Making an am radio antenna is an inexpensive way to get started in radio. All you need is a wire, a radio, and some solder. If you are also building your own portable ham radio, this article can help you make the right choices for your project!
Making your own radio antenna can be fun. You can pick any frequency you want to transmit on and receive on, and it does not have to be in use at the moment. It could be used as a source of electricity or stored for future use.
Some people make their radios by using something else as their radiation pattern. Some use étoufés or coffee grounds to achieve some sort of patterned radiation; we have those who do not want to mess with those that do!
This article will discuss how to make an am radio antenna using a wire and a regular computer monitor or television set.
Contents:
Make the dipole antenna
If you are struggling to understand what radio frequency and television frequency broadcasts are, then this article is for you. You do not need to know these things to make the antenna!
Radio frequencies are made of AM and TV frequencies are called television channels. The difference is that radio frequencies have higher rates of power than televisions.
Many people make their own dipole antennas by using a wire or long stick. You can buy these easily online, or you can make them yourself.
The length of the stick must be longer than the width of the receiver. You will be using one end to hold the receiver and the other end to connect to an antenna housing or lead.
When making your own dipole antenna, take your time to troubleshoot any problems with it.
Connect the antenna to the radio
When you are ready to set up your radio, connect the antenna to the radio by passing it through the radio’s antenna loop.
Then start tuning in stations!
The process is similar to using a television or computer, only in reverse.
When using a radio, first make sure you have the correct channel set for it. Then you can listen to whatever type of music or conversation you want without being interrupted by commercials or music.
When using a television or computer, first make sure you have the right equipment hooked up, then you can do anything! You can watch videos, play games, and see what type of information you want on the screen or hear.
Test the radio setup
Before making any modifications to your radio system, it is important to test the setup. Using an intercom system in your home is important, make sure you take this into account.
Intercommuning is a great way to get involved in the community and meet other people in your neighborhood. Intercommuning is doing something together with no preparation required, such as speaking together at a party or meeting or even collectively as a group.
So, how do you test the intercom system? First, make sure you have a functioning alarm system and that it works properly. Then, try knocking on doors or calling out for someone by using the intercom system.
Adjust the antenna location
Once you have your radio signal, it is time to set up your antenna. There are a few ways to set up an antenna. You can wrap an old phone cord around a window or put an antenna on a TV channel location. You can also connect a standard telephone line to your router and then into your device via the internet.
The easiest way to set up the antenna is by using a low wattage wire and wrapping it around a regular object such as a bookshelf or outdoor antennas. This method requires the user to be very observant of surroundings as they need to be connected to the router and into their device.
The second method of setting up the antenna is by using an extension cord. This requires more planning as you need to make sure you have enough power for both sides of the antenna. You can also use an attic or roof top location if you have one.
Finally, the third method of setting up the antenna is by using satellites! These require having access to high-speed internet connection however.
Use an extension cord with grounded outlet
When making your antenna, you must have an understanding of how extension cords work. When you connect a source to a extension cord, the cord goes through a underground power source and connects to the main electrical system.
When you wrap your fingers around the coaxial cable, then twists into a socket, then connects to the antenna, it does two things. It first connects to the power supply for your receiver or TV set, and second connects to the radio transmitter for reception.
Both happen together because without them both in play, you will not receive any stations!
You can make your own Extension Cord by using 2 separate 100–foot cords connected by a ground rod. Then, use those as was described above or use one of the affordable ones sold on Amazon.
Avoid power lines and buildings
Both power lines and buildings can be risky places for an amateur radio ham to operate. There are many potential obstacles that a person without professional equipment can avoid, but these same operators with professional equipment can overcome.
Many of the time, not all of the equipment is designed for high powers. Some of them do not have the required space to operate at, or have issues with operating at higher powers. Even when they do operate, there can be issues with him or her operating at those higher powers because of the restrictions on what is used as transmitted energy.
Avoiding transmission towers and listening to them on an antenna inside a building are some easy ways to improve your transmission power levels.
When operating at higher powers, ensure that you do not overextend yourself or risk breaking something.
Keep the antenna clear of furniture
You can save yourself some trouble by making the antenna parallel to the ground, but you can also keep it angled slightly away from the ground.
This means that if you have a long line of dishes, the last dish is the one that needs to be protected. By putting it down on a floor or an opposite wall, this is easier to accomplish.
By keeping the antenna angle, you are providing more signal strength as well. When using a wireless device such as an iPhone or Android phone, make sure that you are setting the antenna correctly.
If you want to add another signal strength, add more antennas into your setup.
Run an experimental test
If you are worried about receiving a weak signal or if you are worried about the distance your home is from an antenna, you can try an experimental test.
The experimental test is done when there is a rare event that makes the antenna change its signal strength. For example, if there was a football game tonight, the antenna would get a little bit more energy!
This test is done to see if there is something wrong with the antenna or it is simply picking up more energy. If this were the case, then no harm would be done!
If there was a problem with the reception, then adding more antennas or increasing the size of the home could help. Neither of these things are good as we want to keep an even signal on and signal on effect on the antenna.