I had a similar experience. I operated the IOTA contest a few years back from Galveston Island, TX. I picked a spot on the beach with a clear shot to Europe over saltwater. The antenna was a DX-88 ve
I understand how the Tuf-Tug safety cable works going up. But can someone describe how it works coming down the tower? Thanks, Kris N5KM _______________________________________________ ______________
Has anyone considered using a hunter's tree stand as a tower work platform? http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=13148732 Seems like if it's safe enough up a tree it should b
Thanks to all who responded with knowledge of these devices. I didn't realize they worked by digging into the tree trunk. It was just idle curiosity, anyway. I had no intention of buying one. 73, Kri
I notice that the grounding conductor on utility poles (in the US) is 4 gauge or less. My understanding is that this wire is used for lightning protection among other things. Is it valid to say that
What about plumber's Teflon tape? Kris N5KM I use Scotch Mastic tape, 2228. 73, Jim K9YC _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ TowerTalk mail
Reading the thread about an effective radial system got me thinking about the pseudo-Brewster angle of a 1/4 wl vertical antenna. As strictly a mental exercise, I calculated how much radial wire woul
Well, Patrick, it appears you have the perfect testbed to try out various radial system theories but, like I said, it's strictly a mental exercise. Kris N5KM PS: I, too, worked in the laser lab in co
Bill, I have a wire element 80m 4-square that is suspended from two catenary ropes from the top of my tower (125 ft.) positioned to the South of the tower. Closest 2 elements are about 90 ft. from th
I can't find the details of my conversion at the moment but in a nutshell I removed the capacitive hats, extended the tips as far as I could (6 inch overlap), rewound the loading coils to, I believe,
Be sure there is nothing in the coax path that could interrupt or short the control voltage such as a transformer-style balun. Kris N5KM _______________________________________________ ______________
I use a small automotive hydraulic jack. Place the jack under the rotator. Loosen the mast thrust bearing(s) and rotator shelf u-bolts. Jack everything up the required amount then tighten the thrust
Has anyone had experience with purchases from antennas-amplifiers.com? I am looking at 6m Yagis and they have very good prices even with the shipping charges from Serbia. Kris N5KM __________________
Hi All, A quick question about tuning an 80m 4-square. My 4-square is made from suspended wires. The NE and NW verticals are full size. The SE and SW verticals are 42 feet tall with T-loading. I'm us
Is nesting 4-Square arrays a good idea? By that I mean, for instance, an 80m 4-square inside a 160m 4-square. I was about to model this but it occurs to me that someone has probably already done this
Hi Jeff, This probably doesnt answer your specific situation but thought Id pass along what I did to store the booms and elements from multiple scrap HF antennas. I had been storing the tubing on the
I think this gives you most of what youre looking for: https://web.archive.org/web/20101128074704/http://texasantennas.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91&Itemid=200 Use wayback.com t
Hi all, Im rebuilding my Force12 40m yagi. What would you recommend as replacement for the alumoweld linear loading wires? Some of these wires have snapped in the past due to years of vibration. Note
Hi Howie, Good info in your write-up. Thanks for the alumoweld source. Bill, W2AY, also provided that link. I had checked the various wire sources but didn't think of MFJ/Hy-Gain. Re: seized standoff
Hi Pete, My 3 el 40m was also up many years. It came down when the boom to mast plate failed. I found 1 snapped wire due to metal fatigue and many sheared off rivets (not due to the failed mast plate