I built a TV antenna this weekend.

It’s a Gray-Hoverman UHF antenna. A fellow named Doyt Hoverman (1913-1989) invented the thing. It’s supposed to be the most powerful do-it-yourself UHF antenna ever designed. The patents expired 25 years ago, and some Canadian enthusiasts have resurrected the plans, making them available for free on the Internet. I specifically used plans from an engineer (I think he’s the boss) at WSYR-TV in Syracuse, NY. He offered specific how-to instructions.

I took the big template PDF (34″ x 44″) to Kinkos late Friday, picked up supplies at The Home Depot and got to work Saturday morning. I started around 9 a.m.   Around 11 a.m., I was installing the last section on the frame when I screwed it up — big time, as Vice President Cheney (remember him?) would say.  I turned that last piece of the frame the wrong way around, and let me tell you, PVC cement dries hard and fast. I tried to pry it loose, but it was over.  My frame was junk.

I ran back to Home Depot, picked up some new PVC pipes and joints, cut the pieces, started over — and about two hours later, it was done.

I raced inside to test it. From inside my house, I was picking up two Greensboro stations — 60 miles away, through walls and trees.  Magnificent.  I spray-painted it, mounted it on the roof, hooked it to a Channel Master 7777 preamp, and the performance is spectacular.  I get all of the Raleigh stations perfectly.  When I point it at Greensboro, I get digital 2, 8, 20, 45, 48 and 61. Early this morning, I picked up a little bit of WXII in Winston-Salem, but it didn’t last long. I also picked up WITN in Washington and WPDE in Florence. Early this morning, I was on the cusp of getting WWAY from Wilmington, but the signal wasn’t quite strong enough. I also get a weak, but detectable signal from WNCT in Greenville.

Today, I combined my homemade Hoverman with my old Radio Shack U-75, using a simple two-way splitter. The Hoverman is pointed toward the east, and I’m getting a good signal from WITN and all of the Raleigh stations. My U-75 is pointed west, and I’m getting my Greensboro stations. Magnificent! I believe it’s 34 or 35 stations, in all.

I’m going to point them around in different directions to see what happens with reception through the week, then I’m going to tighten it up and stay off the roof. I may build a second Hoverman to replace the U-75 in a while, but I’ve inhaled enough PVC primer and cement to last me a while.

Download the PDF and build your own antenna! It’s a great project. You’ll get crystal-clear, free HD programming from your friendly local broadcasters for about $30 to $40.

Now, if only there was more to watch on my three dozen free TV channels…