Hi there, I am looking to replace my TV Antenna. What do I need to watch out for so I don't get ripped off.
Do you recommend if I get supply, install and removal? what would be the ballpark figure in inner east Victoria?
Or should I grab one from Bunnings, go Airtasker and have someone installed for me? I don't have the tools to remove the aging Antenna.
Many thanks!
There was a guy called Mr. Antennae I used to see ads for in Adelaide. I guess when your family name is Antennae you must gravitate towards the profession of installing TV antennae. I don't know if he is still in business, he'd be pretty old by now and can't imagine a man that old climbing onto roofs still. Still though if Roof Seal can train seals to climb onto roofs then I guess anything is possible.
I went to his wedding.
The ceremony was crap.
But the reception was excellent
Until the coppers arrived.
I just had the local sparky do it for me… rang around a few and got it done.
Wait, Is that something that a normal guy in 2023 unable to do now?
Its very judgement there. So what’s a normal guy?
Someone like a toddler than can climb 1-2 stairs.
What if with disability that cannot climb ladder, that's not normal guy to you?
Pretty sure it is yeah. When mine was installed they used some equipment to adjust where the antenna was pointing to get the best digital signal. Before that it was very sketchy getting reception. Have you done yours yourself?
Just look at your neighbours and point it the same way. Get your kid to flip through the channels. Then you can tell at each other while your at it. Pleasant.
People still use roof antennae?
Thought the internet had made those redundant.
Those malware infected Android boxes will give you every channel in the world.
Thought the internet had made those redundant.
Not if you want to watch live sport on free to air.
why not just get an indoor antenna?
Reception
Just had it done, was $500, new antenna and booster
Serious question here and not taking the piss: Why do you use a roof aerial and not an internet connection?
Well I've pretty much used internet for a few years as our aerial only worked during clear days to most channels. But a couple of things.
Bought a new LG G2 OLED and want to maximize the viewing, so the footy is better quality in 1080I on seven than the pretty poor streaming offered on Kayo that is meant to be 1080p but half the time ends up 720. Same with 9NOW, the stream quality is inconsistent.
And then just in general although uncommon the internet drops out and you can't watch live sport.
The big one is the fact that the AFL grand final live broadcast is locked to FTA broadcast, it is not able to be streamed live.
If you didn't watch sports I don't think an aerial is worth it but they are still handy for live sport.
So you get supply and install? Which state?
@spedohero: Yes so as I said I still had a working antenna but it didn't work when overcast or windy. My hope was a booster would fix the issue, they came, tested, basically said they can't believe I get any reception at all. The original aerial was installed incorrectly and was also duel band when it can be single band. So they replaced aerial completely, new booster and replaced the rg6 coax cable. This was in Victoria
@spedohero: Sorry should have mentioned I'm regional Vic, if anything should be cheaper in Melb, normally is when I see Melb prices compared to regional with this type of stuff
Some people spent decades with broadcast TV before Al Gore thought up the internet in a fever dream.
Why do you use a roof aerial and not an internet connection?
Live sport… Unless you like to watch re-runs of Border Security.
If it’s just a straight swap over i.e. not having to run new cables to the lounge room, then about $500 would be the max, although that’s still quite steep. The antenna and brackets most of the installers use usually costs less than $100. Inner east Victoria is in close proximity to the transmission towers, so signal strength shouldn’t be an issue at all.
You may want to reconsider why you would want to replace your antenna in the first place. You may have valid reasons, but tv antennas don't get "broken" that it would require replacement. If you are not getting reception, chances are the issue is not on the antenna itself.
In my case, I replaced mine with an under-the-roof antenna, so that I don't have to worry anymore when there is damaging wind or bad weather risking it to fall onto neighbour's car. It was as easy as getting up to the roof, loosening a few screws and unplugging the cable. Then same thing with installing the new one, but in the ceiling. Took me less than an hour, only needed a ladder and a spanner.
My TV antenna is broken, one of the spike came off after 20 years. Do you have recommendation for under the roof antenna?
This is the one I bought a few years ago for $29.
Does your antenna stop functioning without that one spike though?
Basically 10 and abc channels, maybe sbs will only function on clear non windy days.
You reckon thats reception issue? The spike came off from the main antenna, i am just cable ties to put it back.
@spedohero: Probably best to try to pinpoint the cause of the issue first before spending the money.
When we bought our house 5 years ago we had no reception at all. And since I didn't have any tools myself at that time, I called Jim's antenna to get a free quote. The guy came, looked from below, and immediately quoted me $450 said I need a new antenna, showed me his list of antennas to choose from. I said I could see a cable hanging loose from down here, could you maybe have a look first in case that was the problem so I wouldn't need to replace the antenna? So he reluctantly went up the roof and hey, good news, the cable is unplugged! So that would be $450, because he said I would need a new booster, cable and whatever. I didn't believe him of course, so I said I'll consider it and discuss with my partner. He wasn't happy and got down without even plugging the cable, then left.
So I went on gumtree, got a ladder for $50, went up the roof and plug the cable myself. Problem solved.
Moral of the story: don't trust these guys. They want to sell you a new antenna, a new booster, a new cable, a new anything, even if it's not an issue in the first place.
And after a few readings, turns out most antennas don't get "broken". There is no "mechanism" whatsoever on a TV antenna that can be broken. It's just a piece of metal. If you're getting bad reception, it's either:
a. Your antenna is not facing to the optimum direction
b. If you are far away from a tower and have been using a signal booster, then maybe your booster is broken.
@Banana3: Yeah i get what you meant. Its a piece of metal only. I secured the spike broken away from main metal body with cable tie but it is still swaying a little when there is wind, i wonder will it cause signal loss.
Is the booster indoor or outdoor? I mean i find many booster required to be powered up. Does it even work?
@spedohero: I'd say it's unlikely it would cause signal loss.
The booster is usually a small plastic box, can either be indoor or outdoor tied to the mast below the antenna. Yes, it requires to be powered. So you would find a charger like thingy plugged into a powered socket in your house.
Maybe try unplugging the power to the booster first and see if it makes any difference to the reception. If it doesn't, then you know the booster (or the power plug) is the problem.
@Banana3: Sorry but you are wrong.
If an element of the antenna comes adrift (which can be due to storms, birds or just age) the signal being received will degrade. Evenjust corrosion build-upat the connection point can be an issue. Whether that is to the point of stopping all reception depends on what part of the antenna.
With older analogue TV signals, it wasn't as noticeable as the picture would just be fuzzy, but with digital TV nowadays, if the signal strength is not above a certain level then you get no picture.
@mattmel96: Yeah. I could either get an indoor booster cheaply and check if it helps in getting channel 10 and its related channels.
Antenna in roof space only works for tiled roofs. Hopefully you don’t have colorbond.
Can also have issues with tiled roofs that have sarking. It acts like a shield.
I did the same thing installed the new one in the roof cavity it was a $64 Dick Smith antenna bought in 2012 & I've had perfect reception ever since.
Is sticking out of the roof(on a post) or attached to a long pole which which is attached just beneath the gutter?
One meter pole attached to the shared wall with my neighbour.
I'd assume that the pole is detachable at the base so you could (with a ladder) detach it , swing down the aerial,disconnect the coax, disconnect the old antenna, and reattach the new one.
I replaced my old one 6 years ago.
bought a $76 digital antenna from bunning
otherwise airtasker. take a photo of the antenna/workspace . buy the antenna yourself. get quotes.
Do you know if i can reuse the existing cable assuming no issue, i can unplug and plug into the new antenna? Thanks
Hi there, I am looking to replace my TV Antenna. What do I need to watch out for
Don't fall off.
Thanks. Thats why getting it fixed by installer.
I did my own for around $60 (incl. the new antenna)
What and where did you get? Thanks
@spedohero: This one about 18 months ago…
https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/one-for-all-vhf-uhf-outdo…
Apple TV
sorry to ask, but have you refreshed the tuning on your TV ?
of cos
It's not hard to do it yourself, but if you're not confident doing your own crimping or connections, or getting on your roof, just get a sparky or an antenna guy to do it.
I did mine myself and looked at the neighbouring properties to see which way I needed to point the antenna. Probably a bit of a ghetto approach but it worked.
Thanks!
Whats wrong no picture at all? Could be the cable not the antenna. To replace the antenna a spanner and a ladder may be all you need if the bracket/post is still alright.
I supposed there is a mounting bracket from the antenna to the pole, yeah?
It was working fine, till one of the spike came off and i had it attached back using cable ties, but it is swaying sometimes.
Its really an old antenna, the plastic parts holding the spikes together are fading off, i thought might as well change it.
Pretty easy to replace. Just have a look around to see what antennas are there, and where they are pointing. I picked one up at a good price from [Element 14] (https://au.element14.com/search?st=tv%20antenna&gs=true), but they are all on Backorder. ETA NOV 23
I think I may have used an ABN?
I was lucky, foxtel by Telstra replaced and installed mine for free