antenna wiring

[copper chopper]

Well just when you thought you have seen it all: I was recently asked to relocate 13 antennas on top of a 12 story building to accomodate a new air handling unit going in..I never had to do this before, apperantly each of these antennas is for a specific channel(hdtv), some police and fire, and some for maintenance staff on the grounds..As this building was built in the 60s and know one seems to know what antenna is for what or if there even in use anymore. They wont let me disconnect them to see what there for, so how am i to figure out whats what. also they have been complaints about ghosting on certian channels. does anyone have any advice..

 

[Speedskater]

Any pictures?
Any pictures with dimensions, as each frequency antenna as ideal dimensions.
Any co-ax cable that has been in place for almost 50 years needs to be replaced.
Over the years many activities have shifted to other channels/frequencies.

 

[Little Bill]

Well just when you thought you have seen it all: I was recently asked to relocate 13 antennas on top of a 12 story building to accomodate a new air handling unit going in..I never had to do this before, apperantly each of these antennas is for a specific channel(hdtv), some police and fire, and some for maintenance staff on the grounds..As this building was built in the 60s and know one seems to know what antenna is for what or if there even in use anymore. They wont let me disconnect them to see what there for, so how am i to figure out whats what. also they have been complaints about ghosting on certian channels. does anyone have any advice..

First I believe I would have to tell them that if someone couldn't tell me what antenna went to what, I would insist on disconnecting them one at a time to see what they are feeding. That is if they wanted me to get it right.

As far as the ghosting, it could be something as simple as turning the antenna slightly, but most likely is some of the tvs may be older and the refresh rate on them isn't good/fast enough for the new digital signal.

 

[K8MHZ]

Well just when you thought you have seen it all: I was recently asked to relocate 13 antennas on top of a 12 story building to accomodate a new air handling unit going in..I never had to do this before, apperantly each of these antennas is for a specific channel(hdtv), some police and fire, and some for maintenance staff on the grounds..As this building was built in the 60s and know one seems to know what antenna is for what or if there even in use anymore. They wont let me disconnect them to see what there for, so how am i to figure out whats what. also they have been complaints about ghosting on certian channels. does anyone have any advice..

I would say hands off until you know what you are dealing with. If you are messing with public service (police and fire) antennas, you have to have their permission to touch them.

You may be dealing within the realms of the FCC. They tend to fine very heavily, so my recommendation is to sub the antenna work out to someone well versed in communications that will be able to secure the permission of any public service entity to work on their antennas.

Are these antennas receive only? If they are transmitting antennas and you are touching the antenna in just the right place and they transmit, you will be in for a bit of a shock, literally. Pager antennas transmit and are often located on high buildings.

Any antenna that requires an FCC listing will also require a notification of modification, if not permission, in order to be re-located.

If you disconnect an antenna that is used for a repeater without notifying the owner, you will be in big trouble. If the owner is police or fire and injury, death or damage results from disconnecting or moving an antenna you may also end up looking at some jail time.

 

[n1ist]

Depending on the equipment, disconnecting an transmitting antenna without shutting off the transmitter first can damage it.
/mike

 

[hurk27]

Well just when you thought you have seen it all: I was recently asked to relocate 13 antennas on top of a 12 story building to accommodate a new air handling unit going in..I never had to do this before, operantly each of these antennas is for a specific channel(hdtv), some police and fire, and some for maintenance staff on the grounds..As this building was built in the 60s and know one seems to know what antenna is for what or if there even in use anymore. They wont let me disconnect them to see what there for, so how am i to figure out whats what. also they have been complaints about ghosting on certain channels. does anyone have any advice..

You will need to sub contract to a FCC first class licensed person who does this kind of work, this is not within the realm of an electrician to do, if there are any commercial radio transmitters and or life emergency type transceivers do not touch anything that has to do with their operation, the liability alone could put you in the poor house or in jail if something was to go wrong, K8MHZ is dead on.

Commercial radio equipment requires a first class licensee to do anything that involves the radio and antenna, I held such a license for many years and this is not something that is a DYS, as for the subscribed antenna services, you will have to find out who is responsible for these systems, many times the company that owns them will not allow an outsider to mess with them, you need to put the ball back in their court to find out who they need to contact to get these antennas moved, the police and or fire will have the contact info the get their antennas moved as these systems are a leased type system that is under the control of a first class licensee, but the subscribed services might take some tracking down as to who is using them and who is the service provider, remember if you mess with another companies property you could be liable for the loss of service you might create and or other damages.

If you do not have the training to do this kind of work do not attempt to, as this is not just moving a TV antenna.

 

[hbiss]

As has been said- dude this isn't your job. It always amazes my how stupid customers can be. What would make them think that an EC is the proper person to handle something like this? :happysad:

-Hal

 

[copper chopper]

yes you poeple are right I felt the same way, I contacted a local shop that deals with this stuff only and I will know more about this job later this week..

 

[dhalleron]

If it's a transmitting antenna, there's always the possibility of getting an RF burn if it is transmitting while you are near it. Just depends on the power output of the transmitter.