[TowerTalk] antenna height vs hassle

[Bill Coleman]

On Aug 15, 2004, at 6:27 PM, KI9A at aol.com wrote:

> I live on a small lot, can't really have
> a guyed tower. I now have a roof tower with my 2 meter yagi at about 
> 27', the
> A3 tribander at 30' & a 6 meter yagi at 33'.

I had a similar situation at my old QTH - A3S at 35 feet, 2m boomer at 
43 feet.

> In order to put this 40' tower up, I would have to hire out the hole
> (5'x5'x5'), then hand carry all of the concrete approx  120-150' 
> across the grass, on
> an uneven area (ugh).  No way to get the truck any closer.

Here's some alternatives. First, you don't necessarily have to use a 
ready-mix truck. You could consider mixing the concrete yourself. If 
you did this, you could rent a small mixer, and do two bags at a time. 
(Note that it would take in excess of 100 bags, so I wouldn't recommend 
this)

Second, you can rent a powered wheelbarrow to carry the concrete from 
the curb to the hole. either that, or get about four good friends with 
wheelbarrows to shuttle the concrete across the yard.

Third, if the hole is downhill from the road, you can rig up a trough 
to the hole. Failing that, you can rent a pump truck to move the 
concrete uphill.

> Bottom line is this...is the cost & hassle of this worth the potential 
> gain?
> If the tower was 60-80', I'd say of course, but, going from 30' to 
> 45', I
> dunno if there would be much improvement to be worth it. I'm beginning 
> to think
> not.

At my old QTH, I have the A3S at 35 feet. Today it is on a tower next 
to the house at just under 50 feet. It certainly behaves differently, 
especially on 20m. Further, I have much less RFI in the house.

125 cubic feet of concrete seems like a huge hassle, but I've gotten 
much more enjoyment out of my station since I have a (modestly) 
improved station.

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901