Antenna Mast

Bought the ex a HD TV antenna, weighs maybe 2#. Instead of climbing on her two story house I figured I'd install it the same way as my small scanner antenna.

Post hole couple feet deep, sakrete with a short pipe, maybe 2' long with 1.5" ID.

Buy (3) 1-3/8" X 10' 6" chain link top rail pieces, galvanized steel.


I notice the RCA antenna masts are also galvanized steel but 1/3 the weight, probably thinner than the 18 gauge top rail. I don't think this should matter though, bottom will be in the ground so a small bracket near the fascia will keep it from blowing in the wind and the antenna weighs almost nothing.

Can anyone tell me if this is a bad idea?

Thanks

 

It will be back near the wall, out just enough to clear her small fascia. It was going to be near the upstairs window but her power lines and right there. Power lines along the alley are about 50' from the house so we should get a signal, Duluth is 50 miles south.

 

Well, no problem other than buying your ex- something. WTH am I saying, I live with mine! lol

Seriously, I don't see a problem as long as it will be well clear of the power lines and securely attached to the facia.

Hmmm...on second thought...how you gonna join those top rails? Aren't they normally just slip fittings? And why would you need 3? 30 or so ft in the air? Ohhhhh, thats a lot of unsupported steel whipping around up there without guy wires or support of some kind. Guessing the facia is about 10' high?

I think I'd maybe put one pole (10') on the roof of the porch opposite side of the window from the power lines. Seems like that would clear the roof peak?

You might want to even run a temp cable and somehow attach the antenna close to where you plan and see what kind of reception you get. Might be better spending money on a better antenna and using a ridge mount of some sort, skipping the poles and pipes and concrete completely. I know you said you didn't really want to climb on the house, but what if you do all the pole work and you don't get squat for reception? 50 miles is a pretty long line for a basic cheap antenna, unless you have a clear line of sight to the top of a mountain or something.

Look here for different mounts and maybe some ideas (click the yellow areas for pics)...never dealt with them, but prices seem ok.

 

Any reason you can't install the antenna at the back of the house instead of on the front? IMO it would look better and if you can install the majority of the mast up against the house it will be more stable [assuming the back doesn't have a porch like the back]

 

House was built in 1910 and the door you see on the right goes down to her basement and up to the main floor which is 3-4' above the ground. I tried my 20' snow rake handle and it goes above the fascia maybe 5' so a bit short.

Now that you mention putting them together I think I'll cut the bottom pole in half then slide the 20' above that, 25' would be right about where my line is. I'll put some sort of bracket near the fascia so no swaying in the wind.

Can't tell from the picture but on the other side of the window the wires go right and up towards the alley pole and a bunch of other junk, probably better to stay away from all that.

Person over in Hoyt Lakes, 5 miles away, put this antenna on top of their 2 story house and pick up 8 channels from Duluth. I think it was Pete that mentioned these HD antennas the size doesn't matter like the old analog. When this arrived I screwed it to my deck handrail only 6' off the ground and the Vikings game came in clear as a bell so going 20' higher and away from my trees should be fine, I hope.

Thanks Vic

 

This is the back facing south and where we want to point plus the ground block from her original cable will only be 3' from the new pole, much simpler. I'll get it close to the house just to clear the fascia so easier to put a bracket up high.


Looks like I'll have to ask you next spring about painting her steel siding on that upper part. Looks like her step-dad borrowed some kind of cleaner years ago from Erie Mining Co. and sprayed it so looking pretty bad. Luckily it's only that part, rest of house is fine. Couldn't believe it was steel till I put a magnet to it.

Thanks Mark

 

LOL, she stays on her side of the tracks and I stay on mine. I find living with my little buddy much easier.

We've been divorced 40 years so we get along but she never shuts up so the distance is good.

 

Suggest having two brackets instead of one near the roof line, from the pole to two spots on the siding at least as far apart as is the distance from the pole to the side of the house. This keeps the pole from moving back and forth in the wind. Also another similar pair of brackets perhaps 8 feet further down the pole to keep the pole from bowing and whipping in the middle.