Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Fri, 4 Aug 2006 18:16:40 -0400
We only do that about every 3 or 4 years, but we're considering a mulching mower. The dethatcher probably goes down at least a couple of inches unless the ground is dry and hard. Ours does a lot mor
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 00:54:05 -0400
Then how do you keep the ice off in the winter? Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member) N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2 www.rogerhalstead.com (Use return address from home page) ____
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 00:58:10 -0400
What about the larger sizes of Times Wire LMR cables? They make some fairly large cables. I'm looking at LMR 900, but I only have a 200 foot run to the top of the tower and another 28 feet to the an
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 19:14:11 -0400
If it's just connectors you can easily make your own: http://www.rogerhalstead.com/ham_files/conn.htm Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member) N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2 www.roger
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 01:45:33 -0400
Test Metal Oxide Varistors (MOVs) at their working potential. Every over voltage, even testing, degrades them. I would caution uses of Polyphasers not to use this method of testing. Normal MOV failur
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 14:34:23 -0400
I have a whole bank of Polyphasers and they are all solid state. Not a gas tube in the bunch. My Alpha Delta switches are listed as having gas tubes. After working with MOVs in industry for many yea
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 15:37:45 -0400
This brings to mind several questions. How did they install this. The rotator depends on this area not being sealed so it can breathe. It depends on whether you want really good, or something that ca
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 16:11:10 -0400
One thing to remember about sealed connectors in a cable. The cable should never be sealed at more than one point. IE If there is a sealed connector at the top of the tower, don't put one at the bott
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 08:09:27 -0400
It depends on what you have for a top section along with the size of the antenna. If you have a conventional ROHN 25G top section it tapers to a tube about a foot to 16 inches long. Normally this wo
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 14:23:58 -0400
I should have said the tube at the top of the stadard top section serves well as a thrust bearing fpr a relatively short pipe mast that will hold most antennas the Ham IV is capable of turning. Roge
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 18:31:18 -0400
I had forgotten bout that form of protection which is probably far better than sealing. It lets the system breathe yet protects it from the elements. Plastic pop bottles or anything of the sort stron
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 20:39:43 -0400
These are quite common. Some times yes and sometimes no. As to the safety it depends on the tower. The old American Steel which is pretty skinny (bout a foot on a side) was *relatively* strong when
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2006 15:56:19 -0400
Are your serial cables the ones where the data in and out lines cross or run direct? Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member) N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2 www.rogerhalstead.com (Use
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2006 21:23:08 -0400
Twas my understanding tht C3i is no loner in business which is a shame as I have their 50, 144, and 440 beams. Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member) N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 03:00:37 -0400
I'm not so sure I'd worry about the rust, but steam pipe is probably cast and it's probably much more ductile (bends easily for a given size) that the alloys we'd want to use for masting. Also, if it
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 03:04:29 -0400
Some companies say not to use the hydraulic drill and if you check right after installing the rods they will have some play or could usually be pulled. However if you come back in a week or two (in m
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 22:46:21 -0400
My experience has been the opposit. There is an HV transmission line about a half mile to the NE at its closest. It runs from the SE to NW. My lowest noise on 20, 15, 10 and 6 is when the beams are
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 23:43:46 -0400
Maybe they have BPL, you are getting into it, their amps are adding power to your signals, and the power lines are acting like a really big antenna for you on transmit and receive.<:-)) Roger Halste
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2006 16:37:38 -0400
<snip> I particularly like the one about carrots. A study was done on the safety of carrots. It is a fact that every person who ate carrots in 1806 died. Therefore carrots must be a deadly poison. <s
Author: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2006 21:09:53 -0400
And real science says we know only there is some effect, we don't know how much RF it takes to create a given problem, we don't know how much is harmful, we do know the "non ionizing" effects do chag