Good questions. I orient the entire enclosure so that the two LED holes are face down to avoid placing the Nova (with its RF-blocking components) between the antenna and towers. Some testing and I’m not seeing a difference in signal strength.
I have also been in touch with Pulse Electronics (they provide the standard antenna). I have obtained a variety of external antennas which do not require enclosing in a case and all have the same connector. I’ve made another case for them:
I’ll be heading to rural Mississippi in a week or so and I’ll bring and test all of the various antennas over a sizable swath of geography.
Cheers,
Matt