For building a UHF or VHF antenna, you’ll need coaxial and radial cables. First of all, make a cut in the coaxial cable by leaving 21 or 22 inches. Then solder the radial cable. After that, make some small adjustments, and you’re good to go.
Not to mention, UHF or VHF antenna is invaluable because the antenna connects your TV to a digital converter box so that you can have a satellite subscription or watch air TV channels. You can place the antenna indoors or outdoors.
However, you’ll have access to a wide range of digital channels if you put the antenna on a high standpoint like a rooftop. Building a UHF or VHF tv antenna is complicated but possible. That’s why you must know how to build a UHF/VHF TV antenna.
Let’s get into the details.
Step-By-Step Guide To Building A UHF/VHF Antenna
Before getting into how to build an antenna, let’s know what you’ll need during the process.
- Coaxial Cable
- Radial Cable
- Soldering gun
- Measuring tape.
Now let’s go into the step-by-step guide to building a UHF or VHF antenna.
Step 1
The first step of building a UHF or VHF antenna starts with the coaxial cable. Then mark 21 or 22 inches of the coaxial cable for outer insulation.
Be careful while marking because if you do it in the wrong way, you have to do the process all over again. Also, leave at least three inches for soldering the radials.
Step 2
Now it’s time for soldering. You’ll need a soldering gun to solder a radial cable. Make sure you do the soldering near the cut of the coaxial cable. Nevertheless, make sure the radial cable is long enough for soldering.
Moreover, connect the radial cable to the other two coaxial cables using solder.
Step 3
Spread three cables at equal distances. And make sure there’s a gap of 120 meters from one cable to another. Now your antenna is ready. Lastly, you can hang the antenna from the support and connect another antenna with a scanner.
Why Do You Need To Build A UHF Or VHF Tv antenna?
VHF antennas receive transmissions on VHF frequencies, whilst UHF antennas receive broadcasts on UHF frequencies. But there are two major reasons why most users need to build a UHF or VHF antenna.
Here are they:
- These antennas will provide you with an air antenna. In short, you’ll get satellite service. Moreover, these are very inexpensive antennas compared to others.
- You won’t need any backup antenna anymore because you hardly need to replace the UHF or VHF antenna.
FAQs
Are UHF or VHF antennas the same?
No, both of these outdoor TV antenna are not the same. To increase its range, VHF needs a larger antenna. This will also have an impact on how far it’ll travel. For example, VHF can receive 2 channels through 14, but UHF receive only 13 channels through 83.
Do you need to place VHF antenna vertically?
Transmitter power will define how far your antenna will go. That means the more power, the more area coverage with a strong signal. The maximum transmitter power of consumer VHF equipment is 25 watts. It’s also critical to ensure that your antenna is exactly upright.
Can VHF antenna cross the wall?
A VHF radio is recommended if you need to transmit over a great distance. These radios can broadcast data over vast distances in even the most remote regions. However, because this form of signal cannot pass through buildings or other impediments, it can only be used in wide areas.
What is the range of a 25-watt UHF radio?
Generally, a 25-watt UHF radio has a maximum range of 60 nautical miles. But on small boats or at sea level, the range will vary from 9km to 10km.
Conclusion
So how to build a UHF/VHF antenna? Hopefully, you already got the answer if you have read so far. However, be extra cautious while doing it because the signal strength will weaken if you move it away from the resonant frequency too frequently.
Moreover, building a UHF or VHF antenna will give you access to digital signals. And if the antenna height is good enough, you’ll also get the air signals.