A Better HDTV Antenna

This is a how to video for building a HDTV antenna rhat will beat the coathanger design, and most commercial antennas, for that matter. This antenna can easily be made with tools you mat already have on hand. All of the materials can be picked up at the local home center with the possible exception of the balun (300 to 75 ohm transformer). Sometimes that item is unavailable, but they're supposed to stock it. Same for Wal-Mart, and K-Mart.

• Category

  Education

[Jonathan Anderson]

Why are longer whiskers better? Did you do any calculations based on the wavelength of the signal?

[jwwm2]

I didn't design this antenna, but I know the guy that did. He and the other antenna designers I'm associated with use sophisticated antenna modeling software to make their designs. This antenna has a better range of reception than most commercial antennas. It isn't simply the whisker length, though. It's the whole design. Anyone that follows this design will have a very excellent antenna.

[hawkluvbeer]

It works, but reception wasn't as strong as my coat hanger version.

[jwwm2]

This antenna is designed to pick up frequencies the coathanger design really can't. Still, if your coathanger one works well for you, then I'm happy for you. You should make a video comparing them side by side.

[Gam3r2900]

Will this work if u live 70 miles from tower in a wooded area

[jwwm2]

Probably. No guarantees. Aim it right, and the chances are good.

[cxamer]

I live 0.5 miles from the broadcast of the channel I want to tune into. The picture is quite pixel-ated to the point it is unwatchable. I do not have a reflector, would that help?

[Dan Baker]

I have the old version of the bow-tie antenna. My towers are about 20 miles away over flat terrain. I have great reception except during severe weather conditions. I also have great reception from a tower that is almost 90 degrees from the from primary antenna axis and about 9 miles away. You're so close even a commercial antenna should be fine. Perhaps there is a problem with your cable or receiver?

[sargetech]

You can use 12 guage copper wire!

[Roy Robertson]

I made this antenna and pick up 28 stations as far as 75 miles away.

Thanks

[1redrubberball]

Just as a point of interest and not to be critical in any way: Balun stands for Balanced to Unbalanced, therefore, the proper pronunciation is Balun, short for ballanced, not baleun.

[Roy Davis]

You don't mention what gauge copper wire you use. That would be helpful

thanks

[9339838]

How do I order a kit?

[John Hagemann]

Great stuff. I just received your kit in the mail, put it together in about 10 minutes and I'm getting 95-98% signal strength on all the HD channels in my area. I'm about 30 miles from the towers. Even if you're handy, I think buying the kit is probably the cheapest way to go. It's certainly the easiest.

Thanks!

[vann cabalo]

does it work in another country?