How to Make a TV Antenna Booster

You can boost your reception.

Sometimes you don't get the TV reception you want even when you have a good wireless TV antenna because the signal is too weak. With a TV antenna booster, you can amplify the signal that's received on your wireless TV antenna. You do not have to spend a lot of money on a store-bought amplifier; you can make one out of simple materials.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard
• Aluminum foil
• Utility knife

1. Draw a circle on a piece of cardboard, then draw a pair of semi-circular projections on either side of the circle, just above and below the midpoint of the circle. These should not be very large in relation to the circle.

2. Cut another piece of cardboard into a rectangle that's a little longer than the diameter of the circle. The width of this piece will be a bit less than that of the circle, but should extend noticeably beyond the projections at either end of the circle. You're essentially making a reflector, so think of that when you consider the size in relation to your wireless TV antenna.

3. Cover one side of each piece of cardboard with aluminum foil.

4. Fold the long piece of cardboard around the circular piece, and fold the circle in half. Use the projections on the circular piece like tabs so that they fit through slots that you cut in the rectangular piece. The whole thing should look sort of like a semicircle when you are finished.

5. Fold the outside edge of the circle up to form a lip that runs the length of the piece. The foil-covered circle will be suspended in the other piece.

6. Cut a small hole for the antenna in the middle of what used to be the circle--which now looks like a semicircle.

7. Attach your TV antenna booster over the existing antenna on your wireless TV antenna.

Tips & Warnings

• Use waterproof material if your TV antenna booster is for an outdoor antenna.