teleview

The best way to test reception is to temporary mount the antenna at different locations. Start with what looks like a good location.

The tvfool radar plot shows the the directions of the Tv transmitters.

As to antenna height , higher is usually better.

As to the height of the mast pipe , above the antenna mount , the target number is , 10 feet or more mast pipe above the mount will require guy wires.

I avoid guy wires , it is better to have a taller actual mount , that way no guy wires.

However this information about , higher , higher and higher --> Does Not Mean <-- that it is 100% certain that the antenna does need to go higher , it is simply information about going higher.

Start with this action --> Start with what looks like a good location <-- for the antenna.

I start by looking for the easy location that also takes in to consideration the reception situation.

'You know' , like the directions of the transmitters and obstructions that are in the way.

And yes it is a good idea to move the antenna away from trees.

Trees get a -->great satisfaction<-- beating up antennas.

And aiming a antenna in to a thick dense tree that is a few feet away is not a good idea for reception.

Yes the reception situation is better if the tree is - skinny tree - with not much to it.

As to incident angle , this is a situation that is best learned buy you looking at and evaluating distances and angles , (going off the deep end into math is not required) , and trying the antenna reception at the location/s.

Most likely , the goal is to get reliable reception , not all out - pull out all the stops maximum reception.