[TowerTalk] Tower placement

[Bill Axelrod]

Paul,

     I'm not sure I have any meaningful conclusions.  I took the advice I 
got and modeled the terrain against my planned antenna.  Spent a lot of time 
at it and have no viable answers.  I guess the terrain is confused enough 
that any location provides a different set of answers with no clear winner. 
The only "bad" area is to the south and that's no matter where I put it.

     So, I gave up the science and picked a spot where I have the fewest 
trees to remove and one that's not in the XYL's view from the back deck.  It 
will be about 100 ft from the edge of the shelf which gently (30 ft frop 
over 100 ft) drops to the North West thru North East.

Good luck and 73...   Bill K3WA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul" <paul.reiter at earthlink.net>
To: "Bill Axelrod" <bill at axelrods.org>; <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2005 11:14 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tower placement


> Hey Bill,
>
> I have almost the exact situation. I am opting to put my tower as far 
> towards the end of the shelf as I can, without losing any height. The hill 
> behind is in the JA direction, but I think I can do OK with them from San 
> Diego anyway. The rise is probably 75 feet or so over 500' or so. If I go 
> for the edge of the shelf, that puts the tower about 200' away from where 
> the land starts to rise behind the house.
>
> The best shot is about 180 degrees from N thru E thru S, in that case, the 
> ground drops away very quickly, and then it's free and clear for miles 
> until you hit Palomar Mountain, some 20-30 miles in the distance.
>
> The tower will be 72', with a 20' mast stuck in it.
>
> What were your conclusions?
>
> Paul
>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  From: Bill Axelrod
>  To: towertalk at contesting.com
>  Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 5:08 PM
>  Subject: [TowerTalk] Tower placement
>
>
>  I have a new mountain-side QTH and am looking for some advice regarding
>  tower placement since my knowledge of the effects of topography as it
>  affects HF propogation is sorely lacking.
>
>  First, let me describe the property.  I have 37 acres on the side of a
>  mountain in WV.  I have an approximate 270 degree clear view covering 
> West
>  to North to East behind the house.  Then there is a heavily wooded steep
>  rise of 100 feet or so from the front of my home my home facing South.
>
>  There is a ~150 ft wide by ~180 ft deep cleared "shelf" area behind the
>  house that drops approximately 30 ft over the 180 ft.  At the end of the
>  shelf the ground drops approximately 100 ft quickly (maybe a 50 to 60 
> degree
>  slope), then another more gradual slope to the valley floor.  It appears 
> to
>  be a couple of miles before the next ridge of equal height to where I am
>  located.  Maybe more.
>
>  I plan to put up a 70 ft tower with a HF beam this summer.  My question 
> is:
>  Where on the property should I put the tower for the best DX propagation?
>
>  Would I be better off putting the Tower as far up the mountain as 
> possible?
>  Or would I be better off putting it as close to the end of the shelf (and
>  sharp drop-off) as possible?  Which would be best to get the optimum take
>  off angle?
>
>  Conversely, I also plan to put up a NVIS wire antenna for close-in 
> stateside
>  contesting.  What location would be best to get the optimum high take off
>  angle?
>
>  My interests are DXing and contesting.  There are no power lines to get 
> in
>  the way and no neighbors who can see my property from their homes.  The 
> XYL
>  will be happy as long as I don't put the tower directly in her view from 
> the
>  deck.
>
>  Thanks and 73...   Bill K3WA
>
>  _______________________________________________
>
>  See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless 
> Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with 
> any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
>  _______________________________________________
>  TowerTalk mailing list
>  TowerTalk at contesting.com
>  http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless 
> Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with 
> any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>