17 Common Digital Antenna and TV Installation Problems – How to Avoid Them

In our line of work, we see a lot of situations where a digital antenna or TV installation was either DIYed or done by an amateur and needs fixing up. This can be a frustrating and expensive process for homeowners.

But we don’t want that to happen to you. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the top 17 problems we’ve come across, so you know what to watch for. Plus, we cover why it’s always best to leave your digital antenna and TV installation up to the professionals.

Common Digital Antenna and TV Installation Problems

1. Skipping the Instructions

If you’re going to DIY, you’d think you’d at least read the instructions, but nope. When people DIY a TV wall mount or install a digital antenna without even looking at the instructions, it can be really dangerous (and often expensive to fix). Moral of the story? Don’t DIY but if you feel as though you have no other option, always read the instructions carefully. Read more on this topic in our previous blog on how to install a TV wall mount.

2. Not Considering Light

We’ve all been there before. You’re trying to watch your favourite show, but you can barely see what’s happening because it’s just so bright and glarey! During your TV installation, you should always consider where the sun and room lights will fall so you can choose the best wall and angle and minimise glare.

3. Forgetting the Power Point

TVs need power to run – who knew? So make sure you consider the location of your current power points and TV wall point. If the ideal location for installing your TV is a metre or more away, you might want to consider moving your TV wall point and power point to minimise the distance and avoid getting cords everywhere.

4. Wrong Mount Style

There are a lot of different wall mount types to choose from. You can get fixed, tilting, swivel, sliding, corner, ceiling, and full–motion wall mounts – each serving a slightly different purpose and function. So, before you go ahead and buy your TV bracket, make sure you do your research, so you choose the best one for your TV and space.

5. Missing the Stud

When you install a TV wall mount, one of the most crucial steps is finding the studs. A stud is part of the frame structure inside your wall. It’s usually made of wood, but in some situations (like larger commercial buildings) it might be made of steel. You might not have studs if your wall is made of brick or concrete. But if your wall is made of plaster, gyprock, or thin wood panelling, you’ll ideally need to go into the wall studs to secure your TV to the wall, since these materials aren’t strong enough on their own to support the weight of your TV and wall mount. Learn more in our previous blog, Guide to Mounting a Television – Wood studs, Metal Studs, or No Studs.

6. Wrong Nails for Mounting

It’s not just enough to find your wall studs – you also need to know what type of studs so you can use the right kind of nails. Your house probably has wood studs, but if you’re mounting on a steel stud, you will need a special screw that’s strong enough to go through steel, and usually a lot finer than your standard screw or nail.

7. Wrong Toggle Bolts

If you’re mounting your TV on drywall with no studs, you’ll need to buy toggles. What some people don’t realise is that you need different sized toggle bolts for different sized TVs, and you’ll need one that’s strong enough to hold the weight of both your TV and your wall bracket.

8. Crooked TV

All too often, we see this TV installation mistake! But it just goes to show how important it is to use a spirit level when installing your TV to ensure your wall bracket is straight. A crooked TV will distract you from enjoying your favourite shows and make your room look messy, so don’t skip this step.

9. Visible Cords

If you’re going to install a TV, you may as well do it properly! This includes hiding the cords behind your TV, so you have a clean looking installation. Visible cords look messy, but the good news is, depending on your wall mount and wall type, they’re quite easy to hide.

10. Mismatched VESA Holes

Most TVs follow a standard hole pattern (known as VESA) on the back so it’s easy to screw your TV into most TV brackets. But there are different sized TVs and different VESA patterns, so you’ll need to make sure you buy the right TV wall mount.

11. Wrong TV Height

Installing a TV at the wrong height might not seem like a big deal. What’s a few cms too high or too low? But it can make a real difference to your viewing experience. A TV that’s too high could cause neck pain from straining. Whereas a TV that’s too low for your room size and the distance from your lounge chairs will look odd or even lead to bad posture.

12. Not Setting Up All the Equipment

When you install your TV, don’t be tempted to connect it to your digital antenna, mount the TV, then leave it at that. If you’ve got gaming devices, a DVD player, speakers, and even a surround system, why not hook it all up at once? Too many people leave their equipment in boxes and miss out on the full experience (and the equipment is outdated by the time they get around to it). Do the job in full, from start to finish, and you’ll be glad you did. A digital/antenna professional will set everything up for you, right up to programming your TV remotes.

13. Badly Secured Wall Bracket

Possibly the biggest mistake of all would be not securing your wall bracket properly. Obviously, this is a massive safety issue – you don’t want a heavy TV and bracket falling on a child or pet. It’s important that you use the right bolts, secure them tightly, and screw your TV bracket into a surface that’s strong enough to support it.

14. Leaving Out Important Cabling

If you’ve mounted your TV securely enough, it’ll be a bit of work to get it down again – that’s a good thing. But it does mean that it’s worth thinking about other devices and cables you’ll need up there before you get too far into it. So, consider adding another HDMI cable or two in case you need to hook up another gaming console or media device.

The same sort of thing goes for digital antenna installations – ensuring there’s a bit of extra cable in the wall can help future proof your setup in case you want to move a TV wall point or add an extra one.

15. Not Fixing Your Settings

Once you’ve finished your TV installation, you’ll need to go to your TV settings and make sure the sound and picture are right. Don’t just assume it’ll be good to go – you might end up with a picture that’s subpar. Your digital / antenna professional will do this as part of their installation, making sure your TV is ready for your favourite shows before they leave.

16. Skipping the Dress Rehearsal

You don’t have to wear a hi-vis shirt to install your TV (that’s not what we’re talking about!). But it IS a good idea to assemble everything on the floor before you do your wall mount. It can be tricky to juggle a heavy TV while also figuring out where all the bits go. Plus, doing a dress rehearsal will avoid an awkward situation like trying to find a missing screw in the middle of your install.

17. Doing It Solo

Just like many other digital / antenna services, TV wall mounting is a two-person job. If you try to do it yourself without help, you’ll be much more likely to injure yourself, break stuff, miss important steps, and (at the very least) end up with a crooked TV. So always make sure you’ve got backup.

Avoid Digital Antenna Problems – Book a Professional TV Installation

Ready to get a digital antenna set up the right way? Or need to install your TV without having to worry about everything that could go wrong?

You need to book a professional who has the experience and high standards to get the job done. Call 1300 800 123 or contact us for a free quote or to book a technician in your local area.