How to Build Antennas

Installing a radio or TV antenna can eliminate the need for cable or satellite television service. Many old antennas do not receive the new digital signals, but you can build one that can. This article will tell you how to build antennas.

Steps:

Build a Radio Antenna

1. Choose the rod length for your antenna. You will need 2 rods that are 46.4 inches (117.8 cm) long if you are designing the antenna to listen to non-commercial radio stations such as college channels.
   
   
   • You will need 2 rods that are 42.4 inches (107.5 cm) long if the antenna is for listening to FM band stations.
2. Place your rods perpendicular to each other and tie them together with a piece of string or tape. You might need to tape together extra pieces to brace the frame.
3. Wrap insulated wire around 3 of the frame edges in the formation of a square. These lengths will be of equal size.
   • You will need 32.8 inches (83.2 cm) of wire for the non-commercial type of antenna's 3 sides. Full-band will need 30.0 inches (76 cm) for each of the three sides.
4. Tie together the corners of the last side with tape to pull the wire taunt. This 4th side is comprised of 2 half lengths coming together to form the final side.
   • Each half length is 16.4 inches (41.6 cm) for non-commercial and 15 inches (38 cm) for full-band.
5. Strip the 2 length ends to expose a little of the bare wire to wrap them together at a point where the feeder cable connects to the rods.
6. Solder this connection with a soldering gun.
7. Join a feeder conductor to this junction using the same method.
8. Connect another feeder conductor to the 300 Ohm input of your radio. You may need a converter if your radio has a 75 Ohm input.
9. Experiment with shifting your antenna around the room to obtain the best reception.

Make a TV Antenna

1. Bend 8 lengths of 17=inch (43.18 cm) copper wire into acute angles with 3 inches (7.62 cm) between the ends.
2. Place a 32-inch (81.28 cm) long 1x4 (1.9 x 8.9 cm) pine board on the ground and arrange copper "ears" around it using fender washers.
3. Thread 2 34-inch (86.36cm) copper "phasing bars" from ear to ear in a crisscross pattern underneath the washers. Tighten the screws after each one is fitted.
4. Wrap electrical tape around the "phasing bars" where each bar crosses to avoid contact.
5. Mount an impedance-matching transformer (IMT) and both bars underneath a pair of extra fender washers.
6. Attach a 6-inch (15.24 cm) long 1x4 (1.9 x 8.9 cm) pine board perpendicular to the longer board to form the base.
7. Place heat-shrink tubing over the tips of all the ears and use a lighter or heat gun to fit it snugly against the ears.
8. Use coaxial cable to connect the transformer of your antenna to a digital-ready TV or a converter box.
9. Adjust your antenna as needed

Things You'll Need:
 

• 2 non-conductive rods 46.4 inches (117.8 cm) or 42.4 inches (107.5 cm)
• Coil of insulated wire 32.8 inches (83.2 cm) or 30.0 inches (76 cm)
• electrical tape (both projects)
• Length of 300 Ohm ribbon feeder cable
• Solder gun (optional)
• 8 lengths of copper wire 17 inches (43.18 cm)
• 1 1x4 (1.9 x 8.9 cm) pine board 32 inch (81.28 cm)
• 1 1x4 (1.9 x 8.9 cm) pine board 6 inch (15.24 cm)
• 2 34-inch (86.36 cm) copper wire lengths
• 10 No.8 (1.27 cm) 1/2-inch round head wood screws
• 10 fender washers
• impedance-matching transformer

Source: www.wikihow.com