HDTV UHF Home Made Antennas! Anyone know what design is better?

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › HDTV UHF Home Made Antennas! Anyone know what design is better?

GamerOC

438 posts

Ultimate Geek

Topic # 87958 11-Aug-2011 13:16

Hi there I was happy with my HTPC setup with Freeview throught DVB-S with standard definition but Im goint to setup my HTPC with Freeview |HD terrestrial instead.

1- HDTV --checked
2- HD Graphics card --checked
3- HD DVB-T Hauppauge card --checked
4- HDTV aerial -- I better make one as the dish wont do the job.

I want to make it my self and I have seen couple of these antennas online and I also have most of materials in the gary but before I kick off with it I thought I may ask you guys @ geekzone if by any chance you have made one of these antennas and worked for you?

What design worked for your Freeview |HD ?

At the moment Im considering building a 8 bay antenna with reflectors and put it up on the roof the 4 and 8 bay antennas work with HDTV in the USA so would it work here too?http://www.tvantennaplans.com/

comments and ideas welcome,

cheers,

Andy

CYaBro

2974 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 290

Reply # 504972 11-Aug-2011 13:37

How much will it cost to build?

The reason I ask is the phased array antenna's only cost about $60 anyway so is it worth trying to build one yourself?

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GamerOC

438 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 504975 11-Aug-2011 13:43

Would not cost anything as I got the wires, screws, reflector screens, wood and bits of plastic and even the UHF converter that i bought for 2bucs a DSE.

it is not about the cost..as I could just buy one for 60 bucks but it spoils the fun of a new gary project. :)

I get a lot out of making things my self because it is fun and I learn things in the process.

cheers,

Andy

B1GGLZ

1932 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 130

Reply # 505041 11-Aug-2011 15:28

GamerOC: Would not cost anything as I got the wires, screws, reflector screens, wood and bits of plastic and even the UHF converter that i bought for 2bucs a DSE.
Andy

If you've got all the parts then should be fun to assemble and connect up. No reason why it shouldn't work OK but make sure it's all weather proof. Don't know where you are but we get a lot of corrosion here in Auckland due to the salty atmosphere.
What do you mean by a "UHF Converter"?

richms

21533 posts

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Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 505054 11-Aug-2011 15:51

I tried this design first off..

But found I had some reception issues with it, so upgraded to this design which works fine.

Richard rich.ms

GamerOC

438 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 505338 12-Aug-2011 09:22

thanks for reply B1GGLZ Im planning to build a 4 bay antenna with two reflectors. We live in Palmerston North so the ocean is a bit away so I dont think rust will be an issue but i may be wrong.
I will use treated timber for the base and I have cut some bits of plastic to place between timber and wires to isolate wire from timber base. Im using 8 thick wires that are actually wrapped in plastic so Im gonna peel the parts were i need wires to make contact and the end bits. Im using screws and other bits i got in the gary and Im starting this morning Im going to have fun with this. I also have some grills that are gonna do for reflectors and are actually painted so I not sure if I should sand the grill or live it like that.

will keep you posted.

cheers,

Andy

hasso

70 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

Reply # 513407 29-Aug-2011 12:30

Wanted to try building one myself as well. Plans I saw called for two wire coat hangers, cut in half for the aerials, and had aluminium foil attached to plywood for the deflectors. Was meant to be mounted in an attic space.

GamerOC

438 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 513444 29-Aug-2011 13:28

Hi there what I use to build one was

6 coathangers
one outdoor antenna balun
coax cable
screws and 22 inch long piece of timber.

the kind i build is called the 4 bay bowtie and it works awsome with Freeview HD
id you want the measurements i use i got them of the net and was easy as to build.

good luck

Andy