It has become popular in recent years to put logos and stickers on TV antennas so that you can tell which side is up. This also helps the manufacturer advertise a little bit, although the advertising value is probably pretty minimal. So, what happens when you mount the antenna upside down?
Most TV antennas look the same whether they are right side up or upside down. Traditional yagi and log periodic antennas like our HD8200XL look almost identical from both top and bottom:
If you look closely you’ll see there’s a horizontal brace that appears above the antenna in this picture. However, I’ve seen this antenna installed upside down and it hasn’t made a bit of difference.
If you look at our popular Televes line of antennas like this DATBOSS you’ll see that there is definitely a top side and bottom side. The top side has a row of directors that is longer than the bottom side.
If you install this antenna the wrong way it’s not going to work as well. It will still work but it’s not going to work as well. Of course the purpose of an antenna is to work as well as possible so if your antenna’s upside down you might want to put it right side up.
Panel antennas like this Winegard model will generally work identically whether right side up or upside down. Winegard stamps their logo onto the front so it’s easier to figure out which end is up.
Many antennas, including the ones seen here, have an extra hole drilled in the bottom. This lets moisture escape from the inside of the antenna and stops both corrosion and damage from freezing. If you live in a dry climate, neither of those things is going to be a big consideration for you. But, if you do live where it rains, and you mount your antenna upside down by mistake, look for these holes. You can fill them with a small chunk of cork from a wine bottle, or with a rubber stopper. Just take time to drill new holes in the side that is now the bottom.
Generally the best thing to do before mounting an antenna is simply to think about your options. It’s not usually necessary to mount an antenna upside down. In some cases you’re opening yourself up to corrosion or reduced performance at some point in the future. Mounting the antenna the way it’s designed is going to give you the best results over the long term.
If you need other choices for mounting in order to make sure your antenna is right side up, check out the excellent selection of mounts and mounting accessories at Solid Signal. You’ll find everything from the simplest home mounts to extremely heavy duty commercial mounts. If you’re confused about your options, call us at 888-233-7563. You’ll get to speak to a tech at our 100% US-based call center. If it’s after hours, don’t worry! Just leave your information in the form below and our team will get right back to you.
The post What happens if you install an antenna upside down? appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
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With most antennas, it doesn’t matter.
Most TV antennas look the same whether they are right side up or upside down. Traditional yagi and log periodic antennas like our HD8200XL look almost identical from both top and bottom:
If you look closely you’ll see there’s a horizontal brace that appears above the antenna in this picture. However, I’ve seen this antenna installed upside down and it hasn’t made a bit of difference.
Look a little closer
If you look at our popular Televes line of antennas like this DATBOSS you’ll see that there is definitely a top side and bottom side. The top side has a row of directors that is longer than the bottom side.
If you install this antenna the wrong way it’s not going to work as well. It will still work but it’s not going to work as well. Of course the purpose of an antenna is to work as well as possible so if your antenna’s upside down you might want to put it right side up.
Panel antennas like this Winegard model will generally work identically whether right side up or upside down. Winegard stamps their logo onto the front so it’s easier to figure out which end is up.
The one thing to consider: drip holes
Many antennas, including the ones seen here, have an extra hole drilled in the bottom. This lets moisture escape from the inside of the antenna and stops both corrosion and damage from freezing. If you live in a dry climate, neither of those things is going to be a big consideration for you. But, if you do live where it rains, and you mount your antenna upside down by mistake, look for these holes. You can fill them with a small chunk of cork from a wine bottle, or with a rubber stopper. Just take time to drill new holes in the side that is now the bottom.
Think about mounting options
Generally the best thing to do before mounting an antenna is simply to think about your options. It’s not usually necessary to mount an antenna upside down. In some cases you’re opening yourself up to corrosion or reduced performance at some point in the future. Mounting the antenna the way it’s designed is going to give you the best results over the long term.
If you need other choices for mounting in order to make sure your antenna is right side up, check out the excellent selection of mounts and mounting accessories at Solid Signal. You’ll find everything from the simplest home mounts to extremely heavy duty commercial mounts. If you’re confused about your options, call us at 888-233-7563. You’ll get to speak to a tech at our 100% US-based call center. If it’s after hours, don’t worry! Just leave your information in the form below and our team will get right back to you.
The post What happens if you install an antenna upside down? appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
Continue reading...
