HOA Issue, using a TV antenna for scanners

a727469

Active Member
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Jul 15, 2003
Messages
613
Location
Maine
No matter where one lives, there are many ways to ingeniously improve reception which have been mentioned. No, not always as good as a 100 ft tower, but certainly acceptable for most hobbyists.
While I do live in an HOA but houses are all on fairly large separated land, and all we forbid are visible RVs(just keep them in back of house). and swine, yes swine(pigs)!!!🐖. Had to clear out my swine collection before I moved here!🐷🥲 I did not write the bylaws!

They do allow any size antenna although I find one groudplane mounted inside top of my garage is more than adequate along with a long wire tree to tree. I literally could put up multiple towers but don’t need to for my use although I know others may need a better setup.
 

Ubbe

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Joined
Sep 8, 2006
Messages
9,872
Location
Stockholm, Sweden
was coming in at 2 steady bars with some flutter on the 536, now it only comes in sporadically.
There's pretty much a 6dB difference in signal level between no signal up to one bar and then another 6dB to two bars and 6dB more to three bars on a BCD536.

If possible, try a direct connection to the antenna coax and check if that makes any difference and then add a FM broadcast filter to make another check of those NOAA channels.

When looking at the Omni-X from the broadside the dipole elements in resonance are between vertical and horizontal polarity and will not be as good as standard dipole, and also the other non resonant elements are interfering. When looking from the side the element are pointing its direction lob down into the ground. Both modes would probably give the same amount of loss. Max signal are probably had from between those two directions. So testing probably have to be done using 45 degree steps, if trying to receive a weak signal as best as possible.

I use the Siren app with a 536 when working with antennas to check signal strengths while up at my chimney moving and turning antennas.

/Ubbe
 

W9WSS

Retired LEO
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Dec 19, 2002
Messages
1,100
Location
Westmont, DuPage County, IL USA
Rich has an Omni-X mounted in its current configuration outside for a specific reason. He’s detailed quite a bit of it already, but it’s there for a reason. I’ll let Rich expound on that in his own words.
 
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