DTV Antenna

by Rohan on August 15, 2009

My friend Brad and I have been thinking for weeks to get a DTV antenna (aka HDTV antenna/ATSC antenna). After a few days of searching around Oshawa, we came to the conclusion that there’s nowhere that sells DTV antennas for fairly cheap. Actually, not one place we went had the external DTV antennas. Apparently “The Source” does carry them from what someone told us, but we assumed that they’re expensive and didn’t bother asking them the price or seeing if they carried it.

We decided that we’re better off on our own. After following a post on Lifehacker.com, we were able to make our own DTV antenna for around $6. We had coat hangers, and some wood that we found in the garage. We went out and bought wood screws, washers, and a 75 – 300 ohm matching transformer, which we picked up at The Source for around five bucks.

We put it together using these instructions, and plugged it in, and to our surprise, it works marvelously!

Compare the quality for yourself between regular cable, and DTV (thanks Brad and Ben for the pics):

NBC on Cable TV - 480i

NBC on Cable TV

NBC on DTV - 1080i

NBC on DTV

You can see the lack of a high resolution on the cable image =(

We plan on building a second antenna, just like the first, to combine it with the first to make a DB8 antenna. I’ll post up results when we get around to making that.

pixelstats trackingpixel
  • http://TedAvery.ca Ted Avery

    Wow, that's cool! So what do you get for channels? And they're all in HD?

  • Rohan K

    Well right now, its in Brad's room, so there's not as many as they say there are, but theres still a fair amount. Working from memory, he gets a few HD channels CBC HD, NBC HD, the CW (HD)…there are a few non-HD channels that we get too like qubo, ION, and the Worship Network. That's all I remember off-hand, I'll be back there on Tuesday, so I'll let you know what else we get then.

    If you're thinking about making one of these, here's a good website that'll tell you what channels are possible, and what they're relaying it in (480i, 720p, 1080i, etc…) http://www.remotecentral.com/hdtv/

  • Bradley Nold

    Ted, so far im getting the following channels

    2.1 NBC
    2.2 NBC Buffalo
    2.3 RetroTV
    4.1 CBS
    5.1 CBC
    7.1 ABC
    17.1 PBS
    17.2 PBS SD
    17.3 PBS Kids
    23.1 The CW
    44.1 OMNI2
    49.1 My TV Buffalo
    49.2 My TV Buffalo SD
    51.1 ION
    51.2 qubo – childrens cartoons
    51.3 IONLife
    51.4 Worship

    Considering the antenna is in a windowsill on the ground floor in the house pointing north (the worst possible position for the antenna) I think that's really really good. Once we get it in a more appropriate location we should be able to pick up a lot more if not all the ones that are broadcasting within range.

    Still get analog channels but who cares about those :P

  • tylerball

    Hey Rohan cool project. If I had an HDTV I'd definitely set one up. You should post some pics of the antenna itself.

  • Rohan K

    Thanks man! I'll probably put it up tomorrow when I'm at Brad's

  • soban

    Nice project! Definitely gonna try building one for myself.

  • soban

    Nice project! Definitely gonna try building one for myself.

  • Natalie

    Wow this blog isn't as recent as i thought, but i believe i'm not tech-savvy enough to do something like this on my own. What if i pay the cost to make it, buy you lunch and you can make it for me?? or with me because i'm nice like that. =)

    P.S Do you have pictures if the Antenna?