Comments on: DIY HD Antenna

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:59:30 +0000

Use graphite paint (EZ-Slide) to paint an antenna on any surface. Use graphite glue (Google wire glue) to secure your leads.

By: Gnarus

Gnarus — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:54:27 +0000

I built this sans the reflector and it still pulled in more stations than my store bought “amplified” yagi. It cost $45 and the “I built this from junk” out preformed it.

By: Ken Kichi

Ken Kichi — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:07:49 +0000

Has anyone considered using a shopping cart for parts? I wonder if soldering a coaxial cable to a whole shopping cart would bring in good hdtv reception or not? Lazy but serious.

By: tke248

tke248 — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:22:51 +0000

Here is my take on building one it is a little larger http://www.combobulate.com/freehdtv.php

By: miles

miles — Sun, 18 May 2008 23:05:08 +0000

Oops, I think I may have meant DB2 and DB4, instead of 4/8.

I was contemplating the 8, but lack of an elegant way to connect the second panel*, a suitable outdoor scatter material and the potential that it wouldn't improve the reception in a linear fashion*.

* the union of the two panels may negate any gains from the additional elements, the additional elements make the unit quite bulky and tedious to build.

By: miles

miles — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:56:14 +0000

I have built 2 of these*, the most expense is in the Balun and the cable (high quality co-ax is very important), I have got some very good stuff from the second-hand store at times, for 1/10th the price new, although you may need to remove corrosion, or cut the end off and replace the connector.

The picture shown handily illustrates a problem with the design of the 4-antenna model, if you connect the balun in the center of the antenna the reception improves tremendously.

* a DB4 and DB8 version. The DB8 is just “double high” model with the center the same as your picture with above and below on crossover vertical wire. I am able to get digital stations up to 70 miles away from indoors :). I used cardbaord and aluminum foil for my “scatter” and it is very important for directionality when dealing with a distant station that is being overpowered by a near station, or HD reception on a tricky channel.

By: John E. Minnard

John E. Minnard — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 03:00:33 +0000

I like this site.

By: dan

dan — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:39:33 +0000

when the antenna is made,where d you connect the cable of the antenna???i have basic tv from cox,will that interfear with my regular channels???? T.U.

By: hd antenna geek

hd antenna geek — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 07:22:20 +0000

Hey, what's the thing you are using for a scatter plane? ;-)
In general, I think the yagi antenna is much easier to build at home comparing to a bow-tie array (less wire for the same gain). Don't have to deal with the scatter plane.

"How much do the materials affect performance?"

Copper is generally better than alluminium. As for the wire diameter, it almost does not matter at all... For large diameter wire the bandwidth is slightly larger and the antenna is less likely to be broken by wind.

By: atrain

atrain — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 22:43:10 +0000

Just built this with a couple modifications. It works surprisingly well, surpasses the quality of my powered amplifying antenna.

I only used one thing of wood in front, nothing on the back. It was the only piece of wood i had spare. Overall, I’m quite happy with it, but I still cant get most of the channels on my dvd-rw. (they appear very clear on my tv)

By: s800

s800 — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 21:18:28 +0000

No, the material would not improve the reception characteristics.

By: David J

David J — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 18:57:16 +0000

tim,

here is a pretty good site:
http://www.hdtvprimer.com/ANTENNAS/basics.html

By: David J

David J — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 18:52:55 +0000

How much do the materials affect performance? In other words, would 14 (or 8) gauge copper wire provide better reception than a coat hanger. If so, would the difference be enough to justify the extra cost?

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 16:54:06 +0000

Does anyone have a good site for “antennas 101″ or “antennas for dummies”? I would like to learn more.

Thanks,
Tim

By: phreakre

phreakre — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 16:45:02 +0000

Could you two complain a bit more about freely published information, please?

Nice hack, keep it up.