Google Earth

Please bare with me I am a senior and my terminology may be incorrect. This is what I am trying to figure out how to do. My elevation is 1850 feet above sea level. I am in process of putting up a TV antenna I want to know how to add height to the path line in Google Earth. If I draw a path line from point A to point B it's at what height above the ground ? Can I change that height and how. Once the height is establish will that show in the cross-section view ?

Thanks for reading    

Hewwoh, Mr. Wabbit.

Your problem looks like a job for Google Earth Pro. It has been free now for a month or two. You may download and install it from THIS WEBSITE. You must use the license key GEPFREE (upper right corner of the page) to activate.

I have never used the Viewshed tool for any serious purpose. (To use it, right-click on a placemark, and select Show Viewshed, second from the bottom of the pull-down menu) . I'm assuming that TV requires a direct line of sight between the source of transmission and the antenna. Using it for your purpose should be easy if you area is covered by the new 3D imagery. Then it would only be necessary put a placemark on your house and raise its elevation (Altitude, Relative to ground) a little at a time until the Viewshed tool paints the transmission source.

If you don't have the new 3D imagery in your area, there is probably a work-around. (I am thinking about using Sketchup to place a simple building to stand in for the transmission source, but I don't know if you can still do that, or if the Viewshed tool will recognize the handmade tower.) I jumped in because wove your name and your question seemed interesting. You should ask you question over at The Google Earth Help Forum, where the real experts hang out.

Good wuck, and wet us know if you find the answer!

Hi wabbit and Welcome to the new Google Earth Community,

You can "Kinda Sorta" do what you are asking.  When you draw your path, you can specify a height relative to ground or absolute [above sea level] or simply "clamped to ground" [default line/path height].  With the path properties box open, go to the Altitude tab. Make your hieght type selection...experiment so you understand what each means.  The actual default altitude is 0m, that is meters! Change the path altitude to whatever height you need...in meters ONLY!  The path will be a straight horizontal line X meters above the start point of the line. You can also select the check box for "Extend to ground". This will cause the line to extend a flat plane to the ground.  You can even change the colors.  After you save your changes, tilt your view and you can see the ground profile relative to your line.  In the right-click menu of your Path is a function called "Show elevation profile", this will display the ground contours below your line and includes what passes for elevation data in Google Earth.  Knowing the height of your line and looking at the elevation profile you can estimate various ground clearances. You can do this either in Google Earth Free or Pro. Experiment to find the best effect.

Viewshed is based on a single point.  You create a Placemark with a minimum height above ground of 2 meters. The altitude tab works just the same in Placemarks as it does for a Path or line. When you select Viewshed it colorizes the surroundings where the elevation is less than your placemark elevation.  I do not know just how sensitive it is.  Viewshed is only available in Pro. You can find it in the right click menu for your placemark.

Both in the Path and Viewshed you can alter the elevations you entered in meters as you need to in order to best display what you are looking for. 

washi is correct, posting these questions on the Google Maps/Earth Help forums is best. It just so happens that along with lurking here on the nGEC I am also on the "civilian" team that answers questions on those Help forums. 

Good Luck and Good Hunting,
B66

BTW, I also am a "senior"  

You can also use Hey What's That to figure out line of sight.

For all that posted such great information I have found out this new " Digital " TV stuff is not like the old TV.. My current location here on the Plateau of Tennessee leaves me in a " Fringe Area" just a wild guess looks like a 80 foot tall tower would be needed for reception and that's a very big "IF" either for Chattanooga or Knoxville. 

Thank you all for your comments.. greatly appreciated..  It would be a nice tool for Google Earth.. set location.. then set transmission from source. Then look at location showing what elevation you would need for reception this would work with any over the air transmitted signals.