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digital tv coat hanger antenna rabbit ears are for rabbits not digital televisions in this project we ll show you how to build your own digital tv antenna from wire hangers a piece of wood and some pipe television antennas are comprised of a series of metal rods cut to exact lengths and positioned so they receive a particular television frequency the following design was invented in the 1960s by an engineer named doyt hoverman it is particularly sensitive in the uhf frequency range the same range used for the majority of digital television transmissions tools electric drill screwdriver or screw shooter screwdriver bits 1/16 drill bit 3/32 drill bit ¼ drill bit scrap wood materials wire hangers 6 wood board approximately 3 x 20 x ¾ #6 round head wood scews ¾ long and washers 10 u-bolts ¼ diameter 2 ½ long nuts washers 2 ¾ diameter iron pipe 24 long one end threaded ¾ pipe floor flange #10 wood screws flat headed 1 long 4 wood board approximately 12 x 10 x ¾ 75 to 300 ohm matching transformer with spade clips on one end and female f connector on other estimated cost $20 or less before you begin you may find it necessary to modify these instructions depending on what materials and tools you have at hand and any improvements you might want to make in the design go ahead and customize the project and make it your own for more projects visit makezine.tv digital tv coat hanger antenna page 1

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digital tv coat hanger antenna step 1 mark the antenna frame begin construction of the antenna by marking a 3 x 20 board as shown below note that these dimensions are important to get a good signal with the finished antenna 2 5 ¾ 10 5 ¾ 5 ¾ step 2 drill holes for mounting screws drill a 1/16 pilot hole for each screw location for more projects visit makezine.tv digital tv coat hanger antenna page 2

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digital tv coat hanger antenna step 3 cut four coat hangers and remove finish cut apart four wire coat hangers as shown in the diargram below to obain eight v-shaped pieces of wire each side of the v being 8 long with a 3 opening remove any paint or varnish at the bottom of the v so they ll make good electrical contact 8 3 sand step 4 cut and straighten two coat hangers cut apart two coat hangers to obtain two wires 22 long for more projects visit makezine.tv digital tv coat hanger antenna page 3

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digital tv coat hanger antenna step 5 attach wires to board attach the wire pieces as shown bending the wire to make good electrical contact with the screw heads note how the straight wires cross back and forth between the screws 5a remove insulation from coat hangers at all contact points 5c insulate wires w/electrical tape at points where they cross on the board 5b affix hangers using screws and washers for more projects visit makezine.tv digital tv coat hanger antenna page 4

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digital tv coat hanger antenna step 6 attach tv transformer attach the matching transformer to the center two connections of the antenna transformer to tv iron pipe flange wood base step 7 attach antenna to pipe attach wood to pipe with u-bolts step 8 attach antenna to base attach flange to wood base and screw pipe into pipe flange connect the antenna to your tv and try it out for more projects visit makezine.tv digital tv coat hanger antenna page 5

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digital tv coat hanger antenna note digital television signals are strongest when the path from the transmitter to your antenna is not obstructed by buildings or trees so putting your antenna in an upper story or an attic will improve your reception more need to understand more about the transition to digital television visit http www.dtv.gov want general information on how antennas work see http www.electronics-tutorials.com/antennas/antennabasics.htm tell us how your antenna works leave a comment under the video for this project at http www.makezine.tv use of the instructions here and on make television is at your own risk twin cities public television inc o reilly media inc the show s sponsors producers and distributors disclaim all responsibility for any damage injury and expense resulting from these projects your safety is your own responsibility and that includes the proper use of equipment and safety gear and determination of whether you have the requisite skills to successfully and safely undertake the project these projects are not intended for children it is mandatory that you understand that technology laws and limitations imposed by manufacturers and content owners are constantly changing thus all make television projects may not work may be inconsistent with current laws or user agreements or may damage or adversely affect some equipment for more projects visit makezine.tv digital tv coat hanger antenna page 6

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