Outdoor TV Antennas and Cotter Pins

It is quite interesting to realize that in 1870 TV was first conceptualized. In early science fiction works of Le Vingtieme Siècle and Albert Robida, we find that it was mentioned. Robida talked about an era of television broadcasts, and that opera performances as well as live battlefield reports would be possible.

Not only is television (TV) a medium for communicating but for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be in gray or multicolored, and are usually accompanied by sound. However, without antennas (one of several key components), transmitting and receiving would not be possible. Some antennas are very simple in its design while others are not. Some are for indoors and others for outdoors. But the more advanced types are those that look like dishes aka satellite dish. These types are used outside and need to be pointed skyward at a certain azimuth.

Since we are now in the age of digital transmission, those with HDTV have the luxury of watching any of these broadcasts with much clearer images and with a wider format. Fortunately, those who do not have cable or satellite dishes can view some of the channels with indoor antennas i.e. rabbit-ear antennas or UHF/VHF/FM outdoor antennas. However, this requires a converter box so that analog signals can be converted to digital.

Surprisingly, I get the basic channels and more. For example, I have the non-commercial free movie channels like “This”, educational programs like NOVA NOW (my personal favorite) and Nature, and international programs like Al Jazeera.

Without having to spend unnecessarily, I get to allocate some of that saved money to phone bills or to the ongoing increase in gas price. Interestingly, creative thinking tends to emerge from such circumstances, and there is no better example than the one I recently experienced.

A few days ago on a brief visit to my mother’s house she asked that I take a look at her outdoor antenna (typical UHF/VHF/FM type) which was mounted on the north end fascia board. Upon close inspection, I noticed that one of the short leather strips designed to wrap around the pole and fit snugly inside the loop of each bracket had fallen 10 feet below. Because of that, the pole was no longer 3 feet above the rooftop or held upright.

At first, I wasn’t sure how to tackle it. I had many ideas then it happened. All I had to do was drill a hole and insert a cotter pin, a nail or something that would not easily bend and could withstand the outdoor elements i.e. rain. Fortunately, the metal was thin enough for me to drill a hole all the way to the other side. As for the the pin, I made it from a hook designed for drapes. The strips of leather was reinserted and the brackets re-tightened with its accompanied nuts and bolts, and within an hour my task was complete.

Knowing this, I wonder how many people have this problem and had to tackle it the way I did. It seems to me that this type of outdoor antenna is designed to be attached to a chimney but, what if antenna poles need to be attached to fascia boards? What other accessories are available to make them more secure? Would it not make sense to have one or two 1/8th pre-drilled holes and include a cotter pin or a retaining pin to help lock it in place?

In spite of all that, I came out a winner; no loss reception, no stress, and no unnecessary money spent. And by the way, be sure to rescan your TV if you move your antenna.