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  3. 1048350049

Suggestions for FM Antenna Mounting

Hi All,

I recently got my MD ST-2 omnidirectional whip antenna mounted outside near the top of the roof and it's working pretty well overall. However, I'm now able to just barely pull in a couple stations that I would like to get more cleanly. (Couldn't get them at all before, so yes, I'm being greedy here.) A couple questions:

1) The roof is metal. Would mounting the antenna a few feet higher make any significant difference (by getting it away from the roof)? Would mounting the antenna to the metal flashing (i.e., grounding the antenna's base to the roof) help? If I want to put it on a tower or high pole, how much improvement might there be? I live on top of a hill already, so unless there is an issue about the ground being in close proximity, I'm not sure it will help much. It's currently about 12 feet off the ground, so would say 20 feet help? 30 feet?

2) Are there any omni antennas that are significantly better than the ST-2? I doubt it, but thought I'd ask. I'm hesitant to go to a directional antenna because I get stations from a lot of different directions and I don't want to bother with a rotator.

By the way, tuner is an MD Etude. I've also tried an inline signal amplifier without any luck. It makes the signal a little stronger on the signal meter, but doesn't improve the audio quality at all. Thanks for the help.
karls
sean
6,231 posts
 
Most RF theory teaches that trees are relatively "harmless" in terms of signal blocking, but i'm not of that school. Since one can literally "load up" a tree and use it as an antenna ( if you know how ), it is obviously capable of absorbing and / or radiating signal. Having said that, i would not worry about it too much. Try to get the antenna into a place that is both as high and as open as is reasonable. There is always going to be "better", but chances are, this will be "good enough" for 90% of what you want to achieve. That last 10% is what costs so darn much to achieve.

Drop me an email when you get a chance. Maybe we can help each other out : ) Sean
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ivanj
35 posts
 
Sean,
I'm not questioning your knowledge. I just found APS easy to deal with (got an APS 9a for about $150) and 2 hours of a local installation professional's time to get great reception. If the cubical quad is a more advanced technology, that's part of the hobby and I am glad you opened our eyes to it. Ok, buddy?
sean
6,231 posts
 
No problem Ivan. Sorry if i seemed defensive or came across as attacking you or your suggestion. I have NO doubt in my mind that using such an antenna as what you suggested would provide far better performance than the suggestions that i made. However, i also think that the suggestions that i made have the potential to perform quite well for a much larger percentage of FM users. Judging by many of the posts that i've read here and over at AA, my thoughts were that a large directional antenna array is well beyond the means or desires of most users. As such, i tried to provide them with an alternative means to good performance while keeping things very cheap and very simple.

As far as APS goes, i'm glad to hear that you are happy with both their products and customer service. I'm sure that there are interested individuals out there and hearing your words of support for both the product and company may help make up their mind to take the step to do business with them. My hat is off to anyone that can provide above average products and customer service. Sean
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ivanj
35 posts
 
I just find it a gas to tune in the station, and then look at the multipath meter approach zero as I move the rotator, pointing the APS9 to the station.
sean
6,231 posts
 
Sounds like you are a "gadget master" like me if you get a kick out of doing something like that : )

I do agree that a big directional antenna is the way to go IF one has the funds, space and desire to do so. The quality and distance of reception that one can get out of such an installation is pretty remarkable. Sean
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