Don’t throw away your old coax cable; it’s going to give you a kick in constructing a homemade TV antenna.
Frankly, you can make a stronger TV antenna with your old coax cable and Can almost for free.
So, if you want to make the cheapest and simplest TV antenna that actually works well, you’ve landed the right place.
How can a TV antenna be made from Coaxial cable with maximized frequencies?
Before we take you to the process of making a Coaxial cable TV antenna, let’s see how the TV antenna works.
The TV antenna extracts the radio waves from the nearest TV station and converts them into audio and visual signals. Getting a spontaneous radio signal depends on its maximized frequency, which also needs an antenna with a strong signal.
You’ll want to get a strong signal when you’re connecting a homemade TV antenna from a coaxial cable. In this article, we’ll take you to make a coaxial cable TV antenna that’ll help get a strong radio signal.
Here we begin!
How to Make TV Antenna from Coaxial Cable – Easier and Cheapest Project
You can use several things to construct your homemade TV antenna, including copper,
With our prepared TV antenna below, you can enjoy almost all Channels on your Television. That’s because we’re going to use practical equipment and accessories for preparing the TV antenna.
Let’s see how to make TV antenna from coaxial cable simply using basic repairing tools.
Requirement Accessories and Tools
Here’re the basic tools and accessories that you must’ve before you start the project of making a TV antenna.
- A standard coaxial cable (The old one is okay if it’s good, though)
- Utility knife (The new one or relatively new ones will be the best)
- A paper clip (A Jumbo-sized Paper clip will be the best)
- An old cold drink Can
- Diagonal cutting pliers
- Needle nose pliers
- Pair of scissors
- Coaxial cable
- Electrical tape
- Hair dryer
- Rubber gloves
Required Steps to Follow…
Here are the necessary steps to follow for making the TV antenna from your coax cable. But before starting work, wear your rubber or working hand gloves and maintain your safety first.
Now, let’s start!
Step 1: Selection of Accurate Coax Cable
Before everything else, select the coax cable with accurate size, whether old or new.
Take the coaxial cable at least 1.5 feet long, although a 3-feet cable works the best. If your old coax cable is less than 1.5 feet, make two antennas separately from the cable.
Here we’ll show you how to make the TV antenna with two separate coaxial cables of 1.5 feet.
Step 2: Prepare the Coaxial Cable at the First Stage
Make it at half using a diagonal cutter when you have a coaxial cable about 3 feet long. But, if your cable is already short, then cut the last part of the cable.
Make sure your diagonal plier cutter is sharp because the coaxial cable is too tough to cut with the blunt cutter. Even though you have a sharp diagonal cutting plier, cutting the coax cable will take several effort.
Step 3: Stripping Back and Insulation of the Cable
It’s time to strip back the insulation of the cable; that’s not so difficult. But wearing hand gloves is compulsory before starting to strip the insulation, as you might get some tacky adhesive.
If you still need to put on your rubber hand gloves, wear them right now.
Take your utility knife, and coax cable. Now, cut the insulation of your coax cable away from yourself. Now, slightly pull the insulation and rotate the cable 90 degrees somehow.
Lots of braided insulation will be visible after cutting the insulation and pulling them back. Solder all of the braided insulation.
Step 4: Stripping Back the Can and Cut it In half.
Take your old cold drink can over your sink and cut it in half by cutting it in the middle. You might complete the job using the scissor. Nevertheless, you’ll need to use your sharp utility knife to cut the Old can at some thicker parts.
As you’re using an old can, it might’ve residue, particularly if you haven’t washed it before. So, wash the can to clean all its residue after making it in two parts.
Step 5: Cover the Braided Shielding
It’s time to cover the braided shielding to protect it from any attack. A 3.8-inch heat shrink tube is okay for covering the braided shielding, although a 7-inch long tube also does the job perfectly.
Wrapping the coaxial cable with the heat shrink tubing is essential to protect its wires from external attack. Furthermore, the tubing is also necessary to insulate the electricity throughout the covered wires.
It’s okay even though you don’t have the heat shrink tube. Use the electrical tape instead that’s available to you.
Wrap the braided shield with the electrical tape when you’re holding it tightly.
Step 6: Solder All the Stuff
Make two small holes in the can of two cold drinks and solder the external coaxial cable with one Can. Similarly, connect the inside of the coaxial cable with another Can. Attach the cans and coaxial wires using electrical tape and hot glue.
Step 7: Hang it On
Now as you’ve made your TV antenna, it’s time to enjoy broadcasting on Television. Just hang on the antenna at your convenience to place.
Near the window would be the best position for placing your Television and hanging the antenna outside the window.
Final Words!
With a slow internet connection, the TV antenna is a lifesaver as it will entertain you for free. Compared to WiFi or other internet connection, it’s far cheaper and allows you to enjoy almost all channels.
But how to make TV antenna from coaxial cable when you’re looking for a cheaper TV antenna connection?
Undoubtedly, setting up a homemade TV antenna is cost-effective compared to a commercial TV antenna connection. Our easy-to-understand guidelines for making a TV antenna will help you to prepare a TV antenna with a strong signal from a coaxial cable.