Re: Mounting Antenna on roof

Posted by CraigH on August 23, 2000 at 12:49:38:

In Reply to: Re: Mounting Antenna on roof posted by Tom C on August 22, 2000 at 22:18:10:

: Consider just placing the outdoor antenna in your attic if posssible. This has worked well for me and no worries about mounting hardware, wind storms, branches, and corrosion of the cable connection.

:
: : One of Radio Shack's remaining useful functions is to provide antenna
: : mounts & stuff. The have straps and brackets for attaching a pole to
: : your chimney or the side of your house, and even a little tripod that
: : you can bolt to the roof directly. Mostly you need a mast (pipe)
: : about 1.5" diameter, and you can use hose clamps to attach your
: : antenna. Height isn't critical, most of the advantage is getting it
: : above the roof. (I'll pass on recommending an antenna). Do put in a
: : ground wire!

: : Signal strength goes up with a higher, outside antenna, but then it
: : goes down as the coax cable run gets longer. If you don't need to
: : tranmsit, try RG-6 coax (cable TV stuff, 75 ohm).

: : Overload can be a problem, depends where you are. I had to add a
: : filter to cut out the FM broadcast band.

*****

If you are considering a long outdoor cable run (100 ft.), I would look seriously at some Beldon 9913 (50 ohm) cable. It is still somewhat affordable and provides a very good signal loss ratio for cable of this size / price. Moisture resistance isn't too bad either. Hardline 1" corrugated cable, (Heliax / Times Microwave) which is the best choice to avoid signal loss, is obviously out of the question because of the cost at about $3 to $4 a foot and it's inability to tolerate sharp bends. They (Times Microwave) however are now producing LMR-900 cable to alleviate just that but I haven't priced it yet.

Although you can "receive" just about anything from a coat hanger, I have had good luck with a dual band antenna (150 / 450mhz) produced by Antennex. If you do mount it outdoors be sure to apply a liberal amount of dielectric grease to the coax / antenna connectors to protect from the elements of weather.

I have also used a GRE line amp to clean up distant / weak signals but you have to be careful about overload, or use the attenuator (if so equipped) on the front panel to help with that condition.

Like the post above says; PUT IN A GROUND LEAD!

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: : Consider just placing the outdoor antenna in your attic if posssible. This has worked well for me and no worries about mounting hardware, wind storms, branches, and corrosion of the cable connection. : : : : : One of Radio Shack's remaining useful functions is to provide antenna : : : mounts & stuff. The have straps and brackets for attaching a pole to : : : your chimney or the side of your house, and even a little tripod that : : : you can bolt to the roof directly. Mostly you need a mast (pipe) : : : about 1.5" diameter, and you can use hose clamps to attach your : : : antenna. Height isn't critical, most of the advantage is getting it : : : above the roof. (I'll pass on recommending an antenna). Do put in a : : : ground wire! : : : Signal strength goes up with a higher, outside antenna, but then it : : : goes down as the coax cable run gets longer. If you don't need to : : : tranmsit, try RG-6 coax (cable TV stuff, 75 ohm). : : : Overload can be a problem, depends where you are. I had to add a : : : filter to cut out the FM broadcast band. : ***** : If you are considering a long outdoor cable run (100 ft.), I would look seriously at some Beldon 9913 (50 ohm) cable. It is still somewhat affordable and provides a very good signal loss ratio for cable of this size / price. Moisture resistance isn't too bad either. Hardline 1" corrugated cable, (Heliax / Times Microwave) which is the best choice to avoid signal loss, is obviously out of the question because of the cost at about $3 to $4 a foot and it's inability to tolerate sharp bends. They (Times Microwave) however are now producing LMR-900 cable to alleviate just that but I haven't priced it yet. : Although you can "receive" just about anything from a coat hanger, I have had good luck with a dual band antenna (150 / 450mhz) produced by Antennex. If you do mount it outdoors be sure to apply a liberal amount of dielectric grease to the coax / antenna connectors to protect from the elements of weather. : I have also used a GRE line amp to clean up distant / weak signals but you have to be careful about overload, or use the attenuator (if so equipped) on the front panel to help with that condition. : Like the post above says; PUT IN A GROUND LEAD!

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