Outdoor TV antenna advice

[TNTractor1]

I have a situation I need some advice on. We just moved into a house that has a TV antenna mounted on a tower right next to the house. I would estimate the tower to be around 25 - 30 feet tall. (just like the one in the picture I attached) I want to mount an HD TV antenna at the top. Here is the problem.... 1. I am afraid of heights and 2. even if I was not afraid of heights, our house sits on a hillside so, it would be difficult/dangerous for me to attempt. Here is my question: The tower looks to be put together in sections (maybe 6 foot sections... from my memory), would it be possible to detach the tower at the lowest section above the ground and then lower the tall section attach, the antenna, then raise it back up and re-attach? I have no idea how much the tower weighs (seems relatively light) and I know it will be difficult handling the tower from the bottom with all the weight up in the air. I am not optimistic about this option, but I thought some of you might have experience with this type of tower. Any ideas are welcomed. The picture below is not my actual tower, but it looks just like it and seems to be the same height. Thanks.

 

[bigtiller]

Look at the base of the tower. Does it have an assembly that looks like it could be a hinge if a couple of bolts were removed? If so, you or someone a little less intimated can climb as high as they dare to tie a rope to the tower. Then throw the other end of the rope over the house. Remove the bolts and lower the tower with the rope. It would be a good idea to loop the rope around a tree or something heavy like a truck trailer hitch to give you some leverage.

 

[TNTractor1]

That would be GREAT if it does have a hinge on the bottom... I will check after work today. I am thinking though that it just goes straight into the ground. I hope I am wrong!

 

[MoKelly]

All I can say is if you are afraid of heights DO NOT try to suck it up and climb the thing yourself.

Don't ask me how I know.

MoKelly

 

[TNTractor1]

All I can say is if you are afraid of heights DO NOT try to suck it up and climb the thing yourself.

Don't ask me how I know.

MoKelly

Been there, done that :laughing: I know my limitations!

 

[Phils]

Is there an antenna on the tower now? Do you expect to get more stations? Or better reception on the stations you already get?

I've seen great HD pictures from old antennas. If you get the picture without pixalization, you won't do any better with a new antenna.

I have a similar antenna tower. I just put a new antenna on it by lowering the mast, as was mentioned. There were two of us and one rope tied to a truck. It wasn't an overwhelming job.

I probably wouldn't have bothered but the old antenna was no longer connected to the coax and had so many broken pieces that it was less work to install a new one vs fixing the old. The old antenna hadn't been used in over 15 years, since I put in satellite. With digital broadcasting now in our area, I am able to pick up a few stations that aren't carried on satellite. Also, there's been a couple of times that the weather was so bad the dish wasn't receiving but the antenna did.

Have you tried the reception from the old antenna yet?

Phil

 

[rekees4300]

Any ideas are welcomed.

Hire a professional to do it. It's foolish to risk your life for a few hundred bucks.

 

[KTurner]

We just moved into a house that has a TV antenna mounted on a tower right next to the house.

There's nothing special about an HD TV antenna, except for the frequency that it is tuned for. And that happens to be the same frequency band that old UHF antennas are tuned for. So, if you already have a UHF antenna on your tower, just hook up your TV and start watching HD.

I just reconnected an old VHF/UHF antenna for my wife's grandmother. She gets at least a couple dozen channels and is shocked that "that old thing on the roof" does this for her. Took me a couple hours to hook it up, as I had to climb on the roof to reconnect it, trace wires, etc, but that's $50/month she doesn't spend on cable.

Keith

 

[hmgary]

An HD antenna isn't necessary. With a digitial signal you either receive it or you don't. HD antennaes are a good marketing idea from the antenna manufacturers.

 

[Western]

Hire a professional to do it. It's foolish to risk your life for a few hundred bucks.

X's 2. What if you get in up and then it needs to be adjusted??