Grab the kids old bicycles or any off a junk heap to cannibalize the pedal
sprockets. Have the machine shop mill out the center of one sprocket to fit
around the mast at window level. Weld the sprocket to the mast. Drill two holes
in the window base to allow the chain to run through the window.
Take the second bike and cut the sprocket hub off with sections of the bike
frame still attached so you can use hose tie down clamps to mount to a flat
surface next to the desk. Attach chain and manually rotate the antenna.
Chuck WD4HXG
>From: Merlin-7 KI4ILB <merlin-7@sc.rr.com>
>Date: 2006/09/18 Mon PM 07:09:33 CDT
>To: AA6DX - Mark <aa6dx@arrl.net>, Mike Rhodes <weightdn@adelphia.net>,
TOWERTALK@contesting.com
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tower mast..
>I was thinking that a power window motor off of most any car would make a
>great driver for the rotor. I would just need to find or make the matching
>gear for the mast.
> I could also use small SPST momentary contact switches on a the outside of
>a cog, wired to leds to indicate direction ( I have hundreds of leds and
>about 30 of so small SPST's on hand.)
> I would just have to make me a ring of led's in the shack and wire them to
>the proper LED in the compass ring.
> I also have some multi lead cable (there has to be 50 wires in this cable
>that I picked up at an auction, it was in a crate I bought for $5)
> To tell the truth, it sounds like a fun project.
> The only hard part that I can think of is the gear for the mast pole.
> Ideas?
> Joe
> KI4ILB
>
>
>
>> Joe .. that is part of the fun of Amateur Radio, `spearmintin' and like
>> that! In the days of yore, many a ham shack had directional antennas
>turned
>> by hand .. called the "ARMSTRONG METHOD" .. I have had some like that, a
>> couple as simple as a nylon line looped around the front of a yagi
>antenna,
>> with appropriate tie-off points in the wanted directions ... with a
>> tri-bander or like that, you don't need any north-pointing hoot owls or
>like
>> that .. find Polaris, stick a stake that-a-way, and go for it. Look for
>> ancient publications with Armstrong Rotator install hints .. not too hard
>to
>> find .. lots of hams had steering wheels with compass points to spin that
>> thar aerial! AND .. you can find bargains on rotators from time to time,
>> especially if you are willing to take them apart and get them functioning
>> ... not brain surgery, and lots of help available here, and at the rotator
>> (or, rotor .. like you had in your `57 Chevvy distributor) repair places,
>> they are really swell at providing info, and have parts galore... quite
>> reasonable to redo as new!
>> 73 Mark Nelson - AA6DX
>>
>> mailto: AA6DX@ARRL.NET
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Merlin-7 KI4ILB" <merlin-7@sc.rr.com>
>> To: "Mike Rhodes" <weightdn@adelphia.net>; <TOWERTALK@contesting.com>
>> Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 3:50 PM
>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tower mast..
>>
>>
>> OK I'm busted...
>> My budget is going to be very tight for a while after I move to the new
>> qth. I kinda put my foot down with the wife so that I can get the funds
>for
>> the tower but there is not much left over after that (unless the home I am
>> in now sells for a bit more than I think it will)
>> Most of you might know where I am going with this by now...
>>
>> For a while I can see me turning the beams by hand. That should not be a
>> problem (just a pain in !$$) as the tower will be right next to my shack.
>> I could keep that set up and build a chain or gear driven rotor myself
>and
>> add it later. I know its better just to buy one but like most hams, I like
>> building stuff.
>> Joe
>> KI4ILB
>>
>>
>> > Maybe I"m overlooking something but, where does the rotor go once you
>> > have the mast sitting on a steel ball in the base of the tower?
>> >
>> > Mike / W8DN
>> >
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
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>>
>>
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