What Is The Most Important Material For A TV Antenna?
February 24, 2021
127 viewsPlastic, aluminium, or steel. When it comes to a TV antenna, which material is the best? Read on to find out or contact AntennaPros, the best TV antenna specialist in Waterloo NSW now!
If you have a rooftop antenna, it probably has steel, aluminium, and plastic. Your indoor antenna might have all three, too. Why are there so many different materials used in antenna manufacture, and which is the one you just can’t live without?
Aluminium is the key material in most antennas. Why? It’s a great combination of the factors you need for an antenna. It is more conductive than steel, more corrosion-resistant than copper, and cheaper than gold. Look at this list of the most conductive metals: • Silver • Copper • Annealed copper • Gold • Aluminium • Calcium • Tungsten • Zinc • Nickel • Iron As you can see, aluminium that sits right in the middle is a good compromise. None of the elements that score higher would last very long on a roof.
Spoiler alert: aluminium.
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Aluminium is the key material in most antennas. Why? It’s a great combination of the factors you need for an antenna. It is more conductive than steel, more corrosion-resistant than copper, and cheaper than gold. Look at this list of the most conductive metals: • Silver • Copper • Annealed copper • Gold • Aluminium • Calcium • Tungsten • Zinc • Nickel • Iron As you can see, aluminium that sits right in the middle is a good compromise. None of the elements that score higher would last very long on a roof.
So Why Isn’t The Whole Antenna Made Of Aluminium?
Actually, most outdoor antennas are made of aluminium in most cases. However, there’s a great reason to use steel and plastic in some parts. Steel is cheaper than aluminium. When a part needs to be thick and sturdy, you’ll want steel. It adds more weight than aluminium but it’s also much less costly. Most parts of an antenna do nothing but direct the signal where it needs to be and those parts can be made of steel. As for plastic, it’s both light and inexpensive. Plastic is good for an area where metal parts meet. It can form a joint that isn’t susceptible to shrinking or expanding like a metal joint can. Plastic is also non-conductive so it can be used for housings where you want to shield sensitive electronics. There isn’t really a lot of plastic in most antennas but it’s there to keep costs down while making sure the whole antenna doesn’t fall apart.How About The Material Used To Make Indoor Antennas?
Unfortunately, there’s a big difference in indoor antennas. Some people are just looking for the least-expensive option. This usually means an antenna made of steel and plastic. However, there are some premium antennas out there that use high-grade plastics for the structure and silver for the actual antenna. The amount of silver is very small, but it still contributes to the cost of the antenna. The basic idea of an indoor antenna is to be small and inexpensive. People use indoor antennas because they are so close to the towers that practically any antenna will get “some” reception. It’s just up to you to depend on how much you want to spend to get the best possible reception indoors.Before vs Now
Lots of people say that when it comes to antennas, “they don’t make them like they used to.” That’s true, but not the way they mean it. Today’s antennas are lighter and may seem flimsier than those ones from half a century ago, but the quality of the metal and plastic is so, so much better. It’s become possible today to create thinner aluminium antennas that are much better quality, can stand up to more punishment and are more sensitive. The plastics used today are much more resistant to UV and that’s a big concern for some people.If you're looking for a reliable TV antenna specialist in Waterloo, contact or visit AntennaPros today!
source: blog.solidsignal.comCategories:Science & TechnologyElectronics, Robotics & Automation