I Built The YouTube Coat Hanger HDTV Antenna
Ever since I built the fractal HDTV antenna, I have wanted to build the other most popular do-it-yourself HDTV antenna, the coat hanger HDTV antenna.
This antenna, a knockoff version of the Antennas Direct DB4, Channel Master CM-4221HD, Antennacraft U4000, and Winegard HD 4400 was made into a very popular do-it-yourself project by the YouTube video below:
After researching the name brand antennas and realizing that their range was between 45-55 miles when compared to the 30-40 mile range of the fractal antenna, I decided to build me a cheap and dirty version of this antenna.
Metal coat hangers are very hard to come by so I used some old 18 AWG solid wire to create my running leads and also the eight “V” shaped antennae as shown in the video. After procuring a 1×4 piece of wood and some #6 wood screws and some #8 washers, I was able to very easily build this antenna per the video.
I connected the coat hanger antenna to my portable HDTV and aimed it towards the direction of the television towers (per my antennaweb.org maps) and performed the channel search. I ended up with 13 channels out of 14 within a 55 mile radius as I went through through the channels with crystal clear reception. This antenna when compared to the fractal antenna did a better job of finding the television stations when the portable HDTV performed the scan. from re-scanning the channel base.
Where it seemed that the fractal antenna required the exact positioning in reference to the television transmitter towers, the coat hanger antenna seemed to have a whole lot more leeway in finding the channels and locking them in with no pixellation.
Of the 14 channels within a 35 mile radius, I still could not receive the a FCC classified low powered station consisting of 15 KW power – compass heading 298° – 21.1 miles away – RF channel 40.
I then looked at the name brand competitors and saw a grid like or band reflector, I did not have any material to create this type of reflector so I took a piece of cardboard and wrapped it with tin foil and placed the tin foil covered cardboard approximately 3 inches behind the antenna elements. This made the antenna a little bit more directional but it seemed to have better gain in reference to picking up the signal.
During the time I built both antennas, it had been raining and therefore could not really do any outside testing. I finally found a day where the sun came out and I then decided to take both the fractal and coat hanger antenna outside for further tests. With the fractal antenna, there was really no evident change. However, with the coat hanger antenna with tin foil reflector, I was able to finally receive the fourteenth channel (the FCC classified low powered station consisting of 15 KW power – compass heading 298° – 21.1 miles away – RF channel 40.) crystal clear with no pixellation that I could not receive inside the house. It was very evident that even though the fractal antenna did very well at close range, I was better off with the coat hanger antenna as it seemed to pull in that low powered station clearly.
Therefore, I have decided to go with the coat hanger antenna and rebuild it better, more sturdier, and somehow procure some chicken / screen wire for the reflector.
I still in the near future plan on playing with both the fractal and coat hanger antenna to see if I can improve the build quality and also the gain and efficiency.
UPDATE! March 2010 – I eventually rebuilt my coat hanger antenna using actual coat hanger wire, PVC pipe, plastic, rivets, and some costume jewerly beads to insulate the tips of the v-shaped antenna elements (when the family dog almost accidentally poked his eye out getting too close to the action) to be a more permanent fixture solution.
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As far as a reflector screen, I picked up a pair of aluminum “grill toppers” that you place on the grates of a gas grill to protect your screens. I picked up a pair for around 6.00 at my local Lowe’s Home Improvement store.
I am in the process of building the coat hanger style antenna, but instead of a single 4 bay, I am going to stack two 4 bays side by side and have an 8 bay bowtie style.
With my UHF corner reflector yagi point towards to “major players” in my market, heading 236/246 and at least 35 miles away, the yagi does good at 20 feet above ground level with lots of pine trees in the way. I can even get two of the major players in the next market to the northeast at times with the yagi.
I am trying to draw up the plans for my double coat hanger style antenna…I hope it works….
Jeff:
First of all, thanks for your comments.
The grill toppers sound like a very interesting concept. I had not thought of that idea. Thanks for that suggestion. Another thing I had thought of was the true aluminum storm window screen wire (not the simulated hard plastic stuff).
If you do the two 4 bays side-by-side, emulate it after the antennas direct DB8
http://antennasdirect.com/DB8_HD_Antenna.html
to which they are talking about approximately a 70 mile range.
I actually built a “fractal” version of the DB4 (Even crossed the wires and insulated at the top and bottom and improved the “lock-in” reception over the DB2 fractal made famous by William Ruckman. But Right now, I am sticking to the coat hanger DB4 design that I still have to rebuild sturdier.
The copy of the DB8 it what I was planning on. I am taking an OLD vhf/uhf combination directional antenna that fell from a tree and using for the supports and frame for the DB8 style antenna. When it gets done, it will look very similar to a hybrid of the DB8 and the 8 bay ChannelMaster style (the older discontinued one with the heavy screen wire reflector screen).
The grill sheets I bought can be found here: They are 15 x 9, thin aluminum (flexible enough for me the shape for strength but light enough to keep down on weight). I bought 1 set (a pair) for 5.97.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=78301-53739-10302
I have also begun a drawing for a corner reflector yagi for UHF that has 48 active elements. If the calculations are correct with will have an estimated 20db forward gain. The old antenna my grandfather had for years on his old farm house was the older style ChannelMaster DB4, and it worked great for VHF and UHF alike.
I got more of the construction on my double “coat hanger” style antenna completed today. I have all of my “whiskers” cut and shaped, as well as the plastic insulators mounted. I will try to get the screens done this weekend. I guess a trip to Wal-Mart is in order for more coat hangers (found 20 metal ones for 0.97 last week).
I will keep all updated as to how things go. If it works well enough, I may post a drawing with plans on the internet somewhere…
Jeff
Surf City, NC
I almost forgot. For the screen wire style reflector, you might try to find the heavy screen wire that has 1/4 inch squares made into it. You should be able to find this style at most hardware or farm supply stores. We used that stuff for lots of things growing up. Most of what I can still find is galvanized steel wire, which works just as well and will not rust as long as the cut and uncoated ends are coated with the “cold galvanized” spray paint.
JeffT:
I will go to Lowes this weekend and take a good look at the grill sheets. That looks very interesting to say the least.