When the reception goes south, the obvious-sounding answer is "new antenna." But a new antenna won't help if the fault is in the cable, the wall plate or the splitter — and an old antenna in good condition can keep working for another decade. Here's how to make the call.
Replace if…
- The antenna is over 20 years old and visibly weathered (chalky paint, plastic crazing, loose elements)
- Elements are bent or missing after a storm
- The boom is rusted through at the bracket
- It's a VHF antenna (Melbourne switched to UHF-only in 2013)
- It's a no-name import installed in the last 10 years that has already failed once
Repair if…
- The antenna is a Hills or Matchmaster less than 15 years old in good condition
- The fault is at the F-connector, in the cable, or at the wall plate
- The masthead amp has died but the antenna is fine
- A storm has knocked it out of alignment but not damaged it physically
How we tell the difference
We climb to the antenna, inspect it physically, and meter the raw signal at the antenna terminals before any cable loss. If the raw signal is clean, the antenna is fine and the fault is downstream. If the raw signal is poor, we replace.
The 70/30 rule we see in practice
About 70% of "the antenna is broken" calls turn out to be downstream faults — cable, splitter, amp or wall plate. About 30% genuinely need a new antenna. This is why we always meter first and quote second.
What you save by repairing
A repair-only visit is a fraction of a full new install. Don't let an installer condemn a perfectly good antenna without metering. Book a metered diagnosis or call 0497 098 109.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers related to this guide.
How long should a quality antenna last?
A Hills or Matchmaster Australian-made antenna installed properly should give 20-30 years of service in Melbourne conditions. Cheap imports often fail in 3-5.
Will you tell me to replace if I don't really need to?
Never. We meter first and quote based on what the readings say. You see the meter readings on the visit and we explain the diagnosis before any work starts.