Antenna Installation Rates
"How much will it cost?"
THE AVERAGE ANTENNA REPLACEMENT COST WILL VARY DEPENDING ON YOUR AREA AND THE AMOUNT OF SIGNAL REQUIRED TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT SIGNAL STRENGTH AND SIGNAL QUALITY FOR YOUR HOME. THERE ARE OFFICAL SIGNAL STANDARDS SET BY THE D.B.A THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR TV'S TO WORK RELIABLY AND IT's ALWAYS THE GOAL TO ACHIEVE THIS.
COSTS FOR ANTENNA INSTALLATION WILL BE INFLUENCED BY THE TYPE OF STRUCTURE AND THE LOCATION /REGION OF THE JOB; WHERE THE ANTENNA INSTALLATION IS BEING CARRIED OUT. AS AN EXAMPLE, SINGLE STOREY HOMES MAY BE CHEAPER THAN DOUBLE STOREY HOMES AND MULTISTORY HOMES OR COMMERCIAL PREMISES MAY BE ATTRACT ADDITIONAL EXPENSES DUE TO COMPLEX CABLE RUNS. JOBS DONE IN HILLY AREAS OR 'BLACK SPOT' AREAS MAY ATTRACT EXTRA LABOUR AND MATERIALS TO DELIVER THE SAME STANDARD OF SIGNAL INTEGRITY.
THERE ARE CHEAP AND NASTY ANTENNAS FROM $150-$250; TO BETTER QUALITY ANTENNAS APPROX $400 ISH AND HIGH GAIN ANTENNAS FROM $450 UPWARDS. IN ADDITION TO ANTENNA INSTALLATION YOU MAY NEED A BOOSTER. SIGNAL BOOSTERS ARE TYPICALLY INSTALLED IN THE INDUSTRY FROM $300 TO $500 DEPENDING ON WHAT ELSE IS REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME TO ENSURE A NEW ONE WORKS RELIABLY. YOU WON'T TYPICALLY FIND A TV ANTENNA EXPERT THAT CHARGES BY THE HOUR / HOURLY RATE EITHER AS IT'S NOT TYPICALLY COMMERCIALLY VIABLE FOR THEM AS THEIR WORK USUALLY IS COMPLETED IN ABOUT AN HOUR PER JOB SITE. DID YOU KNOW SOME COMPANIES CHARGE UP TO $200 FOR A CALL OUT FEE THROUGHOUT SYDNEY AND REGIONAL AREAS DUE TO UNUSUALLY LONG TRAVEL TIMES?
ANTENNA INSTALLATION RATES - COSTS AND MATERIALS
With the world around us becoming more and more expensive - antenna installation is still a relatively low cost when it comes to the life time value you get from an antenna. A well installed antenna will last 10-15 years (if it is installed professionally by an experienced technician).. and no short cuts are taken. Seeing that the signal integrity is ultimately let down by the weakest part in an antenna system; it is not uncommon for a complete overhaul to be necessary if an antenna system/building is already 10-15 years old. Cable, connectors, joins, splitters and wall plates all have a lifespan. Water, wind, corrosion and sunlight have a direct effect on performance for components exposed to the elements and indoor components can be effected by insects, animals, dust, surges and mishandling. The cost for a complete antenna system overhaul (in the domestic market) is typically $500-$1000 depending on your homes particular requirements These costs may feel like the same cost as getting a new set of tyres for your car; however you will get close to 10 times the value and lifespan than you would for a new set of tyres.
CHEAP and DODGY
Some DIYers, Handymen, Electricians and inexperienced installers use the cheapest antennas they can get their hands on. Typically they will have NO industry training or the proper signal testing equipment to guarantee the lifespan of the antenna installation. Installations in the $200-$300 mark should be a red flag for you. Many experienced technicians are not only installing antennas on new homes but are also replacing antennas that are only 1-3 years old, because they were installed by such an installer using inferior products.
ANTENNA INSTALLATION RATES BY UNQUALIFIED / INEXPERIENCED INSTALLERS
All TV channels and TV points within an antenna system should meet D.B.A standards. Unqualified installers use 'off the shelf testing equipment' or worse, no testing equipment at all. Inexperienced installers often have limited experience in the industry. They know how to fix things on a surface level, however, are unaware of what makes an antenna system fail and what causes system failure. Antennas that look the same on the outside and even give similar signal meter readings off the shelf, nearly always don't perform for the long-term. Whereas, a time and tested, more expensive model will last much, much longer. Furthermore, be wary of cheap installers that offer cheap rates as they may not be insured, paying tax and/or running a solvent and sustainable business. It is too easy for them (and far too common for them) to not be available when you need them the most - a few years or even months down the track when the cheap antenna they installed stops performing for you (despite what warranty they gave you in writing - just to get the sale). If anyone has seen 'antenna pop-up-businesses' and competition 'come and go', like no other - we have!
ANTENNA INSTALLATION RATES - 8 REASONS WHY YOU WOULD NEED AN ANTENNA TO BEGIN WITH
- Reason #1 - BROKEN ELEMENTS - EACH ELEMENT ON A PROPERLY DESINGED ANTENNA IS CUT TO A DIPOLE LENGTH TO MATCH THE FREQUENCY OF A CORRESPONDING CHANNEL TO RECEIVE THAT INFORMATION PROPERLY. THE COST TO REMEDY THIS WOULD TYPICALLY BE A NEW ANTENNA.
- Reason #2 - WATER IN BALUN - OLD AGE, POOR INSTALLATION, POOR DESIGN, POOR LIFESPAN
- Reason #3 - OLD AGE - HAD ITS TIME - NOW UNDER-PERFORMING - NEEDS REPLACING. THE RATE / COST TO REMEDY THIS WOULD TYPICALLY BE A NEW ANTENNA.
- Reason #4 - INCORRECT ANTENNA FOR LOCATION - CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT BROADCAST. THE COST TO REMEDY THIS WOULD TYPICALLY BE A NEW ANTENNA THAT IS SUITED TO THE LOCATION.
- Reason #5 - TREES, HILLS, BUILDINGS NOW BLOCK THE SIGNAL PATH RESULTING IN A LOWER GAIN - SOLUTIONS INCLUDE: INSTALLING A HIGHER GAIN / BETTER SUITED ANTENNA / RELOCATING ANTENNA TO A DIFFERENT POSITION / ELEVATED ANTENNA MAST OR DIFFERENT SYSTEM. THE COST TO REMEDY THIS CAN BE $800 - $1500... .
- Reason #6 - ELECTRICAL DAMAGE - WHEN LIGHTENING HITS OR POWER SURGE HITS A TV - IT CAN BLOW OUT THE ANTENNA. THE ANTENNA INSTALALTION RATES FOR THIS SCENARIO CAN BE HIGH AS USUALLY A COMPLETE OVERHAUL IS REQUIRED.
- Reason #7 - POORLY INSTALLED MAST - FALLS DOWN - ANTENNA IS DAMAGED - BIRDS SHAKE ANTENNA - CABLE COMES LOOSE.
- Reason #8 - WATER LOGGED ANTENNA/ WATER LOGGED CABLE - DOES THIS REALLY HAPPEN? YES, EVENTUALLY - OVER TIME, WATER WILL PENETRATE ANYTHING.. HOWEVER ON INFERIOR DESIGNS THIS HAPPENS MUCH SOONER ..WATER GETS INSIDE THE TUBING OF INFERIOR DESIGNS AND WATER AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY JUST DOES NOT WORK! WATER LOGGED CABLE CAN MEAN A 50% OVERHAUL AND TYPICAL COSTS INCLUDE NEW ANTENNA AND 50-50% OVERHAUL (AS WATER LOGGED CABLE CAN PENETRATE DOWN THE CABLE, FED BY GRAVITY)