[TowerTalk] Help in planning a new QTH

[Pete Smith]

Gee, Peter, this all sounds familiar.  Ten years ago I asked essentially 
the same question on Towertalk and got a lot of useful answers.  From time 
to time others have asked similar questions, all accessible in the 
searchable archive on <www.contesting.com>.  Highly recommended.

I won't add to the noise level except to recommend that for budgeting, you 
identify all the major components, total their cost and then double 
it.  Maybe you have a better mind for detail than I do, but that's almost 
exactly how my project worked out -- the additional cost cost of guy 
hardware, concrete, control cable, etc. was a big surprise to a guy like me 
who started out just looking at the cost per section of used Rohn 25!

73, Pete N4ZR

    At 01:56 AM 3/15/2005, Peter Dougherty wrote:

>At 00:18 15-03-05, SJ W3TX wrote:
> >It sounds as if you have accomplished alot from your present location.
> >Congratulations!
>
>Hi Scott,
>
>Thanks <g>. It's been "fun" to say the least.
>
> >I recommend that the very first thing you do is purchase Fred K1VR's book
> >"Antenna Zoning" from ARRL.  The bottom line is that you don't want to buy
> >any land that will be challenging to build your antenna support structure
> >on.  The book is exceptional!
>
>I will indeed take a look into this, but from what I've heard, our planned
>neighbourhood is free of CC&Rs, HOAs and even municipal regulations
>vis-a-vis towers. Of course, I will investigate the heck out of this before
>we sign anything!
>
> >Also, get the ARRL Antenna Book and the upcoming 4th edition of ON4UN's
> >Lowband Dxing.
>
>I have the ARRL Antenna Book, but to be honest, that's reads like an
>engineering text and I'm really the furthest from that. I can get about 5
>minutes into that and my head starts hurting. I really do need something
>MUCH simpler, better illustrated and aimed at newbies, not graduate
>engineers. Maybe if I had a few less choices, but much better descriptions
>of how to build 'em, why one design works better than another, etc, I would
>understand it a little easier. I intend to pick up the ON4UN book at Dayton
>this year.
>
> >Good luck and let us know how it goes.
>
>I shall indeed, but I also think I'll pop back in here from time to time
>asking about towers and other aspects of this project etc. Never had one
>and frankly I just don't know where to start or what questions to ask
>(hell, the last time I was even near a decent tower was in 1974 and that
>was in my teenage years). Asking at Dayton last year got me nothing but a
>20 second answer and a very firm "come back and see us when you know what
>you want" feeling. I don't even know what I should budget for a decent 50 -
>60 footer, complete.
>
>
>
>- pjd
>
>W2IRT
>
>_______________________________________________
>
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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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