Home made HDTV antenna

[hyghwayman]

Hi All,

Just wanted to let you all know that I found this forum that had a DIY section about building a antenna.

Well it looked easy enough, so I built mine last night and put it up today. I'm getting 45 Digital stations w/ about half of them in HD also all my local analog stations are coming in crystal clear now too.
Here is the link to the forum w/ all the info on how to build one.
http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9613&st=80

With my store bought antenna I was getting on average a signal strenth of about 85 (1 to 100) w/ dropouts, now w/ my homemade antenna my signal is holding at 98 w/ no dropouts at all.

Watched TV last night w/ my homemade antenna hooked up and had zero drop-outs, my signal held at 95 all night long. We are going to have T-storms move through today and should provide a good test. I'll post back later.

hyghwayman

Here is a of my 1st antenna.

 

[johnb554]

Cant say it looks too pretty but I am amazed at how well its working for you.

Good Work!


John

 

[hyghwayman]

I built a..

second antenna that was closer in design to the manufactured types, and it was a complete failure. I'm thinking that maybe the transformer is defective and I may try switching them out sometime. For now though, I'm gunna keep the 1st design up and running. ( the old saying goes, "if it aint broken don't mess w/ it" )

hyghwayman

 

[Swerd]

Thanks for the link. It looks extremely easy. It reminds me of how people used coat hanger wires to replace broken off rabbit ears.

Many people who are used to cable TV don't realize how easy it is to get good digital reception. Distance and location matter. How far away do you live from broadcast towers?

 

[hyghwayman]

here is a partial list

DTV Antenna
local channels
Assignment Orientation Miles
yellow - uhf WKEF 22 ABC DAYTON OH 10° 6.4
* yellow - uhf WKEF-DT 22.1 ABC DAYTON OH 13° 6.7
yellow - vhf WDTN 2 NBC DAYTON OH 12° 6.3
* yellow - uhf WDTN-DT 2.1 NBC DAYTON OH 12° 6.3
yellow - uhf WRCX-LP 40 IND DAYTON OH 14° 5.9
yellow - uhf WRGT 45 FOX DAYTON OH 13° 6.7
* yellow - uhf WRGT-DT 45.1 FOX DAYTON OH 13° 6.7
yellow - vhf WHIO 7 CBS DAYTON OH 15° 7.4
* yellow - uhf WHIO-DT 7.1 CBS DAYTON OH 15° 7.4
yellow - uhf WPTD 16 PBS DAYTON OH 15° 6.5
* yellow - uhf WPTD-DT 16.2 PBS DAYTON OH 15° 6.5
yellow - uhf WBDT 26 CW SPRINGFIELD OH 13° 6.7
* yellow - uhf WBDT-DT 26.1 CW SPRINGFIELD OH 13° 6.7
Distant channels
* red - uhf WPTO-DT 14.2 PBS OXFORD OH 253° 21.0
red - uhf WXIX 19 FOX NEWPORT KY 208° 38.0
red - uhf WKOI 43 TBN RICHMOND IN 253° 21.0
red - uhf WCET 48 PBS CINCINNATI OH 206° 37.2
* blue - uhf WCET-DT 48.1 PBS CINCINNATI OH 206° 37.3
blue - vhf WCPO 9 ABC CINCINNATI OH 204° 36.8
* blue - vhf WCPO-DT 9.1 ABC CINCINNATI OH 204° 36.8
blue - vhf WLWT 5 NBC CINCINNATI OH 206° 37.3
* blue - uhf WLWT-DT 5.1 NBC CINCINNATI OH 206° 37.3
blue - vhf WKRC 12 CBS CINCINNATI OH 204° 37.4
* blue - uhf WKRC-DT 12.1 CBS CINCINNATI OH 204° 37.4
blue - uhf WBQC-CA 38 IND CINCINNATI OH 204° 36.8
blue - uhf WPTO 14 PBS OXFORD OH 256° 26.1
violet - uhf WOTH-LP 25 IND CINCINNATI OH 204° 36.8
* violet - uhf WXIX-DT 19.1 FOX NEWPORT KY 208° 38.0
Note:
The above listing is a conservative prediction of stations received. Depending on the specifics of your installation, you may be able to receive stations that do not appear in this list.


As you can see, I'm getting reception from different orientations. all locking in at 95 to 98 out of 1oo, w/ zero drop outs! My zip code is 45342

hyghwayman

 

[grommit]

way cool

I have a terk HD, do you know how to merge hd signals?

G

 

[hyghwayman]

I have a terk HD, do you know how to merge hd signals?

G

Sorry, but I'm not quite sure what your question is asking. Could you maybe reword it for me.

Thank you,
hyghwayman

 

[hyghwayman]

up-dated info and pictures

Howdy everyone,

It has been several months now since I put up my HM HD antenna and wanted to let you all know it is still working great, signal is locked at 98 out of 100.

Here is where and how I have it mounted. The way I have it now gives it some stability on windy days and a 98 signal lock out of 100.

The old location here was not so good in the winds and the signal was much weaker.

hyghwayman

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I dont think my HOA would go for that

Howdy everyone,

It has been several months now since I put up my HM HD antenna and wanted to let you all know it is still working great, signal is locked at 98 out of 100.

Here is where and how I have it mounted. The way I have it now gives it some stability on windy days and a 98 signal lock out of 100.

The old location here was not so good in the winds and the signal was much weaker.

hyghwayman

 

[hyghwayman]

LoL

I dont think my HOA would go for that

That is the very reason I will never live in a deed restricted community.

 

[Fred333]

very cool thread I will have to try that myself. Did it hold up in the storms?

 

[hyghwayman]

Quite well....

very cool thread I will have to try that myself. Did it hold up in the storms?

The antenna has done very well during the the storms we've had this year. During heavy rain and wind there is slight drops or pixalation but other than that I'm very happy and my wife is too. I think the real test will be this winter when we get heavy snow storms. I will post another update after the 1st snowfall.

hyghwayman

P.S. I bought a new transformer for my 2nd build, I plan on istalling it this coming weekend and retest its performance.

 

[Fred333]

Now is it better to have it outdoors or setup in the attic? I was just wonder for the landlord issue.

 

[hyghwayman]

Yes I think it would work just fine from your attic.

After building this antenna I tested it from my bedroom and it worked good but my wife didn't want it laying around inside our house. We live in duplex on the lower (garden) level so the attic wasn't an option for me. That is when I remembered seeing the old outdoor antenna on the backside of the house. I am currently thinking of putting my antenna up higher on the mast to see if I can pull in more stations further away.

hyghwayman

 

[ParadigmDawg]

and DYI projects such as this is why I do...

That is the very reason I will never live in a deed restricted community.

 

[hyghwayman]

and DYI projects such as this is why I do...

Glad we live in America where at least we have that choice.

Best regards,
hyghwayman

 

[jliedeka]

I tried making a home made indoor antenna. It worked about the same as my rabbit ears. My neighborhood gets kinda crappy reception, especially for Fox so I had to get a roof antenna. I didn't try the home made one outdoors.

Jim

 

[hyghwayman]

Howdy Jim,

My quest for a better signal began after we moved only a quarter (1/4) mile from our old location. Old location had great signal and got all channels really good, new location = very weak signal with only one (1) channel coming in ok for most of the time.
We had been using a amplified indoor antenna like this;

and others like it with no luck.

The homemade antenna I made has no amplification built in at all, so when I hooked it up inside the house and saw the results I was amased to say the least. I mean I went from a signal bouncing from 58 to 85 with dropouts about every two (2) min. to a signal of 85+ lock (zero dropouts), I was sold. Now my HM antenna may not be as nice looking as the Terk

or the

but it works as good if not better and my cost was maybe only $1.50

hyghwayman

P.S. I made a 2nd antenna that work about as good as my indoor antennas too. I think the transformer was bad or the maybe it was the fact that I made sure all bow ties were the same length. It looked a lot like this

I plan on replacing the transformer this weekend to see if will work better. The 1st antenna I made w/o any reguard to sizes and it works soo good . with it up outside my signal is at 98 lock w/ zero dropouts!

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Amen brother.....

Glad we live in America where at least we have that choice.

Best regards,
hyghwayman

 

[hyghwayman]

off topic but have to ask...

Amen brother.....

That is one sweet looking bike, is it yours Greg?

Nice looking system too!

Thanks,
hyghwayman