Brooklyn Brainery
Tech with Norm Sutaria

Cut the Cable and Catch a Signal: Build your own HDTV antenna

Cut the Cable and Catch a Signal: Build your own HDTV antenna

More and more people are disconnecting their cable television service. Why? Because high definition television (HDTV) is available over the air for free (and everything else can be streamed)! In this class, we'll start by learning about the basics of HDTV signals, where they fall on the electromagnetic spectrum, wavelengths and resonance. Then, in the second part of class, you'll build your own working HDTV antenna and test it out before you connect them at home.

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                        testing the antennas in our last session

What to bring

Roll of copper wire - $5.00 - how much per student? What size? 10 1/2 inch Screws and pan washers Matching transformer: - $1.00 - not sure I know what this is! Coax cable - (optional) $3.00 - anything specific here? I'm happy to grab it! Screwdrivers, rulers, a few sharpies (for marking wire cuts) and wire clippers (if you have them - I'll bring 4 or 5 from home) are the only tools needed. I'll bring some extra screwdrivers from home as well.
Norm Sutaria

About Norm Sutaria

Norm Sutaria is a curriculum developer, trainer and instructional designer living in Astoria. After graduating from Syracuse and Montclair State Universities, he taught in the Montclair (N.J.) Public Schools, and worked at both Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus and the New York City Office of Emergency Management. Norm enjoys DIY electronics and is actively involved in amateur radio, FIRST Robotics and the NY International Fringe Festival.

He always thought growing up without cable was weird and now, oddly, he’s returning to his roots.