[TowerTalk] Flagpoles as a Stealth Antenna
bill wall
billwall@bellsouth.net
Fri, 22 Dec 2000 15:57:57 -0500
Hi Team;
There are three or four fiberglass rod/tube manufacturers who make large
diameter tubing. It cost about four to six times what T-6 aluminum does.
Avanti made two Quads with aluminum/plastic spreaders. They were sold to CB
operators. They convert to 10 meters with no problem. Avanti, I think is not
around any more. There is a CB magazine in California that list these
antennas for sell from time to time.
Another subject: Welding : Rohn uses mig on their towers for high speed
production. I would use Tig or Oxy/Acceltyne on light gage tubing. The
reason: Flexible welds. In my small business I have Miller square wave Tig,
Lincoln Mig and other equipment. I am certified for air frame and
structural. If you want to test your welds and do not have X-Ray or Zyglo
machines, take a large sledge hammer to the test weld and nail it. If it
does not break you are about 50% safe.
Rohn, Universal and others have from time to time produced good products.
The smart thing to do with used tower or new is inspect each weld. You never
know the person on the assembly line. He or she might be new, untrained or
just don't give a D---.
Keep it safe,
Bill KC4UZ
----- Original Message -----
From: <Tower2sell@aol.com>
To: <jnipper@southeast.net>; <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2000 9:46 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Flagpoles as a Stealth Antenna
> It seams you have missed the basic point - Flag poles are being widely
used
> and the next time you spot one you will understand what is behind the
radomes
> and how they work. The adaptation to the HAM market is not there yet,
mainly
> due to price. Maybe, just maybe, someone will be inspired enough to
develop
> this product into a cost effective product. Maybe some antenna
manufacturer
> can make a fiberglass flagpole that is also an antenna. WOW maybe it could
be
> patented. Maybe there will be another retired millionaire. All just
because
> someone posted a message. Isn't America a great country!
>
> Tower2sell@aol.com
>
>
>
> In a message dated Wed, 20 Dec 2000 8:34:28 PM Eastern Standard Time, Jim
> Nipper <jnipper@southeast.net> writes:
>
> << Surely this unsigned reply is not a serious (or helpful?) response to
> this gentleman's questions about a possible HAM antenna. I doubt he
> needed the engineering details of a 12-30 INCH flagpole, or the base
> requirements to keep the mammouth structure in the air. The gentleman
> was asking about a SIMPLE VERTICAL ANTENNA !!!!!! I would this that if
> this gentleman could erect a THIRTY INCH DIAMMETER flagpole in his yard,
> he could easily put up a 15inch width TOWER, and likely would not be
> asking questions about a VERTICAL !!!!!!!
>
>
>
> 73 de Jim K4PYT
>
>
> Tower2sell@aol.com wrote:
> >
> > Flagpoles are a hot item in the commercial world and are quite pricey
for
> the
> > HAM radio. The commercial operators use a fiberglass radome on top of a
> steel
> > pole (tapered or pipe). Normally there are three or more flat panel
> antennas.
> > Some arrangements have them at 0, 120, 240 and another arrangement is to
> > stack them vertically. They normally do not use a standard flagpole
because
> > the diameter is too small. The flagpoles they use range in diameter from
> > about 12" to 30".
> >
> > On top of a flag pole is the flagpole truck and ball. A flagpole truck
is a
> > set of bearings that swings around with the flag and keeps it from
wraping
> > around the pole. The largest "normal" truck fits a 7.5" pole with maybe
a
> 12"
> > truck being available. The larger diameters require a custom made truck
> > assembly.
> >
> > Now if all you need to do is mount a whip type antenna, you could use a
> > standard fiberglass flagpole and "hang" it from the top inside the pole.
The
> > flagpole foundations are about 10% of the flagpole and one could come in
> > underground and up the pole. Leave some extra cable in the pole so that
you
> > can pull the antenna all the way out the top. Now for the ball and truck
> > assembly - find one that attaches with set screws instead on the
convential
> > 1-1/4" pipe thread.
> >
> > No one will know where your antenna is and the exercise pogram to
service
> the
> > antenna will keep you in top physical shape climbing the slick flagpole
(the
> > rope should help some).
> >
> > Tower2sell@aol.com
> >
> > In a message dated Wed, 20 Dec 2000 10:25:18 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> > Richard Thorne <rthorne@tcac.net> writes:
> >
> > << Hello Group:
> >
> > A friend mentioned and idea for a stealth antenna that got me to
> > thinking.
> >
> > Anyone out there using a flagpole as a vertical? If so is it
> > metal/fiberglass? How do you feed it.
> >
> > Looking for multi band ideas, say 10 through 40.
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
> >
> > --
> > 73,
> >
> > Richard Thorne
> > ARS N5ZC (ex KA2DSY, N2BHP, WB5M)
> > Remote Control Airplanes: AMA# 657062
> > http://www.tcac.net/~rthorne/
> >
> > --
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> >
> > >>
> >
> > --
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> >>
>
>
>
> --
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>
>
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