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digital-tv-antenna-direction-mount-and-pointer-8eebec-en.md

See How It Works

See video demonstration below on how it works.

Working Digital TV Antenna Pointer

Project Description

Most digital TV antennas are uni-directional. What this means is that to get the best reception, you must point most digital antennas in the direction of the television station broadcast antenna. To assist the public, the Federal Communications Commission(FCC) and a number of other websites have composed web based tools that allow viewers to enter their address into an online form. Based on the information entered, the website returns the stations that should be accessible from that location, as well as the direction that a uni-directional antenna should be turned to in order to get the best reception. According to where you live, this may require you to point your digital antenna in a number of different directions in any given day.

The project will eliminate the need to manually turn your antenna to maximize your TV channel reception and channel strength. Once you have completed this project, you will need to enter the channels and directions that you obtain from the FCC website and similar websites (example:antennaweb, org) into the code. Upload the code to the device. After that is done, antenna direction can be changed via Bluetooth capable cell phones and tablets without leaving the comfort of your couch or bed. Below are a few additional pictures of my final antenna mount with the antenna on it.

Click *here for full step-by-step design instructions.* The link takes you to my page that includes both videos and written step-by-step instructions as well as design decisions, construction approaches, errors to avoid and testing in multiple stages of development. The page that the link leads to also includes modifications made since the project was posted here.

Alternatively you may watch just the full video construction on my YouTube page.

EXPANDED TECHNICAL DETAILS

Signal Optimization Engineering

This project automates the pointing of a high-gain TV antenna to the strongest available signal tower.

  • High-Torque Servo Gimbals: Uses a high-torque metal-gear servo to rotate the antenna boom. The Arduino controls the rotation in 1-degree increments.
  • Tower Coordination API: Using a smartphone's GPS and compass, a companion app calculates the exact Azimuth to the nearest broadcast tower and sends the target angle to the Arduino via Bluetooth.

Visual Alignment

  • Signal Strength Feedback: (Advanced version) Captures signal-strength data from a professional TV tuner or a signal meter to "Fine-tune" the position autonomously, maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio for HD reception.

ข้อมูล Frontmatter ดั้งเดิม 

title: "Digital TV Antenna Direction Mount and Pointer"
description: "The project will allow you to remotely turn your digital TV antenna to maximize your TV channel reception and channel strength."
author: "lbf20012001"
category: "Home & Automation"
tags:
  - "cut the cord"
  - "smart appliances"
  - "communication"
views: 13058
likes: 2
price: 1999
difficulty: "Intermediate"
components:
  - "1x 42BYGHM809 Bi-polar stepper motor"
  - "1x 20VAC to 8-25VDC Power adapter"
  - "1x Solder"
  - "1x M3-0.5 x 6 mm Machine screws"
  - "1x Dremel"
  - "1x Stepper motor driver board A4988"
  - "1x 0.22 uF Capacitor"
  - "1x Wire-wrap terminal"
  - "1x Soldering Iron"
  - "1x 5mm Flange Shaft"
  - "1x HM-10 Bluetooth Module"
  - "1x USB cable"
  - "1x M3-0.5 Hex nuts"
  - "1x M3 drill bits"
  - "1x M3 Standoffs"
  - "1x Lazy Susan"
  - "1x Digital TV Antenna (Indoor or Small Outdoor)"
  - "1x LM340T-12 Voltage regulator"
  - "1x LM7805 Voltage regulator"
  - "1x DIP Component carrier for wire-wrapping terminal"
  - "1x Cell phone or tablet with Bluetooth capability"
  - "1x Arduino UNO"
  - "2x 0.1 uF Capacitor"
  - "1x 30 gauge wire"
  - "1x 2k ohm resistor"
  - "1x M3-0.5 x 12 mm Machine screws"
  - "1x Computer"
  - "1x Small Phillips screwdriver"
  - "1x Perforated circuit board without copper cladding"
  - "1x Connection wires"
  - "1x Wire-wrap tool"
  - "1x 1K ohm resistor"
tools: []
apps:
  - "1x Serial Bluetooth Terminal"
  - "1x Arduino IDE"
downloadableFiles: []
documentationLinks: []
passwordHash: "3a1746643c14ac6c703606839e8c9c0505ce40fbf1663795d0a5f132864e9dbf"
encryptedPayload: "U2FsdGVkX1+hYXhsDhQO9+6NGWas408qTX50fLve/SBFUkFeDa20WrgLpJAQH1Hm4dfo9xS5RNxfsHIwEEe9f34EilSeQTxiKIsTwVpO57FWsRGFeagiGGjfe2axTuvB3oBjw8X5Uyu36kZ3ZA0QTA=="
seoDescription: "Remote control your Digital TV Antenna with a Mount and Pointer system to maximize signal strength and channel reception."
videoLinks:
  - "https://www.youtube.com/embed/T3GcpAHhFeA"
heroImage: "https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/bigboxthailand/arduino-assets@main/images/projects/digital-tv-antenna-direction-mount-and-pointer-8eebec_cover.jpg"
lang: "en"