TV Fool - Is a higher antenna better or does it wobble more?

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- - Is a higher antenna better or does it wobble more? (http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=14087)

Is a higher antenna better or does it wobble more?

I've been enjoying good TV reception since I purchased and installed a HD Stacker last month.

However I'm curious to see if I can get that last bit of reception out of it, perhaps doing a small change in the spring.

The situation is that I live in a very low part of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The antenna is gable (end peak) mounted using the supplied 5-foot pole, on a two story house with a 10/12 pitch (see attached photos below).

The lower part of the antenna (UH part) doesn't quite clear the peak of the roof, the lowest 6 inches or so are just below the peak line. We installed the rake board brace which runs across the face a little low (6") in retrospect.

Overall I'm getting good reception, the entire 50 channels TV-Fool says I should be getting plus some (more than base cable).

The one channel I would like to get happens to be the farthest, channel 9 out of Canada some 152 miles away. This station does not come in all the time, sometimes perfect, sometimes not at all, most of the time with digital artifacts.

QUESTION: Would replacing the 5-foot post with a 10-foot post gain allow channel 9 to come in more consistently?

I'm hesitant to assume yes, because a taller pole will wobble more and then more stations could come in poorly during windy conditions.

Any suggestions or opinions will be appreciated.

As you can see, my old antenna/post was 3 times higher (I'm guessing for a good reason).

Cheers, George / kach22i

The kit:
http://store03.prostores.com/servlet...ion-Kit/Detail

The old antenna: 15 Feet
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps8fed74ff.jpg

The new antenna: 5 Feet
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps7f912b5d.jpg
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps10621587.jpg

FYI: In case you were curious, the old antenna gave me only two channels and very poorly via a 300 OHM line, and no preamp (+ one leg was missing).

PS: Comcast Sucks!

EDIT:
TV-Fool Map:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...46aeffae5da48f

Hello George,

Could you post your TV fool radar plot? It can be found here: https://www.tvfool.com/index.php?opt...pper&Itemid=29

With it we'll be equipped to offer our thoughts.

Regards.

While trying to answer my own question and found this informative site.

http://www.hdtvprimer.com/antennas/siting.html

However, still not the information I'm looking for on wind. It does cover wind+trees though.

Wind info here, but sort of general.
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4842

Quote:

The best solution is a good antenna system that is in the clear and
is adequately supported to limit sway in the wind.

Duh.

This is good info:
http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4842

Quote:

the FCC has allowed TV antennas
to be installed 12 ft. above the highest point of the building.
This information is also provided on the FCC website.............................

... Now let's get to the wind. If we were back at our
hypothetical 1000ft tower, the wind wouldn't cause a problem.
However, we have to be back at more practical heights. At my
location I have no problems when the wind blows. The lower
your antenna goes the more the surroundings start to affect
it. The problem is not the wind, it is that the antenna
is not in a good location, and other signal paths start
bouncing of buildings, the ground, etc., etc. and cause
difficulties. That is another reason to install the antenna
as high as you can.

This matches the previous information about nearby trees affecting the signal on windy days.

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/tvanten#b

Quote:

Q: How high should I mount my antenna?

A: As far above local terrain as reasonable. A difference of a few feet is probably not much help. If you can put your antenna on top of a nearby hill, then you may actually be accomplishing something, but the difference between 1 foot off the roof and 5 feet is probably not worth it. Remember with large antennas, a short mast is better because of wind loads. If your house is on top of a hill, then stay off the roof; put the antenna in your attic or in the back yard. Reception is pretty much line of sight, so try to locate your antenna where it has a clear view to the horizon in the direction it needs to point.

In this recent installation, http://forum.tvfool.com/showthread.php?t=13659 the tripod is a 5' Rohn 811 and the mast is a 10.5' chain-link fence top rail (1-3/8" diameter). The nearby trees give the owner grief when the wind blows, but the 91XG at the top is almost always providing a reliable KVOS signal from nearly 70 miles out, over an edge path. There has been very little observed sway or vibration in the wind.

For your application, this and other information is general at best, your situation is specific and the only real or relevant one.

Quote:

QUESTION: Would replacing the 5-foot post with a 10-foot post gain allow channel 9 to come in more consistently?

I'd suggest you experiment with alternate mounting location and height. Use temporary methods to place the antenna at the test position(s). IE. don't drill holes in the building unless you know they are worth it. If you find an ideal location or height, then contemplate how to make a stable and permanent mast or mount. The bottom line is, you won't know if you don't try.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroundUrMast (Post 41370)

The bottom line is, you won't know if you don't try.

I'll feel better knowing it at least clears the roof, and is high as it can be without introducing noticeable sway.

The original 1-1/4" (approx. dia.) 2-piece 15-foot light gauge pole did have some sway with the original larger antenna, plus it would sing when it got windy. In addition a woodpecker took a fancy to it for a few years, I still remember the banging.

Most likely in the spring I'll put up a 10-foot pole, 1-1/2" diameter 16-18 gauge and just live with the results.

I'm already getting used to some distant channels not coming in when it snows, takes a while to reset my mindset.