We too have used both a fiberglass StationMaster and DB224 dipole type on a VHF system and have had success with both. However..... When we moved to a new site, we had the opportunity to be the lightning rod (on top) of the tower and decided to go for it since we have plenty of spare parts if we got hit and it would solve all those "shadow" coverage problems. We felt the dipole/DB224 would hold up better against strikes. So far, so good. But we experience considerable static desense on leading edges of storms (right when we need the repeater for Skywarn). We'll probably never know for certain if the fiberglass antenna would have the same phenomenon. It's annoying and we've done what we can to eliminate it with little success. And we wonder if the 224 will last without a top mount support where the fiberglass may have had the advantage with less wind loading effect.
I've searched the archives here but there is not much on weather related static desense, if anyone has solutions, let me know. Chris KC4CMR
