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Re: [TowerTalk] Distance between Towers

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Distance between Towers
From: "Cam and Juli Hedrick" <walnutcreek@appstate.net>
Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2007 08:18:59 -0500
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
My Station has the towers at various heights and a minimum one full
wavelength horizontal separation.  For example, the 20m/10m mono banders are
at 120 feet, and the 40m & 30m/15m mono banders are at 100 feet separated by
300 feet.  Another tower holds a tribander, and 17m mono bander currently at
50 and 60 feet about 200 feet from either of the other towers.  This height
and distance separation keeps the effects of having antennas close together
at a minimum.  I've seen a successful contest station built on 1 acre a lot
using height separation and rotating tubular towers.
 You mainly want to keep the effects of the antenna spacing to a minimum and
you'll do great on the air.
That's my two cents...there's more to share, but you can find all this in
the ARRL Antenna handbook.
Have fun!
73,
Cam WA4JKW

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of
towertalk-request@contesting.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 9:55 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: TowerTalk Digest, Vol 49, Issue 4

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Distance Between Towers (Don Moman VE6JY)
   2. Re: HG-50MT2 banging and clanging (Bob Newton W5RN)
   3.  Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in mast (john@kk9a.com)
   4. Re: Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in mast (K8RI on TowerTalk)
   5. bird problems (Gregg Seidl)
   6. Re: Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in mast (Norman Hockler)
   7. Re: Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in mast (Tom Osborne)
   8. Re: Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in mast (Wes Attaway (N5WA))
   9. Re: Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in mast (Clint Talmadge)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2007 17:06:29 -0000
From: "Don Moman VE6JY" <ve6jy@digitalweb.net>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Distance Between Towers
To: "'towertalk reflector'" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Message-ID: <001501c72e90$582c3910$a900a8c0@ve6jy>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="us-ascii"

If you can place them anywhere, I'm not sure a circle / semi-circle
approach is best. Certainly for coax usage, but not from a RF viewpoint.
Lots of things happen to aggravate RF issues between stations when
antennas beam at each other.   So if you can keep things more in a
straight line - assuming there is a line you rarely would beam along -
that might be the better choice.   If I could do it again, I'd have my
towers more in a line along  160-340 degrees....  That would let me beam
into virtually all the directions I consider "contest important" areas
without looking directly into another tower.

73 Don
VE6JY

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Keith Dutson
Sent: January 2, 2007 4:19 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Distance Between Towers


Over the holidays some measurements were made on the land cleared to the
north of the shack for the proposed antenna farm.  New towers will be
added for 80/10 (140'), 40/WARC (200'), 20 (150') and 15 (120').  There
is an existing 150' tower with stacked tri-banders, located about 30
feet north of the shack.

I have a vision of the four new towers fanned out in a semi-circle
around the shack.  This will allow the shortest feed line and control
cable runs. I need advice on how far to place each of these towers from
the existing tower to ensure interference-free operation.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

73, Keith NM5G

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------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Tue, 02 Jan 2007 12:56:55 -0800
From: "Bob Newton W5RN" <rj.newton.w5rn@verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] HG-50MT2 banging and clanging
To: "Rick A." <arm@uniontel.net>, <towertalk@contesting.com>
Message-ID: <000b01c72eb0$8aaf3b10$6401a8c0@Robert>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
        reply-type=original

Hi Rick,

I have the 35 foot version and it has always banged around when the wind 
gets up. Doesn't take too much, either. I bought my tower new and as far 
as I know there are no pads to wear out. It is just a metal guide welded 
to the lower part of the tower leg for each section. I lower mine a lot 
of the times and then jam a piece of wood between the sections to keep 
them from moving. Other wise, either learn to live with it or, worst 
case scenario, take out the hearing aids like I do and you won't be 
bothered by a thing!


73
Bob W5RN

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rick A." <arm@uniontel.net>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 8:40 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] HG-50MT2 banging and clanging


> Hi all, I recently put up a used HG-50MT2 crankup tower right next to 
> the
> house with a bracket from the house. On windy or semi windy days the 
> two
> upper sections are moving creating a nasty banging sound in the house. 
> My
> question, were these always like this (nature of the beast) or are my
> section pads on this tower worn.I currently have it cranked up about 
> 2/3
> full travel.
>
> 73,
> Rick
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> 




------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2007 18:39:02 -0500
From: <john@kk9a.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk]  Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in mast
To: <TOWERTALK@contesting.com>
Cc: aa4lr@arrl.net
Message-ID: <000301c72ec7$32c37b70$67f90641@Basement>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="iso-8859-1"

I have seen dead birds in my 3" diameter mast.  I'm not sure how this 
happens.

John KK9A


To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in mast
From: Bill Coleman
Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 22:40:40 -0500
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>

Today I climbed the tower to take down the four foot lighted
snowflake that serves as a Christmas decoration. Just before I came
down, I noticed something odd.

My nine-foot mast is mounted about 1/2" above the top of the rotator.
I did this because when doing some antenna maintenance a couple of
years or so ago, I found the mast full of acorns. The 1/2" gap allows
the acorns to fall through.

What I noticed were some feathers sticking out of the bottom of the
mast. A bit of digging with a piece of wire, it turned out to be a
bird carcass -- a finch, if memory serves. Apparently, he had backed
into the top of the mast, then he couldn't climb back out. Poor guy.

Anyone else seen anything like this? 



------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2007 19:05:07 -0500
From: "K8RI on TowerTalk" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in mast
To: <TOWERTALK@contesting.com>
Message-ID: <001701c72eca$d918c860$6500a8c0@SecondOne>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
        reply-type=original

Birds are not exactly the brightest critters on the planet although some are

a lot smarter than others. In general the little ones are at the shallow end

of the gene pool. OTOH Ducks and Sea Gulls are pretty close to shallow water

as well.

Some birds are great at judging distance, but many are not.
They will perch on top of a pipe, look down and think the equivalent of 
"this little hole might make a good nest" not realizing that little hole 
goes a longgg way down.  Once inside they can not jump back up nor can they 
use their wings in the confined space. In some instances they might have 
ducked into the "hole" to avoid a Hawk. The Hawk would have been quicker.

However it's not uncommon.

Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member)
N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2
www.rogerhalstead.com


>I have seen dead birds in my 3" diameter mast.  I'm not sure how this
> happens.
>
> John KK9A
>
>
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in mast
> From: Bill Coleman
> Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 22:40:40 -0500
> List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
>
> Today I climbed the tower to take down the four foot lighted
> snowflake that serves as a Christmas decoration. Just before I came
> down, I noticed something odd.
>
> My nine-foot mast is mounted about 1/2" above the top of the rotator.
> I did this because when doing some antenna maintenance a couple of
> years or so ago, I found the mast full of acorns. The 1/2" gap allows
> the acorns to fall through.
>
> What I noticed were some feathers sticking out of the bottom of the
> mast. A bit of digging with a piece of wire, it turned out to be a
> bird carcass -- a finch, if memory serves. Apparently, he had backed
> into the top of the mast, then he couldn't climb back out. Poor guy.
>
> Anyone else seen anything like this?
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> 



------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2007 19:29:12 -0600
From: "Gregg Seidl" <k9kl@centurytel.net>
Subject: [TowerTalk] bird problems
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Message-ID: <006101c72ed6$935c3080$0301a8c0@your9k1ay6x2a2>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
        reply-type=original

They also like to go down my 30+ foot chimney for my wood furnace in my 
basement.It has a cap on it with maybe a 2 inch gap so the smoke can get out

and to make a draft.They must fight to get in there.Once they are in I'm 
sure they are thinking"bad idea".I'm not sure whay they would do that 
either.  Gregg  K9KL 




------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:19:11 -0500
From: Norman Hockler <sanorm@columbus.rr.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in mast
To: john@kk9a.com, TOWERTALK@contesting.com
Cc: aa4lr@arrl.net
Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.0.20070102211731.01a60428@columbus.rr.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Tower talkers,

They go in head first and cant back because their wings prevent them 
from going backwards.

Norm  N8NH


At 06:39 PM 1/2/2007, john@kk9a.com wrote:
>I have seen dead birds in my 3" diameter mast.  I'm not sure how this
>happens.
>
>John KK9A
>
>
>To: towertalk@contesting.com
>Subject: [TowerTalk] Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in mast
>From: Bill Coleman
>Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 22:40:40 -0500
>List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
>
>Today I climbed the tower to take down the four foot lighted
>snowflake that serves as a Christmas decoration. Just before I came
>down, I noticed something odd.
>
>My nine-foot mast is mounted about 1/2" above the top of the rotator.
>I did this because when doing some antenna maintenance a couple of
>years or so ago, I found the mast full of acorns. The 1/2" gap allows
>the acorns to fall through.
>
>What I noticed were some feathers sticking out of the bottom of the
>mast. A bit of digging with a piece of wire, it turned out to be a
>bird carcass -- a finch, if memory serves. Apparently, he had backed
>into the top of the mast, then he couldn't climb back out. Poor guy.
>
>Anyone else seen anything like this?
>
>_______________________________________________
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>TowerTalk mailing list
>TowerTalk@contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk




------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Tue, 02 Jan 2007 18:25:55 -0800
From: "Tom Osborne" <w7why@verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in mast
To: "Towertalk" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Message-ID: <00bf01c72ede$7fc9af90$1f12fea9@Tom>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
        reply-type=original


>From KK9A

> have seen dead birds in my 3" diameter mast.  I'm not sure how >this 
> happens.

Probably going in after a snack and can't get back out.  73
Tom W7WHY



------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2007 20:29:17 -0600
From: "Wes Attaway (N5WA)" <wesattaway@bellsouth.net>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in mast
To: "'K8RI on TowerTalk'" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>,
        <TOWERTALK@contesting.com>
Message-ID: <001c01c72ede$fd621730$2801a8c0@office2>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="us-ascii"

One potential problem with this thread is that some bird lover
fanatic will pick it up and become concerned.  The concern could
lead to a movement to force all hams to plug the tops of their
masts.

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of K8RI on
TowerTalk
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 6:05 PM
To: TOWERTALK@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in
mast

Birds are not exactly the brightest critters on the planet
although some are 
a lot smarter than others. In general the little ones are at the
shallow end 
of the gene pool. OTOH Ducks and Sea Gulls are pretty close to
shallow water 
as well.

Some birds are great at judging distance, but many are not.
They will perch on top of a pipe, look down and think the
equivalent of 
"this little hole might make a good nest" not realizing that
little hole 
goes a longgg way down.  Once inside they can not jump back up
nor can they 
use their wings in the confined space. In some instances they
might have 
ducked into the "hole" to avoid a Hawk. The Hawk would have been
quicker.

However it's not uncommon.

Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member)
N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2
www.rogerhalstead.com


>I have seen dead birds in my 3" diameter mast.  I'm not sure how
this
> happens.
>
> John KK9A
>
>
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in mast
> From: Bill Coleman
> Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2007 22:40:40 -0500
> List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
>
> Today I climbed the tower to take down the four foot lighted
> snowflake that serves as a Christmas decoration. Just before I
came
> down, I noticed something odd.
>
> My nine-foot mast is mounted about 1/2" above the top of the
rotator.
> I did this because when doing some antenna maintenance a couple
of
> years or so ago, I found the mast full of acorns. The 1/2" gap
allows
> the acorns to fall through.
>
> What I noticed were some feathers sticking out of the bottom of
the
> mast. A bit of digging with a piece of wire, it turned out to
be a
> bird carcass -- a finch, if memory serves. Apparently, he had
backed
> into the top of the mast, then he couldn't climb back out. Poor
guy.
>
> Anyone else seen anything like this?
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> 

_______________________________________________



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------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2007 20:55:01 -0600
From: "Clint Talmadge" <unclebudd@bellsouth.net>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in mast
To: <TOWERTALK@contesting.com>
Message-ID: <00a201c72ee2$9033d0f0$6001a8c0@ClintsLaptop>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="iso-8859-1"

Wes brings up a good question. Why don't most hams cap the mast. My last two
towers (and the one I am working on now) have had caps.  I use a fence post
cap which has a set screw in the side.  I think I got the first one at a
local hardware store, but Lowe's and that other HIW store carry them. I did
it to keep the squirrels from filling them with acorns, but I guess it would
stop the bird "situation" also.

Clint - W5CPT

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Wes Attaway (N5WA) 
  To: 'K8RI on TowerTalk' ; TOWERTALK@contesting.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 8:29 PM
  Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Unusual bird problem - Bird stuck in mast


  One potential problem with this thread is that some bird lover
  fanatic will pick it up and become concerned.  The concern could
  lead to a movement to force all hams to plug the tops of their
  masts.



------------------------------

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End of TowerTalk Digest, Vol 49, Issue 4
****************************************


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