The simplest antenna for digital TV

The simplest antenna for digital TV

Analog television is becoming a thing of the past, so to maintain the ability to watch TV shows, a transition to DVB-T2 television broadcasting is required. To do this, you need to use a specialized antenna, which can be made with your own hands from available materials, which is what I will do.

Required materials and tools


To make an antenna you will need:
  • a piece of television coaxial cable 20 cm;
  • HF connector (transition from F type connector to TV plug);
  • F type connector.

You will also need a simple set of tools that everyone can find. It is enough to have a tape measure or ruler, a sharp knife, wire cutters or pliers.

Determining the broadcast frequency in the city


The simplest antenna for digital TV

Before you begin assembling the antenna, you must first find out the frequency of digital television broadcasting in the region. Since I live in Russia, for this I go to the official website of digital television of the Russian Federation. On it I look for the tab “CETV coverage map» and select your locality. On the map that opens, you need to find the nearest repeater and click on it with the cursor.
In the window that appears, click on the “more details” link.As a result, detailed information on the digital television parameters of this repeater will open. In my case, there are two packages of TV channels RTRS-1 and RTRS-2. I'm interested in the direct frequency in megahertz. Available packages are broadcast at 754 and 778 MHz.
Based on these data, it is necessary to calculate the actual length of the working part of the antenna in centimeters. A simple formula is used for this. It is necessary to divide 7500 for each frequency. In my case, 7500/754=9.94 cm and 7500/778=9.6 cm.
Thus, in order for the antenna to be able to normally receive both frequencies, it will be enough to make it 10 cm long. Naturally, residents of other cities will get a different result, but regardless of this, the immediate manufacturing process is completely identical.

Direct production


To make an antenna you don’t have to buy anything, since in most cases all the necessary materials are already available, as they were used to ensure the operation of analog television. First you need to take a piece of coaxial cable about 20 cm long. One end of it is stripped to secure the F connector. To do this, remove the top insulation approximately 3 cm from the edge to expose the cable shield. The bare winding, together with the protruding foil, is bent to the opposite end from the working edge.
After this, stepping back 3 mm from the resulting cut edge of the top insulation, you need to cut the cable to the central copper core. After this, the F type connector is screwed on. The copper core of the wire protruding in its center is cut so that its tail extends beyond the connector by no more than 1 cm.
Now the RF connector is screwed onto the F connector, which is then connected to the TV plug.
The simplest antenna for digital TV

Having stepped back about 3-4 cm from the edge of the F connector, in the opposite direction, you need to put a mark on the coaxial cable. As much as was calculated by the formula is measured from it, and the wire is cut. I cut after 10 cm.
The simplest antenna for digital TV

According to the previously set mark, you need to cut through the top insulation to the screen winding. It is removed, revealing the inner insulating layer.
The simplest antenna for digital TV

The simplest antenna for digital TV

The simplest antenna for digital TV

The existing screen winding is removed because it will not be needed, as it creates a barrier to signal pickup. The antenna itself is bent at 90 degrees at the step between single and double insulation.
The simplest antenna for digital TV

Now the antenna can be screwed directly into the connector on the TV or set-top box if DVB-T2 is not supported by it.
The simplest antenna for digital TV

If the repeater is close enough, the signal is picked up clearly enough to watch TV without interference. If the picture ripples and slows down, then the antenna will have to be taken outside. To do this, use a coaxial cable of the required length, and a couple of additional adapters.

Setting up and searching for channels


Setting up the TV is very simple. Everything happens automatically. We choose to search for just digital or digital and analogue channels.
The simplest antenna for digital TV

We start the search and wait for a while.
The simplest antenna for digital TV

We caught about a dozen channels.
The simplest antenna for digital TV

Feasibility of using an antenna


Making an antenna will only help if the TV supports the DVB-T2 digital television reception function. Outdated models do not have this capability, so they require the purchase of a specialized set-top box, which usually already comes with an antenna.
It is also important to check for a nearby repeater before production. The effective range of such an antenna cannot exceed 6-15 km.This is only subject to good visibility of the tower without high-rise buildings and other obstacles located in the path of the waves. If the distance is greater, then the use of an additional amplifier will be required, which ultimately also comes down to the purchase of a specialized TV set-top box.

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Comments (17)
  1. Dmitry Spitsyn
    #1 Dmitry Spitsyn Guests 16 November 2018 15:27
    11
    The bend is only needed if you are inserting it directly into the TV without a cable.
  2. Guest Alexey
    #2 Guest Alexey Guests 16 November 2018 19:52
    1
    bends, not relevant, 2 grilles from an old refrigerator, 2 pieces of any metal mesh, cable screen for one mesh, central core for another mesh, the catch is just super,...
  3. Ivan
    #3 Ivan Guests 16 November 2018 23:21
    6
    if the TV has a DIGITAL function, it will show, but if not, at least bend over :(
  4. Guest Alexey
    #4 Guest Alexey Guests November 17, 2018 00:14
    1
    The Kharchenko biquadrat will be better to catch, and even better if it is supplemented with two more squares, for ranges 21 and 23 - 15.5 cm on a side.
  5. ildar
    #5 ildar Guests 17 November 2018 14:05
    1
    It doesn’t depend on the length of the cable. If you plug in the plug, it will show. It depends on the TV.
  6. Guest Vladimir
    #6 Guest Vladimir Guests 17 November 2018 14:44
    62
    Why is everyone planting a ready-made vegetable garden? No “specialized” antenna is needed to receive digital numbers. The digital signal is broadcast on the UHF band, which is received by all old all-wave antennas. And don’t fool ordinary people. The only thing that is needed for old TVs is a digital set-top box, and new ones perfectly receive digital signals even on the old antenna. Otherwise, write nonsense with a smart look, it’s already disgusting.
    1. Guest Alexander
      #7 Guest Alexander Guests 17 November 2018 20:01
      3
      I wrote everything correctly..
    2. vitos
      #8 vitos Guests 14 December 2018 13:28
      2
      A hundred pounds. I have a simple 20cm telescope that catches approx. 40 km to the station.
  7. michaiah
    #9 michaiah Guests 17 November 2018 17:48
    7
    in Moscow it receives 30 channels from a TV cable (without an antenna). Rostelecom is resting.
  8. Alex S
    #10 Alex S Guests 18 November 2018 13:16
    7
    It is NOT clear why connector F is needed?
    1. Nick
      #11 Nick Guests November 19, 2018 10:12
      0
      To connect to cable via F-barrel
  9. Guest Prokhor
    #12 Guest Prokhor Guests November 19, 2018 11:22
    3
    This is far from the simplest antenna. I just have a piece of wire (not an antenna, not shielded) tied to the window handle. Naturally, the other end is inserted into the middle contact of the plug. True, from the window there is a wonderful view of the Ostankino Tower and the distance is only 5-7 kilometers.
    It works with analog too, of course.
  10. Edward
    #13 Edward Guests 19 November 2018 16:22
    2
    It’s easier without any connectors - just strip the cable to a certain length (in this case, 10 cm).