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Originally Posted by Davepet
1- I am using an indoor distribution amp
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OK. Then you'll probably improve things by a couple of dB by having an amp closer to the antenna. Just make sure any amp you get has a noise figure of around 3 dB or less.
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2- Vertical space & weight are not really issues.
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smaller element last much longer. I've also had the upper half of the corner reflector collapse on 2 units so far, so I look hard at how well that area is designed.
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OK. Maybe the 4228 would be better for you. The boom elements on the XG91 are probably fine in the snow because they are so short and have very little surface area, but the corner reflectors may be a problem since they are at a 45 degree angle and held on with wing nuts. It's not that it is a bad design, it's just that a few pounds of force seems like a bit much for it to handle.
The large vertical screen of the 4228, combined with a strong mount, should be able to tolerate much more loading than the screens of the XG91. I just hope you don't have any high winds because the 4228 is definitely much more vulnerable to that.
Gain-wise, both these antennas are good performers. Due to its Yagi design, the XG91 has its highest gain around channel 69 and falls off a bit as you go toward lower UHF channels. The 4228 will generally perform better at the low end of UHF while the XG91 will generally perform better at the upper end.
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So, are you recommending the 91XG because you feel it will deliver a better signal up here or due to it's structural merits?
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It's a well built antenna in both regards, but I must admit that I don't think the reflectors will stand up to the levels of snow loading that you've described.
Since it sounded like you wanted to have separate UHF and VHF antennas, the lower weight, lower wind resistance, and smaller vertical dimensions of the XG91 make it the preferred choice in most situations (prior to accounting for your snow concerns). The 4228 will put more stress on the mast and rotator (if you use one), so you'll want to be more cautious in terms of keeping the mast short, using guy wires and load bearings for support, and selecting a solid mount.
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I know multipath won't be a problem wit the 91XG, might it be a problem with the 4228?
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I don't think this will be much of an issue. It does not sound like you have that much multi-path to contend with and either antenna should be fine. The 4228 has a slightly broader vertical beam width, but apart from that, both antennas are quite similar in performance.
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Based on the difficulty I currently have aiming, I'll probably need to upgrade to a microprocessor controlled rotor with the 91XG. My current rotor is crude at best.
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These antennas are sensitive to aiming, but as long as you can get it to within +/- 5 degrees or so, you should be fine.
Cheers,