How to Install a TV Antenna or Aerial

Before you spend your hard-earned money on an antenna, you should consider these things. It is important to determine the type of antenna you require, where it should be placed, and what your budget is. You also need to consider your skills level and cost effectiveness. You may not be able to receive your TV programming through an antenna depending on where you live. You might want to look up all stations that broadcast in your area before you begin.

Step 1: Outdoor Antenna Versus Indoor Antenna

Both types of antenna have their pros and cons. Indoor antennas:

It is easy to put in, almost straight out of the box.
They are very receptive to being placed in your home.

Indoor antennas have some disadvantages.

Some antennas are less receptive than others.

Outdoor antennas, however, have certain benefits such as:

You can choose between unidirectional and omnidirectional.
Digital signal reception is better and more responsive.
It is usually located at the top of a structure to increase reception.
There are many sizes and shapes to choose from. Antennas can look like arrows or little satellite dishes. Some look like grids while others look like flying saucers. Function determines the shape of an antenna. Some older antennas look more like arrows, while others look like satellite dishes. Omnidirectional antennas can look like small flying saucers or grids.
An outdoor antenna can be installed in many ways: roof, wall, or chimney. You will find a variety of installation kits in nearly every hardware store.

Outdoor antennas have the following disadvantages:

You will need to climb ladders, use power drills, and walk on your roof if you don’t hire a professional. It is important to be careful not to install the antenna too close to wires, or during stormy, wet or snowy conditions. You should always observe the maximum weight limit on your ladder and never use unstable ladders.
Grounding is required for outdoor antenna installation in order to release any electrostatic potentials that could attract lightning.

Step 2: Materials

These are the items you’ll need to install your antenna:

Choose the antenna you prefer
75 ohm-300 ohm transformer (should be included with new antenna).
Mounting kit (braces, u-bolts, etc.)
Mast (antenna) must be at least 10 feet (3.04m) above the roof. You will need either a 12 foot (3.66m) mast or two 6ft (1.83m) masts, if you add an rotator.
Coaxial outdoor cable that is UV-resistant (100 feet, 75ft, 50ft or 25ft depending on the configuration you make with ground wire).
Grounding block
Splitter (two-way, four-way, etc. depending on how many TVs are being connected).
Each TV connected to the antenna will need a digital converter.
Optional: Antenna Rotator, only if you choose a unidirectional antenna.
For cement block and brick walls, use a hammer drill or a regular drill to make a wood panel.
Regular drill bits or Masonry
Masonry or wood screws
Optional TV signal booster
Ty-wraps.

Step 3: Antenna Installation

You will need pilot holes to attach the bolts to the wall if you choose to mount your antenna on the wall mount. Instead of drilling on brick, drill on mortar that is slightly softer than brick. You should leave approximately 12-14 inches between the brace on the top and the one below. This will ensure that the mast does not move with the wind. You can use plastic expansions to fill in the pilot holes if the bolt is too large, as it sometimes happens.

Place the antenna on the ground. If the antenna is supplied with a transformer, secure all bolts and nuts. Connect the outdoor coaxial cable to antenna if the antenna has a coaxial connector. Some models include a transformer built-in. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Choose the best location for your tv aerial installation in north shore. Avoid placing your aerial too close to tree branches or electrical wires. My antenna was installed on the opposite side to the house where the service transformer’s electrical wire is. It is possible that you will need to have someone help you hold the antenna as you attach the u-bolts and braces. The antenna should be at least 10 feet from the roof’s peak. The washers included with your mounting kit have washers that won’t slip. You should tighten them.

After the antenna has been installed, tie the cable to the mast with Ty-wraps. For rotators, leave about 2 feet of cable between masts. The coaxial cable could be pulled or stretched when the rotator moves the antenna to search for more stations. The rotator’s action can cause the coaxial cable to stretch.

For aesthetic reasons, you may want to hide the coaxial cable as best you can. The gutters conceal the coaxial cable. You can use your imagination.

Next, connect the coaxial cables to either the grounding block (or the splitter) depending on the configuration. In my case, I connected the coaxial cable to a 4-way splitter and connected three coaxial wires to a grounding block to accept the three segments. One segment went upstairs to my bedroom. The second entered the basement and came out of the living area floor. The third is kept in the basement with a TV. Now, I can view the news from anywhere in my house.