Build an Outdoor Antenna

• 1). Place a piece of 2-by-4 wood, measuring approximately 3 feet in length, on the ground. In 2 rows of 4, screw 8 screws with washers into the board firmly, but do not tighten them all the way. The rows of screws must be placed 3/4-inch from the outer edges of the board. The first screw in each row
  will be 2 inches from the top edge of the board. The second screw will be placed 5 inches from the first screw. Place each of the following screws 5 1/4 inches from the previous screw until all four screws in each of the two columns are secured.
  
  
• 2). Remove the tops of 8 wire coat hangers. Uncoil the hanger tops and fold each one in half. This will form a "V" shape..
  
  
• 3). Place each "V"-shaped hanger on a screw. Make sure the tips pointing outwards are not touching each other.
  
  
• 4). Place a copper wire along the length of the screws. Remove about 1-inch of insualtion from the end points of the wire.
  
  
• 5). Attach the wire to the end screws. Wrap the exposed wire around the end screws on both columns of screws ensuring that wire runs from top to bottom alternating between screws.
  
  
• 6). Remove a segment of insulation about 1-inch in length from the center of the wires between the second and third screws. Fasten the screws completely. Tighten every one of the screws on the board so that the hangers and wire pieces are firmly secured.
  
  
• 7). Place 15-inch by 9-inch grill screens (metal) on the back side of the board lengthwise. Be sure that the screens are not touching the hangers. Place a 300-ohm transformer (often called a TV "matching transformer) in the middle of the top side of the board exactly where you removed the insulation earlier. Strip about 1-inch of insulation off of the two wires extending from the transformer (there may be two lugs attached to the ends of these wires--simply cut them off). Wrap one lead from the transformer to one of the wires where you removed some insulation, and wrap the other lead around the other wire. Secure them with two small screws (approximately 1.5-inches in length).
  
  
• 8). Choose a location for your TV antenna. Select a high place such as a roof, if possible. Take the antenna to the mounting location. Mount the antenna at your chosen location by screwing "L" brackets to both sides of the wood base of the antenna, or screw it into a soffit or the side of the house near the peak of the roof. Screw the other side of the brackets to a stable object on the roof. Screw coax cable on the transformer's coax connector end and run the cable down to the "antenna in" jack on the back of the television.