What’s the best mounting method for an antenna?

Talk about a loaded question. There are so many different ways of mounting an antenna, and there’s no “one best way.” The best way to mount an antenna is the way that works for you. Plain and simple. However, there are a few things you can think about when planning an outdoor antenna installation. Here’s a quick look a the different mounting solutions that might help you out when choosing to mount something on your home.

Question 1: Do I have a chimney?

If your home has a chimney in good shape, a chimney mount is often the easiest way to get an antenna in permanent position on your roof. Chimney mounts are metal straps that fit tightly against your chimney, giving your antenna a solid foundation without the need to drill holes. If your home has a brick chimney in good shape, a chimney mount from Solid Signal may be your best bet.

Chimney mounts are good choices for most types of antennas but aren’t recommended for satellite dishes. They tend to allow the antenna to move a little too much for the precise aiming you need for satellite TV.

Question 2: Are you surrounded by trees?


If you’re in a dense forest or at the bottom of a hill, the best option for you might be an antenna on a tower. These can be very expensive propositions, but the consultants at Solid Signal can help you find the right tower so that you won’t waste money. A tower puts your antenna high up in the air and is secured with a concrete base, wires, and posts. It’s a serious affair.

Tower quotes are always custom affairs. We try to find the best solution for you and help calculate the shipping far ahead of time so you have some idea how much you’ll pay. You’ll also need to install the tower, which generally involves sinking concrete pilings that you can bolt to. A local contractor can generally help with this if you can’t do it yourself.

Question 3: Do you live in an apartment, or is there another reason you can’t drill a hole?


There are tons of different reasons you wouldn’t want to drill holes in order to mount an antenna. If you rent, or if you have a tile roof, or if you just don’t feel right about drilling, consider a non-penetrating mount from Solid Signal. Non-penetrating mounts have a wide, flat base. That is designed to accommodate something heavy, like cinder blocks or full jugs of water. That secures the antenna while spreading out the weight so there isn’t too much stress on your home. They’re often called “non-penetrating roof mounts” but they also work well on patios or any other flat surface.

The best way to get one of these to you is to send you the mount. You can pick up the cinder blocks locally. You don’t need to pay high shipping fees for a cinder block, honeslty. They’re pretty much the same no matter where you get them.

Question 4: Is this really just temporary?


Are you putting an antenna up for a tailgate party? Are you looking because your cable is temporarily out, you don’t need anything more than a tripod from Solid Signal. A tripod gives a stable base for your antenna. While you can bolt one to a roof or secure it with sandbags, you might not even have to for a really short-term use.

Some of the tripods you’ll see at Solid Signal are quite expensive. But in most cases you can make do with one of the least expensive options. This is definitely true if this is going to be a temporary install. Also check to make sure that the tripod you want comes with a mast. If not, get one here.

Last question: does none of this sound like your situation?


If none of those scenarios sound like you, there are literally dozens of other options for mounting. Eave mounts attach to the side of your house or to the eave. Attic mounts go to your joists or subfloor, and there are even specialized mounts for different roofing materials. If you’re lost in the mix of options, we can help! Give Solid Signal a call at 888-233-7563 and we’ll give you the best recommendation for your own situation. If it’s after hours, just fill out the form below. We’ll get right back to you!

About the Author

Stuart Sweet
Stuart Sweet is the editor-in-chief of The Solid Signal Blog and a "master plumber" at Signal Group, LLC. He is the author of over 10,000 articles and longform tutorials including many posted here. Reach him by clicking on "Contact the Editor" at the bottom of this page.