Given the range of digital broadcast signals now available, coupled with the cost of subscription TV services, an outdoor or attic TV antenna is a cheap and easy way to access a wide variety of channels. However, locating and mounting an outdoor TV antenna requires some planning and preparation to get the best reception. Antennas have two main concerns: signal strength and signal direction. Depending on where you live, there may be one primary broadcast tower close by or several weaker ones in different directions. Knowing that will help you plan the right location and height for your antenna so it can pick up as many signals as possible. This article covers all you need to know about how high should a TV antenna be mounted.
How High Should A TV Antenna Be Mounted?
The standard recommended height for a TV antenna is between 5 and 7 feet from the ground. This height is sufficient to get a clear signal from most stations, but it can be higher if you want better reception. The optimal height depends on your location in relation to the broadcast towers and how much space you have for an antenna. You’ll also want to consider the amount of signal interference that can occur at other locations in your neighborhood, such as power lines or nearby buildings.
How To Measure Signal Strength?
The following steps can be used to calculate the signal strength of your TV antenna. If you are having a hard time determining your signal level, use these steps to find out. If you still need help, call the TV station and ask them how they measure signal strength.
1) move the antenna around until you get a good signal on all channels.
2) Check the channel lineup of each station to make sure that all stations have an equal number of channels.
3) Determine which stations will have poor or no reception in your area based on your location and setup information in Step 1 above.
4) Record your current channel lineup for each station on a piece of paper and keep it with the antenna for future reference.
5) Measure the distance from your antenna to each broadcast tower using an accurate ruler (preferably one with inches marked on it).
6) Calculate the distance in feet between each tower using this formula: d = 0.5 * (channel number – 1), where d is in feet and channel number is in decimal format (e.g., Channel 7 = 0, Channel 8 = 1, etc.).
7) Plug this value into this formula: S = [1 / (square root(d^2))], where S is in decibels and d is in feet, to calculate how strong the signal is at that point (e.g., S=10dB means there are 10 decibels at that point).
8) Determine which stations will have poor or no reception by dividing the signal strength of each station by the square root of its distance from your antenna. If a station has a signal strength of -10dB, it is 10 times farther away from your antenna than another station that has a signal strength of +10dB. In this example, Channel 3 (have a signal strength of -10dB) and Channel 5 (have a signal strength of +10dB) are 2 and 4 times farther away respectively than Channel 7 (have a signal strength of +20dB).
9) Record this information on your piece of paper to use in Step 11 below.
10) Calculate the distance in feet between each tower using this formula: d = 0.5 * (channel number – 1), where d is in feet and channel number is in decimal format (e.g., Channel 7 = 0, Channel 8 = 1, etc.).
11) Plug this value into this formula: S = [1 / (square root(d^2))], where S is in decibels and d is in feet, to calculate how strong the signal is at that point (e.g., S=10dB means there are 10 decibels at that point).
12) Determine which channels will have poor or no reception by dividing the signal strength at each tower by the square root of its distance from your antenna. If all channels have a signal strength less than -20dB, they are too close to your antenna. In this example, Channel 3 (have a signal strength of -20dB) and Channel 7 (have a signal strength of +20dB) are both 2 times farther away than Channel 5 (have a signal strength of +10dB).
Best Height For A Tv Antenna
Antenna height can be adjusted to improve reception. The most important thing to remember is that the higher the antenna is, the better it will work. However, a TV antenna should be mounted high enough to receive signals without having to point it directly at a tower.
Here are some factors that come into play when determining the best TV antenna height:
- The farther away you are from your nearest tower, the higher you should mount your TV antenna. For example, if you live only a few miles from Channel 5, that channel’s signal strength will be less than -20dB. That means you would place a non-directional antenna at least 20 feet (6 meters) above the ground in order to receive all of Channel 5’s signals. If you live 30 miles away from Channel 5, it’s unlikely that any of its signals will reach your home because it would require an extremely powerful transmitter to transmit over such a distance. In this case, you would mount your TV antenna at least 30 feet (10 meters) above the ground in order to receive all of Channel 5’s signals.
- The closer you are to a tower, the lower your TV antenna should be mounted in order for all of its signals to reach your home. For example, if there is only one channel broadcasting in your area and it has an extremely strong signal strength of -20dB or more, then place an omnidirectional antenna on top of a mast near where you live. Otherwise, you will be left with only one channel’s signal strength. In this case, you would mount your TV antenna at least 20 feet (6 meters) above the ground in order to receive all of Channel 1’s signals.
- The higher the antenna is mounted, the better it will work. For example, if you live 30 miles away from Channel 5 and place an omnidirectional antenna on top of a mast placed in your yard, that antenna will receive all of Channel 5’s signal and no other channel’s signal. In this case, you would mount your TV antenna on top of a mast placed in your yard for the best reception. However, if you live only 20 miles from Channel 5 and place an omnidirectional antenna on top of a mast placed in your yard, that same omnidirectional antenna will receive all of Channel 5’s signals but no other channels’ signals. In this case, you would mount your TV antenna on top of a mast placed in your yard for the best reception but not as high as in the previous situation.
- If you live within 20 miles of Channel 6 and you have a weak signal strength (less than -20dB), then place an omnidirectional antenna on top of a mast placed in your yard for best reception. If you live within 10 miles of Channel 6 and you have a weak signal strength (less than -20dB), then place an omnidirectional antenna on top of a mast placed in your yard for best reception but not as high as the previous situation. If you live within 5 miles of Channel 6 and you have a weak signal strength (less than -20dB), then place an Omni-directional antenna on top of a mast placed in your yard for best reception but not as high as the previous situation.
Summary
An outdoor TV antenna can be a great choice for accessing digital TV channels. The antenna must be placed in a location where it has a clear view of the sky above it, which means it must be mounted high on a rooftop or on a mast. The best height for a TV antenna is between 15 and 20 feet above the ground, so you’ll need to install it either on the roof or on a mast. Whether you choose an indoor antenna or an outdoor antenna, it’s important to find the best location to place your antenna so you can maximize your TV watching experience.