[TowerTalk] World Class Station Conundrum - help!

Wed Feb 16 08:05:22 EST 2005

    SJ:

        From your very well written post, I think that you already know the
answer.  I have found that making tough decisions is really not all that
tough.  The problem arises when you just don't like the answer.  Every time
I have had a problem making a decision, and "fumed" over it, it was not
because the decision was that tough.  It was that I didn't like the answer.

        I strongly suspect that you know the answer is to sell your "dream"
location and set up station somewhere else where you will encounter far
fewer problems/ issues/ concerns.  You may have had your "heart" set on this
location, but deep down you smell trouble.

        My opinion for what it is worth.

            73,


            Bernard, WA4OEJ


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "SJ W3TX" <superberthaguy at adelphia.net>
To: <TowerTalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 6:48 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] World Class Station Conundrum - help!


> I am soliciting the collective wisdom of the group.  This is medium long,
> but please read and respond because I really need some experienced points
of
> view:
>
> Situation: As many of you know I purchased a 50 acre farm on which to
> gradually build my "world class" contesting and dx station.  The farm is a
> nice farm and I am, for better or worse, emotionally attached to it. I
have
> the hardware to install (3) Big Berthas carrying the 10-40m main stacks
plus
> the 10-40m second azimuth stacks, an 80 meter 9-circle array, and a 160m
> tower 4-square array.  My plan is to install that stuff after installing
the
> tallest antenna first, notably two (2) 300ft towers suspending stacked 7/7
> 80 meter wire yagis fixed EU/ZL. Finally, if needed, I could upgrade the
> 160m 4-square to a 9-circle array. Such a station installation would be an
> un-recoverable expenditure (and one I would prefer to only do once), that
> is, it is unlikely that one could ever sell the installation "as is" and
> recover the investment. The farm is approx 1500ft x 1500ft nearly square.
> There is a nice garage I am renovating into a radio room/vacation home,
and
> there are two nice barns for building antennas indoors. The location is
> exceptionally convenient to me from work and home (3 minute drive from
> either), has high speed internet available to allow for simple remote
> control, is in a very safe neighborhood (a definite consideration when one
> plans to be there alone for an entire weekend operating a contest with a
> headset on or installing antennas), and the farm land is rented for
farming
> which partially offsets the property taxes.  The farmer whom sold me the
> land lives next door, and to complete the transaction we had to creatively
> agree not to install any antennas except short lowband receive antennas on
> the front 500 x 1500ft for a period of the next several years.  The land
> contour is _NOT_ optimal...the frontage is very flat, however the back
300ft
> on 1/2 of the property on the north end has a "bowl" effect, and the back
> 700ft on the south end of the property has a "bowl" effect...these bowl
> contours are in the direction of EU and AF. Zoning of the farm is
> residential, and it is in a (currently) low density residential area with
> several homes across the street and within 1 mile of a hospital, a few
> plastic/tool and die/casting plants, and additional commercial zoned land
> nearby that will probably go light industrial use in the long run.  The
> township zoning includes an Airport Ordinance due to an airport
> approximately 5 miles away.  This Airport Ordinance gives the township
wide
> latitude to restrict tower height even if it is cleared by Nav-Air.  The
new
> building code gives the township and it's building inspectors wide
latitude
> to control building projects. I have an existing Nav-Air determination for
> up to 200ft. I am imminently submitting a Nav-Air application for the two
> (2) 300ft towers for the 80m wire yagis. My vibes on discussions with the
> township indicate that they are keenly aware of the benefits of having a
ham
> station for emergency needs. They are known to be a conservative township
> when it comes to community issues.  The school board has become aggressive
> with property tax increases since we bought the farm, and it appears that
> they will remain aggressive tax-wise...
>
> To put it briefly I have concerns that between the Airport Ordinance, new
> building code, possible neighbor complaints when the first two 300ft
towers
> arise like the Phoenix, and an aggressive taxing body, it may become
> challenging to complete installation of all the antenna systems over a
> number of years without encountering energy draining red tape.  It would
> certainly be frustrating to put up some of the antenna system, and despite
> having 50 acres, be told that there would be no more permits to put up the
> rest of the antenna system.  Can they limit the _number_ of antenna
support
> structures on an open farm??  The location is electrically "quiet" now,
but
> I have concerns that the encroaching commercial zoned areas could result
in
> QRN/M on receive (in the long run)
>
> The farm has a home on it, on a front corner, that we do not plan to use.
We
> put it up for sale with 1.5 acres. The remaining acreage would be used for
> the antenna system including lowband receive antennas.
>
> Yesterday came an inquiry to buy either A). the home with much more land
> than 1.5 acres, or B). to buy a large piece of the land without the home
> (i.e.. I would then be able to sell the home to some-one else) .  Agreeing
> to either A or B would  (because of lost acreage) eliminate the
possibility
> of ever building a "world class" station there. On the other hand, selling
> out the farm would yield enough profit to buy a new (cheap) farm way out
in
> the boonies (where there is no zoning), but in a much less convenient area
> to visit, and it would pay for the entire antenna installation to boot.
>
> Options are great, but this is mind boggling...
>
> What do you think???
>
> My best 73, a very confused W3TX
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
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Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
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