Active indoor antenna for TV rating. Technical characteristics of antennas. What has changed on air

Buying a good antenna for your dacha is not always advisable. Especially if she is visited from time to time. The point is not so much the cost, but the fact that after a while it may not be there. Therefore, many people prefer to make an antenna for their dacha themselves. Costs are minimal, quality is good. And the most important point is that a TV antenna can be made with your own hands in half an hour or an hour and then, if necessary, can be easily repeated...

Digital television in the DVB-T2 format is transmitted in the UHF range, and there is either a digital signal or it is not. If the signal is received, the picture is of good quality. Due to this. Any decimeter antenna is suitable for receiving digital television. Many radio amateurs are familiar with the TV antenna, which is called “zigzag” or “figure eight”. This DIY TV antenna can be assembled literally in a matter of minutes.

To reduce the amount of interference, a reflector is placed behind the antenna. The distance between the antenna and the reflector is selected experimentally - according to the “purity” of the picture
You can attach foil to the glass and get a good signal...
Copper tube or wire is the best option; it bends well and is easy to bend.

It is very simple to make; the material is any conductive metal: tube, rod, wire, strip, corner. Despite its simplicity, she accepts it well. It looks like two squares (rhombuses) connected to each other. In the original, there is a reflector behind the square for more reliable signal reception. But it is more needed for analog signals. To receive digital television, you can do without it or install it later if the reception is too weak.

Materials

Copper or aluminum wire with a diameter of 2-5 mm is optimal for this homemade TV antenna. In this case, everything can be done in literally an hour. You can also use a tube, corner, strip of copper or aluminum, but you will need some kind of device to bend the frames to the desired shape. The wire can be bent with a hammer, securing it in a vice.

You will also need a coaxial antenna cable of the required length, a plug suitable for the connector on your TV, and some kind of mount for the antenna itself. The cable can be taken with a resistance of 75 Ohms and 50 Ohms (the second option is worse). If you are making a TV antenna with your own hands for installation outdoors, pay attention to the quality of the insulation.

The mounting depends on where you are going to hang your homemade antenna for digital television. On the upper floors, you can try to use it as a home decoration and hang it on curtains. Then you need large pins. At the dacha or if you take a homemade TV antenna to the roof, you will need to attach it to a pole. For this case, look for suitable fasteners. To work, you will also need a soldering iron, sandpaper and/or file, and a needle file.

Is a calculation necessary?

To receive a digital signal, there is no need to count the wavelength. It is simply advisable to make the antenna more broadband in order to receive as many signals as possible. To do this, some changes were made to the original design (pictured above) (further in the text).

If you wish, you can make a calculation. To do this, you need to find out what wavelength the signal is broadcast on, divide by 4 and get the required side of the square. To obtain the required distance between the two parts of the antenna, make the outer sides of the diamonds slightly longer and the inner ones shorter.

Drawing of a figure-of-eight antenna for receiving digital TV

• The length of the “inner” side of the rectangle (B2) is 13 cm,
• “external” (B1) - 14 cm.

Due to the difference in lengths, a distance is formed between the squares (they should not be connected). The two extreme sections are made 1 cm longer so that you can fold the loop to which the coaxial antenna cable is soldered.

Making a frame

If you count all the lengths, you get 112 cm. Cut off the wire or whatever material you have, take pliers and a ruler, and start bending. The angles should be 90° or so. You can make a little mistake with the lengths of the sides - this is not fatal. It turns out like this:

• The first section is 13 cm + 1 cm per loop. The loop can be bent immediately.
• Two sections of 14 cm each.
• Two 13 cm each, but with a turn in the opposite direction - this is the point of inflection onto the second square.
• Again two 14 cm each.
• The last one is 13 cm + 1 cm per loop.

The antenna frame itself is ready. If everything was done correctly, there will be a distance of 1.5-2 cm between the two halves in the middle. There may be small discrepancies. Next, we clean the loops and the bend point to bare metal (treat it with fine-grain sandpaper), and tin it. Connect the two loops and crimp them with pliers to hold them tightly.

Cable preparation

We take the antenna cable and carefully clean it. How to do this is shown in the step-by-step photo. The cable must be stripped on both sides. One edge will be attached to the antenna. Here we strip it so that the wire sticks out 2 cm. If it turns out more, the excess (later) can be cut off. Twist the screen (foil) and braid into a bundle. It turned out to be two conductors. One is the central monocore of the cable, the second is twisted from many braided wires. Both are needed and need to be tinned.

We solder the plug to the second edge. A length of 1 cm or so is sufficient here. Also form two conductors and tin them.

Wipe the plug in the places where we will solder with alcohol or solvent, and clean it with emery (you can use a needle file). Place the plastic part of the plug on the cable, now you can start soldering. We solder a monocore to the central output of the plug, and a multicore twist to the side output. The last thing is to crimp the grip around the insulation.

Then you can simply screw on the plastic tip and fill it with glue or non-conductive sealant (this is important). While the glue/sealant has not hardened, quickly assemble the plug (screw on the plastic part) and remove the excess compound. So the plug will be almost eternal.

DIY DVB-T2 TV antenna: assembly

Now all that remains is to connect the cable and the frame. Since we were not tied to a specific channel, we will solder the cable to the middle point. This will increase the broadband of the antenna - more channels will be received. Therefore, we solder the second cut end of the cable to the two sides in the middle (those that were stripped and tinned). Another difference from the “original version” is that the cable does not need to be routed around the frame and soldered at the bottom. This will also expand the reception range.

The assembled antenna can be checked. If the reception is normal, you can finish the assembly - fill the solder joints with sealant. If the reception is poor, try first to find a place where the fishing is better. If there are no positive changes, you can try replacing the cable. To simplify the experiment, you can use regular telephone noodles. It costs a penny. Solder the plug and frame to it. Try it with her. If it catches better, it’s a bad cable. In principle, you can work on “noodles”, but not for long - they will quickly become unusable. It is better, of course, to install a normal antenna cable.

To protect the junction of the cable and the antenna frame from atmospheric influences, the soldering points can be wrapped with ordinary electrical tape. But this method is unreliable. If you remember, you can put on several heat-shrinkable tubes before soldering to insulate them. But the most reliable way is to fill everything with glue or sealant (they should not conduct current). As a “case” you can use lids for 5-6 liter water cylinders, ordinary plastic lids for jars, etc. We make indentations in the right places - so that the frame “sits” in them, do not forget about the cable outlet. Fill it with a sealing compound and wait until it sets. That's it, your DIY TV antenna for receiving digital television is ready.

Homemade double and triple square antenna

This is a narrowband antenna, which is used if you need to receive a weak signal. It can even help if a weaker signal is “clogged” by a stronger one. The only drawback is that you need precise orientation to the source. The same design can be made to receive digital television.

You can also make five frames - for a more confident reception
It is not advisable to paint or varnish - reception deteriorates. This is only possible in close proximity to the transmitter

The advantages of this design are that reception will be reliable even at a considerable distance from the repeater. You just need to specifically find out the broadcast frequency, maintain the dimensions of the frames and the matching device.

Construction and materials

It is made from tubes or wire:

• 1-5 TV channel MV range - tubes (copper, brass, aluminum) with a diameter of 10-20 mm;
• 6-12 TV channel MV range - tubes (copper, brass, aluminum) 8-15 mm;
• UHF range - copper or brass wire with a diameter of 3-6 mm.

The double square antenna consists of two frames connected by two arrows - upper and lower. The smaller frame is a vibrator, the larger one is a reflector. An antenna consisting of three frames gives a higher gain. The third, smallest square is called the director.

The upper boom connects the middle of the frames and can be made of metal. The lower one is made of insulating material (textolite, gettinax, wooden plank). The frames must be installed so that their centers (the points of intersection of the diagonals) are on the same straight line. And this straight line should be directed towards the transmitter.

The active frame - the vibrator - has an open circuit. Its ends are screwed to a textolite plate measuring 30*60 mm. If the frames are made from a tube, the edges are flattened, holes are made in them and the lower arrow is attached through them.

The mast for this antenna must be wooden. At least the upper part of it. Moreover, the wooden part should start at a distance of at least 1.5 meters from the level of the antenna frames.

Dimensions

All dimensions for making this TV antenna with your own hands are given in the tables. The first table is for the meter range, the second is for the decimeter range.

In three-frame antennas, the distance between the ends of the vibrator (middle) frame is larger - 50 mm. Other sizes are given in the tables.

Connecting an active frame (vibrator) via a short-circuited cable

Since the frame is a symmetrical device, and it must be connected to an asymmetrical coaxial antenna cable, a matching device is required. In this case, a balancing short-circuited loop is usually used. It is made from pieces of antenna cable. The right segment is called the “loop”, the left one is called the “feeder”. A cable is attached to the junction of the feeder and the cable, which goes to the TV. The length of the segments is selected based on the wavelength of the received signal (see table).

A short piece of wire (loop) is cut at one end by removing the aluminum screen and twisting the braid into a tight bundle. Its central conductor can be cut down to insulation, since it does not matter. The feeder is also cut. Here, too, the aluminum screen is removed and the braid is twisted into a bundle, but the central conductor remains.

Further assembly proceeds like this:

• The braid of the cable and the central conductor of the feeder are soldered to the left end of the active frame (vibrator).
• The feeder braid is soldered to the right end of the vibrator.
• The lower end of the cable (braid) is connected to the feeder braid using a rigid metal jumper (you can use wire, just make sure there is good contact with the braid). In addition to the electrical connection, it also sets the distance between sections of the matching device. Instead of a metal jumper, you can twist the braid of the lower part of the cable into a bundle (remove the insulation in this area, remove the screen, roll it into a bundle). To ensure good contact, solder the bundles together with low-melting solder.
• The cable pieces must be parallel. The distance between them is about 50 mm (some deviations are possible). To fix the distance, clamps made of dielectric material are used. You can also attach a matching device to a textolite plate, for example.
• The cable going to the TV is soldered to the bottom of the feeder. Braid is connected to braid, center conductor to center conductor. To reduce the number of connections, the feeder and cable to the TV can be made single. Only in the place where the feeder should end must the insulation be removed so that the jumper can be installed.

This matching device allows you to get rid of noise, blurred contours, and a second blurry image. It is especially useful at a great distance from the transmitter, when the signal is clogged with interference.

Another variation of the triple square

In order not to connect a short-circuited loop, the triple square antenna vibrator is made elongated. In this case, you can connect the cable directly to the frame as shown in the figure. Only the height at which the antenna wire is soldered is determined in each case individually. After the antenna is assembled, “testing” is carried out. The cable is connected to the TV, the central conductor and braid are moved up/down, achieving a better image. In the position where the picture will be clearest, the antenna cable branches are soldered, and the soldering points are insulated. The position can be any - from the bottom jumper to the transition point to the frame.

Sometimes one antenna does not give the desired effect. The signal turns out to be a weak image - black and white. In this case, the standard solution is to install a television signal amplifier.

The simplest antenna for a summer residence is made from metal cans

To make this television antenna, in addition to the cable, you will only need two aluminum or tin cans and a piece of wooden plank or plastic pipe. Cans must be metal. You can take aluminum beer beers, or you can take tin ones. The main condition is that the walls are smooth (not ribbed).

The jars are washed and dried. The end of the coaxial wire is cut - by twisting the braided strands and clearing the central core of insulation, two conductors are obtained. They are attached to banks. If you know how, you can solder it. No - take two small self-tapping screws with flat heads (you can use “fleas” for drywall), twist a loop at the ends of the conductors, thread a self-tapping screw with a washer installed on it through it, and screw it to the can. Just before this you need to clean the metal of the can by removing the deposits using fine-grain sandpaper.

The cans are secured to the bar. The distance between them is selected individually - according to the best picture. You shouldn’t hope for a miracle - there will be one or two channels in normal quality, or maybe not... It depends on the position of the repeater, the “cleanliness” of the corridor, how correctly the antenna is oriented... But as a way out in an emergency, this is an excellent option.

A simple Wi-Fi antenna made from a metal can

An antenna for receiving a Wi-Fi signal can also be made from improvised means - from a tin can. This DIY TV antenna can be assembled in half an hour. This is if you do everything slowly. The jar should be made of metal, with smooth walls. Tall and narrow canning jars work great. If you will be installing a homemade antenna on the street, find a jar with a plastic lid (as in the photo). The cable is an antenna, coaxial, with a resistance of 75 Ohms.

In addition to the can and cable, you will also need:

• RF-N connector;
• a piece of copper or brass wire with a diameter of 2 mm and a length of 40 mm;
• cable with a socket suitable for a Wi-Fi card or adapter.

Wi-Fi transmitters operate at a frequency of 2.4 GHz with a wavelength of 124 mm. So, it is advisable to choose a jar such that its height is at least 3/4 of the wavelength. For this case, it is better that it be more than 93 mm. The diameter of the can should be as close as possible to half the wavelength - 62 mm for a given channel. There may be some deviations, but the closer to the ideal, the better.

Dimensions and assembly

When assembling, a hole is made in the jar. It must be placed strictly at the desired point. Then the signal will be amplified several times. It depends on the diameter of the selected jar. All parameters are shown in the table. You measure the exact diameter of your can, find the right stitch, and have all the right dimensions.

The procedure is as follows:

You can do without an RF connector, but with it everything is much simpler - it’s easier to position the emitter vertically upward, connect the cable going to the router or Wi-Fi card.

The modern world is hard to imagine without television, because it is an integral part of every person’s daily life. It is important that the quality of the transmitted signal remains at the highest level; for this it is convenient to use modern devices. How to choose this technique correctly in order to get a high-quality image on your TV?

What is the difference between an antenna for receiving digital television and a regular one?

The main difference between modern TV equipment and conventional equipment is that they pick up different signals and frequencies. The new standards offer a more stable image, there is no noise, and the transmitted colors are very clear. This is especially good for owners of widescreen screens, which can convey all the colorfulness of the image. Modern TV provides a large number of channels, and you can install protection for programs that you would not want to watch, or, conversely, pay extra for additional services.

Professional antennas for digital TV

1. Combined all-wave device Funke DCRS.1760 /1-69/. The body of this device is made of aluminum, anodized with a gold-containing alloy. Has three outputs, gain in ranges from 5 to 15db. Installed outside, in private homes.
2. Combined all-wave device Funke DCRS.1753 /1-69/, made of aluminum, mandatory anodizing with an alloy containing gold. It has two outputs and amplification in the range from 3 to 14.5db.
3. The combined all-wave apparatus Logo P-14 is used in multi-storey buildings. Installed outside. The design is made of ferrous metal, which makes it more durable and durable.
4. UHF range device Funke BM4591 /21-69/. The structure is made of aluminum, on top of which anodizing is carried out with an alloy with gold. The gain is 16.7db, and the device also consists of 91 elements.

Indoor antenna for digital TV

1. Delta. Indoor television model for private use, receiving television programs that are broadcast in the UHF wave range from 470 to 790 MHz, receiving channels from 21 to 60. Horizontal polarization of electromagnetic wave reception. This device is installed exclusively indoors.
2. Delta DIGITAL 5B. Designed to receive DVB-T and DVB-T2. The kit includes a signal amplifier for signal attenuation in the cable, used only indoors.
3. Indoor antenna for digital television Delta K131 for receiving television programs that are broadcast in the UHF wave range from 470 to 790 MHz. The device is intended for installation inside an apartment or house.
4. Uralochka. Modern development for receiving DVB-T2 and analog TV, without a power supply, with a built-in amplifier. The long cable allows you to place the device on a wall, window or even in the attic.

Outdoor antenna

1. Delta N3111.02. Designed to receive analogue television waves ranging from 21 to 69 channels and DVB-T television, installed outdoors. The polarization of received signals is horizontal.
2. UHF antenna for digital television Delta H181 for outdoor installation. Receives analog television waves from 21 to 69 channels and DVB TV, with a gain of 8.5-11 dB. An outdoor model that is ideal for private homes and cottages.
3. Delta N111A.02F. The externally installed device receives signals in horizontal polarization and a frequency band from 470 to 790 MHz. The kit includes an amplifier and a splitter.

What should a good digital antenna be like?

You need to decide on the type of device: what antenna is needed for digital TV? Depending on the installation location, the device can be outdoor or indoor. Next, decide on the strength of the transmitted signal, how accurately it will arrive, and whether an amplifier is needed. In some cases, such an additional function is completely unnecessary, and its presence, on the contrary, distorts the image and sound. Pay attention not only to the model itself, but also to the instructions that come with it. It must contain clear information with complete characteristics.

A do-it-yourself digital TV antenna is a reality for those who really like to design various devices and devices, regardless of their complexity. To do this, it is not necessary to invent a new device; you can use a regular analog antenna or create your own unique design, complementing the inexpensive basic model. The main thing is to correctly configure it for the required broadcast ranges.

Where to buy and how much it costs

Purchasing equipment for broadcasting the desired TV channels will not be difficult. Such devices are presented in specialized stores, on the market of household appliances and accessories, and also in online stores. Prices for different models are presented in the table; they will depend on the place of purchase.

An indoor TV antenna is a simple device that receives a television signal. It is used in a building and installed on a television receiver, to which it is connected with a special coaxial cable. This type of receiving device differs from other types of antennas in its simplicity of design and low cost.

Advantages of a home wave receiver:

• low price;
• ease of installation and connection;
• compact dimensions;
• possibility of free movement if necessary.

Main disadvantages:

• each channel has to be configured separately;
• works only in the immediate vicinity of the broadcaster;
• sensitive to obstacles in the form of buildings, plants, precipitation, and so on;
• does not provide good quality signal transmission without interference.

Reception efficiency and signal quality depend on the following conditions:

• at what distance from the repeater is the indoor antenna located. A repeater is a powerful antenna that not only receives a signal, but also broadcasts or transmits it into space. A repeater is also called a television tower. A separate transceiver is installed in each region or locality. The farther the wave receiver is from the tower, the worse it will pick up the signal;
• on the type of wave receiver and the presence of additional devices that amplify the signal;
• at what height level is the device located relative to the television tower;
• on the presence of barriers between the tower and the antenna and their features. This refers to buildings and their height, landscape, vegetation;
• from the location of the wave receiver in the building. Most often, they are installed on the TV itself or on a nearby window, which improves the characteristics of the received signal.

Indoor antennas: main types and description

Wave receivers used in the building are divided into several types according to their design features and the maximum wavelength that they can pick up.

1. A meter antenna is the simplest representative of home receivers. Capable of picking up a wave signal that is in the meter range. It is a structure consisting of a stand that houses a transformer with two movable “whiskers” in the form of thin telescopic rods, and a cable connected to the TV. This design for signal reception will show good results only if it is installed at the closest distance from the broadcasting tower. Meter wave receivers are not popular among buyers, since modern TV channels have almost completely switched to the digital broadcast format. There are about five Russian channels left in the meter range.
2. A decimeter or loop antenna is a type of receiver that operates in the decimeter wavelength range. It is a device consisting of a base, an open frame contour and a cable for connecting to a set-top box or TV. This type of receiver is capable of providing a good signal at a distance of up to 30 km from the broadcaster.
3. A hybrid receiver (all-wave) is a type of device whose design allows it to receive both meter and decimeter waves of a television signal. Convenience lies in the ability to switch between ranges if necessary.
4. A passive wave receiver is a conventional device for capturing a signal without additional options to enhance the sensitivity and efficiency of wave perception.
5. An active antenna for a TV is a device that includes a special amplifier to improve the quality of the received signal. Receivers with an amplifier are used at a large distance from the broadcaster's tower or in cases where the signal needs to be divided into several televisions. Because when separated, the signal quality deteriorates.

The most widely used home TV antenna is one that can pick up digital television signals. Therefore, we will consider this type of wave receiver in more detail.

Home digital antenna: features of choice

Digital indoor TV antennas are a type of wave receivers that receive signals from UHF waves. In another way, this type of antenna is called DVB/T2 format receivers. That is, in essence these are the same decimeter antennas.

In order for the TV to receive and convert a digital television signal, the installation of a special DVB/T2 receiver is required. Some TV models already have a built-in receiver that will receive digital television data.

How to choose an antenna for a TV that can receive a digital signal?

• First, determine whether the digital broadcasting format is supported in a given region;
• check the distance from the repeater to the installation site of the wave receiver. Such information can be found on special websites or using a search engine;
• The markings on the packaging usually indicate the type of receiver for various television broadcast formats. If it is indicated that the antenna is UHF type for receiving an over-the-air signal, this does not mean that for DVB/T2 it is necessary to buy a separate wave receiver. Since any UHF wave receiver can pick up a digital television signal if it has a built-in or external receiver;
• the presence of a cable, stand for installation or mounts for hanging the receiver.

Therefore, we will consider some models, most of which had better performance under different installation conditions.

1. Model of a wave receiver with a Mini Digital amplifier from the Saratov electromechanical plant "Remo". The device is a frame with small suction cups for mounting on a window and a stand in the form of a small box. Installation requires a power connection to the amplifier. The kit also includes a three-meter cable for connecting to a TV. Mini Digital is designed to receive UHF signals, and therefore DVB/T
2. Sirius series 2.0. — home antenna on a stand without an amplifier. Designed to receive decimeter waves. The coverage area declared by the manufacturer is up to 45 km.
3. Chinese wave receiver Denn DAA series 238. The model is equipped with an amplifier and is capable of receiving up to 20 television channels plus about three radio channel signals.

What to do if the indoor antenna does not “catch”

Poor quality of the received signal does not always mean that the receiver design is ineffective. Before changing the purchased wave receiver, you need to try some actions. Perhaps they will help improve the quality of the received signal:

1. Change the height of the mustache or the device itself. Some interference may not allow the signal to pass through at the level at which the antenna is installed. It happens that changing the installation height on the TV or on the window leads to an improvement in the signal.
2. If the antenna is installed on a plastic window, then the metal-plastic structure of the window itself can serve as an interference. In this case, the antenna can be installed on an additional stand or mounted on glass.
3. Change the angle of rotation of the entire device or its moving parts. Sometimes placing the antenna perpendicular to the signal source gives a noticeable improvement in quality.
4. It is necessary to change the position of the device or its angle relative to the repeater smoothly, since it happens that even a shift of 5 millimeters affects the signal.

If all the necessary settings have been made, but the signal is still not “caught”, or it turns out that the distance to the broadcast tower is too great, in this case an outdoor TV antenna will be a good alternative.

What types of outdoor antennas are there?

The design of such devices is more complex, but, like indoor devices, they are designed to receive terrestrial television signals. There are meter, UHF and DVB/T2. To install outdoor wave receivers, you will need a special coaxial cable with reinforced insulation and a sufficient height level. The further away the tower is, the higher you need to install such an antenna.

It is better to install a satellite dish in places farthest from television towers. A parabolic antenna, or “dish,” is designed to receive television and radio signals transmitted by a satellite. To operate this type of antenna, you need a special tuner and a coaxial cable. The dimensions of the dish are selected depending on the region where it will be installed, as well as on the operating range of the radio frequency signal of the satellite to which the device will be tuned.

In conclusion, I would like to note that purchasing an expensive antenna does not guarantee excellent quality of the received signal. Since, in addition to the characteristics of the receiving device itself, environmental factors are no less important, which have a significant impact on the attenuation, reflection and transmission of waves in space. Therefore, it is impossible to unambiguously call any particular antenna model good or bad. In this case, when purchasing, you must, first of all, be based on the characteristics of the area where the device will be installed.

Digital terrestrial television broadcasting

Terrestrial is television broadcasting, in which a TV signal is transmitted by a transmitting television station into the surrounding space using electromagnetic waves, and anyone can pick up this signal using a television receiving antenna. Broadcasting is carried out on meter (MV/VHF) and decimeter (UHF/UHF) waves. In connection with Russia's transition to a digital broadcasting format, terrestrial television is becoming a convenient and free way to deliver a high-quality television signal. The DVB-T2 standard has been adopted as the main format for digital terrestrial TV in Russia.

Antenna classification

Television antennas are conventionally divided according to the location of installation, type of signal amplification, and range of received frequencies.

• Depending on the installation location - indoor and outdoor.

Indoor antennas are installed indoors. Important: reception with an indoor antenna is possible only where the TV signal level is high enough - such places are called areas of reliable reception. In reality, there are not so many such zones. There are not very many chances to get a high-quality “picture” using an indoor antenna in the village, at the dacha and other places remote from the repeater. Of course, you want to make do with a nice, elegant design, and not climb on roofs and balconies, but there is no way to bypass the laws of physics.

Attention: the statement that an indoor antenna will receive signals well in any room is completely wrong! Each case should be considered separately and a suitable antenna should be selected.

Outdoor antennas have significantly better parameters and can be used in most places, including country houses and cottages. Installing an outdoor antenna requires significant effort and some experience, but the resulting effect will more than pay for your efforts. Outdoor antennas can almost always provide better reception!

• By type of signal amplification - passive and active.

Passive antennas receive and amplify the signal due to their design (geometry). They are not connected to the electrical network and do not have active amplification elements: transistors, microcircuits or other electronic components. Thus, a passive antenna does not introduce its own interference and noise (which is inevitably produced by various electronic components) into the received signal. At the same time, in some situations its own capabilities are not enough for high-quality reception.

Active antennas amplify the received signal not only due to their design features, but also with the help of an electronic amplifier with which they are equipped. The amplifier can be mounted inside the antenna housing or separately from it. Power is supplied from a household electrical outlet using an adapter (power supply). It should be remembered that the amplifier is a source of its own noise. In some cases, interference and distortion may occur in the received TV signal, for example:

- when using an active antenna in an area of ​​already reliable television reception,

- if you choose the wrong amplifier with very high gain (this is the case when everything is good in moderation!),

- when using low-quality amplifiers from unknown companies and manufacturers.

• By received frequencies - channel, band and all-wave.

Channel antennas are designed to receive only individual frequency channels and are used in special conditions - for the average TV viewer they are practically never needed.

Band antennas are used where it is necessary to receive only HF, or only UHF. In particular, only the UHF range is used for broadcasting digital terrestrial television in Russia. If an antenna is purchased only to receive digital TV, then an antenna that operates only in the UHF range is sufficient.

All-wave antennas are capable of simultaneously receiving signals from both ranges: VHF and UHF. Most often, TV viewers need just such antennas, because various TV channels in Russia are broadcast both in the MW range and in the UHF range.

Antenna Specifications

The antenna, like any electronic device, has a number of parameters and technical characteristics. Some of them are described in the product passport, some - only in technical specifications. It is unlikely that the average buyer needs all these numbers. Probably the only technical characteristic that the consumer should pay attention to is the antenna gain or gain. Measured in decibels (dB). The higher the value, the better the antenna’s ability to amplify the TV signal. But as mentioned above, high gain will not always lead to a better image. The gain must match the antenna installation location! Sometimes unscrupulous manufacturers or sellers indicate sky-high gain factors on the packaging and in the product data sheet that have nothing to do with reality. If the antenna shows numbers above 40–45 dB, you should treat this product very carefully. And if you see 80, 90, 120 dB, you are almost certainly being misled. Do not buy!

Assembly, installation and configuration

Purchasing an antenna is not all that is needed to receive high-quality television signals. The antenna must be correctly assembled, correctly installed, connected and configured. The assembly is usually described in detail in the product data sheet or on the packaging. Read the instructions carefully before starting assembly, or better yet, before purchasing! Pay attention to the recommended antenna installation location, how to connect to the TV and achieve the best reception quality. If in the instructions you see clumsy machine translation, errors and inaccuracies, low-quality and incomprehensible illustrations, do not purchase such an antenna!

The installed antenna must be connected to the TV. This is done using a coaxial cable, which many antennas come with. But if the antenna is purchased without a cable (often an outdoor antenna), or the cable is not long enough, you should take the issue of purchasing it very seriously! For television antennas, it is necessary to use a cable with a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms. This number is indicated on the product itself. The quality of a cable depends on the quality of the materials used and the quality of production. The denser the cable braid and the thicker the central core, the better the cable and, usually, the more expensive it is. Don't go for cheap, because a bad cable can negate all the benefits of a good antenna!

Setting up the antenna most often comes down to its correct orientation towards the television center. The technique is simple - slowly rotate the antenna in a horizontal plane, while simultaneously observing the quality of the received image. When setting up an outdoor antenna, use the help of a second person.

For indoor antennas, when switching TV channels, situations may arise when you need to change the gain or adjust the position of the VHF or UHF parts of the antenna. This is normal and is a kind of payment for placing the antenna indoors. The configuration of the antenna should be written in detail in its passport.

Often the buyer finds it difficult to choose a suitable television antenna. Here, first of all, it is necessary to determine for what purposes the antenna is purchased and under what conditions it will operate. Choosing an antenna based on its appearance can lead to dissatisfaction with a poor-quality image on the TV screen.

— If we are talking about receiving a small number of channels, then you can limit yourself to choosing an indoor antenna in the budget segment. But you should be clearly aware that an indoor antenna will often not provide high-quality reception of all channels - this is a compromise option if other options are not suitable at all. Among indoor antennas, it is better to choose directional ones.

— Point the antenna towards the television center or repeater.

- If the windows of the room where the TV is installed face the television center, a window antenna may be suitable for you - it is mounted on the glass, and due to this, although it is indoor, in some cases it can compete with outdoor antennas.

Remember! At a short distance from the TV tower, the built-in amplifier will be overloaded with a powerful signal, which can lead to a sharp deterioration in the reception of all channels.

— If you plan to connect several television receivers to the antenna, you should choose an outdoor antenna with the best parameters.

Remember! Your TV and receiver must support the DVB-T2 standard.

SITUATION 1

Apartment on the top floor of a high-rise building a short distance from the TV station (3–5 km). The television center is visible from the location where the antenna is supposed to be installed. The best option here is an outdoor all-wave antenna without a built-in amplifier. An acceptable level of image quality will be achieved when using almost any indoor antenna. If you choose an indoor antenna with a built-in amplifier, then there must be a gain adjustment to avoid overload with a powerful signal. When receiving a signal in the DVB-T2 digital format, the image quality should be excellent even with an indoor antenna.

SITUATION 2

Similar to the previous situation, but the apartment windows face the opposite side of the television center. The best option is an external all-wave antenna without an amplifier, installed on the roof and aimed at the television center. If for some reason this is not possible, you can use a directional indoor antenna. But receiving all channels in good quality is usually impossible. Again, if the signal is received in the DVB-T2 digital format, the image quality should be excellent.

SITUATION 3

Outskirts of the city, high-rise building, apartment on the ground floor. The distance to the television center is 10–30 km. The most suitable option is an external active all-wave antenna installed on the roof. In this case, you will need to additionally purchase a coaxial cable, since usually a small amount of cable (6–8 meters) is included with the antenna. It is necessary to choose a cable of high quality, with the least losses, having a dense braid of wires and aluminum foil as a screen. The most commonly used cable is RG6 or SAT-50. Old Soviet RK75 cables have significant attenuation in the UHF range and are practically unsuitable for modern use. The use of indoor antennas in this case is possible only in the case of low requirements for the quality of the received signal. High-quality digital TV signal reception is possible by using a directional indoor antenna.

SITUATION 4

A cottage or country house at a considerable (more than 50 km) distance from the television center. For high-quality reception of all channels, it is necessary to use a professional complex of several range antennas with signal amplification and filtering systems. If it is acceptable that a high-quality image will not be available on all channels, then you can use an external all-wave antenna with an amplifier. Indoor antennas are absolutely useless in this case.

Digital television comes into our lives with rapid steps. And right now you need to think about purchasing it. After all, it is planned to turn off the analog signal very soon. In this case, your TV will not show pictures without the appropriate equipment. Today we will think about purchasing an antenna for receiving DVB-T2 digital television.

Selecting an antenna for receiving DVB-T2 digital television

To choose an antenna for reception, you first need to consider the distance from the transmitter. This is a very important criterion. After all, the closer you are to the transmitter, the stronger the signal and reception in this case is possible even with the smallest or even indoor antennas.

In some cases, it is easy to make an antenna yourself from a piece of television cable.

Manufacturing will not be difficult.

For strengthening a weak DVB-T2 signal Any amplifier, as for a Polish antenna, with medium or low gain is suitable. It can be easily connected to an antenna type DIPOL. In this case, reception digital television DVB-T2 will be possible at a distance of more than 100 km from the transmitter.