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Antenna
installation Guide
ANTENNA CHECK LIST
Is your antenna system in good condition?
Ensure all the cross pieces on your antenna are intact and not
corroded. Make sure any plastic junction boxes on the antenna are not
cracked - these units are easily effected by moisture.
Also check the antenna lead and antenna connections at either end for
cracks in the plastic covering. Antenna connections are the most likely
places for damage to occur, and are simple to replace. Again, moisture can
effect connections, and effect signal quality.
Do you have the correct antenna?
Outdoor roof-mounted TV antennas receive a stronger signal and
therefore provide better reception than indoor antennas. Electrical
wiring, wall insulation and even people moving around a room can cause
interference to the signal received by indoor antennas.
If you have moved your antenna from another area, a new TV channel has
commenced broadcasting or an existing channel has changed, then you may
need to modify your antenna system.
Choosing the correct outdoor antenna depends on the channels available
in your area. TV channels operates on either Very High Frequency (VHF) or Ultra
High Frequency (UHF) bands. VHF channels range from 0 to 12 and UHF
channels are numbered 28 to 69. A local antenna installer will be able to
recommend the best antenna for your area.
Signal strength is another factor in choosing the optimum antenna for
your area - viewers close to a TV station or transmitter will require
a different system than those living on the edges of the transmitters
broadcast area.
Is your antenna correctly positioned?
Your antenna should be pointed directly towards the nearest transmitter. It is important the antenna is pointed at the correct signal
source. In some areas there may be a main transmitter which feeds TV
signals to a number of smaller ‘translator’ transmitters which
rebroadcast the signal. A local antenna installer can advise the best
target for your antenna.
Trees, buildings and hills in the direct path of your antenna may
weaken the signal and cause reception problems. If you can’t see the
transmitter, experiment by pointing the antenna in different directions.
More consistent UHF signals can sometimes be obtained by pointing a UHF
antenna above nearby trees and shrubs rather than directly at them.
Your antenna should be installed with the cross pieces vertical or
horizontal, to match the signals you wish to receive. Some television
stations transmit signals horizontally, others transmit signals
vertically.
Are the correct antenna lead connections installed?
There are two common types of antenna lead and each requires its own
particular connections, both at the antenna and at the TV receiver. Check
your TV manual to ensure the right ones have been used.
Do you live in a unit, hotel or caravan park?
If you live in a block of units, hotel or caravan you may have a more
complex ‘master’ antenna system, where the signal is distributed from
a shared antenna system. Usually you will be provided with a wall mounted
antenna socket. If this is the case and you are experiencing reception
difficulties, particularly on more than one channel, consider contacting
the Body Corporate or landlord to arrange for an antenna specialist to
check.
(Source ABC TV Australia.)
Doing It Yourself TV Cabling
DOING IT YOURSELF (DIY) TV
CABLING
INFORMATION FOR CONSUMERS
PURCHASING COMPONENTS FOR
USE IN DIY INSTALLATIONS
Installation Requirements and Recommendations with
Specifications of Components Used
(CABLES, CONNECTORS, OUTLETS AND SPLITTERS)
Doing It Yourself - Things To
Consider
Advantages & Disadvantages of
DIY
While doing it yourself might seem a good proposition from
the point of view of savings in total costs
involved, the degree to which this can be achieved can
vary greatly depending on a number of factors.
Firstly, if the
installation site from the point of view of TV reception is difficult,
it is unlikely you will be able to achieve a
satisfactory result, even if your installation
techniques are correct.
Secondly, if your
installation efforts are incorrect (poor connections due to lack
of the required tools, etc) even the best components will perform unsatisfactorily.
Thirdly, the process
of installation will invariably involve the use of ladders, walking
on and climbing onto roofs and into ceilings, and crawling under buildings.
Also the use of power tools may be required.
Unless you have previous experience of
the correct techniques required, and have the recommended
safety equipment at hand, doing it yourself can easily lead to damage
to property and serious personal injury. So
start by assessing the above factors and, if the DIY way is practical in
all aspects, ensure you use the recommended
components and follow the correct techniques
given in this guide to ensure the best outcome for your labours.
Doing It Yourself - General
The information provided below is a guide for the
selection of components such as coaxial cable, connectors, outlets and
splitters. This will provide the necessary performance
for both new digital and existing (analogue) TV reception.
These requirements are the minimum as specified by
Australian Standard AS1367- 2000 for the
distribution of TV signals.
Doing It
Yourself TV Cabling Page 2
While the strength and quality of received TV channels
will vary from site to site, and between
channels at the same site, the selection of components in line with these
recommendations ensure that signals
reaching TV receivers do so with the least loss and
distortion.
Minimising loss and distortion is achieved by using
components which
o cause the
least loss to signals passing through them
o cause the
least distortion to signals by being suitable for installation on the
required cable & connectors and
ensuring they are correctly installed
o provide good
screening from external interference
Good screening is
important with all components particularly with cable.
Because of the particular susceptibility of digital TV to
impulse noise, and in order to provide
the most beneficial conditions for digital TV reception, quad shielded
cable is recommended, especially
in areas close to transmitters of any power or to other strong
sources of interference.
This is also important with Outlet-to-TV and with
VCR-to-TV connecting leads (fly leads).
Connectors should be the correct type to match the cable.
Universal connectors are
available that fit the majority of quad shielded RG6
cables.
Cable needs to be prepared using the correct stripping
tools, and connectors need to be installed by being hex crimped to cable
ends with the correct crimping tools.
Do not use screw-on F type connectors, only crimp-on
types.
Using incorrect methods or tools will result in poor
connections, leading to intermittent
or continuous faults.
Where splitters are used, any unused ports should be
terminated with a 75½ F type terminator
to ensure correct matching.
When connecting cable to outlets, splitters, etc, F
connectors need to be tightened appropriately
using the correct size spanner, so that they cannot be undone without the
aid of a tool (i.e. not finger tight) as over time vibrations will cause
loosening of connections.
Similarly DO NOT over tighten connectors as immediate
damage can be caused that will
render some components useless.
As a rule of thumb do the connector up finger tight &
then tighten further with the spanner
by one half of one flat portion of the hex shaped securing nut or 30
degrees maximum.
Source of Standards
This guide is based on Australian Standards, which are
obtainable from Standards Australia directly or via their web site at http://www.standards.org.au.
For the Complete set
of this Guide, please open the following PDF
Installation file. (Courtesy of the Digital Broadcasting Association
and Standards Australia.)
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