Commercial Antennas Have Become Less Intrusive

By Essie Osborn


Years before the digital communications revolution, nearly every suburban home was crowned with an ugly aluminum television antenna. While their disappearance has not been mourned, today's communication and media devices still demand excellent transmission, often requiring the installation of new antenna arrays. Consumers not only demand good service, but are equally concerned about the placement, visibility and safety of those units.

Any basic antenna is a system of wires, poles, dishes or other metallic devices that can send or receive electromagnetic signals. Those loosely defined as commercial antennas are being used for the purpose of making money, and may include radio, television, and cell phone towers. Devices that are used mainly in residences, such as amateur radio transmitters or home satellite dishes, are not.

Business operators are increasingly faced with a variety of issues that must be addressed before any new equipment can be placed. Consumers buying electronic communications devices naturally want them to work dependably and with reliable reception, but do not want to actually see the necessary towers or broadcast installations that make good electronic service possible. Most cities have been forced to create new regulations on location, size and visibility.

A high-tech antenna array sporting gleaming metal spikes might appeal to some, but generally not to those people living in its shadow. This understandable attitude has driven technicians to new levels of creativity when designing and placing new installations, with the goal of making them less obtrusive. Many of these solutions are based on the concept that new equipment should be almost invisible to casual observers.

The most basic way of accomplishing that is called co-location, a common solution to placement issues. Co-location puts new equipment on an existing tower, eliminating the need for additional construction. This process often involves working together with other companies using that tower, must not interfere with current operations, and must conform to existing standards of aesthetic appearance.

When co-location is not an option, and a new tower must be built, local regulations are the key to success. Although the laws vary, many cities have approved strict new rules regarding the appearance of these towers. For example, many residential neighborhoods forbid placing a new antenna in a side or front yard simply because it looks bad. New installations cannot interfere with vehicle flow, or eliminate parking capacity.

In addition, the color scheme has to blend properly with existing designs. A new antenna must not block the view from adjacent homes. Some regions stipulate that all connective wiring be run beneath ground, and covered by vegetation or landscaping when above ground. Ordinances regarding height must be followed. Although these requirements may seem restrictive, the positive outcome is a new generation of towers that most people happily never notice.

Today, some are disguised as trees. In Los Angeles, they may look like palms. In New York state, some have realistic artificial deciduous branches that fool the eye. Others are specifically created to match a particular natural background, and many blend in perfectly. Although it can be more expensive, designing antennas that disappear into the background has proven very popular both with consumers and the companies serving them.




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