[TowerTalk] How to align a beam

[Don Havlicek]

Dave,
Your question is going to raise a storm of answers to the same question 
as it was asked many times in the past.
The simple answer is:  Point your beam at the North Star .. that's 
NORTH.  You can walk out in your yard and determine which direction is 
south by aligning your tower with Polaris.  Where you are standing in 
due South of the tower.  Put a stake in the ground there.  Aim your 
antenna towards the place you have marked as South ... or directly away 
from South .. that's North!
Don
N8DE

David Cook wrote:
> 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?
> 
> Thanks and 73,
> -- Dave, WA0TTN
> 
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