So I am bound n determined to get my ticket, and have begun reading up on things and I remembered that I have a 40' tower and whats left of the element beam antenna from my Dad's old CB base station set up from the "10-4 rubber duck" days. I know the antenna isn't of any use, but it shouldn't matter about the tower-right? I doubt that the power rotor still works, but I should be able to use the tower for my budding Ham aspirations correct? I'd forgotten all about this thing til this all started. Now, if I can make use of it, should I make it taller? Fabricating another section for this thing is well within my skill level if its warranted. Hope ya'll have loads of patience, this is just the 1st of many questions I'll pester ya with.
The tower, if structurally sound, would be excellent whether or not you add height. So far as the CB beam antenna goes, it could be easily modified to ten meter use, and maybe more depending. The rotor might be rehabbed (and probably rewired) but that's something to check. Even without the beam antenna, the tower would be useful for all sorts of wire antennas. (That was easy, bring on the rest.)
Hmm, I may want to hang on to the antenna as well then. I'd bet I could breathe life back into the rotor, just didn't think it would be of any use. If I read you correctly, I will be able to use this tower for more than one antenna?
Just make sure to learn what to do and get the tools and equipment before you try to set it up. There's a ton of ways to get yourself hurt permanent there. And yes, the tower can have a stack of beams that rotate, and it can also support wires, verticals, all kinds of stuff. And the 11m antenna is only a little short for 12 or long for 10 or 6, or might be built on to make longer wavelengths.
Holly hardware, Batman. That first one is indeed at ARRL's W1AW station. Here is an overhead view: The bottom image was some fellow's rig that Google found: W4FOT.com Home Page
There is no way I could get away with that here (in city/wife). I could do a portable or a flagpole stealth if the cost doesn't break me. I already have a transum base for a portable, but nothing more yet.
OK, so I can use said tower, add to said tower if I feel the need, have multiple antenna on said tower. What about lightening protection? We get some pretty good storms coming in from the gulf at times. Will lightening/grounding rods be enough or is there something in particular I need to address? After reading every string on the 7 pages of the comms board back to front, I have already learned A LOT. I may not understand everything I read, but I am getting my head around the subject. I didn't see much discussion on lightening though. I haven't started in on the search tool yet, as I am recovering from all that reading I will say that you core group of Hams are a patient bunch-I've lost track of how many "I'm new to comms, tell me what kind of stuff to buy for SHTF" posts I've read and how often ya'll have had to repost the same answers.. After all that reading I've come to understand that there really isn't a one shot answer for it. For the record, what *I* want is for good comms within my extended AO-say 50-75 miles. Then, I'm gonna work on being able to extend that to nationwide, then I wanna be able to maybe practice my German/French/Italian/Spanish language skills.. The more I read, the more I think I'd like to build a lot of my own stuff where possible. One, I like building stuff, two, it can save a few bucks, three, I'll learn more by building and last but not least a lot of it doesn't sound too hard. Onward and upward.
Yep, lightning is a concern. The prudent ham disconnects his antennas from the radio when storms are approaching. NOTE: I don't think there are copyright issues with the attachments, but since it is safety related, I'll take the hit if an issue comes up.
And a spin off of those that is BIG in post SHTF, you'll be able fix, improvise and jury rig functional antennas cobbled from whatever materials may be at hand. The ability to do that for antennas or most anything else is the ultimate preparation and should be the goal. AT
A little real world on the Polyphasers mentioned in part 2....one of our repeater towers took a direct lightning hit, blowing out tower lights, generator control circuits and both a/c compressors. The repeaters and controller (all tied in to the common ground) simply switched to battery power and continued to function. Polyphaser protected the antenna system components flawlessly - and in this case did not self destruct. Of course, this tower is just a bit taller than the 40 footer you have This is the view from the 550' level :
Back in the day when I was running TOC systems, we would disconnect our connections to the antennas during a lighting storm. Saw a few times where we had direct strikes and the loose connector shoot out a nice flash..... always protect your equipment
Agree. I do what the job requires, but I don't care for it much. That being said, after I'm up there I usually get so involved with the job at hand that the height doesn't bother me so much. Kinda weird I guess, but I HATE going up in a manlift. But a basket attached to a crane or just my harness hooked to an air tugger doesn't bother me near as much.