Amazing Technology Breakthrough in Terrestrial Aerials

Channel Hopper

Channel Hopper

Suffering fools, so you don't have to.
Staff member
My Satellite Setup
A little less analogue, and a lot more crap.
My Location
UK
Two too many zero's......
 
Very cheap for the distance....
 
Too many negative reviews on Amazon
Something not right about it
 
Not exactly aesthetically pleasing, but I've been using this self-made DIY indoor UHF TV aerial for my bedroom TV now for a while. It's simply two empty 330ml cans of Coke Zero (old-ish ones as all new Coke cans now sold in NI are taller & slimmer in size) taped to a wooden coat hanger, that is hung from a curtain rail with some reusable cable ties. Compared to many other indoor UHF aerials I've used in the past, it's surprisingly effective and works very well. The "downlead" connection is simply connected via a crocodile clip to each can tab (it's best to try and keep each can near enough to each other without either the can or any tab/clip connected to it from touching each other) that is then connected to a single WF65 coax lead using a 5A electrical junction box. The main Freeview TX from here is Brougher Mountain while across the border the best Saorview TX is Truskmore in Co. Sligo. Fortunately both sites are within a 30 degree arc of each other at my RX end and a simple aerial like this is easy to position to get both sites at a good level. I think what makes it work so good is the size and shape of the cans - it's essentially a "fat" diploe that (a) is able to provide a bigger signal strength level due to the large surface area of the can(s), and (b) in general a thicker dipole can provide a better beamwidth than a thinner dipole, and cover the present UHF TV band from E21 to E48 quite well.

00.webp

...a coat hanger, two tin cans and some wire...

01.webp

...RTÉ2 from Truskmore at 71km/45 miles (line of sight - just!), Channel E42 (2RN Mux1)...

02.webp

...RTÉ One again from Truskmore, Channel E42 (2RN Mux2)...

03.webp

...BBC One NI HD from Brougher Mtn, 13km/8 miles on Channel E37 (PSB3 Mux). The towers on Brougher can be seen from another room in the bedroom on a clear day...

04.webp

...finally Dave from Brougher Mountain on Channel E24 (COM5 Mux). Unusually compared to other Freeview multiplexes the COM4-6 multiplexes from Brougher Mtn are 10db down on the PSB multiplexes (20kW PSB, 2kW COM), the reason is to limit co-channel interference to the PSB multiplexes transmitted from the Divis transmitting station near Belfast.
 
Im a bit puzzled as to why those antenna "sticks" have an f-connector on them!

I like this bit in the description though:

"Note:
Maybe you can not receive as many channels as you thought, it depends on the signal, distance and TV status and other factors."


Or maybe its because they are completely useless??
 
Channel Hopper said:
These are now appearing en masse.

www.ebay.co.uk

1pc Digital Aerial TV Stick Clear Smart TV Switch Antenna HDTV FREE TV Digi_SG | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1pc Digital Aerial TV Stick Clear Smart TV Switch Antenna HDTV FREE TV Digi_SG at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.
www.ebay.co.uk

Outstanding, if the claims are true.
Click to expand...
You mean "outstandingly useless" (at least in Europe!) - claimed frequency range is 146-176MHz, so not even Band III! :eek:
 
If it is hard to believe it is true, then it probably is not true, buyer beware
 
Topper said:
If it is hard to believe it is true, then it probably is not true, buyer beware
Click to expand...
"Problem is" most buyers have ABSOLUTELY no idea about what to beware of regarding these things - to them an indoor aerial/antenna is just a small plastic and metal "thing" that they try to point "somewhere" to get a TV signal (I have a brother-in-law like that!):rolleyes:
 
Are those antennas also for color and HD reception, and also anti-global-warming?

:) ,
A33.
 
A dead Cat wrapped in aluminum foil would work as an antenna if your close enough to the TV transmitters..(I would mount it outside as the stink might get a bit too much later on)
 
Fisty McB said:
Not exactly aesthetically pleasing, but I've been using this self-made DIY indoor UHF TV aerial for my bedroom TV now for a while. It's simply two empty 330ml cans of Coke Zero (old-ish ones as all new Coke cans now sold in NI are taller & slimmer in size) taped to a wooden coat hanger, that is hung from a curtain rail with some reusable cable ties. Compared to many other indoor UHF aerials I've used in the past, it's surprisingly effective and works very well. The "downlead" connection is simply connected via a crocodile clip to each can tab (it's best to try and keep each can near enough to each other without either the can or any tab/clip connected to it from touching each other) that is then connected to a single WF65 coax lead using a 5A electrical junction box. The main Freeview TX from here is Brougher Mountain while across the border the best Saorview TX is Truskmore in Co. Sligo. Fortunately both sites are within a 30 degree arc of each other at my RX end and a simple aerial like this is easy to position to get both sites at a good level. I think what makes it work so good is the size and shape of the cans - it's essentially a "fat" diploe that (a) is able to provide a bigger signal strength level due to the large surface area of the can(s), and (b) in general a thicker dipole can provide a better beamwidth than a thinner dipole, and cover the present UHF TV band from E21 to E48 quite well.

View attachment 139694

...a coat hanger, two tin cans and some wire...

View attachment 139695

...RTÉ2 from Truskmore at 71km/45 miles (line of sight - just!), Channel E42 (2RN Mux1)...

View attachment 139696

...RTÉ One again from Truskmore, Channel E42 (2RN Mux2)...

View attachment 139697

...BBC One NI HD from Brougher Mtn, 13km/8 miles on Channel E37 (PSB3 Mux). The towers on Brougher can be seen from another room in the bedroom on a clear day...

View attachment 139698

...finally Dave from Brougher Mountain on Channel E24 (COM5 Mux). Unusually compared to other Freeview multiplexes the COM4-6 multiplexes from Brougher Mtn are 10db down on the PSB multiplexes (20kW PSB, 2kW COM), the reason is to limit co-channel interference to the PSB multiplexes transmitted from the Divis transmitting station near Belfast.
Click to expand...
Well done.

With the longer/thinner cans and some more coat hangers/clips you could make log periodic style fat antennas.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1965

About that time of the year anyway.
 
Last edited:
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