DIY HDTV Antenna

[boroVika]

I thought I would post this writeup I did on making an antenna for use to pick up HDTV over the air signals out in the fringe areas. I know plenty of people here live out in the sticks and may find this cheap DIY (and bulletproof) solution agreeable.

After looking on the web for antennas to pick up local channels out in fringe areas I basically was discouraged to see the options available to me were all north of 100 bucks, with no guarentee they would work at the 70 mile range I needed. I dug around a bit more and found some online plans to make clones of the more popular models, notably DB4 and DB8.

[Buzaronel]

It was mounted in a loft, using heavy duty screweyes and a few links of adjustable chain. The tuning and aiming was done by adjusting the large eyebolt it anchors to. After trying many variations we found the best position was exactly the one we started with as suggested by the tvfool website and aiming directions. Great resource if your going to do this as well, especially the google map integration that helps you understand the range of networks and what you would need to capture the signals.

http://www.loopy.org/pictures/galleries/Dixon%20Ranch/November%202009/_thumbs/640x480-DSCF5235.JPG

[Bukelvel]

Way cool!! Is that through an asphalt shingle roof? My signal went south when we installed the metal roof on the house. I had to move the antenna from the attic to the roof top

[CalvinWes]

Great project! http://countryplans.com/smf/Smileys/default/cheesy2.gif http://countryplans.com/smf/Smileys/default/cheesy2.gif http://countryplans.com/smf/Smileys/default/cheesy2.gif Very helpful Muldoon.

I've got my old 1985 Radio Shack antenna up on the roof which catches about 80% of the stations in the Seattle/Tacoma area - except on stormy days when the signal breaks up from several stations. I'm going to dig deeper into your links and see if I can improve that.

[CarlosNap]

Great and very interesting, muldoon. If I watched TV I would try it. I find enough TV on the computer to suit me. Hulu has more than I can watch.