There are things that can be done that will help maintain a larger TV antenna outdoors, You may be surprised how much a properly installed quality antenna system can withstand.
Choose a stable mount. The two mounts offering the best stability are the 5 foot tripod and the eave mount and should be used with the very large antennas. .
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Keep the mast pipe as close (low) to the last mast support as possible. keep the mast pipe to within a few feet of the top of the mount. If you will be using a rotor keep the mast pipe within a foot of the last support of the mount, just enough to mount the rotor if you will be using one. Same with the Eave mount, just have enough pipe to mount the rotor.
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Keep the top mast pipe above the rotor as short as possible (the pipe between the rotor and the antenna). I usually find that about 20" is sufficient to mount the antenna into the rotor. The end result is the boom of the antenna is about 30 to 35 inches above the last mast support creating a stable mount. The less an antenna wiggles and jiggles the longer it will last.
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Channel Master Rotor Model 9521
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Keeping the mast at a minimal height increases the stability of the antenna and reduces the stress on the rotor. This adds to the longevity to both the antenna and rotor.
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The installation order of things goes like this.
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Each particular item comes with directions pertaining to assembly and installation.
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Install the mount according to the type you have.
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Assemble the antenna according to the instructions.
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The preamplifier mounts to the mast pipe just below the antenna and is secured using the U-bolt included.
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In the first picture the TV antenna is on its on its back with the preamplifier mounted to the mast located in a position that will be below the antenna when it's installed.
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The second picture is the antenna installed in an upright position.
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The third picture is the bottom of the preamplifier with the antenna input and the down lead cable connected.
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With the mount, mast pipe, rotor, preamplifier, and antenna installed run a short piece of coax cable from the antenna output to the preamplifier input connection labeled "ANT input"
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Next run cable from the preamplifier output connection labeled "to power supply" to a ground block. A ground block should be installed on the coax cable down lead at a point just before it enters your home.
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From the ground block output run coax cable indoors to the preamplifier power supply connection labeled "ANT". The power injector is included with the preamplifier and it is installed indoors and requires an electrical outlet. Its function is to supply low voltage electricity (via the coax cable) up to the preamplifier at the antenna. It can be located as little as a few feet from the antenna preamplifier up to 150 feet away. No signal splitters should be installed between the mast mounted preamplifier and the indoor power injector.
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Now run cable from the power injector output connection labeled "TV" to the TV or to a signal splitter and then to the TV's.
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We offer coax cable in various lengths with the connector ends attached ready to install on our coax cable page. Notice the 2.5 foot piece, it's great to go from the antenna output into the preamplifier input.
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Winegard Preamplifier power supply
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In the illustration above the top right connection is the down lead connection from the mast mounted preamplifier and should read, "directly to preamplifier", not directly to antenna
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Now run a ground wire from the TV antenna mount to a suitable ground such as a ground rod. The ground wire can be connected using a mast pipe strap or it can simply be wound under a bolt on the antenna mount and tightened.
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Run a ground wire from the coax cable ground block to the ground.
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You can use good quality black electrical tape to secure the coax cable to the mast/mount. I use 3M electrical tape, it's sticks well and holds up to the sun. Cut the tape rather then pulling and breaking it. It will stay put much longer (many years) if you cut it and don't stretch the tape.
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There are several cable fastener's available. Outdoors, my favorite cable fastener is still the stand-off style but the screw clips are fine, and the nail clips are best used indoors.
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