Do the hangers have to be secured along the edge of the board or can you attach them to the flat of it? It seems like it'd be less likely to split the wood that way, but I'm not sure if it would affect the functionality.
@stygma19 You can install them on either the narrow or wide side of the board. It should not effect the functionality of the antenna at all, as long as they are spaced and oriented the same way! Personally I just thought it looked more streamlined doing it on the narrow side, the decision was mostly for aesthetics. I didn't have any problems with the wood splitting either just FYI, predrilling the holes definitely helps with that! Best of luck if you are building one!
Just to be picky here-- the antenna already is directional before the reflector-- it's bidirectional broadside to the elements. Adding the reflector makes it more unidirectional. But without the reflector it's still directional. You
@notvalidcharacters Do you mean multiple layers of chicken wire? If so, I do not believe this would accomplish much in terms of gain. At best you would gain a bit more directionality and it may help to cut out a slight amount of RF noise from other sources, but I do not believe it would be noticable. If you wanted to give it a try however, a flat piece of sheet metal or even tin/aluminum foil may be easier to work with than layering the chicken wire! That stuff is feisty!
@notvalidcharacters Very good point, I hadn't even thought of that, thanks for pointing it out! I was thinking purely in terms of unidirectional gain when I was building it (all of the transmitters I need to hit are clustered in one general direction) so it didn't even cross my mind to consider it without the reflector!
HOLA!!! GRACIAS A ESTE VIDEO PUDE CONSTRUIR MI PROPIA ANTENA, Y OBTUVE UNA GRAN CALIDAD EN MI LCD, INCLUSO SINTONIZA CANALES HD, GRACIAS. SALUDOS DESDE PUEBLA, MEXICO.
Nice instructional - I made my reflector using 1/2" hardware cloth - this is much stiffer and doesn't require any additional rods; might also be more effective as a reflector due to design. You can just ask for it at any hardware store they will know what it is. In Milwaukee, WI (about 10 miles away from city center) I get about 33 digital stations and 4 analog stations; of which about 10 are full time HDTV.
This is good, I do have some recommendations. Having worked with UHF, it would be far better to solder all connections. A lot of signal can be lost from connections that are crimped. Even the wires on the antenna should be soldered to the elements. I know this is hard for a coat hanger, so I recommend copper wire. The solder not only helps the signal but also will prevent corrosion that will occur on the connections over time.
Overall ifyou live in BC Canada don`t make one , I live 60 miles East of Vancouver BC and will not get a signal or > chaneks here in my location , cheers !
Do not attempt to make this Antenna for UK digital TV signals. It will only pick up the BBC channels and some others for a total of 7 DTV channels. When using a signal booster it only got about twenty or so DTV channels. In London you should be able to get 83 DTV channels (at the present time). I've even tried cutting the coat hanger length to 7" in an attempt to pick up UHF better and it doesn't work. Parts were obtained from Wilkinson and Maplin.
@FletcherHabit I am not positive, but I believe that as long as the material conducts electricity it should work. The reason I went out of my way to acquire metallic coat hangers instead of using the mass amounts of wire I already had on hand was that the wire was too flexible at the lengths I was cutting it here. The coat hanger core is quite a bit more rigid and so was more durable and less prone to lose it's shape.
Do the hangers have to be secured along the edge of the board or can you attach them to the flat of it? It seems like it'd be less likely to split the wood that way, but I'm not sure if it would affect the functionality.
stygma19 1 day ago
@stygma19 You can install them on either the narrow or wide side of the board. It should not effect the functionality of the antenna at all, as long as they are spaced and oriented the same way! Personally I just thought it looked more streamlined doing it on the narrow side, the decision was mostly for aesthetics. I didn't have any problems with the wood splitting either just FYI, predrilling the holes definitely helps with that! Best of luck if you are building one!
Scootchinman 6 hours ago
Just to be picky here-- the antenna already is directional before the reflector-- it's bidirectional broadside to the elements. Adding the reflector makes it more unidirectional. But without the reflector it's still directional. You
notvalidcharacters 1 week ago
@notvalidcharacters could also affix another layer behind the first chicken wire for additional gain, and another after that, etc.
notvalidcharacters 1 week ago
@notvalidcharacters Do you mean multiple layers of chicken wire? If so, I do not believe this would accomplish much in terms of gain. At best you would gain a bit more directionality and it may help to cut out a slight amount of RF noise from other sources, but I do not believe it would be noticable. If you wanted to give it a try however, a flat piece of sheet metal or even tin/aluminum foil may be easier to work with than layering the chicken wire! That stuff is feisty!
Scootchinman 6 hours ago
@notvalidcharacters Very good point, I hadn't even thought of that, thanks for pointing it out! I was thinking purely in terms of unidirectional gain when I was building it (all of the transmitters I need to hit are clustered in one general direction) so it didn't even cross my mind to consider it without the reflector!
Scootchinman 6 hours ago
HOLA!!! GRACIAS A ESTE VIDEO PUDE CONSTRUIR MI PROPIA ANTENA, Y OBTUVE UNA GRAN CALIDAD EN MI LCD, INCLUSO SINTONIZA CANALES HD, GRACIAS. SALUDOS DESDE PUEBLA, MEXICO.
MrGus83 2 months ago
@MrGus83 De nada. ¡Estoy alegre yo podría ayudar!
Scootchinman 5 hours ago
Nice instructional - I made my reflector using 1/2" hardware cloth - this is much stiffer and doesn't require any additional rods; might also be more effective as a reflector due to design. You can just ask for it at any hardware store they will know what it is. In Milwaukee, WI (about 10 miles away from city center) I get about 33 digital stations and 4 analog stations; of which about 10 are full time HDTV.
juswatchinintosa 2 months ago
@juswatchinintosa Hardware cloth is a fantastic idea! Can't believe I didn't think of that! Good call!
Scootchinman 2 months ago
i not like the eletric cable used in.
Move, and not right ligne. (cross or notcross).
i like all other thats.
bouybouy95 3 months ago
This is good, I do have some recommendations. Having worked with UHF, it would be far better to solder all connections. A lot of signal can be lost from connections that are crimped. Even the wires on the antenna should be soldered to the elements. I know this is hard for a coat hanger, so I recommend copper wire. The solder not only helps the signal but also will prevent corrosion that will occur on the connections over time.
Bill
billattx 4 months ago
@billattx Good call, thanks for the tip!
Scootchinman 2 months ago
very informative. thank you.
ZebbMassiv 4 months ago
Overall ifyou live in BC Canada don`t make one , I live 60 miles East of Vancouver BC and will not get a signal or > chaneks here in my location , cheers !
88s10Durango 4 months ago
Do not attempt to make this Antenna for UK digital TV signals. It will only pick up the BBC channels and some others for a total of 7 DTV channels. When using a signal booster it only got about twenty or so DTV channels. In London you should be able to get 83 DTV channels (at the present time). I've even tried cutting the coat hanger length to 7" in an attempt to pick up UHF better and it doesn't work. Parts were obtained from Wilkinson and Maplin.
icleave 4 months ago
Nice video can't you thread the bars on the back through the wire before screwing down?
hookie007 6 months ago
using wires instead of coat hangers/ solid thick gauge wire .. does it make a difference?
FletcherHabit 7 months ago
@FletcherHabit I am not positive, but I believe that as long as the material conducts electricity it should work. The reason I went out of my way to acquire metallic coat hangers instead of using the mass amounts of wire I already had on hand was that the wire was too flexible at the lengths I was cutting it here. The coat hanger core is quite a bit more rigid and so was more durable and less prone to lose it's shape.
Scootchinman 6 months ago
The gain must be about 14 dBi's
desenxuxator 7 months ago
those metal rods work great as dipoles also, but can cost more and be harder to bend and cut
dnstormdatabase 7 months ago
That definetly beats foil!
potsiemommy 1 year ago