Self-made antenna for car radio

External antennas for car radio - is a relatively expensive product, which does not always apply the concept of "high quality". You can choose an antenna (dipole) in a store at any time, but there is not much point in it if you have minimal engineering skills.

Independent manufacture of a car antenna.

We will look at how to make a receiver for your car radio with your own hands. You will not need complex materials - only the desire to save and a little time. By the same principle, you can arrange a dipole for home, office and other places where there is a signal and the FM receiver can work.

A little bit about FM antennas

Those receivers that can be found in automotive products stores today support a rather narrow frequency range. They are focused on world standards, so "squeeze" from the antenna for the car radio to the maximum will not work.

Before you start making a dipole yourself, decide on the purpose of the antenna:

  1. Active This is a variant of a signal receiver with a built-in amplifier. It can pick up a signal at greater distances than a passive one. If you use the car stereo only in the city - get by with a simpler option.
  2. Passive Such antennas can receive local radio stations with sufficient power. They work without an amplifier and are easier to make by hand than active ones.

And also it is possible to distinguish signal catchers by the principle of installation:

  1. Internal. They are usually located in the car. If you need an active dipole, it is better to make it internal.
  2. External. These catchers usually have outside the car body. So it is possible to compensate for the small power of passive antennas.

The advantages of a homemade antenna

  • The antenna, made by hand, you can fit to any body of the car.
  • To make a signal trap for FM radio in person, you will spend much less money than when you buy it.
  • You will not have problems with the height of the dipole.
  • Mounting the factory structure is more difficult than making the installation self-made.
  • With high probability you will get the best quality of reception.

Required components

To make a signal catcher for a radio with your own hands, you will not need a lot of details. You will need:

  • anchor bolt;
  • soldering supplies;
  • soft copper wire (about 3 m);

  • plastic case;
  • circuit diagram for the amplifier, the KT368A transistor, resistors and capacitors (for the active dipole).

Create an antenna

Wind the wire onto the anchor bolt. Follow the smoothness of the turns, they should not overlap.

Solder the wire that leads to the radio tape recorder around the bolt. Pick up the plastic case for the resulting design.

Now you can install the antenna on the roof with your own hands. This can be done by several methods:

  • using magnets;
  • using high-quality suction cups;
  • clamps;
  • embedding method;
  • mortise methods;
  • using a threaded connection.

Position the wire, stretching it along the body, preferably - along one of the racks of the car. Create an amplifier for an active antenna with your own hands - it's not for a beginner. If you decide to do this - you can find materials in the radio shop, and diagrams - on the Internet.

Useful tips

  • The car body can both contribute to improving the range and quality of signal reception, and hinder. The place where you install the car antenna plays a big role. The ideal place - the center of the roof of the car (the intersection of the diagonals).
  • There should be no foreign metal objects near the catcher.
  • Do not use the above techniques, if you want to make a universal receiver (for radio, mobile and satellite communications, TV). Combined dipoles are best purchased in finished form. Although they can be made by hand.
  • Better not to install the internal dipole, if you are afraid to damage the interior of the car. Receiving strips will deteriorate when dismantling.
  • Maximum protect the signal catcher from the external environment. Otherwise, contacts will oxidize, all the details of the structure may rust.

findings

We looked at how to make a simple but effective dipole for a car radio with your own hands. We hope the manual will help you save time, money and nerves.

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