We all know that setting up your antenna away from distractions like tall trees or buildings is one of the primary precautions that will enable the efficiency of the antenna. Moreover, the question of ‘How high’ the antenna should be set is of interest to many users.
In this regard, this article on how high should a TV antenna be mounted will be of great help as it explicitly explains this concept.
If I was to be asked about how high a TV antenna should be set, I could say that it should be mounted high enough to the level of the towers. Although that answer might not seem right for everyone, it implies that the height depends on your situation. For instance, your home might be further from the broadcasting towers than your friend’s house. In this case, you’ll need to set up the antenna higher than he would need to. Another example is if your locality has tall buildings and trees. You’ll need to set the antenna high above the trees and buildings.
There are, however, several factors that can be considered before you mount your antenna. They are; distance to the broadcasting towers, obstructions, and your antenna’s height, the quality of your antenna, coax cable length, and the number of splitters among others.
Let us briefly look into these factors and how they will affect the height of your antenna.
- The distance between the broadcasting towers and your home is one key factor to consider. If you are close to the broadcasting towers, you will not need to set the antenna so high as opposed to if you are further away from the towers. This is because the closer you are towards the towers, the fewer the obstructions in between. The vice versa will require that you raise your antenna higher for a clearer picture and more channels. Overall, if you live within a 65-mile radius from the broadcasting towers, you probably won’t get trouble setting up your antenna.
- Besides, obstructions also affect the height of setting up an antenna. You should ensure that your antenna is at a height whereby no obstructions interfere with its signal reception. You should, therefore, place it along a line-of-sight for the best HDTV signal reception.
- The quality of your antenna also plays a great role in determining how high the antenna should be set. It is no question that the higher the quality of your antenna, the better the signal attraction. This means that when setting up your antenna, you will decide how high you will place it, according to its quality. On the other hand, if the antenna is not of very high quality, you can assist it in signal attraction by placing it higher above your rooftop. You can try antennas from antenna models like Channel Master, Vansky, RCA, Winegard, Antop, and Antennas Direct among others.
- The coax cable that comes with your antenna is another factor that determines the height of mounting your antenna. A longer cable makes it easier to install the antenna higher than if it was shorter. Interestingly, very long coax cables lead to minute signal losses.
- The recommended mounting height of the antenna is the greatest factor to consider here. The height varies with the factors listed above, but we can’t lack one common point to agree to. Most antennas are recommended to be installed at a height of 30-40 feet above your house. With that, you will find out that there are not as many obstructions that might obscure broadcasting signals. Besides, you will have set your antenna higher than the rest to avoid signal disruption from other antennas.
- If you live in a story building with ‘floors’, you will need to set-up your antenna on the topmost floor or, if it is not possible, look for a way to hoist the antenna up to a height where it can reach the broadcasting towers. To ease that installation, you might need to find a longer coax cable.
Getting the antenna to that height is a bit hard and risky if you ask me. As a result, you should be careful enough while setting up your antenna so as not to damage your rooftop or on the worst, hurt yourself. You should get additional installation equipment if what you have is short or not enough. Nonetheless, if installing the antenna gets harder than you thought, you can always opt for assistance from a qualified technician.
In light of the above, antenna height is a vital factor in enhancing signal reception. The higher the antenna, the better the signal reception. I hope that your question on how high you should set your antenna has been answered conclusively throughout this article. However, don’t forget the factors we’ve mentioned above.
Related: How to connect your antenna to your TV?
This FAQ Might be helpful after deciding How high should a TV antenna be mounted
a. How do I install my outdoor antenna?
Installing an outdoor antenna is easy. After selecting a suitable mounting position away from obstruction, follow these simple steps.
- Mount the antenna.
- Before connecting the coax, make sure that your TV is off.
- Run coax from the antenna to the ‘Antenna In’ port on your TV.
- Power On the TV and run a channel scan.
- If the number of channels available to you is not enough, you can run subsequent channel scans.
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