How to Build a Digital TV Antenna
- 1). Measure the 2 x 4 board to 40 inches and cut it to length with the saw.
- 2). Lay the board flat on one side. Lay the grill grate over the board so that the board is centered on the grate and the length of the grate runs parallel with the length of the board. Line the end of the board up with the end of the grate.
- 3). Using the screwdriver, wood screws and washers, mount the grate to the 2 x 4 board. The grate will serve as the reflector to help improve the signal reception of the antenna.
- 4). Measure and cut 8 pieces of the copper wire to measure 14 inches, using the measuring tape and wire cutters.
- 5). Using the utility knife, cut away about 2 inches of the insulation, directly in the center of each of the 8 copper wires.
- 6). Using the pliers, bend each of the 8 wires, directly in the center, in the shape of a V. Each leg of the V should measure 7 inches. Bend them till there is a 3 inch spread in the V. These wires will now be the bow-ties for the antenna to receive the signals.
- 7). Using the measuring tape, measure from the top end of the 2 x 4, down four inches, on the side of the 2 x 4 opposite the grate, and make a mark about one inch from the left edge. Repeat this step until you have four marks down the left edge of the 2 x 4, all four inches apart and one inch from the left edge.
- 8). Using the measuring tape, measure from the top of the 2 x 4 down four inches and make a mark about one inch from the right edge of the board. Repeat this step until you have four marks down the right edge of the board, all four inches apart and one inch from the right edge.
Each of these marks in steps 6 and 7, will be where the bow-ties will be mounted. - 9). Using the screwdriver, wood screws, and washers, mount the 8 bow-ties on the eight marks on the board. Mount them so that the ends of the V point away from the board. Do not fully tighten the screws at this point.
- 10
Take a length of the copper wire and strip about one inch of the insulation off the end with the wire strippers. Mount the wire to the screw on the top left side of the 2 x 4. Cross the wire over and mount it to the two middle screws on the right side. Use the utility knife to remove the insulation where the wire will mount on the screws. Cross the wire back over to the screw on the bottom left side, cut the wire to fit and strip off one inch of insulation and mount in on the screw. - 11
Take a length of the copper wire and strip about one inch of the insulation off the end with the wire strippers. Mount the wire to the screw on the top right side of the 2 x 4. Cross the wire over and mount it to the two middle screws on the left side. Use the utility knife to remove the insulation where the wire will mount on the screws. Cross the wire back over to the screw on the bottom right side, cut the wire to fit and strip off one inch of insulation and mount in on the screw. - 12
Connect the 75 Ohm balun to the two screws that are in the second row from the top. Connect one wire from the balun to each screw, using the screwdriver. - 13
Tighten all the screws on the antenna to a snug fit.
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