TELEVISION : Antenna Will Give Warm Reception to Installer With Right Connections

Despite the widespread use of cable, many homes depend on antennas for TV reception.

The proper antenna, correctly installed, can improve reception dramatically. Separate antennas are needed to pick up VHF and UHF telecasts. A combination antenna picks up both and FM radio transmissions. You’ll need a “signal splitter” if you plan to use an antenna for two or more TV sets or FM radio.

Choosing an Antenna

Antennas are rated by “mileage range” and “gain” for one TV set. Mileage range is the distance from which a signal can be pulled in. Gain refers to the antenna’s ability to increase signal strength. Direction is another factor.

The efficiency of the antenna will depend on where you live. Rabbit ears may be sufficient for local reception. If you need better reception in a city, it’s best to buy a highly directional, moderate-gain antenna, because competing signals distort reception. In a suburban area, where signals are fewer and weaker, select a moderately directional, high-gain antenna. In rural areas, where signals are even weaker, it may be necessary to buy an amplifier. You may also need an amplifier if TV channels are weak or if the antenna wire will be more than 100 feet long. Ask your TV dealer for help in selecting the best antenna for your area.

It’s important that your antenna be sturdy and durable enough to withstand high winds and corrosion.

Installing an Antenna

Follow the manufacturer’s directions for mounting the antenna. Mount it as high as possible on the side of the house, a gable or the roof ridge. Never strap to a chimney: The strain of the antenna in a high wind can damage the masonry or even topple an old or weak chimney.

With 300-ohm twin-lead wire, use four-inch standoff hooks to hold the wire away from the side of the house, twist it once a foot to reduce noise pickup and keep 7 1/2 inches from gutters or other metal parts.

Turn the antenna until you get the best signal. If the signals come from different directions, consider installing a rotor on your antenna, with remote control in your house, to rotate the antenna as needed. When installing an antenna, make sure to ground it and install a lightning arrester, following the manufacturer’s directions.

Notes of caution: Don’t install an antenna near power lines; if the antenna or ladder touches a power line, you could be killed. Make sure the distance between the antenna and a power line is at least twice the length of the antenna plus the mast. Install an antenna on a calm day. If you are bothered by heights, consider hiring a professional installer.

Antenna Tips

Here are some trouble-shooting tips:

* If you have a roof antenna and the reception is poor, hook up a set of rabbit ears for comparison. If this improves reception, you’ll know the roof antenna or its lead-in wire is the source of the problem.

* Check the lead-in wire to see that the connections are tight at the television, at the signal splitter or coupler and at the antenna. Make sure the antenna itself is securely mounted and pointing in the right direction.

* When the lead-in wire flops in the wind, the TV picture flip-flops, and color fades in and out. Make sure that it has not pulled loose anywhere along its length.

* Double images, called “ghosts,” appear on a TV screen when an extra signal is reflected from a large object such as a building or mountainside. Ghosts can usually be eliminated by installing a directional antenna and, possibly, a rotor. When the antenna is aimed directly at the broadcast source, your television will receive only the main signal.