Antenna ICE Problems?

[JayMojave]

Hello All in Alaska: Question for you all if I may:

Does the Alaska weather ICE up the antennas and such that will down grade the antennas performance?

I have seen ICED up antennas even here in the Mojave Desert in Southern California, in the mountains.

I have made antenna heaters to keep ice of the antennas, using a 3 or 4 Ohm, 50 watt Dale Resistor that mounts to the antenna or mast, feed with a 12 volt power supply, keeps a the ice from forming on the antenna. May have to visit Alaska and look around, retirement is near.

Thanks for any input here

Jay in the Mojave

 

[kikito]

Simple answer: Yes.

Longer answer: It depends on the type of antenna, surrounding objects and what is used for. I've seen antennas mounted so close to a metal roof that the snow and ice created a bridge between the two that definitely degraded the signal big time. We have other antennas dependent on a flat roof counterpoise that has to be shoveled several times a winter because it accumulates so high it also affects the signal significantly. The snow/ice accumulation also affect the ILS systems in front of the antennas and throughout the whole runway. Then add to all this super strong winds sometimes, some places and we've had 6 meter satellite dishes blown away literally from their foundations.

 

[JayMojave]

Hello Kikito: Thanks for the reply.

I am helping a friend in Alaska with a antenna that gets big time Iced up, he was thinking it was the design of the antenna, but we know its just the weather. Again thanks for your reply.

Adding Dale type power resistors to the antennas base support will keep it from icing up at its base, its a 5/8 wavelength ground plane antenna.

Gee Whiz you need someone out there to keep the ice and snow off the ILS Antennas, wow that is a major concern. How do you keep them clear of Ice?

Jay in the Great Mojave Desert, .... just down the road ah ways from the fillin station.