Antenna Problem

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spoooky
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Antenna Problem

Post by spoooky »

Hi Guys
Iv Been Off The Radio For A While After Moving Into A 3rd Floor Flat (council wouldnt let me put up a Antenna)
Now Iv Moved Into A Bungalow , So Its Time To Get A Radio Again :D
But I HAve A Problem :eh:
Im Thinking Of Getting A Diamond X50 Or Sharmans X50 ......Would There Be That Much Difference Between The Two ? ?
Also The Only High Place I Can Put it Is On A 7ft Pole On The Gable End
The Problems Is .I Have A Tree Right Next To Me And The Antenna Will Be Right In It
It's Ok Now I Suppose But When Spring Comes It Won't Be Visable Due To The Leaves
What I Want to Ask Is ... If I Dont Put It There , The Next Best Place Is On My Guttering
Which Will Be 10ft Lower But About 15ft Away From the Tree
Which Would You think Would Give Me The Better All Round Performance
Thanks :wave:
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Admiral
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Re: Antenna Problem

Post by Admiral »

In my world of V/UHF height trumps foliage.
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Re: Antenna Problem

Post by 2E1IIP »

What admiral said - if the tree is in the way give it a hair cut!
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spoooky
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Re: Antenna Problem

Post by spoooky »

Can't Touch It ..It's Not On My Property :(
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Re: Antenna Problem

Post by 2E1IIP »

spoooky wrote:Can't Touch It ..It's Not On My Property :(
Sneak out one night with a bag of 6 inch copper nails and a pop bottle full of diesel - bray the nails in to the root and and soak liberally with diesel - 3 months later no more tree! :mrgreen:
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WeatherWatcher
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Re: Antenna Problem

Post by WeatherWatcher »

Trouble is if it falls will the damage be your side or the owners?
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spoooky
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Re: Antenna Problem

Post by spoooky »

Its In A Communial Garden
so Murdering It Is Out :o
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Re: Antenna Problem

Post by WeatherWatcher »

Get a longer pole, and stick a small TV antenna on it below the other antenna, the co-ax from the TV one does not need to be connected unless you also get crap TV reception as well.
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Buick Mackane
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Re: Antenna Problem

Post by Buick Mackane »

spoooky wrote:Its In A Communial Garden
so Murdering It Is Out :o
murder your neighbour then and bury him/her under the tree, jobs a good un :thumbup:
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Admiral
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Re: Antenna Problem

Post by Admiral »

Foliage is not a major issue, most repeater jammers in the 70's and 80's were mounted up a tree.
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Auldgeek
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Re: Antenna Problem

Post by Auldgeek »

PLL02A wrote:
spoooky wrote:Its In A Communial Garden
so Murdering It Is Out :o
murder your neighbour then and bury him/her under the tree, jobs a good un :thumbup:
Trouble with that is it will just add extra nutrition into the soil and the tree will grow even higher. :)
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Re: Antenna Problem

Post by TimH1971 »

Or get a mag loop - height not an issue if vertically polarised. They are expensive and QRP rated at no more than 30w PEP. But an option? look at Alex loops alpha loops or chameleon loops. MFJ ones are mightily expensive and have some build issues, but are used as permanent home set ups as they can be tuned remotely.

One big thing about them is that you need to retune if you only move slightly within the same band. But they give you lower noise typically than a vertical.

Check out eham reviews to see what people say.
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Re: Antenna Problem

Post by Tigersaw »

As admiral said, get it up as high as possible. Mines up 45ft in an oak tree, branches all over the place but it works far better than it did when at about 30ft gable end.
Also good co-ax, I thought rg58 would be fine, changed to 213 and it really did improve.
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spoooky
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Re: Antenna Problem

Post by spoooky »

I'll Just Put A X50 Up I Think And Hope For The Best :D
And I HAve A ft-8800e Coming
So I'll Give It A Try , On The GAble And Guttering 8)
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Re: Antenna Problem

Post by FakeJake »

Just remember not to cheap out on coax! Makes a huge difference on VHF/UHF
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