Antenna can be easily made using materials commonly found at home. This antenna can be connected to TV and radio, also good for digital TV. The antenna discussed in this article uses a single copper electrical cable, with a copper diameter of about 1.5 mm. No need to buy a new cable, used cable can still be used.
In principle, all electrical conductors can be used as antenna to capture radio wave signals or electromagnetic waves. Electrical conductors include: copper, brass, iron, steel, aluminum, and others.
For locations in Jakarta, with the antenna erected on a roof tile about 4 meters high from the ground, and by using Matrix Apple Red Set Top Box, managed to get 50 digital TV channels.
Searching for channels should be done when the weather is sunny, during the day to see the sky with only a few clouds. Because clouds can block radio wave signals from transmitters to TV or radio receivers. Avoid channel searching during heavy rains, as rain impedes radio wave propagation.
The cable length required for the antenna is about 2 meters. Cable insulation remains intact, not peeled.
Cable insulation is only peeled about 1-2 centimeters at one end of the cable. In this section, it will be connected to a coaxial cable, so that the antenna is connected to a TV or radio device.
The other end of the power cable is left wrapped in insulation. This way will protect the antenna from rain water. The signal caught by the antenna will flow to the ground, if the antenna gets wet in the rain, not flowing towards the device. Cable insulation rubber will not reduce the strength of the signal captured by the antenna.
The isolated end of the antenna may be bent slightly, as a hook for attaching the antenna.
Strip the coaxial cable for signal transmission from the antenna to the TV or radio, so it looks like the following photo.
The center conductor of the coaxial cable is exposed by about 1-2 centimeters. The outer conductor is also exposed. The center insulation is intact for about 1-2 centimeters. So that there is a distance of about 1-2 centimeters from the center conductor to the outer braided conductor.
The outer braided conductors are cut and ensured that nothing touch the center conductor. If the center conductor is connected to the outer conductor, then the signal from the antenna will be shorted to the ground. Sometimes also referred to as shorting or antenna short circuit, there is no signal from the antenna going to the device.
Connect the coaxial cable to the antenna, by twisting the center conductor of the coaxial cable with the antenna copper. This connection may also be strengthened with solder.
Make sure there is no fiber from the outer conductor of the coaxial cable touching the center conductor of the coaxial cable, or the copper of the antenna. Seen in the photo above, the outer conductors of the coaxial cable are pulled away from the center conductor.
Cover the connection with electrical tape, until the outer conductor of the coaxial cable is also covered, as shown in the photo below.
Make sure the insulation is tight enough so that rain and dew can't get in. In the photo above, the length of insulated part is about 6 centimeters.
Bend the antenna so that it forms a J shape as shown in the photo below.
The diameter of the J bend is about 1-2 centimeters, so it doesn't too tight. Tie with insulation tape so that the bend does not change. The antenna is ready to be installed. This J bend can be used as a hook for antenna installation.
The photo below shows the antenna erected on a bamboo stick. It can also use wooden pole, plastic pipe, PVC pipe, and others.
It is not recommended to use iron pipe, aluminum, copper, brass, steel roof frame, or other electrical conductors. Any electrical conductor should only be positioned under the body of the antenna. Due to the nature of the electrical conductor that can absorb radio signals.
For outdoor antenna, the signal is usually strong, if the antenna is positioned vertically. The position of the antenna should be higher than the objects around it.
If installed indoor, the antenna can also be positioned horizontally. Indoor antenna can be attached with a nail on the wall. The photo below shows the antenna end is attached to a plastic cable clamp, and nailed to the wall.
Ensure that the copper conductor of the antenna is not touched by the nail. So that the signal from the antenna does not shorted to the ground through the nail.
This antenna is omnidirectional. So you just need to find a place where the TV and radio signals are strong. It doesn't need directional adjustment.
This antenna should be stretched as straight as possible. Do not wind it so that it forms a coil. Because the coil creates resistance (inductance) to the flow of radio wave signals.
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