Over the last several months we have purchased many indoor HDTV antennas. Unfortunately, all proved to be unpredictable at best. Not a single antenna, including high-end versions with high ratings, could receive all of our local stations at once. This was especially baffling because we live within 30 miles of the broadcast towers.

With winter weather our reception grew worse to the point that not a single station would display without artifacts and dropout. I decided that a homemade antenna couldn't do any worse that the ones we had used.

A few hours of research on the web revealed several possibilities, but I decided to make a version based on the Gray-Hoverman design. I wanted something without protruding wires (so it couldn't be easily damaged) that could be easily placed behind a cabinet for improved appearance. It was also important to use materials I had on hand or that could be easily and affordably purchased.

The design I came up with requires a 48" x 12" board, 92x 1/2" screws, 22x 1" screws, 22 wire shelf end caps, 2 metal washers, a roll of steel wire, several feet of 300-ohm flat twin-lead antenna cable, and a 300-ohm to 75-ohm antenna adapter. The total cost for supplies is under $20.

First the 1/2" screws were attached to the board at 1" intervals from the ends, leaving a gap in the middle to mount the antenna wire. The screws were left only half-way into the board so that the steel wire could be easily strung between them. Once the wire was strung in a grid pattern, the screws were tightened to increase tension and further straighten the steel wire.

With the reflector grid done, the next step was to create the antenna. Because the antenna wire must be isolated from the reflector, I used vinyl end caps to add space between the reflector wiring and the antenna wiring. Once the 1" screws with accompanying vinyl caps were attached, each side of the antenna was symmetrically strung. It's important to remember that each side must not be in contact with the other or the reflector grid.

The last steps were simply to attach the antenna wire to the center screws, tighten them, and attach the 300-ohm to 75-ohm adapter to the other end of the wire.

With the antenna plugged directly into the TV, we were pleased to find that every local HD station came in perfectly and without breakup. Vastly different weather conditions have made no difference in the reception. No signal booster has been required. The entire project was completed in only a few hours, and for the first time we enjoy broadcast HDTV without frustration.