Saturday, May 3, 2014

How Commercial Antennas Are Becoming 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.

An antenna is an assemblage of poles, wires, metallic extensions or dishes that can receive or transmit electromagnetic information. Commercial antennas are primarily involved in a money-making service, and that includes television, radio, and cell phone installations. Those associated only with non-profit, residential use, including home satellite dishes or amateur radio equipment, are not in the same category.

Before a business can place a new installation, however, a number of local issues must be seriously considered. Although consumers purchasing new electronic communications expect that they will have strong, reliable connections, most simply do not want to actually see the necessary installations and towers that make the entire experience possible. Because of this understandable attitude, cities have created new regulations regarding antenna visibility, size, and location.

An antenna array that looks like a science fiction device may appeal to some, but not to most of those who might live next door. Communications operators have taken this attitude seriously in regard to new designs and locations, and attempt to make a final product that is unnoticeable to the casual observer. The need to make new designs nearly invisible has spawned some creative solutions.

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.

New construction must not alter the overall view from neighboring homes, and the color schemes used must match the existing standards for the locale. Most neighborhoods also require that all connecting wires must be installed underground, and the above-ground portions concealed with vegetation or landscaping. While the proliferation of building rules may seem overly restrictive, the results have been overwhelmingly positive.

Where ugly metal once sprouted, people now see greenery. In New York state, towers are disguised as deciduous trees, while in Los Angeles they may resemble palms. Some newer antennas are specially created to match and blend into other unique natural environments, and many are doing that job very well. The result, although initially somewhat costlier, is proving very popular with service providers and consumers alike.




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