Thank you for making this video. I am a customer service representative at Antop Antenna and this video has been sent to many of my customers!! You are AWESOME!!
When installing an OTA antenna, I always adjust it for maximum signal on the TV signal strength meter , to minimize interference from passing airplanes, weather etc. Great video.
Finally somebody that had installed the on singles foundation step by step . Thanks goodness now I can tell the inexperienced installer exactly how it's too be done and have the parts ready for him. I'm 65 and I'm not climbing on the 10/12 pitch roof . Thanks
Thanks for taking the time to produce an informative video. FYI... when using a level... horizontal is "level" and vertical is "plumb"... hence the term plumbing as taken from the days when plumb bobs were more common than levels.
I used to live in Buffalo and we watched the Canadian stations all the time! I sill remember CBLT CFTO and CHCH. Fun to see things from the other side!
I am very thankful for the information that you shared in this video, and I am especially impressed with whoever was your cameraman. I'll bet that job wasn't easy.
Nice Video. Very Informative. I would suggest not going under the shingles. Breaking that bond from shingle to drip edge will cause water wicking problems in the future.
My company has been installing TV antennas for over 40 years. Every install we do we measure signal strengths for all channels at various locations and heights on the roof to make sure we are not installing the antenna in a dead spot for a particular channels. Often times we can double our signal strength by moving an antenna 6’ on the roof. If you don’t believe me then what do you do when you have bad cellphone reception in your house? You walk around until you get reception. These signal meters are expensive but without them you are not guaranteed to put the antenna in the best location.
Great instruction and information for the Toronto area. I have the EagleStar 53-6165CV that I'll soon be mast mounting at about 6 feet above my chimney in Etobicoke. Is it necessary to make sure that the bracket mounting from the antenna to the mast make metal to metal contact? Should paint or finish on the mast be scraped away for adequate electrical contact? Is a small ground screw on the mast (as you have shown) adequate for grounding, rather than a heavy mast grounding clamp? Dielectric grease can cause electrical resistance unless used quite sparingly. The grease will tend to liquify and run out of the fitting under the hot summer sun on the roof. "Plumber's Goop", made in Campbellford, Ontario (sold through Home Hardware) provides a superior weather seal. The Antop equivalent antenna comes with coaxial cable with a rubber boot connection at the antenna and Amazon sells separate weather boots for this purpose.
Before the 80's, everybody had antennae. We had a deep fringe Channel Master antenna with a rotor on 4 sections of tower. This put it up over 40 feet high. Anything higher called for guide wires. You had to get it over the height of obstructions the best you could. It looks like you can get more channels and clearer with digital signal. The old analogue signal depended on the weather and other things.
+PeterFlynn old channel Master is still good as long as no ruat and elements not bent out of spec. antennas pick up frequencies, the UHF and vhf frequency are same.ones just less of them , if buying a new antenna and a new one ie channel master cm4228 pre 09 vs cm4228 after 09 the older works better and a 1980 even better. worst case change balun amd any rusted screws or wires.
Bigger and higher is always better than what is installed here. All the new digital channels use the UHF frequencies as VHF is being used for cell phones (4G etc).
The view of the neighborhood gives the impression these folks could afford a basic cable plan to get their local channels. But then I noticed the reform school / glue factory next door 😻
A nice clean installation. Please understand that your grounding work is only a good electrical ground. What you have, will provide little protection from a lightening strike. The most glaring example is the ride uphill a surge will have to make from the cable box to the clamp on the painted hydro/electric meter box. Most lightening likes to travel in one direction, towards the earth. Of course you are in Canada and I’m in Florida, the lightening capital of the globe. So you have a much lower lightening risk.
To your point...It was always my understanding for grounding an antenna, was there could be no 90 degree angles. It has to go straight to a grounding rod. Is that not correct? I think he had at least 3-4, 90 degree turns to get to the electrical box ground. I live in Tornado alley, so we get some pretty fierce storms too.
So with the grounding, is the idea that since the antenna is grounded at the base of the antenna and therefore making contact with the coax..... and the coax runs to the side of the house and it is grounded there ..either to the meter or grounding pole in the ground so both are grounded this way? Both the antenna and the coax? Thank you!
Everything I read tells me the mast needs to be ground with minimum of #8 wire. The ground wire/coaxial combination you used seemed to be considerably smaller? Is it sufficient size to use the included ground in combination with coaxial you used?
Great install Video. We are in Oakville and get 25 Channels at our Store on the 53-6165V and 31 channels on the 53-6165VA. this antenna is so Good we only sell this 2 Models from EagleStar Again Great Job.
I much prefer to install this type of mount on the wall. If you don't have to much overhang you can attach it to the top of a gable end wall and get the same overall height. The benefit is that you don't penetrate the roof and won't need to disturb the mount if roof work is needed.
Is there a reason you didn't just connect the mount to the eve? No roof penetrations, and the wires are further protected from the elements. Also, I thought the strands around RG6 were shielding, but you said it was grounding wire. Could you confirm? Thanks for the great video.
Nice presentation. I install FiOS for Frontier Communications (was Verizon) down here in Oregon. That is video, voice and data through fiber optics. I decided to cancel my video service and use OTA, I never have mounted a roof antenna and found your video very informative. Thank you.
I haven't seen an antenna like that one. Ours are usually made from aluminum. Also I've never heard of grounding a tv antenna. Plus I wouldn't connect it to the house ground. I would use a separate ground rod... VK2LEE in AUSTRALIA
Hello, Iam a professional installer in Greece. Just for information. I noticed you didn't use any meter to point the antenna. What about signal levels? In my country we use different type of antennas for DVB-T.
You terminate it at your electrical panel ground. You can also connect it to your electrical meter or mast using a proper ground clamp. Look at how your phone or Internet service is grounded and copy that
What model antenna is this? I believe you said an 8 bay antenna, but in searching ebay and amazon, I can't seem to find that specific model or style there. Are they still making that model? Thanks.
Looks like you missed the rafter with the upper lag screw when you first installed it. At first the head was flush against the mount, towards the end of the vid It wasn’t flush. Think it’s still sealed ok?
I went out and bought the Home Depot 50 Ft CCS Coaxial/ground combination wire and installed it. When almost done, and having done some electrical work before I looked more closely at the ground portion of the coaxial and it reads 18 AWG. I think the minimum in Canada /USA is supposed to 8 AWG which is considerably thicker. The stuff you're using and the one I initially installed would melt in a 1/1000 th of a second and I think start a fire if lighting actually struck it vs doing what it's supposed to by sending the electricity into the ground. Could you comment?
Dwight Baker Lightning will fry everything if it hits it no matter what. I have done satellite and antenna installations for over 30 years. Literally thousand of installs. Obviously you should follow your municipal code. I am not an electrician. Not every electrician will give you the same answer about grounding either. I think what the messenger ground is meant for is discharging static build up, not lightning strikes. Anytime over the years that I have seen a direct lightning strike on a dish or antenna. Literally everything is fried. TV's, antenna, dish equipment, anything interconnected through the coax etc. This is with or without a heavy ground and in some cases even heavier than 8 guage. The wire that would be 8 gauge or better is from the ground block to the building ground. If it hits the antenna the surge is going through the coax as well. So, pray that once it hits the ground block it goes to ground from the ground block and not through the coax into the house. Again the few strikes I have experienced over the years it really didn't matter.
Electroguy great answer. Discharging static build up makes sense at the antenna and I imagine, although heavier gauge might afford you a little more protection, the amount of power trying to move in an electric strike will fry everything. I've read static electricity travels on the surface of the wire rather than through the wire like the power from your panel, so I'm attaching a bare copper 8 AWG from my antenna to the grounding block and hoping my luck so far in winning the lottery carries over to lighting strikes:)
I found this on the Channel master web site: The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires that the antenna mast and the coaxial cable be bonded to the home’s ground electrode system (GES), which is usually the ground rod installed at the power meter and breaker box. There are other options listed in Section 250 of the NEC, but the GES is preferred. A separate ground rod is not required, and is not recommended. If a separate ground rod is used, it must be connected to the GES with a minimum 6 AWG copper conductor. The ground for the mast should be as direct and short as possible, with minimal bends, using a minimum of 10 AWG copper wire (or 17 AWG copper-clad steel or bronze wire). It can be connected to the GES using a split bolt connector available at most hardware and home centers. The coaxial cable that comes from the antenna also needs to be bonded to the GES. This is accomplished by using a ground block located as close as possible to where the coaxial cable enters the building. The ground block then is connected to the GES using 14 AWG or larger with as short of a run as possible, and again with minimal bends. A separate split nut can be used to bond the coaxial cable ground to the GES.
I already have a dish on the roof with feeds to 4 TVs in the house. Can’t I go up on the roof and just swap the dish with the antenna and use the existing coaxial cable and not touch anything else?
Hello, I have a question on the Bolts with rubber washers used for mounting the J-Pole mount. What length and size are they, and do you have a source for the bolts??!?? Much Thanks, Tony K. , Melbourne, Florida :o)
Really liked your video. Very clear and informative. I have several questions. I live in Iowa (USA) in a fairly new neighborhood, and have had antenna tv for over 2 years now. The antenna hangs on the inside of my glass deck window. I have gradually gotten fewer channels over time, and I think it's because the bushes around my deck are getting taller. Seems odd, but I have also noticed that reception is effected when we move around the room where the tv is. Since the neighborhood is young, I'm also concerned about my reception as the years go by and the trees all get really tall. So I'm looking at a roof or attic antenna. Not sure how to pick out the "right" one. What model is the one you mounted in the video here? How did you determine where on your roof to place it (not meaning the stud underneath it) and what direction to point it to get the best reception? The chimney close to it isn't going to effect the reception? I also thought there was an awful lot of cable running under the edge of the shingles before it got to the cable box. I have to take a look at the outside of my house to see if we even have one of these. That part seems the scariest and hardest to understand to me. Before we moved here, the resident used DSL, and then we got cable. So we have the option for both for the internet...not sure if that applies to tv though.
tecnico To be a pro, the first thing you’ll need to learn is that there is no such thing as an HD antenna. Back when color TV first cane out, the industry started selling “color antennas” to encourage people to buy new antennas. The same marketing BS is used to sell HD antennas, 4K antennas, etc. an antenna is just a piece of metal that receives the frequencies that hit it. FM, VHF, UHF, whatever. The size and shape of the antenna can make it more or less effective at receiving certain frequencies. The antenna doesn’t know if the VHF signal is SD, HD, or 4K.
I don't think I would ever screw through shingles. Eventually it's going to leak as many I know have from other people. But lots of people do it I suppose.
When I was in CATV, grounding to the meter was strictly forbidden. We grounded directly to the ground rod. I would have replaced that ground wire. That old one was looking pretty bad. Give them a fresh one. Get yourself a torque wrench for tightening those F connectors. Then you won't have to worry. Dielectric grease is good, but throw on a rubber weather bootie. They're cheap.
Can grounding an antenna make for clearer sound? I've had some sound distortion and wonder if I'm grounding correctly. I do have both a pre-amp and an amplified distributor.
If you are getting sound distortion I don't think it would be a bad ground. Usually sound distortion is from having your volume too low on your tv and then outputting it to an amp. You then have to turn the amp up high to hear anything resulting in distortion. Best to keep the tv volume at max. This could also be the case if you are using a converter box and have the volume down on that and then turning the tv or amp up.
How is this considered properly grounded since there is no actual copper line going to the ground? Where will the energy go once it passes through ground wire to to the mount?
dcentral it will travel from the mount down to the existing grounding block and then over to his electrical meter which is physically grounded to earth
"HD Antennas" don't exist because they merely pickup an analog carrier which has been modulated with a digital signal. "Non HD" antennas also pickup an analog carrier which has been modulated with an analog signal. So both types of TV transmission both use ANALOG modulated carriers to transmit their programming in either the VHF or UHF bands.
Nice video. Thanks! I was surprised to hear you say your antenna did better than an 8 bay bowtie since yours is much smaller. Is your antenna amplified?
No it is not amplified. It's mainly the area that I install in. 8 bay antennas generally have a narrower beam width and are good for long range. In the case where you need a wide coverage this antenna works best. I pick up signals as far as 95 miles away.
I don't know what they did in the design of this antenna but it works great around the Toronto area. I've installed and tested lots of different antennas over the years and this one has always given great results. That's why I use it.
I have the same antenna in my attic in North Oshawa up on the hill and get about 26 channels, 23 watchable to me with our current configuration. I know I could get more if it were on the roof. I have it pointed about south, south east.
Very helpful. Especially since it looks like the Marathon which I'm thinking of getting. Basic question - maybe I missed it, but where/how do you run the wire for the power booster to a 110 plug? I didn't see that wire/extension being run.
Yep you can do that but I will say the number one failure in an antenna system is usually corroded connections from water ingress. So if you decide to put the block up on the roof then put it in a sealed enclosure box or use properly sealed connectors. I always, always always use connectors with a rubber o-ring on the inside of the threaded barrel. It's also has a seal on the crimp side or back side of the connector where the cable inserts into the connector. If I can help it I never have a join or connection exposed to the weather outside. I always try and connect things inside.
I know this is an old video but maybe someone is still looking at it !! So you can connect the ground wire from the Antenna mount and the ground coming from the actual antenna (coax) and connect both to the main ground of the house off the hydrometer ? If that makes sense what i just asked !
Yes. The outer metal part on the coax connector is grounded to the antenna, which is grounded to the mount when attaching it. Metal on metal. You could essentially just ground the coax since it is grounded to the antenna and mount anyways. The copper ground just gives it a cleaner grounding because of paint on the mast.
Jeannette K No I did not. If you are going to use an amplifier you would usually use one right before the splitter in the house. It's called a distribution amp.
To assure that your connections remain clean and the pictures clear, seal your connections with plumbers goop as it will keep all moisture out, the center conductor clean. Pictures on your tv will remain perfect for a good long time, for years to come.
I'm always finding new uses for "Plumber's Goop". Since it dries semi-solid but remains flexible forever, I could see it sealing better than dielectric grease and dielectric grease basically turns to liquid and runs out of the fitting under the hot summer sun on the roof. My only concern is whether "Goop" provides any electrical resistance?
You are correct the frequencies have not changed so there really is not an HDTV antenna. Most of these new "HD" antennas are just uhf only. There are very few vhf channels broadcasting now and they are only in the vhf high band. Soon vhf will be discontinued and it will be uhf only for antenna broadcast.
Have you tried placing an EagleStar Pro Amplified HDTV antenna without its amplifier (that plugs in the house type not amplified @ the antenna) vs the same antenna but with a mast mounted pre amplifier? Please do a video on that I feel that it would surpass the antennas performance having a pre amplifier at the mast.
Hello I'm installing an antenna and I understand everything on your video except on my home I'm still using the cable wires for the internet so I can't just replace in with the antenna cable. What do I do? Thank you
I find it unfortunate that, with this installation, you installed the antenna mount on the front side of the roof, facing the street. Moving just a few feet over and installing the antenna on the back side of the roof peak would make a better overall presentation. Less of a reduction in curb appeal. I hope you will give this consideration on future installs.
Thanks for the video. What is the Model and Brand name of the antenna in the video? In addition the ground depicted isn't legal anywhere in California; I know this due a neighbor was having some work signed off and the building inspector suggested I get it fixed. after I put in the new earth ground rod, AT&T came right away to move their ground for my internet.
It's not an "HD" antenna. It's an antenna that designed to receive a range of specific frequencies. If a person already has an existing antenna, assuming it's the correct frequency range (UHF, VHF or both), then it doesn't need to be replaced with an "HD" antenna.
Yes that is correct. Although vhf low band is not used anymore for tv broadcasts and vhf high band is not very common. For instance in Toronto only CTV broadcasts in vhf. Most channels nowadays broadcast in the uhf band. This all happened with the switch to HD digital signals. So we no longer need the big ugly vhf/uhf heads because we can get great reception using these smaller uhf tuned antennas. We would never want to mislead anyone into thinking they had to change there old combo setup in order to receive the HD signals because like you said the frequencies have remained the same. But it all happened because of the switch to HD broadcast signals, so I don't think it's misleading to call these new antennas hd.
Budi Setiawan Grounding is more for static discharge. Static can build up on outside electronics like an antenna or dish. If lightning hits the antenna everything will fry whether it is grounded or not. In most cases using a coax grounding block is sufficient and you ground that to the building ground. It's always best to check your local grounding codes and all an electrician who has experience.
i see, is it enough to ground the coax grounding block or splitter only? because i did not have antenna mount like you have, i use long poll with directional antenna, thank's for your reply
Is there some type of meter showing signal strength that I can connect to antenna on the roof to help with positioning? I don't have a 2nd person w a cell phone to be inside watching signal strength as I adjust.
I am in Scarborough on the top floor (25th) my balcony faces due North.I am close to Danforth and Main in Toronto. I was wondering how much luck i might have installing a antenna off the balcony even tho i'm facing north ?
hi Rob I have not done a North facing antenna job so I can't really offer you a good opinion on it. The concrete in the building usually kills the signal so I would expect buffalo to be a no go. Toronto should be fine though.
Rob I bought a Eaglestar Pro #53-6165VA and mounted it to the wall in my apt facing south.Remember, i am on the 25th floor on the north side of the building.Did a scan and picked up 21 channels including WGRZ 2 Buffalo, the one i was most interested in.
There is someone who has tried it. Thanks for you comment Bob. I sell that antenna so if you want to email or call us we can setup an appointment. Thanks
Rob No need to set up a appointment since I already bought one from Pro Electronics in Ajax. I am on the penthouse (25th floor) and have a commercial antenna on the roof now. I am so impressed with the Eaglestar Pro getting 21 channels just sitting on the living room floor on the north side of the building, I'm going to mount on the roof.That should make appox 270' high.I have a clear view of Lake Ontario and can see the light on the other side of the lake on a clear night. I'll aim it slightly to the east at Buffalo.What kind of cable would you suggest, I'll need 75'.
ahadi amir Hello you will get approximately 25 channels and ur depends really on how clear of a sight you have to the CN tower and Buffalo. for more info email us info@electroguy.com
Thanks for the video Electroguy. I am a DIY/home owner in Quebec and looking to install my first antenna in the next days. Your video has help me quite a lot in understanding the entire process ! If you don't mind me asking, why do you ground the antenna AND the cable ? Both grounds are going to Hydro's ground, so if the antenna gets struck by lightning, shouldn't it go through the coaxial cable anyway ? It might be an electrician law/regulation...I don't know. But I'm wondering why both are grounded. Again, thanks for all the details in this video ! :) Thumbs up !!
I'm in the same boat as you (looking to install a rooftop antenna). From what I've read, I believe the reason to ground the antenna + mast is so static electricity does not build up on them which greatly reduces the chance of lightning strikes. The size of the ground wire is so small that if lightning were to hit it it would burn up. In order to protect against lightning hitting close by you should use a coax lightning arrestor.
In the United States the NEC 2011 elwctric code requires ALL grounds to go to a single point. You use a "bonding bridge" and connect the main house ground and all low voltage grounds to the bridge. All grounds now must be at one point to prevent changes in potential voltage between grounds. During lighting strikes having a single ground creates only one path to ground instead of multiple, limiting the possibility of damage.
From my house I have broadcast towers 35 miles SE from my house and some opposite 15 miles to the NW, will this antenna get signals from the front and back? If not what kind of antenna would I need in order to receive signals from both directions? Thanks! **I ended up purchasing the antenna in this video, was no good for me, had trouble getting most channels in, replaced it and had big improvement.
@@Electroguy Did the U Bolt that came with antenna fit the mast or did you have to het a larger U bolt? I am in the process of taking down my Directv dish and installing this antenna on that mast. Thank you.
The only problem is the person using the camera to record this video doesn't know how to adjust the focus. The tech is awesome. THANK YOU!
Thank you for making this video. I am a customer service representative at Antop Antenna and this video has been sent to many of my customers!! You are AWESOME!!
When installing an OTA antenna, I always adjust it for maximum signal on the TV signal strength meter , to minimize interference from passing airplanes, weather etc. Great video.
Finally somebody that had installed the on singles foundation step by step . Thanks goodness now I can tell the inexperienced installer exactly how it's too be done and have the parts ready for him. I'm 65 and I'm not climbing on the 10/12 pitch roof . Thanks
Great Video Electroguy.... Thanks for making it...8 years ago.. :)
What a pleasure to see a Professional make a RUclips video.Much appreciated !
Thanks for taking the time to produce an informative video. FYI... when using a level... horizontal is "level" and vertical is "plumb"... hence the term plumbing as taken from the days when plumb bobs were more common than levels.
Ok thanks
Its nice to see pros do things the right way and not half ass fast and cheap.
I used to live in Buffalo and we watched the Canadian stations all the time! I sill remember CBLT CFTO and CHCH. Fun to see things from the other side!
Finally! A youtuber with a cameraman! ;)
Great video, very informative, but I kept waiting for him to say "Take off, hoser!"
Please contact us at info@electroguy.com to purchase this antenna. We sell it for $100 plus taxes and shipping.
$100 Canadian? How much to ship to US?
Scott Yergensen please make requests directly to our company email. info@electroguy.com
I emailed you. Thanks for the great video.
The membrane as you call it is called "pitch patch" & the lag screws are for metal roofing (with the rubber grommet washers).
Are the lag screws overkill or merely wrong? This mastic/pitch patch stuff is surprisingly hard to find locally and only two amazon hits.
@@Shalmaneser1 If you search for "Bishop Tape", that seems to be what that stuff is called.
Not necessarily, I prefer overkill in unpredictable weather conditions 😊
I am very thankful for the information that you shared in this video, and I am especially impressed with whoever was your cameraman. I'll bet that job wasn't easy.
Nice Video. Very Informative. I would suggest not going under the shingles. Breaking that bond from shingle to drip edge will cause water wicking problems in the future.
0:22, 0:55, Cicada sounds. Always thought they were electrical wires when I was a kid.
My company has been installing TV antennas for over 40 years. Every install we do we measure signal strengths for all channels at various locations and heights on the roof to make sure we are not installing the antenna in a dead spot for a particular channels. Often times we can double our signal strength by moving an antenna 6’ on the roof. If you don’t believe me then what do you do when you have bad cellphone reception in your house? You walk around until you get reception.
These signal meters are expensive but without them you are not guaranteed to put the antenna in the best location.
I have been thinking of getting one. What do you use or recommend?
@@daxtheaxe Like OC said they're expensive, but the one to get is the Televes H30D+ which is roughly $2,500.00
Great instruction and information for the Toronto area. I have the EagleStar 53-6165CV that I'll soon be mast mounting at about 6 feet above my chimney in Etobicoke. Is it necessary to make sure that the bracket mounting from the antenna to the mast make metal to metal contact? Should paint or finish on the mast be scraped away for adequate electrical contact? Is a small ground screw on the mast (as you have shown) adequate for grounding, rather than a heavy mast grounding clamp?
Dielectric grease can cause electrical resistance unless used quite sparingly. The grease will tend to liquify and run out of the fitting under the hot summer sun on the roof. "Plumber's Goop", made in Campbellford, Ontario (sold through Home Hardware) provides a superior weather seal. The Antop equivalent antenna comes with coaxial cable with a rubber boot connection at the antenna and Amazon sells separate weather boots for this purpose.
Before the 80's, everybody had antennae. We had a deep fringe Channel Master antenna with a rotor on 4 sections of tower. This put it up over 40 feet high. Anything higher called for guide wires. You had to get it over the height of obstructions the best you could. It looks like you can get more channels and clearer with digital signal. The old analogue signal depended on the weather and other things.
+PeterFlynn old channel Master is still good as long as no ruat and elements not bent out of spec. antennas pick up frequencies, the UHF and vhf frequency are same.ones just less of them , if buying a new antenna and a new one ie channel master cm4228 pre 09 vs cm4228 after 09 the older works better and a 1980 even better. worst case change balun amd any rusted screws or wires.
Bigger and higher is always better than what is installed here. All the new digital channels use the UHF frequencies as VHF is being used for cell phones (4G etc).
Thank you for this video. It really helped me with figuring out how to ground my own antenna setup.
I am surprised the CRTC doesn't throw a hissy fit over this kind of thing.
Awesome video.
Thanks for the video. What type/brand of putty are you using?
The view of the neighborhood gives the impression these folks could afford a basic cable plan to get their local channels. But then I noticed the reform school / glue factory next door 😻
Best video that I found for a do it yourself.
Thank you!
Helped me out.
Nice instructional video and great tip on the putty membrane
I enjoy that he sounds like Mr. Rogers.
A nice clean installation. Please understand that your grounding work is only a good electrical ground. What you have, will provide little protection from a lightening strike. The most glaring example is the ride uphill a surge will have to make from the cable box to the clamp on the painted hydro/electric meter box. Most lightening likes to travel in one direction, towards the earth. Of course you are in Canada and I’m in Florida, the lightening capital of the globe. So you have a much lower lightening risk.
To your point...It was always my understanding for grounding an antenna, was there could be no 90 degree angles. It has to go straight to a grounding rod. Is that not correct? I think he had at least 3-4, 90 degree turns to get to the electrical box ground. I live in Tornado alley, so we get some pretty fierce storms too.
Thanks very nice and great vid quality when showing the close up wiring details.
So with the grounding, is the idea that since the antenna is grounded at the base of the antenna and therefore making contact with the coax..... and the coax runs to the side of the house and it is grounded there ..either to the meter or grounding pole in the ground so both are grounded this way? Both the antenna and the coax? Thank you!
I would always consult local electrical codes. In many cases you could just ground the coax using a coaxial ground block at the electrical panel.
Everything I read tells me the mast needs to be ground with minimum of #8 wire. The ground wire/coaxial combination you used seemed to be considerably smaller? Is it sufficient size to use the included ground in combination with coaxial you used?
Great install Video. We are in Oakville and get 25 Channels at our Store on the 53-6165V and 31 channels on the 53-6165VA.
this antenna is so Good we only sell this 2 Models from EagleStar
Again Great Job.
Nice tutorial. Good tip on the putty, clever product!
I much prefer to install this type of mount on the wall. If you don't have to much overhang you can attach it to the top of a gable end wall and get the same overall height. The benefit is that you don't penetrate the roof and won't need to disturb the mount if roof work is needed.
Did those lag bolts actually grab? The mounting plate didn't appear to snug down against the shingles as much as it should have.
They sure did. Different installers have different methods. I have found this method works well. The mount is secure and I have not had any problems.
Is there a reason you didn't just connect the mount to the eve? No roof penetrations, and the wires are further protected from the elements.
Also, I thought the strands around RG6 were shielding, but you said it was grounding wire. Could you confirm? Thanks for the great video.
Nice presentation. I install FiOS for Frontier Communications (was Verizon) down here in Oregon. That is video, voice and data through fiber optics. I decided to cancel my video service and use OTA, I never have mounted a roof antenna and found your video very informative. Thank you.
Great video, I really enjoyed at 3:46 when the little guy next door head went up your nose! lol
I haven't seen an antenna like that one. Ours are usually made from aluminum. Also I've never heard of grounding a tv antenna. Plus I wouldn't connect it to the house ground. I would use a separate ground rod... VK2LEE in AUSTRALIA
Hello, Iam a professional installer in Greece. Just for information. I noticed you didn't use any meter to point the antenna. What about signal levels?
In my country we use different type of antennas for DVB-T.
On the mount to the roof, where is the other end of the ground wire? I see you connect it to the bottom of the mount, but where does the other end go?
You terminate it at your electrical panel ground. You can also connect it to your electrical meter or mast using a proper ground clamp. Look at how your phone or Internet service is grounded and copy that
So it runs alongside the coax?
@@Eric48359 you can buy coax that has a messenger wire or just run a separate ground wire.
@@ElectroguyBut not in the panel. Use the ground point that the panel is attached to
What model antenna is this? I believe you said an 8 bay antenna, but in searching ebay and amazon, I can't seem to find that specific model or style there. Are they still making that model? Thanks.
Looks like you missed the rafter with the upper lag screw when you first installed it. At first the head was flush against the mount, towards the end of the vid It wasn’t flush. Think it’s still sealed ok?
Did i miss something, the coax ground looked good, however i did not see the ag13 copper wire ground from the mask to a ground block???
I went out and bought the Home Depot 50 Ft CCS Coaxial/ground combination wire and installed it. When almost done, and having done some electrical work before I looked more closely at the ground portion of the coaxial and it reads 18 AWG. I think the minimum in Canada /USA is supposed to 8 AWG which is considerably thicker. The stuff you're using and the one I initially installed would melt in a 1/1000 th of a second and I think start a fire if lighting actually struck it vs doing what it's supposed to by sending the electricity into the ground. Could you comment?
Dwight Baker Lightning will fry everything if it hits it no matter what.
I have done satellite and antenna installations for over 30 years. Literally thousand of installs. Obviously you should follow your municipal code. I am not an electrician. Not every electrician will give you the same answer about grounding either. I think what the messenger ground is meant for is discharging static build up, not lightning strikes. Anytime over the years that I have seen a direct lightning strike on a dish or antenna. Literally everything is fried. TV's, antenna, dish equipment, anything interconnected through the coax etc.
This is with or without a heavy ground and in some cases even heavier than 8 guage.
The wire that would be 8 gauge or better is from the ground block to the building ground. If it hits the antenna the surge is going through the coax as well. So, pray that once it hits the ground block it goes to ground from the ground block and not through the coax into the house. Again the few strikes I have experienced over the years it really didn't matter.
Electroguy great answer. Discharging static build up makes sense at the antenna and I imagine, although heavier gauge might afford you a little more protection, the amount of power trying to move in an electric strike will fry everything. I've read static electricity travels on the surface of the wire rather than through the wire like the power from your panel, so I'm attaching a bare copper 8 AWG from my antenna to the grounding block and hoping my luck so far in winning the lottery carries over to lighting strikes:)
I found this on the Channel master web site:
The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires that the antenna mast and the coaxial cable be bonded to the home’s ground electrode system (GES), which is usually the ground rod installed at the power meter and breaker box. There are other options listed in Section 250 of the NEC, but the GES is preferred.
A separate ground rod is not required, and is not recommended. If a separate ground rod is used, it must be connected to the GES with a minimum 6 AWG copper conductor.
The ground for the mast should be as direct and short as possible, with minimal bends, using a minimum of 10 AWG copper wire (or 17 AWG copper-clad steel or bronze wire). It can be connected to the GES using a split bolt connector available at most hardware and home centers.
The coaxial cable that comes from the antenna also needs to be bonded to the GES. This is accomplished by using a ground block located as close as possible to where the coaxial cable enters the building. The ground block then is connected to the GES using 14 AWG or larger with as short of a run as possible, and again with minimal bends. A separate split nut can be used to bond the coaxial cable ground to the GES.
I already have a dish on the roof with feeds to 4 TVs in the house. Can’t I go up on the roof and just swap the dish with the antenna and use the existing coaxial cable and not touch anything else?
You could do that but make sure you use a non amplified antenna.
Very detailed and helpful. Thanks!
Hello, I have a question on the Bolts with rubber washers used for mounting the J-Pole mount. What length and size are they, and do you have a source for the bolts??!?? Much Thanks, Tony K. , Melbourne, Florida :o)
Yes I can ship them to you. They come in a box of 100 in either 1.5", 2" or 3". Contact me by email and we can chat. info@electroguy.com
Really liked your video. Very clear and informative. I have several questions. I live in Iowa (USA) in a fairly new neighborhood, and have had antenna tv for over 2 years now. The antenna hangs on the inside of my glass deck window. I have gradually gotten fewer channels over time, and I think it's because the bushes around my deck are getting taller. Seems odd, but I have also noticed that reception is effected when we move around the room where the tv is. Since the neighborhood is young, I'm also concerned about my reception as the years go by and the trees all get really tall. So I'm looking at a roof or attic antenna. Not sure how to pick out the "right" one. What model is the one you mounted in the video here? How did you determine where on your roof to place it (not meaning the stud underneath it) and what direction to point it to get the best reception? The chimney close to it isn't going to effect the reception? I also thought there was an awful lot of cable running under the edge of the shingles before it got to the cable box. I have to take a look at the outside of my house to see if we even have one of these. That part seems the scariest and hardest to understand to me. Before we moved here, the resident used DSL, and then we got cable. So we have the option for both for the internet...not sure if that applies to tv though.
hi electro guy, thanks for your video, can you tell us what is the model and name of the antenna, thanks
What is the name and model of this particular antenna?
Im subscribed. but I would like to see more videos about HDTV antenna instalation. what kind of training do you recommend to do this professionally?
tecnico
To be a pro, the first thing you’ll need to learn is that there is no such thing as an HD antenna. Back when color TV first cane out, the industry started selling “color antennas” to encourage people to buy new antennas. The same marketing BS is used to sell HD antennas, 4K antennas, etc. an antenna is just a piece of metal that receives the frequencies that hit it. FM, VHF, UHF, whatever. The size and shape of the antenna can make it more or less effective at receiving certain frequencies. The antenna doesn’t know if the VHF signal is SD, HD, or 4K.
I don't think I would ever screw through shingles. Eventually it's going to leak as many I know have from other people. But lots of people do it I suppose.
What is the name of that putty you use in the installation? I want to get some.
it's called mastic tape, be careful it degrades with UV exposure has to be uv resistant vinyl taped or coated ontop, otherwise it'll fail eventually.
Installer did a great job.
what kind of antenna is that, who makes it?
When I was in CATV, grounding to the meter was strictly forbidden. We grounded directly to the ground rod. I would have replaced that ground wire. That old one was looking pretty bad. Give them a fresh one. Get yourself a torque wrench for tightening those F connectors. Then you won't have to worry. Dielectric grease is good, but throw on a rubber weather bootie. They're cheap.
Hi whats the name of the outdoor antenna that your putting up?
Here it is on my website. Specs are listed as well.
www.electroguy.com/product-category/antennas/
Can grounding an antenna make for clearer sound? I've had some sound distortion and wonder if I'm grounding correctly. I do have both a pre-amp and an amplified distributor.
If you are getting sound distortion I don't think it would be a bad ground. Usually sound distortion is from having your volume too low on your tv and then outputting it to an amp. You then have to turn the amp up high to hear anything resulting in distortion.
Best to keep the tv volume at max.
This could also be the case if you are using a converter box and have the volume down on that and then turning the tv or amp up.
What gauge ground wire did you use?
Great informational video. Curious though what happens when roof shingles are replaced.
the roofers can remove it and reinstall it in the same spot or you can have a service call to have it reinstalled
How is this considered properly grounded since there is no actual copper line going to the ground? Where will the energy go once it passes through ground wire to to the mount?
dcentral it will travel from the mount down to the existing grounding block and then over to his electrical meter which is physically grounded to earth
What is the other end of the ground connected to on the roof ?
Connect the ground to the antenna mast. The antenna bracket is metal, the mount is metal. We usually ground to the mast.
Electroguy, Not really certain what I am doing. I put a picture of what I have on your Facebook page. Thank you!
"HD Antennas" don't exist because they merely pickup an analog carrier which has been modulated with a digital signal. "Non HD" antennas also pickup an analog carrier which has been modulated with an analog signal. So both types of TV transmission both use ANALOG modulated carriers to transmit their programming in either the VHF or UHF bands.
Nice video. Thanks! I was surprised to hear you say your antenna did better than an 8 bay bowtie since yours is much smaller. Is your antenna amplified?
No it is not amplified. It's mainly the area that I install in. 8 bay antennas generally have a narrower beam width and are good for long range. In the case where you need a wide coverage this antenna works best. I pick up signals as far as 95 miles away.
Thanks for the reply. I didn't catch the name of your antenna, and or a model number.
+Grants Pass TV Repair
Prosonic PRO-536165P
with all the antennas on the market, I have never seen anything like this one, and why -or what makes it better than others,
I don't know what they did in the design of this antenna but it works great around the Toronto area. I've installed and tested lots of different antennas over the years and this one has always given great results. That's why I use it.
What is the make/model of it if we wanted to pick one up?
For pricing and purchasing inquiries please visit our website electroguy.com
You can email us directly info@electroguy.com
9:46 The center copper conductor
I have the same antenna in my attic in North Oshawa up on the hill and get about 26 channels, 23 watchable to me with our current configuration. I know I could get more if it were on the roof. I have it pointed about south, south east.
userfriendly06 Do any of you get any channels like "history, hgtv, discovery, bravo......or do you only get local channels?
Vic Collins only local channels
Local, Toronto, Buffalo, Rochester. Way better than overpaying for cable with commercials.
Very helpful. Especially since it looks like the Marathon which I'm thinking of getting. Basic question - maybe I missed it, but where/how do you run the wire for the power booster to a 110 plug? I didn't see that wire/extension being run.
This is an Eaglestar, which is a Canadian clone of the Antop antennas. The american/global version of this amtenna is the Antop sbs-802
What is the cost of the antenna you installed there?.. Also what are the installation costs that u charge?
If you are close to downtown Toronto then it might be best to use a different antenna. This antenna works best outside downtown Toronto.
Can you mount the coaxial block need the mass then ground wire to the house ground rod?
Yep you can do that but I will say the number one failure in an antenna system is usually corroded connections from water ingress. So if you decide to put the block up on the roof then put it in a sealed enclosure box or use properly sealed connectors. I always, always always use connectors with a rubber o-ring on the inside of the threaded barrel. It's also has a seal on the crimp side or back side of the connector where the cable inserts into the connector.
If I can help it I never have a join or connection exposed to the weather outside.
I always try and connect things inside.
Daxton Valyear thanks! Got a waterproof box, the house ground is in the opposite direction of where the coaxial entry to the house...TV
I know this is an old video but maybe someone is still looking at it !! So you can connect the ground wire from the Antenna mount and the ground coming from the actual antenna (coax) and connect both to the main ground of the house off the hydrometer ? If that makes sense what i just asked !
Yes. The outer metal part on the coax connector is grounded to the antenna, which is grounded to the mount when attaching it. Metal on metal. You could essentially just ground the coax since it is grounded to the antenna and mount anyways. The copper ground just gives it a cleaner grounding because of paint on the mast.
Yes that way all parts are being grounded. Both the mast and antenna
Thanks.
Question: We are in a cold climate, Minnesota USA. Will snow and Ice degrade or stop the signal on a Marathon antenna? Great video thank you.
Minnross1 Buy a channel master 7777(70-80mile) or 7778(40-65mile) depends of how fast you live or the winegard pre amp.
What kind of putty are you using ?
Did you use a signal booster before the coax cable was attached to the back of the tvs in each of the rooms?
Jeannette K No I did not. If you are going to use an amplifier you would usually use one right before the splitter in the house.
It's called a distribution amp.
To assure that your connections remain clean and the pictures clear, seal your connections with plumbers goop as it will keep all moisture out, the center conductor clean. Pictures on your tv will remain perfect for a good long time, for years to come.
I'm always finding new uses for "Plumber's Goop". Since it dries semi-solid but remains flexible forever, I could see it sealing better than dielectric grease and dielectric grease basically turns to liquid and runs out of the fitting under the hot summer sun on the roof. My only concern is whether "Goop" provides any electrical resistance?
Is there really a HD antenna? the frequencies are the same from the stations and the television is what changed.
no
You are correct the frequencies have not changed so there really is not an HDTV antenna. Most of these new "HD" antennas are just uhf only. There are very few vhf channels broadcasting now and they are only in the vhf high band.
Soon vhf will be discontinued and it will be uhf only for antenna broadcast.
@@STONE69_ Yes there is one channel CTV on 9.1. The rest are all UHF. Over 30 channels between the two cities.
Back when the office was running on live tv :(
Have you tried placing an EagleStar Pro Amplified HDTV antenna without its amplifier (that plugs in the house type not amplified @ the antenna) vs the same antenna but with a mast mounted pre amplifier? Please do a video on that I feel that it would surpass the antennas performance having a pre amplifier at the mast.
Hello I'm installing an antenna and I understand everything on your video except on my home I'm still using the cable wires for the internet so I can't just replace in with the antenna cable. What do I do? Thank you
You have to run a separate cable to your TV then.
Or you can relocate your modem to a different jack to free up that cable for your TV.
Thank you
what is the antenna model.
from the sound of these videos ive watch Canadians really want free cable
Well their taxes are out of control and Rogers/Bell/Telus are an outrageous ripoff.
They need to save as much money as they can eh
If I want to hire a pro to do this, for what type of company do I search? An electrician?
I find it unfortunate that, with this installation, you installed the antenna mount on the front side of the roof, facing the street. Moving just a few feet over and installing the antenna on the back side of the roof peak would make a better overall presentation. Less of a reduction in curb appeal. I hope you will give this consideration on future installs.
Thanks for the video. What is the Model and Brand name of the antenna in the video? In addition the ground depicted isn't legal anywhere in California; I know this due a neighbor was having some work signed off and the building inspector suggested I get it fixed. after I put in the new earth ground rod, AT&T came right away to move their ground for my internet.
Prosonic PRO-536165P
W
You didn't use a ground clamp on the mast, instead you connected directly to the mast. Based on NEC, it should have a ground clamp or that's fine?
It's not an "HD" antenna. It's an antenna that designed to receive a range of specific frequencies. If a person already has an existing antenna, assuming it's the correct frequency range (UHF, VHF or both), then it doesn't need to be replaced with an "HD" antenna.
Yes that is correct. Although vhf low band is not used anymore for tv broadcasts and vhf high band is not very common. For instance in Toronto only CTV broadcasts in vhf. Most channels nowadays broadcast in the uhf band. This all happened with the switch to HD digital signals. So we no longer need the big ugly vhf/uhf heads because we can get great reception using these smaller uhf tuned antennas.
We would never want to mislead anyone into thinking they had to change there old combo setup in order to receive the HD signals because like you said the frequencies have remained the same. But it all happened because of the switch to HD broadcast signals, so I don't think it's misleading to call these new antennas hd.
What exactly purpose of the grounding for the antenna? Protection for the lightning strike or increase the reception level?
Budi Setiawan Grounding is more for static discharge. Static can build up on outside electronics like an antenna or dish.
If lightning hits the antenna everything will fry whether it is grounded or not. In most cases using a coax grounding block is sufficient and you ground that to the building ground. It's always best to check your local grounding codes and all an electrician who has experience.
i see, is it enough to ground the coax grounding block or splitter only? because i did not have antenna mount like you have, i use long poll with directional antenna, thank's for your reply
Yes grounding the coax ground block should be fine.
Got it thank you
Is there some type of meter showing signal strength that I can connect to antenna on the roof to help with positioning? I don't have a 2nd person w a cell phone to be inside watching signal strength as I adjust.
I am in Scarborough on the top floor (25th) my balcony faces due North.I am close to Danforth and Main in Toronto.
I was wondering how much luck i might have installing a antenna off the balcony even tho i'm facing north ?
hi Rob I have not done a North facing antenna job so I can't really offer you a good opinion on it. The concrete in the building usually kills the signal so I would expect buffalo to be a no go. Toronto should be fine though.
Rob
I bought a Eaglestar Pro #53-6165VA and mounted it to the wall in my apt facing south.Remember, i am on the 25th floor on the north side of the building.Did a scan and picked up 21 channels including WGRZ 2 Buffalo, the one i was most interested in.
There is someone who has tried it. Thanks for you comment Bob. I sell that antenna so if you want to email or call us we can setup an appointment. Thanks
Rob
No need to set up a appointment since I already bought one from Pro Electronics in Ajax.
I am on the penthouse (25th floor) and have a commercial antenna on the roof now.
I am so impressed with the Eaglestar Pro getting 21 channels just sitting on the living room floor on the north side of the building,
I'm going to mount on the roof.That should make appox 270' high.I have a clear view of Lake Ontario and can see the light on the other side of the lake on a clear night.
I'll aim it slightly to the east at Buffalo.What kind of cable would you suggest, I'll need 75'.
I live in Aurora, how many channel we will get? what's the approximate price to install the antenna? Let me know, I'm interested. Thanks.
ahadi amir Hello you will get approximately 25 channels and ur depends really on how clear of a sight you have to the CN tower and Buffalo. for more info email us info@electroguy.com
Good vid and install. That meter you called a hydrometer? Looks like an electrical service meter.
I guess here in Toronto we are so used to paying Toronto Hydro for our electricity bill we call the meter the hydro meter.
Yes it was the power meter. And connected to the house ground!!
IS he going to tune it as well ?
+Bob Cunningham Not necessary for a receive only antenna, simply assemble using recommended measurements.
Thanks for the video Electroguy. I am a DIY/home owner in Quebec and looking to install my first antenna in the next days. Your video has help me quite a lot in understanding the entire process !
If you don't mind me asking, why do you ground the antenna AND the cable ? Both grounds are going to Hydro's ground, so if the antenna gets struck by lightning, shouldn't it go through the coaxial cable anyway ? It might be an electrician law/regulation...I don't know. But I'm wondering why both are grounded.
Again, thanks for all the details in this video ! :) Thumbs up !!
I'm in the same boat as you (looking to install a rooftop antenna). From what I've read, I believe the reason to ground the antenna + mast is so static electricity does not build up on them which greatly reduces the chance of lightning strikes.
The size of the ground wire is so small that if lightning were to hit it it would burn up. In order to protect against lightning hitting close by you should use a coax lightning arrestor.
In the United States the NEC 2011 elwctric code requires ALL grounds to go to a single point. You use a "bonding bridge" and connect the main house ground and all low voltage grounds to the bridge.
All grounds now must be at one point to prevent changes in potential voltage between grounds. During lighting strikes having a single ground creates only one path to ground instead of multiple, limiting the possibility of damage.
From my house I have broadcast towers 35 miles SE from my house and some opposite 15 miles to the NW, will this antenna get signals from the front and back? If not what kind of antenna would I need in order to receive signals from both directions? Thanks!
**I ended up purchasing the antenna in this video, was no good for me, had trouble getting most channels in, replaced it and had big improvement.
Aq
Thanks for the video! Might you be able to link me to some of that putty tape?
What is the diameter of the mast? Thank you!
1 5/8" Its a standard size generally for antenna mounts. Some are 1.66"
@@Electroguy Did the U Bolt that came with antenna fit the mast or did you have to het a larger U bolt? I am in the process of taking down my Directv dish and installing this antenna on that mast. Thank you.
Have the same antenna but have indoors in a window I get 43 channels that are better picture than cable
location?
Nice install. I also would like to know the make and model of the antenna.
Great job. I will share your video.
I like to put heat shrink tubing on my connections.
Use connectors with a weather seal at the back and o-ring inside the thread and you will never have moisture problems