Sean, you nailed this one down nicely!
Yes, I'd try the RS $22 one. You can fairly easily estimate relative gain by counting element count and geometry. If the others have significantly more elements than they'll probably have more gain.....
On a similar tack I just decided to relive my preteen years as a Ham by buying a 1957 Hallicrafters SX-100 receiver, and found on the net a couple of guys who sell "universal dipoles" using two long slinkies and a T connection and downlead! Amazing stuff. You simply string it up in your attic, and pull the slinky ends out to match wavemength. It'll go to 130 feet (gulp!), but works nicely at 15-16 feet for the SW bands normally used. For FM youd only need a few feet...hence normal dipoles. The point here is to confirm Sean's: height IS might. Even a lowly dipole, if set high enough, will offer great FM reception. Adding a few more elements (as in the $22 RS unit) simply makes it better. Don't worry too much about needing to spend more. DO use a good low-loss twin-lead instead of coax for a down-lead, though. I was surprised to hear from all the Hams that good foam twin-lead easily outperforms coax. Hmmm....
Have fun on the roof...I settled for the attic, as a couple of slinkies blowing in the wind could get a SWAT-team over to my house, I fear.
Yes, I'd try the RS $22 one. You can fairly easily estimate relative gain by counting element count and geometry. If the others have significantly more elements than they'll probably have more gain.....
On a similar tack I just decided to relive my preteen years as a Ham by buying a 1957 Hallicrafters SX-100 receiver, and found on the net a couple of guys who sell "universal dipoles" using two long slinkies and a T connection and downlead! Amazing stuff. You simply string it up in your attic, and pull the slinky ends out to match wavemength. It'll go to 130 feet (gulp!), but works nicely at 15-16 feet for the SW bands normally used. For FM youd only need a few feet...hence normal dipoles. The point here is to confirm Sean's: height IS might. Even a lowly dipole, if set high enough, will offer great FM reception. Adding a few more elements (as in the $22 RS unit) simply makes it better. Don't worry too much about needing to spend more. DO use a good low-loss twin-lead instead of coax for a down-lead, though. I was surprised to hear from all the Hams that good foam twin-lead easily outperforms coax. Hmmm....
Have fun on the roof...I settled for the attic, as a couple of slinkies blowing in the wind could get a SWAT-team over to my house, I fear.