"there are other alternatives that should be tried first."
Ok, what are they?
I'm not looking to make more work for myself. I've just not done this before and that is what I came up with on my own.
I'm too fat and feeble to climb a tree and cannot picture how to secure anything but a wire in the canopy, let alone above the canopy. If you have something to teach me, please show me pictures. It seemed like getting closer to the trees generally made things worse, so putting antenna in the tree didn't sound wise.
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The lot elevation decreases as you get closer to the metro repeater, west, in the direction of the trees. There is a rural repeater to the southeast without obstruction but it is seldom used and not system fusion. East, highest by the road, front yard, house, backyard, treeline, creek is the lowest, west. Ground level at the house is about 20ft above ground level at the trees.
When the attic Yagi works in the winter, a half wave vertical next to it will not.
In the winter, Yagi on a temporary 20ft pole outside in the backyard does not work.
1/4wave mag mount in the car driveway north of the house does not work. Back the car up 30ft to the road, elevation gain 2 ft, it works in winter and intermittent in summer.
The obvious thing missing is any tests above the house roof. I have 2 roof tripod mounts but haven't used them because its a new roof I didn't want to damage and frankly, I'm scared of the height as I've fallen from 20+ft before.
There is a brick chimney to the west right outside the 2nd floor radio room. That inspired the failed 20ft outdoor pole test. But its height is quite a bit lower than the house ridge at 30ft. Not sure how that passed building inspection.