Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Homemade HDTV Antenna
I've had an HDTV for over 4 yrs, but never bothered spending the monthly fee with the cable company to have HDTV stations. And now with Gabriel, we don't watch much TV. But with the NFL season starting, I thought I'd try out this homemade HDTV antenna. Cardboard, duct tape, aluminum foil, staples, a 75 to 300 ohm matching transformer, and glue... I could do this. After all, I do have a degree in Electrical Engineering. I wasn't going for pretty (as you can see in the picture), just wanted to see if the antenna would work. It works fantastic!! I get all the local stations in HD (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX) along with a number of others. Now, do I make another one that is pretty? Sarah probably doesn't want this cardboard box sitting next to the TV.
Can you share the specifics about the aluminum foil design? Do the lengths have a fixed requirement? Some are short lines, others are longer. Some go right , others left.
ReplyDeletePlease educate and I will try building my one from this knowledge. Thanks for sharing.
Sammy Benjamin.
If u follow the link in the blog it will take you over to squidoo with all the instructions and pattern for antenna. U have to make it that size. U cannot upsize or downsize the length and direction of the aluminum foil design. I just traced the pattern on a sheet of aluminum foil and cut with scissors. I actually used staples to connect the matching transformer but u could use something that holds better like a screw and nut.
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