You may have been looking for the best options for installing a TV antenna tower in your home or business.
Generally, you will find them on higher grounds like hills or on top of buildings to ensure there’s a limited signal interruption.
But have you ever wondered how they work? Or the available options? Or what do you need to consider before settling on a given one?
Well, we have all the answers you need in today’s article. Here is an ultimate guide to the world of TV antenna towers. Read on.
Table of Contents
- What Is A TV Antenna Tower
- How Does A TV Antenna Tower Work?
- Types of TV Antenna Towers
- Purpose of A TV Antenna Tower
- Differences Between A TV Antenna Tower and Cell Tower
- FAQs
- Conclusion
What Is A TV Antenna Tower
(TV tower center)
Television antennas are also known as television broadcasting or transmission towers.
They house antennas that receive signals from a TV broadcaster and transmit them over the air to households within a given range.
Generally, they are tall structures to ensure a wider signal reception radius. Many people often confuse TV antenna towers with television transmitters.
To make your work easier, transmitters typically have alternating stripes of international orange (appears red to the naked eye) and white.
On the other hand, TV antenna towers are simpler and without any color scheme for recognition.
How Does A TV Antenna Tower Work?
(Concept of how an antenna tower works)
The working of a TV antenna tower may seem simple at face value, but it gets more complex when we consider signal integrity.
Generally, they transmit audio and video information from TV stations across the globe, sometimes even to space.
When a TV station passes information through cables or microwave links to the antenna, they must ensure its in the appropriate frequency.
Typically, each antenna on the tower receives a specific frequency range corresponding to a particular TV channel.
As such, the more channels broadcast from the TV antenna tower, the higher the number of antennas.
Moreover, the next phase involves signal amplification with the use of an amplifier.
The reason for such measures is to compensate for the signal strength loss during transmission.
Afterward, the antennas transmit the amplified signals through electromagnetic waves.
Typically, the TV antenna towers are very tall, with some standing at more than 2,000 feet above ground level.
The reason is to enhance the line-of-sight range as such a height is greater than most natural and artificial obstacles on the ground.
Additionally, the towers are situated in areas with minimal obstructions to ensure the signals travel uninterrupted over long distances.
The electromagnetic waves travel at light speed, meaning there isn’t a noticeable delay from the transmission to reception.
For a clear signal, ensure you have a high-quality TV antenna at your place to receive the signals and convert them to audio and video information.
Types of TV Antenna Towers
(Different versions of TV antenna towers)
There are five main types of TV antenna towers across the world.
Generally, they play the same role, and the structural differences come in to promote efficiency.
Here, we look at the various TV antenna tower types and why they suit specific applications.
Lattice Towers
You can easily identify a lattice TV antenna tower from its framework of interconnected steel elements.
In other words, they look very similar to the Eiffel Tower in structure. Lattice towers are popular globally for their lightweight yet strong framework.
Therefore, they suit areas with high wind loads or frequent seismic activity. Additionally, they can be self-supporting or guyed.
Guyed TV Antenna Towers
A guyed mast is a slender vertical tower that relies on guy lines for support.
In other words, they have a uniform cross-section from the ground level to the top.
Remember, lattice towers have a broader base for additional stability against winds and seismic activity.
On the other hand, guyed towers have enough strength to support their weight but not against shear forces.
Self-Supporting Towers
The self-supporting or free-standing tower has properties bordering the guyed and lattice masts.
They have a broader base and a robust structural framework for stability.
Generally, they find application in areas with limited space or when using guy wires is not an option.
Monopole Towers
Monopole towers are an excellent alternative to hoist medium-weight TV antennas to heights of about 100 feet.
Given their lack of additional support, they lack sufficient strength to accommodate heavy antennas and components.
On the positive side, they are visually less intrusive, suiting them for urban areas or locations with aesthetic considerations.
Stealth Towers
Stealth towers are generally designed to blend in with the surroundings. You’ll usually find them disguised as trees, flagpoles, or lamp poles.
If you don’t want to tamper with your surrounding aesthetics, go with stealth towers.
Purpose of A TV Antenna Tower
(Fans watching a soccer match)
The primary purpose of a TV antenna tower is to hoist the antennas at a height that ensures minimal signal obstruction.
Additionally, they ensure that the signal travels further without much signal interference from close components.
Here are additional purposes of a TV antenna tower.
- They transmit TV signals in various frequencies corresponding to different TV channels.
- Also, they receive signals from other sources for rebroadcast. In other words, they can receive signals from main broadcasting stations before transmitting to areas with low direct reception.
- They deliver over-the-air television broadcasts.
- Additionally, they extend coverage allowing broadcasters to reach a larger audience.
Differences Between A TV Antenna Tower and Cell Tower
TV antenna towers and cell towers serve the same purpose: receiving and transmitting signals.
However, some differences make one suitable for an application and not the other.
First, TV antennas serve the purpose of transmitting television signals from broadcasting stations to households.
On the other hand, cell towers enable wireless mobile telecommunications for cellular-enabled devices.
Second, TV antennas and cell towers carry signals within different frequency bands.
The antenna towers transmit audio and video information to TV channels.
Conversely, cell towers transmit information on frequency bands specifically allocated for mobile communication. These bands include 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G.
Third, TV antenna towers have broader geographical coverage than cell towers.
Fourth, cell towers handle more voice and data traffic than TV antenna towers due to the high number of mobile users.
FAQs
How tall should a TV antenna tower be?
TV antennas are tall to provide an appropriate clearance from obstacles that may interfere with signal integrity and strength.
Therefore, their height varies depending on line-of-sight range, signal strength, and terrain.
The higher the signal strength, the further your signal shall travel.
Moreover, if you are installing one in a city, it needs to be tall enough to broadcast above the taller buildings.
What is the cost of building a TV antenna tower?
Building a TV antenna tower is costly as you must use high-quality materials and get the appropriate clearance from local authorities.
Generally, the cost is high due to the fact that you may have to use premium-quality metal parts, which ensure durability.
For instance, it costs around $10,000 to build a self-supporting tower. Moreover, you must factor in the effect of shear stress resulting from winds and seismic activities.
Is it safe to climb a TV antenna tower?
TV antenna towers are very tall, making climbing them dangerous without appropriate clearance and climbing equipment. Imagine falling from a tower that’s close to 2,000 feet in height.
Even with safety equipment falling from such a height is catastrophic, resulting in severe injuries.
Additionally, you need to follow proper safety protocols to ensure you don’t endanger yourself and those around you.
Conclusion
TV antenna towers have excellent structural integrity to ensure they don’t collapse under shear stress from the wind.
Additionally, they have narrow cross-sections to lessen the impact of wind and rainfall.
Some, like the lattice masts, comprise several metallic parts that assemble to form a rigid structure, whereas others are solid.
Finally, today’s piece provides information to help you kick-start your journey of installing a TV antenna tower.
