[TowerTalk] Hams, hi-tech, & towers

[Jim Lux]

And I realized that making antennas is one of those craft industries that is
probably going to stay local.. and for which homebuilding is comparable to
commercial, but cheaper, and likely to stay that way. Volume is low, so they
aren't using automated manufacturing, so the mfr builds them essentially the
same way you do (except they probably have jigs and power tools to make
making multiples easier).


----- Original Message -----
From: "Martin Ewing AA6E" <aa6e at arrl.net>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2003 10:52 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Hams, hi-tech, & towers


> de W6RMK:
> > There is a definite trend in industry towards "commodity" products and
away
> > from "craft built" products.  ...
>
> Very interesting, when you think about towers & antennas.  SteppIR aside,
there
> is very little hi-tech about putting aluminum and copper up in the air.
Most of
> what we do today is not very different from 40 years ago. (Although
antenna
> modeling software can be a big help.)
>
> Those of us who are climbing-challenged or space- or neighbor-challenged
have a
> real need for a way to get directivity and gain way up in the air without
> pouring concrete and building major structures.
>
> Maybe carbon composite towers & masts will help. See
http://www.isotruss.com/
> and http://www.windtowercomposites.com/pdf/economicwhitepaper.pdf, for
example.
>   Such a thing, maybe with Hazer-type elevator, might help at this QTH.
>
> 73,  Martin, AA6E
>
>
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>
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