Installation Pipe Dreams

[Nick]

So, here's the plan...

Using 16 ft. of galvanized pipe, I plan to add a 2nd dish for 61.5 soon, and mount an 8-bay hi-gain UHF on top. I live in an apartment and am allowed to sink a pole in concrete within the confines of my fenced-in open patio. I'll be shooting to the south over my one-story roof, and angles to 61.5/110/119 are obstruction-free. The UHF, however, is another story. I hope to get the bay high enough to pluck HD on CBS out of Jax, FL, some 60-65 miles to the south. I really don't expect the UHF bay, which will be barely looking over the roof's peak, to work, but I'm going to try anyhoo. No gain, no gain! :)

I'll sink 4 ft. of the pipe into concrete, with the bottom of the pipe cut at a 45 degree angle to prevent future rotation. I'll be able to brace off a patio fence 4x4 corner post at about 4 ft above the ground, so the install should be pretty rigid. Twelve ft. of pipe will be above ground, with a reducer about 2 ft from the top for the UHF's smaller dia. saddle bracket

If the 8-bay doesn't magically pull in UHF over the roof line, I'll be lookimg for a tall pine tree nearby to climb. :)

I would appreciate having the benefit of your opinion and expertise, and any thoughts you may have for a better way to accomplish the impossible.

[Mark Lamutt]

If the 8 bay doesn't work, you might try the big yagi - I'm assuming your talking about the channel master ones. The yagi doesn't have quite the gain that the 8 bay does, but you won't have the miltipath problems that you can get with the 8 bay one (if you have any multipath problems down there anyways). Other than that, sounds good to me! And, I'd expect the antenna to work unless you are well below the Jax tower in elebation. 65 miles isn't that far if they're broadcasting at full power. But, if they're not a full power, you're chances will be a lot less.

[boba]

Hold that pipe out horizontally and see how much it sags? Your looking at a satellite about the size of a van 22,300 miles away, any wind pressure on that 8 bay uhf or on the dish may push you off the satellite completely.

[DarrellP]

A big Yagi should pull in the signals OK. I helped a buddy put up a medium size Yagi in Dallas, OR and he is about 56 miles from the towers and gets them over hilly terrain. Our local CBS station Engineer was amazed that he was getting anything from his location.

[Richard King]

with the bottom of the pipe cut at a 45 degree angle to prevent future rotationRather than do the 45 degree thing, cut a notch out of the pipe a few inches from the bottom and make sure you pour enough cement to penetrate the notch. This way the pipe won't rotate and won't have a chance to ride up on the inclination of the 45 degree cut. I do this all the time and have never had a pipe turn on me. Also, make sure you get below the frost line. :lol: I can laugh at that now that I don't have to dig 48" down to accomplish this. :lol:

[PSB]

I was just about to say that the 45deg. cut would not stop it from spinning, the notch idea is great I am going to start doing that on all pole mounts I do (come spring time). I would also drill a hole right through the pole and put a long bolt or similar through, as there is going to be ALOT of strain on the pole trying to spin it!

[Mike500]

The easiest method is to use a 1-5/8" muffler clamp for about a dollar. You want the bottom open to the ground, so that water doesn't stand and rust it out.

[AntAltMike]

Use a Winegard PR-9032 Yagi if you are a cheapskate, or a CA-9095 if you are not. They have a couple more dB of gain than does the 8-bay bowtie, and since you are trying to sneak a signal over the peak of a roof, I am just a little concerned that the signal hitting each bay of the bowtie may differ slightly, as the lowest bays might be blocked a little more directly than the top bays.

Can you get the apartment management to allow you to put it on the peak, in return for which other residents would be allowed to tap into its downlead? Your antenna might also develop usable signals from Jacksonville DTV channels 24 (Pax), 32 (Fox), and 24 (WB). Are you near another market that has these networks available, but does not have CBS?

[Nick]

Good point on the varying height of the pairs of bowties. I know a good yagi would be better, but I don't want apt mgmt to think I'm mounting a "TV" antenna. ;) One thing in my favor, my patio out back faces a somewhat secluded wooded area, so it's not like I'll be sticking the antenna in their face.

I'm about half-way between Jax and Savannah. I picked a great place to retire to, but it's kinda sucky for OTA TV.

Thanks for all the input - keep it coming! :)