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3 most popular homemade cable antennas for digital television Which one to choose

A lot of people make antennas from regular coaxial cable for the new DVB-T/T2 digital television. Basically, these three designs below are especially popular. Let's collect all three copies and check which antenna is the most sensitive among those presented.

A few calculations to get it right


So, the first thing you need to do is visit the site - map.rtrs.rf.
Enter your locality in the search bar. Then look for the closest tower to your location. We left-click on this tower and a plate appears with the frequencies of the air packets.
3 most popular homemade cable antennas for digital television Which one to choose

We broadcast two packages of digital channels: RTRS-1 and RTRS-2, 10 channels each. We look at the frequencies and in order to receive both of these packets, you need to take the middle between these frequencies. For example, if the first packet has a broadcast frequency of 700 MHz, and the second 500 MHz, then choose the middle - 600 MHz. Nothing complicated.

We have learned to determine the required frequency, now we need to find the wavelength.It is calculated using the formula:
Wavelength = Speed ​​of light / frequency.

The speed of light is 300 mm/s. Divide this value by the frequency:
300 / 582 = 0,52

That is, the wavelength for a frequency of 582 MHz is 0.52 meters. This is the value we will need to make the antenna. The middle of my gap between the packets, you calculate your length.

First DIY antenna: whip


This is definitely the simplest antenna. Essentially it is a piece of wire, 1/4 wavelength long.
We take a piece of cable and protect its end under the plug.
3 most popular homemade cable antennas for digital television Which one to choose

We put on and screw the plug.
3 most popular homemade cable antennas for digital television Which one to choose

Remove the insulation from the piece.
3 most popular homemade cable antennas for digital television Which one to choose

Then we remove the shielded layer. We bend it to the transition and use a ruler to measure 12.8 cm (1/4 wavelength) and cut off the excess.
3 most popular homemade cable antennas for digital television Which one to choose

The antenna is ready! You can insert it into your TV or set-top box and use it. (Another option is here - https://enn.washerhouse.com/4764-samaja-prostaja-antenna-dlja-cifrovogo-tv.html)

Second antenna option for DVB-T/T2: Lavalier


It's not difficult to do either. We expose the cable on one side at a distance of approximately 5 cm. We remove the top insulation and insulation from the inner core.
3 most popular homemade cable antennas for digital television Which one to choose

We connect and twist the shielded layer with the core.
3 most popular homemade cable antennas for digital television Which one to choose

Next, we measure 52 cm from the beginning of this connection and remove the insulation to about 0.5 cm of the screen (you can first put on heat shrink).
3 most popular homemade cable antennas for digital television Which one to choose

We close the exposed end to this cut by twisting the core onto it.
3 most popular homemade cable antennas for digital television Which one to choose

Exactly in the center we remove a centimeter layer of insulation with a shielded layer.
3 most popular homemade cable antennas for digital television Which one to choose

This can be done conveniently with a stationery knife. The plug was screwed in advance. Now you can use the antenna (A similar option is here - https://enn.washerhouse.com/3978-antenna-iz-kabelya-dlya-cifrovogo-tv-za-5-minut.html).

The third antenna is similar to the second one: lavalier


This antenna is similar to the previous one, with the exception that there is no centimeter cutout in the center.
3 most popular homemade cable antennas for digital television Which one to choose

And the connection goes only to the central core without a screen.
3 most popular homemade cable antennas for digital television Which one to choose

Which antenna to choose for digital television?


Let's conduct tests and determine which antenna has the best sensitivity.
3 most popular cable antennas for digital TV Which one to choose

As a result, this is how the stars were positioned:
3 most popular cable antennas for digital TV Which one to choose

So the conclusion is simple: if the television tower is located in close proximity to you, then a simple whip antenna will do, which will hide behind the TV and will not disturb anyone.
Well, if the tower is still far away, then feel free to do the second option. In terms of its sensitivity, it leaves behind even purchased antennas with an amplifier! Don't believe me? Then read the reviews here - https://enn.washerhouse.com/3978-antenna-iz-kabelya-dlya-cifrovogo-tv-za-5-minut.html#comment

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Comments (20)
  1. Guest Evgeniy
    #1 Guest Evgeniy Guests October 19, 2019 10:01
    16
    Why do I need an antenna if I don't watch TV? I hope that there are fewer and fewer TV addicts every day.
  2. Guest Alexey
    #2 Guest Alexey Guests 18 November 2019 14:55
    14
    The second option works really well, thanks
  3. Guest Sergey
    #3 Guest Sergey Guests 5 December 2019 17:25
    7
    Loop or frame!
    1. Vladimir Viktorovich Makovsky
      #4 Vladimir Viktorovich Makovsky Guests January 8, 2020 03:52
      6
      no difference, these antennas are from the 70s, when UHF appeared.
  4. Ruslan
    #5 Ruslan Guests 11 January 2020 03:23
    14
    Until the last moment I didn’t believe that it would work... There is a “Polish” with an amplifier on the roof, the signal quality is no higher than 45-50%. I placed this antenna near the window in the kitchen... I'm shocked, the signal quality is 99% All channels are picked up perfectly. Many thanks to the author blush blush
  5. Victa
    #6 Victa Guests 8 February 2020 13:02
    4
    Very useful article. Thank you. Question: how to determine which plug is suitable?
  6. RECK
    #7 RECK Guests March 2, 2020 08:22
    8
    Is the speed of light 300 mm/s?
    1. bill
      #8 bill Guests 12 April 2020 14:12
      11
      this is in megameters
  7. Guest Vladimir
    #9 Guest Vladimir Guests 16 June 2020 03:23
    12
    It’s good that there are still such competent (in physics) and decent people left. Great stuff. Two antennas with amplifiers did not work. Spent approx. on them. 4000₽. I made your contraption in 5 minutes. Catches everything. Thank you very much. I don't know your name, unfortunately.
  8. BIV-55
    #10 BIV-55 Guests 1 November 2020 10:32
    9
    The tower is approximately 5 km away, the room windows face the other side of the tower (reflected signal). I used different antennas (up to 3,000 rubles), all the same: either “squares” or a blue screen. I assembled the 2nd type in about 10 minutes. I hung it on the wall in the room and it worked immediately. Signal 92-96%, “squares” and No more blue screen. Thank you very much for the antenna!
  9. Oleg
    #11 Oleg Guests 13 July 2021 17:27
    7
    The second antenna is great! It helped two TVs, where beer cans stood, to receive all the channels that were on air.
  10. noname
    #12 noname Guests 18 January 2022 15:56
    7
    And where did the 582 MHz frequency come from?

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