3 EASY DIY ANTENNAS FOR BEGINNERS

[abcd567]

STARTER
When DVB-T Dongle is purchased, a whip antenna is supplied with it. Every beginner uses this whip in his starter setup.
Improve the performance of this whip antenna by three simple steps given below:
[/size]

• Whip is too long for 1090 MHz. Cut it to 67mm.
• Magnetic base provides an insufficient ground-plane. Enlarge ground-plane by placing the whip over a Metallic Can/Box/Plate. An added advantage of placing whip over an iron/steel can is that whip's magnetic base will cling to the can and keep the whip stable & upright.
• Signal is weak indoors. Place whip near a window or in attic to get maximum signal.

.
.
.

.
.
.

NEXT STEP
Once your setup is up and running, you will be happy, but soon after you will want to increase your range. You can then try some easy and sure antenna, like Spider & Cantena. In next three posts below, there are "how to make" instructions for Spider, Cantenna & Handy Spider.
.
.
VENTURING BEYOND......
Next step may be to venture through alluring collinear antennas Like Coaxial Collinear (Coco), and Wire Collinears with coils and/or stubs. These antennas are very alluring, as these are easy to make. All postings for these on internet & youtube claim "high gain excellent antenna". The problem shows up when these antennas are put to service, and give poor performance. Collinears are easy to make, but very hard to get right, and except for few lucky ones, most DIY Collinear makers end up with a poor performing antenna.
.
.
.
3 EASY ANTENNAS FOR BEGINNERS

The main disadvantages of stock antenna supplied with DVB-T USB Dongle are:
Problem (1): It has a very short lead. Due to this, in most cases the antenna cannot be placed at an optimum location.
Problem (2): The stock antenna is not optimized for 1090 Mhz.

.
.
.
SOLUTION FOR PROBLEM (1):
The short cable length can be overcome by connecting a MCX to F pigtail to the DVB-T USB Dongle, and connecting to the pigtail, the required length of commonly available RG6 cable with a DIY antenna at other end of RG6 cable.


Tip:
(a) For RG6 coax lengths in excess of 5m/15ft, coax attenuation will be high, and an amplifier may become necessary.
(b) Even with short lengths of Coax, use of amplifier increases plane count & range.
.
.
.
SOLUTION FOR PROBLEM (2):
The non optimized antenna can be replaced by a DIY antenna which has a ¼ wavelength vertical whip connected to core of coax cable, and a ground plane connected to shield of coax. The ground plane can be formed by a disc, a number of horizontal radials, a number of slanting radials, or a food/drink can.
.
.
.
Below are 3 different easy antennas for beginners: Spider, Cantenna, and Handy Spider.
These all have a ¼ wavelength vertical whip connected to core of Coax cable, but use different methods of providing ground plane connected to shield of coax.

.

[abcd567]

EASY ANTENNA # 1 : SPIDER

Parts Required:

1. SO-239 Connector




2. PL-259 UHF to F adapter (to connect RG6 coax to SO-239 Connector)



3. Copper wire pieces 10 cm long - 5 pieces for 4 Leg Spider, 9 pieces for 8 Leg Spider.

4. Small Nuts & bolts 4 pieces for fixing wires at 4 corners of SO239 adapter



Schematic & Dimensions




Finished Antenna 4 Legs (Does not require soldering)
Built by jepolch



Finished Antenna 4 Legs (Does not require soldering)
Built by beckerm13





Finished Antenna 8 Legs (Requires Soldering - Performs better than 4 Legs)
Built by autok
http://www.atouk.com/wordpress/?page_id=237



.

[abcd567]

EASY ANTENNA #2 : CANTENNA

Please scroll down to see photos & sketches giving construction details.


Completed Cantenna

Designed & Built by Author of this post (abcd567)




The whip at top is ¼ wavelength i.e. 69mm (see dimension drawing below)
The whip is core wire of coax cable.
It can be bare copper wire OR copper wire + core insulation.
Shield (braid+foil) MUST be removed from the whip.
.
.
.
.
VRS Coverage
The range rings are 50 nm apart, the outermost blue ring is 300 nm from the receiver.


.
.
.
.
Test Setup for Plotting VRS Range Curve
Cantenna >> 15 ft / 5 m RG6 Coax >> Generic DVB-T (black) >> Windows Laptop


.
.
.
.
HOW TO MAKE

Image 1 of 4 : Construction Details 1



Image 2 of 4 : Construction Details 2



Image 3 of 4 : Construction Details 3


Image 4 of 4 : Fully Assembled



DIMENSIONS
Sketch 1 of 2: Pepsi Can Dimensions




Sketch 2 of 2: Whip Measurements.
Any one of the two connectors shown in the sketch below can be used


Details of whip
This detail is for insulated whip.
The whip can also be un insulated bare copper wire like core wire of coax








Cantennas using other types of cans:


Built by giacomo1989


Built by jepolch


.

[abcd567]

EASY ANTENNA #3 - HANDY SPIDER
No Soldering Required, No SO239 Connector Required


Trial Run - Indoor Near Large Window




Maximum Range Curve By VRS
Hardware Used for Range Curve Plotting:
Quick Spider >> 12 ft / 4 m RG6 Coax >> Generic DVB-T (black) >> Orange Pi PC


.
.
.
.
.
.
.
HOW TO MAKE

STEP 1 - Stuff Required

.
.
.
.
STEP 2 - Cut Coax Into Required Pieces

.
.
.
.
STEP 3 - Remove braid & Insulation

.
.
.
.
STEP 4 - Bend Wires

.
.
.
.
STEP 5 - Assemble Radials

.
.
.
.
STEP 6 - Bend Down Radials 45 Degrees

.
.

[abcd567]

ENHANCEMENT FOR OUTDOOR USE
1) Apply a rapid setting (5 minutes) sealant like 2-part epoxy, or silicone, or hot melt glue, or similar at the point where radials enter the outer jacket of coax.

2) After installation. wrap the F-connector in tape to prevent moisture ingress. You may also use outdoor type F connector which are water resistant.



.

[zuliaera]

I was searching about "EASY DIY ANTENNAS" and found this article. Very very helpful for me and i need this one of my project. I just register here to thank you. I am also writing a research article about the best tactical flashlight https://theeffectiveguide.com/best-tactical-flashlight/ . How you will able to make flashlight and what is the best tactical flashlight etc details I have written their. You have written about antennas and I have written about flashlights. However, I like your details explanation.

[abcd567]

I was searching about "EASY DIY ANTENNAS" and found this article. Very very helpful for me and i need this one of my project. I just register here to thank you.

All antennas in this thread are designed for ADS-B frequency 1090 MHz.
At this frequency, the wavelength is 275 mm.
These are 1/4 wavelength antennas, and length of elements (whip, radials, and can height) are 1/4 wavelength = 275 mm/4 = 69 mm

If you want to make these antennas for other frequencies, calculate length of elements (whip, radials, can height) by following formula:

Wavelength in mm = 300,000/frequency in MHz
Length of elements (whip, radials, can height) = 1/4 x wavelength
.

[abcd567]

Testing of Cantenna by Antenna Analyzer

VSWR=1.375, R=53.7Ω, X=6.1Ω, and S11=-16 @1090 MHz




Plot of VSWR vs Frequency 137.5 Mhz ~ 2700 MHz.
Marker at 1090 MHz, minimum SWR at marker

[CYYZGUY]

Excellent how to for some people to save some money.  I see you are close to me from your Polar Diagrams....I went with the DPD 1090 Mhz Antenna set outside on a mast attached to my house.  My results are quite a bit better then yours.  I am also using LMR-400 cable for almost zero loss.  I take my hat off to you with the time and effort you have put in to the design and thought process!  Well Done!

Attached pic...

AirNav RadarBox - 5.00.071 Shot at 20170130 2201 UTC by CYYZGUY, on Flickr

[abcd567]

Wow! You have an excellent system.
Nice to meet someone from CYYZ area.

Excellent how to for some people to save some money.  I see you are close to me from your Polar Diagrams....I went with the DPD 1090 Mhz Antenna set outside on a mast attached to my house.  My results are quite a bit better then yours.  I am also using LMR-400 cable for almost zero loss. 

2 Nm North from Canada's Busiest Airport CYYZ
DPD 1090 Mhz Antenna with LMR-400 Cable
Antenna 35 Feet (11 Meters) standing tall
Dedicated Airnav Station with 16 Gigs ram
Dedicated Radarbox24 Station with 16 Gigs ram
40" LED Monitor
40" LED Monitor
BCD996XT, BCT15X, BCT15X, BCT15 and BCD436 receiver

[CYYZGUY]

I have spent a lot of time and money in my cabling/masts/antennas over the years.....Before I moved in to the house I am in now in Brampton, I lived in mississauga, and the super of the apartment building allowed me to put my antenna's on the roof of the apartment, 10 stories up.  Now that was RECEPTION!

Previous Installation in mississauga, 10 floors up!
DSC_0751 by CYYZGUY, on Flickr

Current Installation

DSC_0305 by CYYZGUY, on Flickr

Current Airnav Setup

DSC_0307 by CYYZGUY, on Flickr

Jason

[abcd567]

I have spent a lot of time and money in my cabling/masts/antennas over the years.....Before I moved in to the house I am in now in Brampton, I lived in mississauga, and the super of the apartment building allowed me to put my antenna's on the roof of the apartment, 10 stories up.  Now that was RECEPTION!

Previous Installation in mississauga, 10 floors up!
Photo

Current Installation
Photo

Current Airnav Setup
Photo

Jason

Hi Neighbor!
I too live in Mississauga!

You have a very impressive setup. A nice collection of Scanners and two huge Monitors to display.
Your Antennas are also very impressive, an AirNav Antenna and a Disc Cone Antenna.
By the way, the Aircraft Model collection is also impressive.

Really impressive. I wish I could afford such stuff.

[Judwin45]

I have the Micro RadarBox for use when I am mobile.
Does the initial comment in this thread regarding the length of the antenna apply to the Micro RadarBox or only the cheaper DVT type dongles.
Sorry if this is a dumb question.
Regards
Keith

[Runway 31]

The antenna which comes with the Micro is fine for it

Alan

[abcd567]

Major improvement comes from placing the whip on a metallic surface.
This enlarges the insufficient & tiny ground plane provided by whip's TINY mag mount base.

The metallic surface can be a food can, a metallic plate, or body of a car.

.