How to Create a Temporary Antenna for a Portable TV

Small antennas pull in television channels well if executed properly.

Portable televisions are convenient for viewing over-the-air feeds from local broadcasters. Making a small, easily deployed antenna for these sets should ideally be as portable as the television and easy to set up.

Things You'll Need

• 18-inch long 2- inch by 2-inch wood mast
• Metal coat hanger
• Wire snips
• Needle nose pliers
• Coaxial antenna transformer
• Coaxial cable
• Drill with Philips bit
• 2 Philips wood screws

Instructions

1. Snip the hook from the top of the metal coat hanger. Bend two small hooks in the top of the coat hanger that previously led to the hook with the needle nose pliers.

2. Drill each of the two Philips screws through the small spade connectors on the coaxial transformer and through the hooks on the coat hanger into the top 2-inch by 2-inch mast. Make these connections 2 inches from the top of the mast. Ensure that the threaded portion of the transformer is pointing down after the antenna is stood upright.

3. Screw a length of coaxial cable sufficient to reach from the threaded section of the transformer to the antenna input on the portable television. Screw the other end to the set.

4. Stand the antenna upright, coat hanger up. Turn on the television and check for available channels.

5. Turn the antenna in small, 5-degree increments right and left until reception is optimized.

References

• DIY TV Antennas: Folded Dipole Antenna
• WFU: A Cheap and Easy TV Antenna