FWIW, this covers all types of antennas Ham and SWL.
We are currently experiencing an ice storm along with windy conditions here in Michigan. Everything is covered in 1/4" inch or more of ice and tree branches are crashing down. This is where over-engineering your antenna installation pays off. Remember to allow for a potential ice and wind load as well as hazards associated with falling trees if you live in an area where icing can happen. Never run an antenna over or under overhead electrical lines, one could fall on the other.
Of my various wire antennas, it is interesting to note that the ones with the black insulation have shed most of their ice load this afternoon. The sky is solid overcast with rain still falling and OAT is exactly at the freezing mark (32F) but apparently there is enough solar radiation getting through and warming up the black insulation enough to melt the ice. The other wire antennas as well as support ropes of grey, white, and green all still are coated with ice. All the bare metal antennas (TV, discone, the verticals, J-pole) are all ice covered.
This is where having an antenna(s) in the attic can serve as a back-up in case you do lose an antenna in a weather event such as this. Repairing a downed outdoor antenna in these present conditions would be miserable.
We are currently experiencing an ice storm along with windy conditions here in Michigan. Everything is covered in 1/4" inch or more of ice and tree branches are crashing down. This is where over-engineering your antenna installation pays off. Remember to allow for a potential ice and wind load as well as hazards associated with falling trees if you live in an area where icing can happen. Never run an antenna over or under overhead electrical lines, one could fall on the other.
Of my various wire antennas, it is interesting to note that the ones with the black insulation have shed most of their ice load this afternoon. The sky is solid overcast with rain still falling and OAT is exactly at the freezing mark (32F) but apparently there is enough solar radiation getting through and warming up the black insulation enough to melt the ice. The other wire antennas as well as support ropes of grey, white, and green all still are coated with ice. All the bare metal antennas (TV, discone, the verticals, J-pole) are all ice covered.
This is where having an antenna(s) in the attic can serve as a back-up in case you do lose an antenna in a weather event such as this. Repairing a downed outdoor antenna in these present conditions would be miserable.