.
Step 2. We make an antenna
We cut and align a piece of copper wire 1 m long.
We outline eight segments of 10.5 cm on the wire.
We bend the wire along the marks at an angle of 90 degrees, so that the result is two squares connected by vertices.
We bite off the excess wire, leaving a little for soldering.
We clean the place of soldering, as well as the adjacent vertices of the squares - the antenna wire will be soldered to them.
We solder the ends of the wire. This must be done with a powerful enough soldering iron to warm the wire well at the place of soldering.
We clean and tin the antenna cable.
We solder the central core to the top of one square, and the braid to the top of the second.
Since the antenna is usually used outdoors, protect the solder points by placing the center of the antenna in a junction box.
Cut the box to the desired height.
We make grooves for the wire and antenna cable with a soldering iron.
We fill the voids in the box and the places of soldering with hot-melt adhesive, reliably protecting them from the weather.
We close the box. Solder the antenna connector to the other end of the cable. Our antenna is ready.
Step 3. Testing
We place the antenna in the intended place (window opening, as in the example, a wall or roof of a house, etc.).
We connect the connector to the TV and start the automatic search for channels. As you can see, the image on the screen is clear, without interference.
Do-it-yourself television antenna for digital television
Powerful do-it-yourself homemade digital television antenna
