What are the most common antenna installation problems?

Planning your antenna installation soon? Want to make sure you get your antenna setup right the first time around?

We’ve assembled a list of some of the most common problems our team comes across when fixing antennas that aren’t working properly. No matter where you live, you’re likely to be susceptible to these antenna installation problems.

Here are five of the most common antenna installation problems (and how to fix them).

1. Dodgy Providers or DIY Gone Wrong

Unfortunately, we see a lot of DIY antenna installations in Sydney. We also see a lot of dodgy jobs by providers who offer installations but aren’t experienced like a specialist antenna technician. It’s usually obvious because when we investigate a problem with poor reception, we see sub-standard workmanship, poor quality materials, damage to the roof, and basic errors like the antenna facing the wrong direction.

Unlike plumbing and electrical work, you don’t need to be certified in Australia to carry out antenna installations. So, if you’re planning to book an antenna installation in Sydney, particularly around the Waterloo area, make sure you hire AntennaPros, a company that specialises in the type of work you need and has plenty of proven experience.

2. Old Antennas

There are a lot of old analogue antenna installations in Sydney still in use today, despite Australia switching over to digital channels in 2013. While some analogue antennas work fine to pick up a digital signal, many won’t. And all TV antennas will eventually break down or rust, causing reception problems.

If you experience poor signal strength and you either have an analogue antenna or an old digital TV antenna, you might be due for an upgrade. The AntennaPros technician will be able to advise you on the best and most cost-effective TV reception solutions, whether it’s a repair, upgrade, or something else.

3. Old Cable

Too many homeowners think the problem is with their TV antenna, but actually, if they just replaced their old, damaged coaxial cable, many of their TV reception problems would be resolved. This type of TV cable is the part that runs through your wall, linking your digital antenna up on your roof to your TV wall point inside.

Before they repair your TV antenna, a professional technician from AntennaPros will isolate the problem to see if your old cable is causing any problems. Very old cables could be substandard and experience signal loss and even interference. Or damaged cables (thanks to those critters in the wall) could lose signal, which could give you poor sound quality and patchy video on your TV.

4. Wrong Antenna Type

A lot of the time, our antenna installation team is called up about signal strength problems. When that happens, it’s often because people haven’t purchased the right antenna type for their location. Unless you’re close to and within line of sight to your local broadcast tower, an indoor antenna won’t cut it. You’ll need an outdoor antenna installed on your roof. But not just any outdoor antenna – you’ll need the right TV antenna for your local area's frequencies. In Brisbane, you need a VFH antenna installed. But if you’re further north in the Sunshine Coast, or further south in the Gold Coast region, you’ll need a UHF antenna installed to get your local TV channels.

If you hire an antenna installer from AntennaPros, who is familiar with the local frequencies, they’ll be able to advise you on the best antenna for your location.

5. Insecure Antenna Installation

When you live in Sydney, your antenna installation has to be secure. It should be able to survive a reasonable number of thunderstorms, strong winds, hailstorms, and roof-dwelling possums. We see a lot of DIY jobs that aren’t installed securely and fall over as soon as the summer storm season hits. When you hire us, our professional technician will make sure your antenna is properly weather proofed for local conditions.