DIY TV antenna amplifier
Our country is completely switching to digital television, abandoning the outdated analog signal. This means that now almost every home has a special antenna connected to it, which transmits the relevant information to the TV receiver. But what to do if your home is located at a considerable distance from a television tower and you often have to deal with interference?
Professionals will advise you to purchase an antenna amplifier. To do this, you will have to go to a specialized store and pay a considerable amount. But there is another solution: make the amplifier yourself. To accomplish this, you do not need special skills or a large amount of additional materials. You will learn about what needs to be done in this article.
The content of the article
Features of the antenna amplifier
The purpose of the amplifier is to make the antenna “active”. Let's take a closer look at this concept.
There are two types of television antennas:
- active;
- passive.
They differ from each other in that passive devices receive a signal solely due to their shape, while active versions also contain other active elements. By adding an amplifier to the antenna, you will make it active, which will significantly improve the signal and achieve high-quality image and sound on the TV receiver.
Pros and cons of a TV antenna amplifier
Like any device, an amplifier has not only advantages, but also disadvantages. It is important to find out about them in advance and decide whether the unit suits your needs.
Benefits include:
- significant amplification of any signal, and hence an increase in image quality;
- minimal noise level, unlike many other devices;
- wide frequency range.
But there are also some disadvantages:
- the use of such a device often leads to signal overload - therefore, in some cases there is a need to install additional regulators;
- the amplifier is very susceptible to the influence of thunderstorms - most craftsmen prefer not to take risks and install lightning rods, but there is no absolute guarantee that they will help;
- self-excitation of the amplifier may occur;
- There is signal loss at the output.
DIY TV antenna amplifier
The first step is to prepare all the necessary materials. This:
- aluminum plate;
- copper wire;
- bracket;
- adapter;
- self-tapping screws, nuts, bolts, washers;
- cable for TV;
- rubber tractor belt;
- insulating tape;
- hammer, wrench and other tools.
IMPORTANT! Even if you have experience in making such devices, study the instructions in detail before starting work. It is important to understand in what sequence the actions need to be performed, as well as what exactly each detail is needed for.
Before starting work, you need to familiarize yourself with the diagram in order to better understand the principle of operation of the device, as well as find photographs of finished products.
The first step is to cut holes: three in the rubber and one in the aluminum plate.Then a similar hole is also made in the bracket and in the place where the antenna will be located. The wire is bent and then connected at the ends using a self-tapping screw.
Then you need to attach an adapter to the cable and insulate the connection. Now you need to put all the parts together. The final step will be to insulate the attachment point of the cable and wire using electrical tape.
Amplifier connection
Another advantage of a self-made amplifier is that the finished product does not have to be configured. It's pretty easy to connect.
Connect the board to an indoor antenna and check the amplification quality. There should be no unnecessary noise during operation of the device. The amplifier can be stored in a special case, which will provide reliable protection from any environmental influences.
The first time after connection, monitor the quality of the signal amplification. If you notice any problems, it is better to fix them immediately.
IMPORTANT! Remember that to get a good picture and sound, it is important not only the presence of an amplifier, but also the location of the antenna. Therefore, be careful when choosing the mounting location. Don't forget about the need for a lightning rod.
Now you know what an amplifier for a television antenna is, why it is needed and how to make it yourself. With such a device you will forget about interference and other problems associated with poor signal reception.
Television is one of the most popular entertainments at the moment, and TV receivers are no longer only available in city apartments, but also in the most remote areas of the country, as well as in country houses.With the development of modern technology, the quality is only improving, so you do not need to give up the pleasure of watching your favorite programs just because your home is located in a place where there is poor television reception.
The circuit is very simple and interesting, but why not describe the purpose and what role the parts play, where the throttle is on the breadboard, it would be nice to know the characteristics of the microcircuit and where to buy it. It seems like these are small things, but when repeated, beginners will have a lot of questions. Please take these notes into account in future publications.