Coat-hanger HDTV antenna

[pmsummer]

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/762088/coat_hanger_hdtv_antenna_better_than_store_bought_amazing/

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[NicoR]

Now all we need are coathanger interconnects and coathanger speaker cables, and hell, why not make an amp too: "a straight coathanger wire with gain"

 

[pmsummer]

Now all we need are coathanger interconnects and coathanger speaker cables, and hell, why not make an amp too: "a straight coathanger wire with gain"

You must have missed the coat hanger speaker cables over on the Klipsch forum. :yes:

 

[MRX37]

Verrry interesting...

I may rig up an outdoor version with more elements...

 

[similost]

I guess when you can't even afford to buy a patch for the knee of your jeans, you gotta make do with what you got..

 

[Snade]

Excellent video. :thmbsp:

This is the kind of video we need to instruct us regarding how to build the Indignias. Attention Zilch, my man.

 

[NicoR]

You must have missed the coat hanger speaker cables over on the Klipsch forum. :yes:

No, but I've heard of the idea somewhere else. Probably somewhere along the lines of someone saying "these interconnects are worse than connecting your gear with coathangers."

 

[clydeselsor]

Thanks PM, I'll try it!

 

[Arkay]

Laugh all you want, but if you watch the whole video and see what he does with the coat hangars... I'd bet it would work reasonably well. Could you improve on it? Sure. But could you make one as good for less money? Probably not!

Good video. I may even try making one...although I'm not sure if I'll be using coat hangers..

 

[pmsummer]

I'm not laughing. It's a good design.

 

[Tapehead47]

Thanks, pm. I made one using plastic coat hangers and it works perfectly!

Rick

 

[pmsummer]

Thanks, pm. I made one using plastic coat hangers and it works perfectly!

Like those snow scenes, eh?

 

[Snade]

OK, I made one of these using the video in PMSummer's original post.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/762088/coat_hanger_hdtv_antenna_better_than_store_bought_amazing/

Took me about 3 hours because I'm all thumbs.

I'm using it with my vintage Sony Trinitron in the garage.

I pick up about 25 free digital channels pointing it toward Chicago.

Here are some photos:

I just placed it outside my garage door and pointed it east in the direction of Chicago.

I'm getting excellent reception on NBC - green bars on the reception gage.

Olympic coverage in wide format with the digital converter box on top.

Thanks for the info on the video.

Snade

 

[cubby01]

I made one similar last year sometime from plans on a different site. Plans I used have a backplate (groundplane?) so is more directional. It was more of a fun project than an necessity. I have cable with HD channels but this antenna picks up some local over-the-air HD that's not available via the cable system. Works great actually and also works well as an FM antenna.

 

[MRX37]

I just built one of these yesterday, and I'm impressed with it.

I mounted it outside, and it seems to do a very good job.

EDIT: It's raining right now, and my weakest DTV channel is coming in at near full strength.

 

[Dormie]

this is OTA = over the air,

once you see HD on a new HD 1080p monitor with atsc tuner,
you will be blown away with the picture quality,

all cable HD is compressed,

you can also get local channels with rabbit ears,

there is much info at www.digitalhome.ca
and www.avsforum.com

i've been receiving OTA for the last two years,
with a channel master 4221 antenna,
the best is that it's free TV................................

not many things are free today

 

[Kuma]

Anyone in Detroit area get more than 16 digital TV stations with converter box?

Watched the video and built one myself. But I intersected my long wires at 90 degree angles, and put shrink wrap on them at those two points so they'd be isolated.

I must say, it works better than my Dollar Castle rabbit ears. I no longer suffer from digital "pauses" on weak channels, and I don't have to adjust the antenna every time I change the channel. But I didn't get any more stations, which is what I hoped for.

Does anyone in the Detroit area get more than 16 digital stations through a converter box?

I have mine sitting on the floor behind the TV - of course, it would probably be better if I could mount it to the roof, but that project would be a bit much.

 

[CUlater]

Cool memories, reminds me of the FM antennas I built from coathangers and a 2x4 back in the late 70s. That was how I cut my teeth on understanding element tuning and how reflectors worked...wish I could remember the title of the book I used as a reference.

 

[avionic]

It is kinda funny ..That 25-30 years ago you could pickup a UHF bowtie ant. (like the homemade one in the video )for $12-15 . The same damn thing with HD marketing logo on it is now $100. HD is broadcasted over the air on allocated UHF frequencys. I just went over to a neighbors house and offered to remove his busted up VHF ant.,roof mounted mast and rusted up guywire with a UHF bowtie fastened to the mast. Helped the neighbor remove a eyesore and offered to haul the trash away for them .

 

[thisOne]

so does anyone know if after Feb 17th there will also be new and better digital TV programs or will we be just watching the same analog crap but just converted to digital??? :scratch2: