2m/70cm Antenna in loft...worth sticking it outside?

[cmat100]

Hi,

Currently have an X-30 as high up in the loft as I can get it (unless I drill a hole in the roof, might cause a few problems ). I can put it on the gable-end outside which would gain 3ft of height with the same length of WF-103 but wondering if it's worth it? It's a 1970s standard house with the usual tiles etc. No foil etc.

Sticking it outside requires diplomacy with "she who doesn't like wires and stuff". Hence the X-30.

Just wondering if someone has moved the same-ish antenna from the loft to outside and noticed a practical difference. I spent ages googling roof tile attenuation etc but there's no definite answer unless it's 2.4GHz, other than "wet doesn't help". True.

TIA,

Mat.

[Tigersaw]

I had an X30 that worked much better in the loft suspended just above the water tank than it did outside at a similar height.

[Transwarp]

You're always going to get better performance with an outside antenna, if you can put it outside and as high as possible then you should.

[Farty]

Try it and see. I used to get the South coast on simplex 10 watts a hundred miles away with my loft mounted job, worked very well.

[cmat100]

Wish I knew that before I had the water tank taken out a few years ago No way of doing it temporarily though - ladder, concrete screws and pole needed.

Cheers for the replies, might flip a coin - or duct tape it to the eaves - she'll love than hehehe

[Buick Mackane]

Outside and as high as possible.

[LeakyFeeder]

Put ya foot down with a firm hand and get it shoved up high (the antenna that is)...man or mouse

[cmat100]

Would put the foot down and get it right up there, but her parents house got hit by lightning, burnt the roof out, blew the TV up and knocked out Virgin for the whole street. House was uninhabitable for a few months.......

Hence the 'diplomacy'

[MrWeetabix]

Its an Act of God...... he obviously too exception to something that Virgin aired on their channels!

Get it on, get it out and get it HIGH!

Print that on a T-Shirt while you're on too! haha