TV aerials

[name]

I live in a large urban area and I notice that very few homes have TV
aerials on their roofs. Many have satellite dishes. 40-50 years ago almost
all of these homes would have had TV antennas so what happened to them?
Were they removed by the homeowners because I doubt that. Either they would
have had to go onto their roofs themselves to remove them or they would
have paid someone. Most wouldn't do it themselves and neither would they
pay someone unless there was a real need to remove the antenna. My guess is
that the antennas were removed over time by cable installers. Probably at
the time of initial install they would have suggested it to the owner.
Maybe as part of the process of "moving forward" from OTA to cable. The
antenna represented the past and so it would be better to get rid it. So
now anyone wanting to take advantage of OTA broadcasts needs to install a
TV antenna.

[Stephen H. Fischer]

There are a few antenna installers working in my area,

here is an ad that popped up for a national company. (San Francisco Phone
Number)

The Cable Installers do other things to prevent you just putting an antenna
up.

For help, see your local area:

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-local-hdtv-info-reception/1269188-united-states-thread-index-find-your-local-discussion-thread-here.html

Be sure to provide a "LINK" to your TVFOOL results!

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29

SHF

Post by name
I live in a large urban area and I notice that very few homes have TV
aerials on their roofs. Many have satellite dishes. 40-50 years ago almost
all of these homes would have had TV antennas so what happened to them?
Were they removed by the homeowners because I doubt that. Either they would
have had to go onto their roofs themselves to remove them or they would
have paid someone. Most wouldn't do it themselves and neither would they
pay someone unless there was a real need to remove the antenna. My guess is
that the antennas were removed over time by cable installers. Probably at
the time of initial install they would have suggested it to the owner.
Maybe as part of the process of "moving forward" from OTA to cable. The
antenna represented the past and so it would be better to get rid it. So
now anyone wanting to take advantage of OTA broadcasts needs to install a
TV antenna.

[Steve Urbach]

Roofs need to be replaced.
Storms and nearby tree branches happen (you routinely see the results laying
around until the previous happens)

50 years ago. VHF (the long element) antennas were the standard with
additional UHF (the Bow Tie), or really short element stations being most
common in dense urban areas.

Today HDTV is almost all UHF (we still have 2 VHF) , so the monster antennas
are mostly gone from urban locations.

You are correct that it is difficult to find someone who is REALLY qualified
to install a taller mast (any idiot can prop up a 10' Mast), including
choosing the best location and proper mounts.

Post by name
I live in a large urban area and I notice that very few homes have TV
aerials on their roofs. Many have satellite dishes. 40-50 years ago almost
all of these homes would have had TV antennas so what happened to them?
Were they removed by the homeowners because I doubt that. Either they would
have had to go onto their roofs themselves to remove them or they would
have paid someone. Most wouldn't do it themselves and neither would they
pay someone unless there was a real need to remove the antenna. My guess is
that the antennas were removed over time by cable installers. Probably at
the time of initial install they would have suggested it to the owner.
Maybe as part of the process of "moving forward" from OTA to cable. The
antenna represented the past and so it would be better to get rid it. So
now anyone wanting to take advantage of OTA broadcasts needs to install a
TV antenna.

[n***@att.net]

Post by name
Maybe as part of the process of "moving forward" from OTA to cable. The
antenna represented the past and so it would be better to get rid it. So
now anyone wanting to take advantage of OTA broadcasts needs to install a
TV antenna.

The only real "moving forward" was the transition from analog to digital. This was a very slow process. I first purchased an HDTV set about 1998. Almost a full year passed until WCBS-DT (channel 2 in NYC) began broadcasting HDTV. Within a year, if my memory serves me, the other network broadcasters began HDTV service. Surprisingly, WLIW-DT channel PBS in Long Island provided Rudy Maxa’s World in superb HDTV in those early days. Cable did not offer HDTV until many years later. Infact they suggested using an OTA antenna for HDTV, so did one of the satellite company. Clearly, for broadcast TV, antenna TV is better than cable TV.
I think though, most of the public did not understand, even the most simple concepts, the requirements to receive HDTV. Nothing new, in 1948 a TV installer installed our TV antenna. He used a two element Yagi type antenna with 300 ohm flat line cable. Not hard, but the fear of fooling around with electrical things scared many DIY installes; mainly fear of electrocution and fear of height.
In addition, most HOA's forbid outside antennas until the FCC preempted many restrictions against antennas. Maybe too late. The HOA brain washing may have taken hold. Why would a home owner want to potentially offend his neighbor? Well not in my house. I have the tallest tower on the block and never offended my neighbor! The days of cable TV is numbered and will shift from a TV to internet provider. Netflix, Hulo, Vudu Amazon,YouTube are all available on the internet. However, the problem with internet TV is the ability to track your viewing habits. I would rather stay "off-grid". A broadcast TV antenna will complement streaming services. Your antennas may come back.