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FM Sign Dimensions

timmy

By timmy
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timmy Member

timmy

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I had a fm sign made. It is 18x24. I am not happy with the visibility from the road. I am debating between 24x36 or 30x36. Do you think the 30x36 will look disproportionate? Thanks in advance for replies. I attached a view of the current one.

Attached files 215177=11964-sign.jpg

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jimswinder Member

jimswinder

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I don't think it so much the size as the placement...no matter the size, to see it fully and clearly you need to be right in front of it.

Standing to either side, you may not see it fully...so I would suggest TWO signs at either end of the yard and angled.

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RaceMedic Member

RaceMedic

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I agree with Jim ....

I am building 2 signs lit from behind ... they will be in a V shape so cars approaching from either side can see it !

Tim ... it all depends on placement and viewability from approaching vehicles.

Dave

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amcdonald307 Member

amcdonald307

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It's a fine line - we want our sign to be easily noticed, but after they do spot it we want them to be able to block it out. Looks like you have a flood lighting it up? Is that on a LOR channel, or is it static?

The sign I use is 36' of rope light twisted in the shape of "89.1fm", making the letters a little over 2' high each. I light it with a LOR channel I have set to do a background animation that dims it, ramps it up, does a twinkle and fades out briefly over a 2 minute cycle (the purpose obviously is it saying "look over here!"). I have it set as close as possible to the road, and as far from the display as possible (actually about 180' from it!). You'd think no one could possibly miss it, but I would guess about 1 in 3 still don't see it. It really stands out in between songs when it's the only thing on. (I know a lot of people don't like to go "all dark", but I do).

If your wife is telling you size doesn't matter and it's what you do with it, I think you should believe her (in this instance at least). I say stick with your sign and do something with location and the lighting to draw attention to it...

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jim6918 Member

jim6918

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I agonized over my sign the entire season last year, and am doing the same thing this year. Last year I spent hours designing a very nice poster on Corel Draw, printed it on 36 X 42 photo paper, mounted it on a board with a piece of Plexiglas over it. Maybe a $100 bill invested. Then I discovered that there was no single good location in my yard to put it. Either it was blocked by parked cars, or the flood lights caused a glare on the Plexiglas so you couldn't read the sign. I tried raising it; then it blocked aspects of my display. I think I even posted a couple of times here about it.

I am not sure I have solved it even this year. Now I am going to try having a vinyl banner made, maybe 4 X 6 or so, bungee cording it to my garage door so the garage door will still go up and down. Then lighting it up with some floods that I can dim down to about 50% or less during the show, and bring up full during the intro, etc.

My confidence level that this is going to work completely is about 25%.

I got a feeling that FM signs cause a lot of problems for everybody.


Attached files 215388=11982-rsz_graphic2.jpg

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jimswinder Member

jimswinder

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jim6918 wrote:

My confidence level that this is going to work completely is about 25%.

I got a feeling that FM signs cause a lot of problems for everybody.

Last year I THOUGHT I had a great Radio sign...but soon realized it was WAAAAY to small...so I ended up printing out on a 11 x17 piece of paper "Tune Radio To 101.97" and tacking it up on a short pole and since I was outside anyway somewhat directing traffic, I would hold it up to the people who drove up to watch the lights...

This year I will have two vinyl banners...so hopefully that will work better.
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amcdonald307 Member

amcdonald307

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From the "this could happen to you too" files, here's something else to worry about:

My first year I picked frequency 88.1 because it was farthest from any of our sparse local channels, and started the next season with 88.1. About 2 weeks into December, a new "real" station came on line at 88.1fm. I changed my rope light sign with a little electrical tape, and I had voiceovers that needed changing too.

You may have picked the perfect frequency for your show, but rest assured the next radio station to come on line will think its the perfect frequency also. :D

I DON'T like my hand made rope light sign, it just doesn't look very professional, but I'm scared to death to hard code a frequency. I have been toying with the 2'x4' version of this: http://www.holidaycoro.com/default.html?RadioSign.asp But honestly, I'm afraid to give up the 2' high numbers I have now...



Attached files 215416=11985-138-1.jpg

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jim6918 Member

jim6918

Posted
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jimswinder wrote:

jim6918 wrote:
My confidence level that this is going to work completely is about 25%.

I got a feeling that FM signs cause a lot of problems for everybody.

Last year I THOUGHT I had a great Radio sign...but soon realized it was WAAAAY to small...so I ended up printing out on a 11 x17 piece of paper "Tune Radio To 101.97" and tacking it up on a short pole and since I was outside anyway somewhat directing traffic, I would hold it up to the people who drove up to watch the lights...

This year I will have two vinyl banners...so hopefully that will work better.


OMG Jim. I knew you were dedicated, but standing in the street directing traffic is a little much dont you think? I was thinking of hiring some high school cheerleader types, dressing them up as elves, and handing out flyers myself. Try to beat that! LOL
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timmy Member

timmy

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My sign as I was afraid is too small. I have had a few people tell me I need a larger sign. I am using a real estate sign. 18X24. It is about 10 ft from the road. Do you think a 36x48 will be a good size or do I need to go 48x48? The one I have is two sided so you can see it from both directions. Any more ideas welcome. Thanks.

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jim6918 Member

jim6918

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timmy wrote:

My sign as I was afraid is too small. I have had a few people tell me I need a larger sign. I am using a real estate sign. 18X24. It is about 10 ft from the road. Do you think a 36x48 will be a good size or do I need to go 48x48? The one I have is two sided so you can see it from both directions. Any more ideas welcome. Thanks.


Check out this banner I had made. It was my second year answer to a much too small sign, poorly placed the first year.

http://lightorama.mywowbb.com/forum79/24496.html
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lleibeck Member

lleibeck

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If you can get a neighbors help, ask them if you can place a sign in their yard. This way as car's approach the display they will see signs.

Most of my neighbors are great supporters of the display and come through when I need help.

I find a bottle of wine or as we did this year, trimmed several neighbors trees with the man lift I rented goes a long way.

L

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Donny M. Carter Member

Donny M. Carter

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My sign is 24"x36" two sided and pretty bright when lite. I have it placed right at the street and seems to work great. This is my first year and everyone I talk to said they saw it.

Attached files 224007=12396-IMG_0484.JPG

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Guest Don Gillespie

Guest Don Gillespie

Posted
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jim6918 wrote:

timmy wrote:
My sign as I was afraid is too small. I have had a few people tell me I need a larger sign. I am using a real estate sign. 18X24. It is about 10 ft from the road. Do you think a 36x48 will be a good size or do I need to go 48x48? The one I have is two sided so you can see it from both directions. Any more ideas welcome. Thanks.


Check out this banner I had made. It was my second year answer to a much too small sign, poorly placed the first year.

http://lightorama.mywowbb.com/forum79/24496.html

Jim that is a great banner and what a perfect location
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lleibeck Member

lleibeck

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This year I made a back-lit sign.
Had the local sign shop create the graphics and mount it to a piece of Plexiglas the size of a realtor sign. Cost about $30.

Then I made a wood box with three fluorescent light fixtures in it. As it turns out, one fixture would have been enough. The three are way to bright, so i just unplugged two of them. Now I have a back up to the backup bulb.

L

Attached files 224245=12406-IMG_0159.jpg

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