Hi all,
First post here, so I'll start by saying hello!
I am a novice and have had a couple of antenna set-ups in the past, but some things have changed since my last setup I did back in the early 2000's.
1) The switchover to Digital was OK initially but in the last few years has been hurting reception due to trees, etc.
2) My old Radio Shack VU210XR is starting to have issues with plastic element supports cracking ( I have zip-tied the elements back in place-temporary solution. Also, it is such a monster, that is has a high wind load. Most of the large elements are not even being used. I will keep it for some other use down the road. I have and Extreme Signal HDB91X, but have experienced some durability issues, so I don't want that 30 feet up where I cant get to it. Also it doesn't have VHF.
3) With enough zoom one can see my original antenna. The new set-up is 15 to the right. MY trees which were 20 feet tall when I set it up are now 50 feet or so, blocking the original VU210XR antenna. As it is, I need to go between a 50 foot Maple and an 80 foot Oak Oh, Sorry no attachments allowed for me yet... I'm sure, I'll get a chance before this thread is done.
4) I have a new mast and rotator set-up with guy wires and 10 foot tripod. for now, the top of the mast is approx. 30 feet above the roofline so, I don't want to jack around with experimenting. I want to set it and forget it. I can go higher too, I want to wait though, until I decide what to do for antennas.
5) I am almost right in the middle between Chicago 38 miles south and Milwaukee 46 miles North. I am quite near the Lake Michigan shoreline.
6) I plan to aim one antenna 355 degrees north and one 166 degrees south and trim with the rotator as needed. I want two antennas so I am not rescanning and re-rotating.
7) I may, as a hobby, try catch some signals from Rockford (90 mile west) or even Kalamazoo across the Lake just for fun.
Ok, having said all that, does any one have any opinions? Good idea or bad? Good antenna choice or not?
Winegard seems to be the most durable, does anyone have any other suggestions on antennas?
Thanks, Bob
First post here, so I'll start by saying hello!
I am a novice and have had a couple of antenna set-ups in the past, but some things have changed since my last setup I did back in the early 2000's.
1) The switchover to Digital was OK initially but in the last few years has been hurting reception due to trees, etc.
2) My old Radio Shack VU210XR is starting to have issues with plastic element supports cracking ( I have zip-tied the elements back in place-temporary solution. Also, it is such a monster, that is has a high wind load. Most of the large elements are not even being used. I will keep it for some other use down the road. I have and Extreme Signal HDB91X, but have experienced some durability issues, so I don't want that 30 feet up where I cant get to it. Also it doesn't have VHF.
3) With enough zoom one can see my original antenna. The new set-up is 15 to the right. MY trees which were 20 feet tall when I set it up are now 50 feet or so, blocking the original VU210XR antenna. As it is, I need to go between a 50 foot Maple and an 80 foot Oak Oh, Sorry no attachments allowed for me yet... I'm sure, I'll get a chance before this thread is done.
4) I have a new mast and rotator set-up with guy wires and 10 foot tripod. for now, the top of the mast is approx. 30 feet above the roofline so, I don't want to jack around with experimenting. I want to set it and forget it. I can go higher too, I want to wait though, until I decide what to do for antennas.
5) I am almost right in the middle between Chicago 38 miles south and Milwaukee 46 miles North. I am quite near the Lake Michigan shoreline.
6) I plan to aim one antenna 355 degrees north and one 166 degrees south and trim with the rotator as needed. I want two antennas so I am not rescanning and re-rotating.
7) I may, as a hobby, try catch some signals from Rockford (90 mile west) or even Kalamazoo across the Lake just for fun.
Ok, having said all that, does any one have any opinions? Good idea or bad? Good antenna choice or not?
Winegard seems to be the most durable, does anyone have any other suggestions on antennas?
Thanks, Bob