Antenna help

[Polish Eagle]

Folks, need some advice. Just moved to a new home and need to reinstall my IMAX 2000. I have 2 potential locations. First is up in a tree which will require a 150 ft run of COAX or on a tripod mounted above the garage. I guess I can get about 40 feet up the tree which would put the antenna at 60+ ft. Above the garage would put it at around 50 ft to the tip of the antenna (roof 20 ft, mast 10 ft and antenna 20 ft). From the garage I can use 50 - 75 Ft of coax as compared to 150 for the tree. Also, does the tree play havoc with the signal?

[Deleted User 14541]

As long as you use some good coax like LMR400 the loss wont be much different. It would be nice having the additional height of the tree but I'd personally mount it to the garage and make sure it's grounded as your local code says it should be. A lot of people use a tree but I just don't like climbing them or having the the tree grow around the antenna.

[Buzzweiser]

My experience with trees are that they can make great towers for those who don't have other options. Many will also say the higher the antenna the better which is true for the most part. The thing I've found with trees however is when they are green they do block the receive a slight bit and when they are wet even a little more. Evergreens are the worst. Plus as was mentioned if the tree isn't into full maturity it's still growing and will either grow and pull your coax along with it or grow around your antenna. Some trees grow really slow and others several inches a year. And grounding was also mentioned. Usually a big tree is the tallest point on a property unless you put up a tower. Lightning generally likes to hit the tallest object around so you may up your chances of a strike just slightly by being in a tree. I personally if I can get it like to have my antennas in the open. They work much better if they don't have anything to reflect off of. If yours will be at 50 feet and in the clear above the roof then that's where I would go. Mine is currently on a chimney at about 18-20 feet above ground and I have no issues getting out or receiving. And the bigger plus is I'm able to securely ground the antenna as well as work on it if I need to.
Good Luck!!
Happy Holidays!!

[MDYoungblood]

The tree when done properly would be excellent (the bottom of the antenna has to clear the top of the tree), you would have the height and lightning protection in one. Like said the loss in coax would be minimal when using a quality coax and the gain of the antenna would make up for it. The advantage of the roof mounting makes it easier to tune or repair so it's a flip of a coin for you.

3's

Greg

[Lost Ram]

I have my Imax in my pine tree tower. I have enough mast to clear the top of the tree by plenty of feet. I do however have to trim the top limbs about every three-four years to keep them off the ground plane kit but even when they touched for a few months it was no hindrance that I noticed. I will say the wind can whip the antenna around and break the top section off at the top but it took 1 hurricane and two tropical storms to do that here in Shreveport La. After being weakened my broke in a severe T-storm with 50+MPH winds. This happened a few months ago. I use LMR400 and two grounds, one solid and one 4 gauge strand wire. The bottom of my antenna is about 50-ish foot. If its only a 10' difference the roof mount might be better but guy wires should be used on a roof mount as well. I chose the tree because I didnt have to use the guy wires which in my case was a problem.

[795]

I would use the garage, easier to work on a problem, and easier if you have to do something in the WINTER, I wouldn't want to climb a tree in bad weather. As one of the others said when those green leaves come out it will effect the transmitting a bit also.
DOCTOR/795

[231]

I agree with the others. I would add though that you really do want to try and get the antenna above the tree if you can, not just in it. It can (and often does) act like a sponge in the direction of the trunk if mounted inside the tree. That's not to say it won't work well there but that's just been my experience. Above the tree is noticeably better.

On the roof has it's advantages like easier maintenance as mentioned. But it also grabs unwanted neighborhood eye sore and even folks claiming interference sometimes when you aren't even on the radio. Yes, you can get by with less coax (and probably not quite as high of quality) but you'll want to weigh in of whether or not neighbors will dislike it. If you don't have that problem then obviously it's not a concern...follow your conscience and do whatever makes the most sense to you. both will work well...but higher will help you reach out and touch folks.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

231