The above pictures will be enough for some people to build their own, but for those who need more help, see How To Make The Best Indoor Antenna From Coat Hangers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWQhlmJTMzw

Instructions for making Grabbit Ears antennae:

GrabBit Ears also use a 14" piece of coat hanger just like the homemade bowtie antennae. Use the same information in the video link above, but instead of a 2 bay or 4 bay antenna, make a 3 bay.

1. Make six bowties using a 14" piece of coathanger. Bend the piece in the middle at 7". Bend it sharply by pinching the piece at the 7" mark, and applying pressure close to the pliers. Bend this to a 30 degree angle or until the ends are approximately 31/2" apart. Set two of these aside for assembly, later.

2. Using the other four bowties, "fractal" them by repeating the 30° angle in each side of the bowtie. The small interior angles of the star elements are 30° and the outside angles are 105°.

Making the fractal elements:

The fractal elements are made by repeating the interior angle of the bowtie (approximately 30 degrees) within the bowtie. What follows is how to make individual fractal elements using pliers and tape measure.

  1. Take one bowtie and orient it upright like the letter "V".

  2. On both sides of the bowtie, measure 1 3/4" from the center angle and mark for bending.

  3. At the mark, bend both sides (one at a time) outward - away from each other. The bend angle is approximately 105 degrees. These bends are correct when they would form a straight line across the "V".

  4. Again on both sides, make a mark 1 3/4" from the bend you just made.

  5. This time, make the bend upward (viewing as an upright "V") . Continue to bend this beyond perpendicular, to approximately 30 degrees angle. (Both sides, one at a time.)

  6. Again, measure 1 3/4" from the angle just made and mark both sides.

  7. Repeat step 3, bending outward again to approximately 105 degrees on both sides. You should have an open, 5 point star, the fractal element.   

Making the connecting or feed lines

  1. Take a take two pieces of hangar that is about 10" long and bend them around a nail to form a loop near the center.

  2. Measure 3 3/4", both ways from the center loop and cut the excess off.

  3. Lay both pieces vertical on a flat surface and arrange them so the center loop is to the right, on the right side line, and to the left on the left side line.

  4. Using needle-nose pliers, bend a clockwise loop at the top of each.

  5. Again using needle-nose pliers, make a counter-clockwise loop at the bottom end of each feed line.

Assembling the Grabbit Ears

1. Arrange the parts for assembly by first positioning the feed lines as above. (Center loops outward)

2. Place a fractal at top, bowtie center, and another fractal at bottom.

3. Take one feed line and attach the fractal at both ends using the hardware in the following order.

    A. Take a #6 X 1/2" screw, first.

    B. Place a #6 steel finish washer on the screw.

    C. Slide the Feed line end loop over the screw.

    D. Add a #6 lock washer

    E. Place the center angle of the fractal over the screw.

    F. Add another #6 flat washer over the fractal.

    G. Screw the #6 nut onto the screw and finger tighten.

    H. Position the fractal angled away from the center to approximately 105 degrees.

    I. Using pliers or wrench, tighten the nut and screw together, mashing the steel finish washers.

Do this for both sides and you should have two feed lines with fractals at top and bottom.

Next, take the two remaining bowties and attach them in this way:

   1.  Lay the two partial halves on a flat surface as they look assembled. You should have the center loop pointing to the right on the right side, and pointing to the left on the left side.

   2. Start with #6 X 1" bolt.

   3. Add one #6 steel finish washers

   4. Next, add the bowtie

   5. Add one #6 lock washer.

   6. Slide the center loop of the fractal assembly on the screw

   7. Add another #6 steel finish washer

   8. Add a #6 nut and tighten until the finish washers collapse and the bowtie doesn't move.

   9. Do this for both sides.

At this point, you should have two halves of the Grabbit Ears with a longer bolt sticking out at the center.

Mounting Grabbit Ears

I don't screw the pieces onto a board as is demonstrated in the youtube video. I make two halves and then mount them on a stick, bamboo, clipboard, or anything. (I've made some where I used glass patch plastic to hold them apart. Then you can stick it in the window or behind a picture, wherever works best.)

When mounting Grabbit Ears the distance between the two halves is 1 and 3/4". This is the distance between the two center loops.

    1. Using a drill and a small bit, make two holes in your mounting material, 1 3/4" apart.

    2. Put the long center screw through the hole.

    3. On the other side of your mount, where the screw protrudes, screw on one #6 nut and tighten.

    4. Do the same for the other half.

    5. Take the transformer and place one lead onto one post and secure with another nut.

    6. Attach the other lead to the other post and secure with another nut.

    7. Attach coaxial cable to the transformer and connect to TV

    8. Scan for channels.

 

Making a jig for the fractals: 

In order to make many fractals, I made a jig. I used three screws and a piece of wood. Get a board and draw a 30 degree angle on it. Place one screw just inside the apex of the 30 degree angle. On both sides of the angle you drew, measure 1 and 5/8" from the apex and screw in two more screws. From there you can make easy, repeatable fractals. The length of each segment is 1 and 3/4" using 1 and 5/8 screw placement.

1. Place your bowtie over the screw at the apex and inside the other two screws.
2. bend the remaining lengths outward back toward the apex until straight across.
3. Reposition the element.
4. Finish one side
5. Reposition the element
6. Finish the other side.

Steps to making the fractals. Step by step bending of fractal elements for Grabbit Ears.

Here's another site that has great antenna information for the DIY'er:  http://mysite.verizon.net/res11d41p/index.html

Here's what one man said:

geronimo

08-18-2009, 04:36 PM

There may be hope for us "low life" apartment dwellers. It may or may not work in your particular case, but I bulit the Grabit Ears http://www.wowvision.tv/grabitears.htm for very little money and it picks up all my "greenies", plus, WTBY, 80mi. away in Poughkeepsie, NY during the odd evening hours. I may have an advantage, since I'm on the 9th flr, and my "greenies" are only 13mi away(Albany, NY).

 

Grabbit Ears™ are truly a wonder, a gift from God out of love for His people. May the Lord have mercy on anyone who would attempt to profit from this design. 

Exodus 35:31-33 KJVR And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; (32) And to devise curious works,