A digital TV antenna, like any antenna, can benefit from the signal it receives being amplified prior to going into a television. A homemade digital antenna can be made from a few household items and tools --- along with hardware supplies for those items and tools not available at home. The preamplifier circuit kit, which can be purchased assembled from a hobby store or electronics shop, will boost the signal being received by your antenna. Some experience in using a soldering iron will be helpful.

Things You'll Need

    * Coaxial cables, 10 feet
    * Utility knife
    * Aluminum foil roll
    * Soldering iron
    * Solder
    * Plastic container, 32 oz.
    * TV
    * Masking tape

Instructions

1.Cut off one of the two connectors on a coaxial cable with the blade of a utility knife. Cut 3 inches in on the outer insulation from the cut end with the utility knife. Pull back the outer insulation from the internal wires. Cut the insulation off and discard it.

2.Push the wire mesh surround the inner wire tube away from the cut end with your fingers. Twist the wire mesh once it has been pushed away between your fingers so that it forms a wire. Cut an inch of the insulation off the inner wire tube with the utility knife. Pull the insulation away from the inner wire. Cut the insulation off and discard it.
Twist the end of the inner wire between your fingers for a few seconds.

3.Tear off a 6 inch wide strip of aluminum foil. Place the strip horizontally on a table. Fold the top over to the bottom and smooth it down with your fingers. Repeat this an additional time. Repeat this entire procedure with another 6 inch wide strip of aluminum foil.

4.Heat up the soldering iron for five minutes. Solder the end of one of the aluminum strips to the wire mesh rod on the coaxial cable. Let the solder cool for a minute. Solder the end of the other aluminum strip to the exposed end of the inner wire on the coaxial cable. Let the solder cool for a minute.

5.Place the assembled preamplifier circuit kit on a table. Locate the positive and negative labeled contacts on the coax input that is at one end of the kit. Solder the end of the positive-labeled wire on the coax adapter to the positive-labeled contact. Solder the end of the negative-labeled wire on the coax adapter to the negative-labeled contact. Let the solder cool for two minutes. Repeat this procedure with the second coax adapter and the coax output contacts on the kit. Let the solder cool for two minutes. Unplug the soldering iron.

6.Upend a plastic container and place it on the ground next to the TV. Place the assembled preamplifier circuit kit on the top of the plastic container. Plug the power cable from the kit's included power supply into the power port on the kit. Insert the AC plug of the power supply into a wall outlet.

7.Screw the connector that is on one end of your homemade digital antenna into the coax input on the kit. Screw the connector on the end of another coaxial cable into the coax output on the kit. Screw the other end of the coaxial cable into the coax input (often called "Ant in") that is on the back of the TV.

8.Stand your homemade digital antenna on a window sill. Tape the ends of the two aluminum strips to the window with masking tape so that they are horizontal to the window sill.

9.Turn the TV on with its remote. Press "Menu," "Setup," "Input." Select the coax input from the list of choices --- the actual name may vary depending upon the manufacturer of the TV. Press the "Menu" button. Turn the channels of the TV until you see a station being broadcast on the screen.

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How to Build Your Own TV Antenna With a Pre-Amplifier Circuit Kit

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