[Quick help] Will this antenna work with digital TV?

[PLAfiller]

Hello all,

very quick question as I honestly don't get it. In my area TV used to be analog ( for those without cable). So, EU-27 said, you need to switch to digital and now TV is digital. People without cable buy this type of internal antena to catch signal:



But I see many people on line build this antena: ( coax cable + matching transformator ( 300 to 75 ohm) + the actual antena) . Will this work with digital TV if you plug it straight in the TV? I don't see it in the comments. I really don't know. All I need is Yes or No...and I will build one myself

 

[dorsetknob]

External ie Rooftop Aerials are Best
If you Get Good Reception with your Current Aerial then it Should Receive DVT

 

[bonehead123]

good reception depends on how far away your local transmission towers are, how many obstructions there are, and the quality of your antenna and TV.

Forgive me if this sounds harsh, but that thing you pictured seems really cheap looking and cobbled together like a 4th grade science project. Surely you realize that many high quality digital TV antennae are available for $20-100, right ?

 

[Basard]

I'm also a cheap bastard. I've gotten good signal by just shoving a torn-up extensipn cord into the hole where coax plugs in. Only a couple channels at a time, but if you daisy chain a series of pots and pans and coat hangers, things really start picking up.

 

[PLAfiller]

External ie Rooftop Aerials are Best
If you Get Good Reception with your Current Aerial then it Should Receive DVT

I don't have any reception. I just got a TV for the kitchen. I don't really care about the TV, but wife wants to have the free channels there.

Forgive me if this sounds harsh, but that thing you pictured seems really cheap looking and cobbled together like a 4th grade science project. Surely you realize that many high quality digital TV antennae are available for $20-100, right ?

No, no it's OK. I do realize that - average price is 30-40 EUR for a decent internal antennae here, but I see many people swear on having a great signal with this home made stuff abroad. So why spend 40 EUR on it, when I can spend 4 EUR + 40 mins of my time and solve the problem? That's why I need to know if this will work and worth the effort.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

The antenna pictured would likely only pick up UHF signals from maybe 20 miles away. It wouldn't do well with VHF (because the spread isn't big enough to capture it's long waves) nor long distance (because it would require a reflector or more receivers in line with the signal source).

UHF doesn't pass through houses very well. Aluminum is usually the preferred material because it's light and strong.

I don't know what band EU terrestrial TV uses.

 

[Deleted member 67555]

The build it yourself antenna will do better with a $10 75ohm pre-amp

 

[dorsetknob]

what band EU terrestrial TV uses.

https://www.ebu.ch/news/2017/01/eu-...feguard-future-of-free-to-air-tv-distribution

470-790 MHz frequency band in the EU

 

[Deleted member 67555]

EU uses a good range... Every signal I get is from 500-720...
I would say rabit ears antenna on your roof would suffice for most channels broadcast within 50 kilometers...

If your channels are static you need a preamp to reduce chatter if you are getting weak signals an amp works good...

Most amps reduce chatter by 4db or better so an amp on it's own works pretty good especially if it has gain control because sometimes to much amplification can cause chatter.

 

[eidairaman1]

If your TV was made after 2007, Yes You can just hook an antenna straight up to it, those outdoor antennas you will want grounded/earthed so lightning doesn't fry your stuff or cause a fire. Utilize the channel search/program function to find as many as you can.

Here in Houston TX, we get 67 stations plus 1-4/1-5 sub channels each, so 13-1,-2,-3 etc.

Also use a F style transformer (screwpost on antenna to coax going to tv) designed for out door use, rubber grommets and dielectric grease on the connectors to keep water from getting inside causing short from conductor to shielding or brading.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

https://www.ebu.ch/news/2017/01/eu-...feguard-future-of-free-to-air-tv-distribution

470-790 MHz frequency band in the EU

That's UHF.

EU uses a good range... Every signal I get is from 500-720...
I would say rabit ears antenna on your roof would suffice for most channels broadcast within 50 kilometers...

Rabbit ears are designed for VHF.

This is what a dedicated UHF antenna looks like (the X receivers) with a reflector (the = in the back):

This UHF antenna probably has a 30-40 mile range:

 

[Basard]

I hung a 80mm fan grill, by duct tape, at the focal point of an aluminum light shroud... I had a wire coming from the center hole of the TV's coax output connecting to the fan grill. I could point that little bastard at any TV station and pick it up-- from Oshkosh, WI to Milwaukee and green bay, from inside, through plaster and brick walls.
The fan grill was the only part of the setup that made contact with the wire, the aluminum light shroud was just the focuser.
This is the type shroud I used:

It's easy to open it's socket and gut out the electronics. You can even feed the bare end of a coax cable through the back hole when you gut it out (connect that to the fan grill or nothing at all), so it's not too cheap-looking.