Using separate base antenna for optimized reception

[CDouglas19]

“I’m planning to mount two antennas on my roof for different reasons — a Childs fiberglass 42 MHz low-band antenna, plus a discone or something similar for wider receive coverage. I’d like to put both on the same mast, hook them to more than one scanner with separate coax each, and mount them to the side of the roof or the eaves without drilling through shingles. Any issues with interaction or pattern distortion, and any suggestions on spacing, hardware, or using both effectively? Thanks.”

 

[Ubbe]

The vertical 42MHz antenna are usually sensitive to nearby metal objects so top mount that and set the discone below it on an arm out from the mast and as discones are pretty much immun from the metal mast it can be close to it but not at touch distance.

If you only have two receivers you can use two RG6 coaxes from your antennas that will be easy to route.

/Ubbe

 

[CDouglas19]

Oh thank you so much! Any recommendations on particular hardware/mounting arm or where to get them from?

 

[prcguy]

If you have steel vent pipes on the roof that are well secured at the rafters you can clamp short antenna masts up to 5ft without guy wires. Use a 5ft mast for the Discone and clamp the lo band antenna direct to a vent pipe 20ft or more away from the Discone and you should be fine.

 

[Ubbe]

Oh thank you so much! Any recommendations on particular hardware/mounting arm or where to get them from?

Places that sell TV antennas usually have masts and mounting stuff. Maybe shipping costs are acceptable on Ebay and Amazon.

 

[CDouglas19]

If you have steel vent pipes on the roof that are well secured at the rafters you can clamp short antenna masts up to 5ft without guy wires. Use a 5ft mast for the Discone and clamp the lo band antenna direct to a vent pipe 20ft or more away from the Discone and you should be fine.

Oh, that’s a great idea too, I’ll check it out

 

[prcguy]

Oh, that’s a great idea too, I’ll check it out

If you get on the roof you can see if they are made of steel water pipe then grab one and try to move it side to side. If it feels real solid its probably ok to support a modest antenna. There are vent pipe clamps made for attaching masts to vent pipes.