Trees & "RF".....
Gentlemen:
Having been a "student" of electromagnetic signals, the art of receiving or transmitting a radio frequency signal, since 1958, when I was 12 years old, I can assure you that in all my research, trees and other foliage *do* make a difference. The only way to eliminate this is to (1) mount the antenna above the offending trees, which leaves you vulnerable to lightning strikes, despite precautions taken. (2) Cut all the trees down for 100 yards in each direction. LOL!
It certainly would be nice to have a home atop a high mountain or butte that afforded us lots of room for tall towers or at least tall, wooden, utility poles to put multitudes of antenna on. But, unfortunately, we are all not Warren Buffett or T.Boone Pickens to purchase land like this. :-( Maybe one day, in HEAVEN, huh?
So, at best we have to compromise and do the best we can.
I live in the city and within 2 blocks of the Trauma Center for this part of Louisiana. There are medical helicopters landing a lot of times. Now, I'm not griping. I know when these "birds" land at L.S.U. Medical Center, someone is in bad shape, and I pray for the patient and the helo crew's safety. The helicopters, a lot of times will fly directly over my home and "hell-bent-for-leather" and rightly so. Due to the low pattern, I'm at a disadvantage to put up a pole or tower much over 40', which is below the trees. Pin oak and Hackberry trees line the three sides, with only a South-facing side open for the street.
So, the best I can do is to erect quads, and "inverted V's" to hear or transmit on as a Ham radio operator. Oh, I forgot to mention the electrical high voltage lines run East/West in the "closed" alley on the back (North) of my property and the "drop" runs half-way up the East fence line, then crosses the property to the back of the house. NOT an ideal place for a longwire, LOL! But, as Dr. "Pill" (It's all about ME!) says, "It is what it is." Hi,Hi.
Even though I'm somewhat 'handi-capped' by my property, this does not discourage me nor deter me from building, erecting, or using various experimental antennas. ;-) I've been an 'experimenter' at heart since I was 12. I've still got some old, ARRL and Radio Engineer's manuals from the 50's, that have "tube" circuits in them that I want to build, someday. There's even circuits for a kW amp for 2 meters and one for 500 watts on 420 mHz, for ssb. Try buying an amp with that kind of power. LOL!
So, in conclusion, don't be discouraged if the signals aren't coming in during the Spring & Summer with the "antenna farm" you have. Try "rolling-your-own", to see if you can't improve your signal catching. You don't necessarily need a metal-working shop to drill, form, tap, etc. for antenna parts. You'd really be surprised at what you can do, if you put your mind to it. And, as always, DON'T put up antennas of any kind near ANY power lines, period. Wire antennas especially. By "transformer action", they will induce a voltage and current in the antenna and 'knock you on your butt', if not KILL you. :-(
Respectfully submitted,
73,
Don/KA5LQJ
P.S. - Sorry I got so "wordy", but that's just me. ;-)