I left the ladder next to my TV antenna (see attached pic.) for about 4 weeks to finish repairs. I was getting 9-12 extra channels after the repairs but didn’t pay attention cause I thought it must be the new parts. Today I remove the ladder and stuck it in my garage and afterwards checking my channels I lost the 9-12 extra channels. Tomorrow I will put back the ladder to verify. (the ladder is touching the antennas pole)
Is it possible that the ladder was acting like an antenna extension and if yes how the signals were going to my TV?
Assuming the ladder is acting like an antenna extension, what else I can substitute instead of the ladder? (I don’t want to leave the ladder outside during the winter)
Is it feasible to raise the antenna?
I live on top of a hill and get 15-20 channels with rabbit ears while those that live down in the holler only get 3-4.
The ladder may be acting as a skirt. You can try recreating the effect by attaching sloped radials to the mast. The number of radials, their length, their slope relative to the mast and the height at which they attach to the mast would be variables you can play with.
I would start with an appropriately sized hose clamp to attach 2 radials to the mast at the height of the ladder; then approximate the angle of the open step-ladder relative to the mast. Use insulated wire, stripping the upper end so the hose clamp provides an electrical connection to the mast; lower end is left unstripped. Unless the lower ends of the radials are above ground level, the radials' slope will determine their length.
This may be a slow process. Record the skirt's variables and allow several days of viewing before making any changes. An early configuration could turn out to be the best and you will need the data to recreate it.
RAMBLINGS:
I think the biggest users of antenna skirts are ham radio operators and AM radio stations. Hams are always looking for a better signal, in and out, while AM radio stations often use skirts to detune their antennas to limit signal reradiation.
ThisOldMan many thanks. Pissing rain today here but had to put this subject to bed so I got the ladder where it was before and TRUE I get about 10-12 more channels. BTW the ladder doesn’t touch the pole/antenna as I thought before.
I didn’t know what “sloped radials” is but searching I now understand and will play around with it a bit. We only watch TV a couple of hours or so in the evening so its not a big deal how many channels I get but just for the fun I will give it a try.
I installed this antenna myself +/- 20 years ago and have been very happy, getting average 10-12 channels until last March when we had a bad ice storm and damaged the antenna. Now I fix it and is good to go. No way to put it any higher although I could but its good as it is so why bother. I just never thought the ladder will give me so many extra channels, always good to learn!
if its not actually touching its likely bouncing the signal up to the antenna I would probably look at what new channels you are getting and see what band they are in you could possibly put up another antenna that may pick up those better than your existing one.
Thanks alan, first when the weather gets better I will play with the sloped radials to see the results and then I may go and get a second antenna. But this will bring the problem of how to connect the 2nd antenna.
My existing 8 bay antenna has 2 coaxials going into a combiner (2 inputs and one output). The output goes to my Channel Master pre amp.splitter (1 antenna IN, 1 to TV and 1 power IN 9VDC). So I must get another combiner for the new antenna and right now I don’t know which kind/type the new combiner should be
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06-16-23, 04:29 PM
