I just got my new Comet GP-9 dual band base antenna that I've ordered recently. I've done some search on the web regarding the best dual band base antenna I can get particulary the Diamond X500HNA & ultimately settled with this antenna than the other one by Diamond based on what I've read at eham. This is also cheaper than the Diamond & less prone to getting wet inside & getting high SWR reading. I'm hoping to install this antenna this weekend. This will be my first time installing a Ham radio base antenna so I got some questions.
I was planning to install this antenna at the rooftop of my house but changed my plan after I got a response from the local village people. Inorder for me to install this antenna I must get a permit for it. I must get a professional electrician check the plan, a utility personnel to check for buried electrical lines & a professional antenna installer to install the antenna as well as to make sure that the roof can support the weight of it.
My plan now is to install it with the mast at the side of the house. The base of the mast well be resting about 9 feet above the ground. From the base, there's about 11 feet of height for the mast to level with the rooftop. My questions are:
1. What's the minimum height of the mast that I can put starting at the rooftop level? I'm worried that if the mast is too short, this will cause signal interference on electronic equipments (telephone, tv, router, etc.) not just inside my house but the surrounding neighborhood. I'm not so familiar with antenna's radiation pattern but the gain is pretty high, enough for me to worry about signal interference.
2. I bought a lightning arrester (just in case). Do I need to install it for just a VHF/UHF FM base antenna. The instruction manual for the antenna says that it's equipped with lightning protection already. If so, how do I install the lightning arrester? Do I need to just screw the lightning arrester (connected to the antenna) near the mast & run a ground wire & connect it to a metal rod buried on the ground? I have no idea on ground wires, what kind of ground wire will I use?
3. Any idea on what kind of mast to use? I been to Home Depot earlier today to check for ideal mast to use. I saw a metal pipe (very heavy), a PVC pipe (will bend) & aluminum pipe (very wide). I saw an aluminum mast (ideal size) from another home improvement store that can be pieced together to make it longer. Any idea if this kind of mask can survive in windy weather? I lived about 25 miles northwest of Chicago. At times we have very strong winds around the area.
I was planning to install this antenna at the rooftop of my house but changed my plan after I got a response from the local village people. Inorder for me to install this antenna I must get a permit for it. I must get a professional electrician check the plan, a utility personnel to check for buried electrical lines & a professional antenna installer to install the antenna as well as to make sure that the roof can support the weight of it.
My plan now is to install it with the mast at the side of the house. The base of the mast well be resting about 9 feet above the ground. From the base, there's about 11 feet of height for the mast to level with the rooftop. My questions are:
1. What's the minimum height of the mast that I can put starting at the rooftop level? I'm worried that if the mast is too short, this will cause signal interference on electronic equipments (telephone, tv, router, etc.) not just inside my house but the surrounding neighborhood. I'm not so familiar with antenna's radiation pattern but the gain is pretty high, enough for me to worry about signal interference.
2. I bought a lightning arrester (just in case). Do I need to install it for just a VHF/UHF FM base antenna. The instruction manual for the antenna says that it's equipped with lightning protection already. If so, how do I install the lightning arrester? Do I need to just screw the lightning arrester (connected to the antenna) near the mast & run a ground wire & connect it to a metal rod buried on the ground? I have no idea on ground wires, what kind of ground wire will I use?
3. Any idea on what kind of mast to use? I been to Home Depot earlier today to check for ideal mast to use. I saw a metal pipe (very heavy), a PVC pipe (will bend) & aluminum pipe (very wide). I saw an aluminum mast (ideal size) from another home improvement store that can be pieced together to make it longer. Any idea if this kind of mask can survive in windy weather? I lived about 25 miles northwest of Chicago. At times we have very strong winds around the area.