[TowerTalk] How to align a beam

[David Robbins K1TTT]

First, please lets not start the 'find true north' thread again... ok
everyone????

Second, its really not that critical unless you are going to do
microwave grid hunting.

Now, the easiest way I have found is to pick a tree, building, or some
other distinctive landmark a reasonable distance away that you know the
bearing to, set the rotor to that bearing, then point the antenna at it
by sighting along the boom, and clamp it down.  You can also sight along
an element if the object is 90 degrees off from where you have the rotor
pointed.

Another good way with guyed towers is to use one of your guy wires as a
reference and have someone on the ground sight up the guy wire and tell
you when the antenna is lined up with it.


David Robbins K1TTT
e-mail: mailto:k1ttt at arrl.net
web: http://www.k1ttt.net
AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:towertalk-
> bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of David Cook
> Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2003 19:58
> To: TowerTalk Discussion Group (E-mail)
> Subject: [TowerTalk] How to align a beam
> 
> I'm getting ready to raise my first beam antenna and am wondering how
to
> do
> the directional alignment. I know the magnetic declination here in the
NW
> is
> about 20 degrees, and will adjust for that. But what's a good method
for
> sighting the thing in with a compass when it's way the heck up in the
air?
> Or is it that critical?