DIY Antenna Mast
Clear line of sight is the key to obtaining good HDTV signal reception. While indoor antennas are effective to a degree, installing an antenna outside on an antenna mast will greatly improve the signal quality. Once you have connected the antenna mast to the eave of the house with a bracket, installed the antenna and grounded the mast, you will be ready to invite your friends over to enjoy your favorite shows.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Antenna mast eave mounting bracket kit
- Ladder
- Pencil
- Drill and 1/4 inch drill bit
- Screwdriver
- Plumb bob
- Steel rod, 4 feet, 1/2 diameter
- Sledge hammer
- Antenna mast, 15 feet long
- Copper grounding rod, 4 feet, 1/2 diameter
- Solid copper wire, 8 gauge, 4 feet
- Wire cutters
- Two hose clamps
- HDTV antenna
Instructions
-
-
1
Position the ladder next to the house where the existing cable runs out that will be connected to the antenna. Hold the mast bracket against the eave and use the pencil to trace the outline of the mounting holes onto the eave. Drill a 1/4 inch pilot hole through each bracket.
-
2
Insert a screw from the bracket kit into each mounting hole on the bracket and screw them into the pilot holes drilled into the eave of the house. Tighten them down to secure the bracket in place.
-
-
3
Tie the plumb line off at the end of the bracket where the mast connects and allow it to extend down down just a few inches about the ground. Make sure the plumb line is still and mark the ground just below the plumb line. This will help line up the mast support with the bracket to keep the mast straight in its vertical position.
-
4
Hammer two feet of the four foot steel rod into the ground just below the plumb line, using the sledge hammer.
-
5
Slide one end of the antenna mast over the remaining two feet of the steel rod and place the mast into the clamp on the eave bracket to secure the mast to the eave of the house. Tighten the clamp down on the mast using the screwdriver.
-
6
Hammer the copper ground rod into the ground about two feet away from the base of the antenna mast. Leave about 6 inches of the rod extending up out of the ground.
-
7
Attach an end of the copper wire to the base of the antenna mast, using one of the hose clamps. Wrap the end of the wire around the mast and then slide the hose clamp over the wire and tighten it down to secure it against the mast.
-
8
Stretch the remaining copper wire over to the ground rod and cut it to length. Wrap the end around the ground rod and secure it to the rod using the remaining hose clamp.
-
9
Follow the directions of your particular antenna to secure it to the top end of the antenna mast and connect the existing coaxial cable to the antenna.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
It may be helpful to have an assistant steady the ladder as you climb it to access the eave of the house.
Avoid potential electrical shock by never mounting an antenna mast next to or under a power line.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Rooftop Television Antenna image by ryasick from Fotolia.com
More Like This
Comments
-
It's been suggested, and it makes a great deal of sense, to use chain link fence top rail for antenna masts. It's about $11 for a ten foot length, and it has a fluted end so you can put two of them together. The idea is to embed the bottom of the mast in concrete on the ground, and use a metal clamp to attach the upper end to the edge of the roof. On this house, climbing the old roof is perilous. This would get the antenna and rotator up, and secure it against strong winds. Any suggestions? (I've seen this done with a lot of antennas here.)
