Antenna Installation Guide: Hints & Tips

Some key guidelines and hints and tips about antenna installation: what to do,
how to get the best performance . . .

Antenna Installation Includes:

Antenna installation guide     Attic installation     Antenna alignment     Antenna height    

TV antenna guides
Types of TV antenna     Buying a TV antenna     Buying TV antenna amplifier / booster     Satellite TV dish
installation    

Installing an antenna correctly is every bit as important as choosing the correct type in the first place.

The antenna installation can mean that the antenna performs to its best or to its worst. By adopting a number of
key rules and guidelines the best performance can be obtained from an antenna under any given situation.

When installing an antenna, some compromises have to be made, but adopting some guidelines or hints and
tips will enable the performance to be optimised for a given situation.

Commercial antenna systems are normally

well sited and tall to provide the best coverage
Antenna installation hints & tips - guidelines
Dependent upon the type of antenna to be installed, there will be a variety of different guidelines or hints and
tips that are applicable. Some antennas may be domestic television antennas, others may be CB or ham radio
antennas, whilst others could be for professional applications.

Whatever the type of antenna there are many points to watch, things to think about, and items of good practice
that ensure the best performance is obtained from the antenna.

There are many different areas where thought needs to be placed into the antenna
General antenna situation
One of the most important aspects of setting up any radio antenna is its location. The location of the antenna
will govern many aspects of its operation, and therefore the location of the antenna must be determined along
with the type of antenna to be used. A number of points associated with the antenna should be considered:

 Choose a location where the radio antenna can "see" all around:   In order for to operate at its
best it must be able to "see" all around it.

For best performance the antenna should clear the surrounding objects as much as possibleTo
be able to achieve this it should be kept away from nearby objects that might act as a screen. In
this way the maximum amount of signal can be reach or leave the antenna without being absorbed
in nearby objects.
 Remember that nearby objects can "detune" an antenna:   When considering the location of a
radio antenna it is worth remembering that nearby objects can detune an antenna even if they do
not affect the all round visibility. Nearby objects can cause an antenna to operate away from its
resonant point and become less efficient. This is very important for antennas that are cut to a
particular length and do not have a means of being tuned in situ. Many items can cause this to
happen - metal items as well as electrical wiring are particularly bad but even trees can degrade the
performance of antennas in this way. Generally the effects are noticeable within distances of a
wavelength or two, the closer the object and the greater the conductivity the greater the effect.
 Consider suitable points for anchoring antennas:   Horizontal antennas need anchor points at
either end. It is worth considering whether there are any suitable anchor points already in
existence. Chimneys or other points on the house can provide one suitable point. Trees may also be
located conveniently, although pulley schemes are required to enable any movement in the tree
due to wind to be taken up without snapping the antenna wire. Also it may be possible to erect a
pole or antenna mast and consideration can be given to this possibility and its location. Whatever
option is decided upon, this must be considered at the outset.
 Inside or out:   In many instances the use of an internal radio antenna may have to be considered.
External antennas operate better because they can be further away from objects that will introduce
loss or detune the antenna. It is very difficult to estimate the amount of loss which having an
antenna inside the house has. The roof or brickwork will cause the signal to be reduced, especially
when it is wet. The amount of loss will also depend on the frequency. For VHF and UHF signals
this will be much greater.
Antenna height
Although the height of a radio antenna could be considered under the general situation of the antenna, the
height is very important and can make a marked difference to its performance. As a result the various points
are considered separately.

Increasing the height of the antenna will nearly always improve its performance whether used for HF, VHF, or
UHF etc.

Read more about . . . . Antenna Height.

Interference considerations
Interference caused to ham radio stations and interference cause by them is obviously of great importance. The
location of the antenna for the ham radio station can have a significant impact on both aspects of interference.
As a result this should be kept in mind when choosing the location for the radio antenna.

 Keep the radio antenna away from sources of interference in the house:   Most houses contain
many items which are very good sources of noise. Although televisions and computers are very
much better nowadays, some interference is still generated particularly as many computers now
have networks associated with them. Interference is also generated form a variety of other
electrical items around the home. Vacuum cleaners, electric drills, electric mixers and a host of
similar utensils all contribute to the level of electric noise generated. This radiates in and around
the house, reducing in intensity the further away from the source one moves. As a result it is best
to try to keep the antenna as far away from the house. This may not always be possible the level of
interference can be minimised by keeping the antenna away from particular sources of noise.
 Ham radio transmitters (or any radio transmitters for that matter) can cause interference if they
are close to domestic appliances:   Despite the fact that domestic equipment is very much more
resilient to interference than it used to be, there is still the possibility that a ham radio transmitter
can cause interference. One of the best ways of reducing the possibility of any interference is to
ensure that the ham radio antenna is situated away from any other equipment. This is best achieved
by keeping the antenna away from any domestic premises. Obviously the risk is less for low power
transmitters, but for high power amateur radio stations this can become more of an issue,
especially if directive antennas are used which could be beamed towards any domestic premises.
Antenna matching
Matching the antenna to the feeder is is particaulrly important if radio transmitters are used and they are to
operate effectively with the antenna system. Naturally it is also important for receiving systems as well, but
may be not quite as crucial. Radio frequency systems such as antennas, feeders, sources (i.e. transmitters) and
loads (i.e. receivers) all have a characteristic impedance. For the system to operate effectively these must
match, otherwise standing waves are generated and the power transfer is reduced. To ensure that the overall
system is properly matched and is operating correctly a number of measures can be introduced.

 Use a VSWR meter to ensure that the radio antenna system is operating correctly:   Antennas
usually operate only over a relatively narrow bandwidth, and many antennas are only able to
operate on a single band, and sometimes adjustment is needed to enable them to operate even at
different ends of the band.

Typical VSWR meter used with a

transmitterThis ensures that the antenna is matched to the feeder, and the maximum amount of
power is transferred. To check whether the antenna is operating correctly a VSWR meter can be
inserted in the line. By keeping one in circuit at all times the operating of the system can be
monitored.
  Consider the use of an ATU to ensure the optimum antenna operation:   In order to ensure that
the antenna impedance matches that of the feeder it is often necessary to employ a matching or
tuning unit between the feeder and the antenna itself. These antenna tuning units (ATUs) are used
to tune the radiating element so that its impedance matches that of the feeder so that the maximum
power transfer is obtained and the level of standing waves is minimised. To be able to tune the
antenna properly the ATU should be located at the antenna.
 Use an ATU in the shack to reduce the level of VSWR seen by the radio transmitter output
stage:   High levels of standing waves can cause damage to the semiconductor output stages of
radio transmitters. To protect these stages from damage, many transmitters detect the level of
VSWR (voltage standing wave ratio) and reduce the output power when levels start to rise.

Incorporating an ATU into a

transmitter feed system with a VSWR meterTherefore to ensure that the transmitter can deliver its
maximum power output a low level of VSWR must be present. When it is not possible to have an
ATU right at the feed point of the antenna, one can be placed near the transmitter to tune the
antenna feeder combination so that the VSWR seen by the transmitter is minimised. While not
totally ideal it can help by allowing the transmitter to see a low level of VSWR.

Note on Standing Wave Ratio, SWR & VSWR:
Standing waves are often associated with RF feeders, and they are generated when there is a mismatch
between the feeder impedance and the load impedance. At th emismatch, power is reflected and the combined
voltages and currents of the forward and reflected power form standing waves along the feeder.

Read more about Voltage Standing Wave Ratio, VSWR.

Antenna feeder considerations

The feeder is an important part of any radio antenna. Its purpose is to ensure that the maximum amount of
power reaches its destination, either radio transmitter power reaching the antenna, or incoming signals from the
radio antenna reaching the receiver. Any power lost will reduce the efficiency of the whole antenna system.
The feeder cost and performance considerations may have an effect on any decision made regarding the
antenna, and it is therefore important.

 Choose the optimum feeder for any situation:   The cable type should be chosen to provide an
acceptable loss at the frequencies to be used. For frequencies below 30 MHz feeder loss is
normally quite low and subject to power limitations thinner coax may often be used unless long
runs are required. As frequencies rise, so do the levels of loss, and thicker, lower loss varieties are
needed. Although the cost can be high, an investment in a low loss cable can ensure that the
overall antenna system operates to its full capability.
 Consider the installation of the feeder when planning the radio antenna installation:   Any
feeder should be correctly installed. For example if it is coax or coaxial cable, it should not be bent
too tightly beyond its minimum bend radius. If this is done damage may occur. Open wire feeder
should not be run through a house as nearby objects will de-tune it and losses will rise. Any run
inside a building must be kept to an absolute minimum
  Suitably weatherproof any feeder if it is to be used externally:   In particular, great care should be
taken when using coaxial cable outside. The end of the coax should be sealed to prevent any
moisture ingress. Moisture will itself cause loss as it will absorb power, and for the longer term it
will give rise to corrosion which will degrade the performance of the coax.
Good earth
One good solution for many ham radio HF antenna requirements is a ground mounted vertical. These and a
number of other radio antenna systems require the use of an efficient earth or ground system for it to operate
satisfactorily. As the ground system is key to the operation of the radio antenna it is necessary to ensure that
the ground system is satisfactory.

 Ensure the ground system has a low electrical resistance:   One of the major requirements for an
earth or grounding system for an antenna is that it should have a low electrical resistance. This can
be achieved by ensuring that there is the maximum surface area of metal in contact with the earth
itself. Electrical grounding rods as well as old copper pipes can be used.
 Ensure the ground system has a low RF resistance:   Although good electrical conductivity for
DC is required, the RF performance can be further improved by laying radials, typically a quarter
wavelength long radiating out from the central ground point. If compromises have to be made,
they should be laid out in the direction where optimum performance is required.
 Ensure the main point for the ground system is as close to the feed point of the ground mounted
antenna as possible:   Antenna systems using a ground system do not operate well if the lead to
the ground system is long. Accordingly the main connection for the ground system should be as
close to the base of the antenna as possible.
 Consider the ground conductivity:   The conductivity of the ground itself should be considered
when choosing a place for the ground system. Dry sandy soil gives a poor connection whereas
damp fertile soil gives a much better result. If possible the earth connection should be made in a
place where the earth connection will be better. This may alter the choice for the position for some
vertical antennas, or it may mean that ground mounted systems may not be viable.
Note on antenna RF grounding:
Grounding an antenna can be key to its operation, particularly if it is a vertical monopole antenna where the
ground forms part of the antenna.

Read more about antenna RF ground.

Antenna safety aspects

When any radio antenna system is installed, whether for ham radio or any other purpose, safety must be one of
the major considerations. Sometimes antennas are temporarily fitted up, only to fall down when the wind rises.
Home-built antennas are particularly at risk, but even commercially made ones can suffer if they are not
installed correctly - and sometimes even when they are. Care must be taken to ensure that there is no chance of
the antenna falling and injuring someone.

A number of the key points are listed below:

 One of the key safety guidelines is to keep all object as far away as possible from power lines. This
includes masts, poles, antenna wires, other forms of antenna, feeders, ladders, and any tools used.
 Ideally keep the distance from an antenna or pole to the power line at least twice the height of the
antenna or pole.
 Ensure that all antennas are well constructed so that they can withstand the rigours of the weather
and cannot fall on people.
 Ensure that all antennas are well maintained and any issues resolved before they fall.
 If climbing a tower or up a ladder, ensure that all the necessary precautions are taken. Only trained
people should climb ladders and towers, etc.
 Installing antennas and cabling often requires holes to be made in walls and ceilings so that feeders
etc can be passed through. When drilling holes, etc take care not to drill through an electrical wire
or water / gas pipe. Sensors are available that give an indication of wires and metal pipes buried in
walls. These are cheap and may well prevent a disaster.
Above all an overriding sense of the safety aspects of radio antenna design and installation must be employed
when installing antennas. With the weather being what it is, any risks taken are likely to result in failure before
long. It is not worth taking any risks as falling antennas can cause harm to people and to property, and in any
case an antenna on the ground cannot be used.