Mounting Indoor/Outdoor Antenna?

[leth]

Has anyone else ever mounted that "indoor/outdoor" antenna (square black plastic one that tilts up and down) on the outside of their house? How did you go about attaching it?

My plan was to mount the antenna on a small block of wood then attach a magnet to wood, so that I could just stick it on the metal fascia. However I can't seem to find any screws with heads that fit into the four mounting holes; they're either too small or too big.

Plan B is to glue the antenna to the wood, but screws would be preferred.

Plan C is to buy a megnetic car antenna and try that, but then I can't angle it (and I'd rather save the $50)

I was also curious if anyone else has ever tried to put this antenna outside and how long did it last (it doesn't seem very rugged.) I know they sell a more rugged one with metal casing, but I'd rather use what I have until it breaks

 

[limegrass69]

I've done it with plastic wire ties and have attached it to a number of things. I'm talking about the kind of ties you might use to bunch some wires together, not the kind you'd use to tie a plastic trash bag closed.

I've had the square plastic antenna outside and have never encountered a problem. It's supposed to be weatherproof.

Good luck!

 

[magleamin7]

If you have a satellite connected to your house, mount it onto that. I have it done to my Bell dish and have never had any problems with it!!

 

[leth]

I've done it with plastic wire ties and have attached it to a number of things. I'm talking about the kind of ties you might use to bunch some wires together, not the kind you'd use to tie a plastic trash bag closed.

I've had the square plastic antenna outside and have never encountered a problem. It's supposed to be weatherproof.

You mean zip ties? Yeah that might do the trick, I'll see what I can rig up. I'm thinking I'll drill some holes through the sides of this wood block then put the ties through that.

Glad to hear it survives outdoors.

If you have a satellite connected to your house, mount it onto that. I have it done to my Bell dish and have never had any problems with it!!

No dish, but not a bad idea.

Thanks.

 

[limegrass69]

Zip ties...yeah...those thingys!

 

[HCLogo]

Maybe some industrial strength Velcro? That's what I'm planning to do this week. I originally mounted it there with duct tape temporarily to test out the placement over the course of a few weeks so I could decide whether I needed to relocate it or not.

 

[no1hedberg]

I put one in my gutter, and zip tied it to one of the gutter brackets. I also put one in my attic, by mounting it with screws to the side of a rafter so the face of the antenna mounts flat against the underside of the roof.

Click to resize

 

[hexagram]

I'm surprised you're even getting a signal (and a full one at that!)

:bigthumbup:

 

[no1hedberg]

I'm surprised you're even getting a signal (and a full one at that!)

:bigthumbup:

Heres the radio connected to that antenna.



Sorry the light in there is bad, but you can see what I mean.

 

[leth]

That's pretty neat. What kind of roof material do you have? Regular shingles?

Ours is metal so it probably wouldn't work

 

[down4six]

I just put one up this weekend to replace another that just up and quit (I think soaking and being froze in the gutter wasn't good for it). On the first, I had it attached to the metal roof with a magnet I scavenged from a old GPS vehicle antenna that I gorilla glued on. Anytime the snow melted or wind blew, the antenna would fall into the gutter. This time I took the time to aim it, and screwed it down on opposite corners of the antenna. So far, so good, keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[leth]

Did you just screw right through the base where the mounting holes are? I guess there's nothing inside the base, as long as you don't screw through the middle where the wire goes, it would be ok.

I was trying to find screws or something that would fit inside the mounting holes, but all the heads are too big or too small.

 

[down4six]

yeah, I just drilled out the plastic that covers the mounting holes (make sure the antenna is up and out of the way) and then screwed through the top and into the metal roof. I had the same problem with screw heads, figured it would be a bigger headache to try and put the screws into the roof in the right spots and jimmy the antenna onto them. I guess if you were concerned with a slick look you would do it that way, but I just wanted it to stay when the snow melts off and the wind blows.

 

[ClubSteeler]

Just go buy some adhesive tub/tile caulk.

It'll glue the antenna to shingles or whatever, will be water resistant, but also you will be able to scrape it off without damaging the shingles, and no need to drill holes.

 

[no1hedberg]

That's pretty neat. What kind of roof material do you have? Regular shingles?

Ours is metal so it probably wouldn't work

Yeah just shingle roof. Definitely won't work with a metal roof.

 

[no1hedberg]

Simply plywood/Shingles. If you have a metal roof this definitely won't work.