How to Mount an Antenna on a Sheet Metal Roof
An outdoor TV antenna provides free television signals from local broadcast towers. Mounting an antenna at a high location, for example, on a roof, enables a better signal to be received than if the antenna were mounted on the ground. To mount an antenna on a sheet metal roof, follow a few procedures that will ensure a secure fit and avoid the metal sheeting interfering with the antenna's signal. A few supplies from a hardware store and tools from around the home will be needed.
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Find the direction from your home that the local broadcast towers are located -- this information can be gleaned from the local television network's websites, or from a broadcast tower detection website, for example, AntennaWeb.
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Hold a compass in front of you as you walk around your house. Stop walking when you are facing the direction of the local broadcasting towers, according to the information that you have gotten and the compass' direction.
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Place a ladder against the side of the house you are now standing by. Place the angled TV bracket against the edge of the sheet metal roof, so that it is horizontal (parallel to the ground).
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Drill self-tapping metal screws through each of the holes made in the sheet metal roof with a portable drill.
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Place the base of the antenna against the angled TV bracket, with the tip of the antenna facing straight up. Screw metal screws through the base of the antenna into the bracket. Screw a screw bolt through one end of a metal strap into the bracket with an electric screwdriver. Screw a lock washer on the end of the screw bolt clockwise until it is up against the side of the bracket. Screw a locking nut on the end of the screw bolt clockwise until it is up against the side of the bracket. Tighten the locking nut with pliers.
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Wrap the metal strap over the antenna mount to the other side. Screw a screw bolt through the other end of the metal strap into the bracket with an electric screwdriver. Screw a lock washer on the end of the screw bolt clockwise until it is up against the side of the bracket. Screw a locking nut on the end of the screw bolt clockwise until it is up against the side of the bracket. Tighten the locking nut with pliers. The antenna cable can now be connected to the antenna and run into the home to connect to a TV.
References
Tips
- A second metal strap can be added for safety to help hold the antenna in position on the roof.
Writer Bio
Marshal M. Rosenthal is a technology maven with more than 15 years of editorial experience. A graduate of Brooks Institute of Photography with a Bachelor of Arts in photographic arts, his editorial work has appeared both domestically as well as internationally in publications such as "Home Theater," "Electronic House," "eGear," "Computer and Video Games" and "Digitrends."
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