When I first got my HamWAN setup (32" reflector w/ a Microtik router) in February of some year in the past, I aimed it out a 2nd story window (double-paned glass) to the HamWAM Paine Field (actually, Snohomish County DEM) node, 5 miles away. Worked fine, so I mounted the dish on the roof.

Starting in July, over that month, reception gradually dropped from good to marginal to non-existent. Reception didn't come back until the next January. This pattern repeated for the next three years, at which time I gave up.

We never did find the cause. Seasonal foliage didn't seem to match the pattern.

Good luck!

On 2021-05-28 09:51, Jesse Victors via PSDR wrote:

Hey everyone!

HamWAN has been on my radar for a couple months and I wanted to get connected. I have a couple options.

1) if 5 GHz can pass through double-paned glass, then I could point an antenna through the window from my work office in downtown Seattle, connecting with the hubs nearby or across the water.

2) if 5 GHz can pass through tree leaves, I could mount the dish on the mast holding the center of my HF fan dipole, as shown here: https://www.qrz.com/db/kj7yls At a height of 30 feet it might be able to connect with Paine.

3) if 5 GHz can pass through a thin piece of plywood and tree leaves, I could mount the antenna in my attic. That should be tall enough to jump over my neighbors house I think.

Which of these would work? I'm leaning towards the first option. The second would work but it would just be more logistically difficult. I believe the third option would suffer significant signal degradation, yes?

As far as antennas go, the LHG 5 seems to have pretty good performance, is within my hobby budget, and should work for the links that I have in mind, yes? It should also be lighter and more wind-resistant since its hollow. I should be able to mount that on a pole, connect PoE, and then work on the routing, correct? If this is a decent choice, where is a good place to order the International edition?

Thanks for any advice with this!

Jesse
KJ7YLS