[TowerTalk] TowerTalk Digest, Vol 38, Issue 5

Thu Feb 2 13:00:41 EST 2006

Hey TTalkers,

The terror and/or danger in tower climbing is in the eyes of the beholder.

My microwave project in Kuwait would have driven most of
you brave folks nuts.  Our prime contractor hired a team of
Yemen-ese [sp]; these guys regularly stood on the top members of
our 100 meter towers without any protection or shoes in temperatures
up to 135 F.  The winds on the ground were thankfully never more than
around 40 knots.  Not sure what they were up there.

For my purposes, I will hire a reputable tower/antenna man.

Warren; W5KKW; Extra Class

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-request at contesting.com
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Sent: Thu, 02 Feb 2006 12:00:30 -0500
Subject: TowerTalk Digest, Vol 38, Issue 5

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: dangerous job / accept the risk (David J Windisch)
   2. 40m wire/city lot (Mike Bragassa, K5UO)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2006 06:07:00 -0500
From: "David J Windisch" <davidjw at cinci.rr.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] dangerous job / accept the risk
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Message-ID: <001d01c627e8$ca6217c0$8e248545 at david7fhk3scab>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
    reply-type=original

Draw a line on the ground.  Walk on it.  Put a 2X4 on the line.  Walk on it. 
Put bricks under the 2X4.  Walk on it.  Put cinder blocks under it.  Walk on 
it.   Support the 2X4 between the first steps of 2 stepladders.   Walk on it 
....  recover from being terrified by mere visual perceptions.  It takes 
practice to get used to haat.
What's terrifying is not taking precautions beforehand.
73, Dave, N3HE

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barry Fox" <foxbw at comcast.net>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 10:17 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] dangerous job / accept the risk

> TTers;
> I used to work for a company that had a contract to provide a
> statewide 800MHz system.  Most of the towers were quite tall
> (250 - 300 feet) with seperate RX and TX antennas, so the RX
> antenna had a tower-mounted pre-amp in a large stainless-steel
> box (2'X 3'X 1') which weighed about 75 pounds.  One of these
> tower-top amps failed during the day, the tower guys were
> called and went right to the sight to replace it.  By then it
> was dark and raining, but so what, up they went.  Afterwards
> they said it was just part of the job, day or night, rain or
> shine, made no difference to them.
> Better them than me, I cannot stand on the next-to-the-top step
> of a six foot step ladder without being terrified.
> Barry - W1HFN
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
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> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk 

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2006 07:28:17 -0600
From: "Mike Bragassa, K5UO" <bragassa at consolidated.net>
Subject: [TowerTalk] 40m wire/city lot
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Message-ID: <009501c627fc$870f5a50$6400a8c0 at MAIN>
Content-Type: text/plain;   charset="iso-8859-1"

What worked great for DX in 2 previous homes w/ similar size lot  restrictions, 
was a full wave delta loop, apex up,  low corner fed w/ 1/4 wave 75 ohm to 53 
ohm to radio. You must have about 50-60 feet of height in the center to string 
this up and not choke people in your yard, of course. If the choice is to string 
it up such that you are little bit (key word: "little bit") short of stretching 
it out completely; I have used "property-extenders". Put up some TV tubing 
(1.5"~) at the property line on each side and tie of the loop. This was an 
excellent DX antenna; only improved upon when I put up a 2 ele yagi on the 
tower.

Mike, K5UO, 9H3UO

  Message: 1
  Date: Wed,  1 Feb 2006 15:06:06 -0500 (EST)
  From: Eric Rosenberg <wd3q at starpower.net>
  Subject: [TowerTalk] 40 Wire Antennas for a City Lot?
  To: Towertalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
  Message-ID: <20060201150606.ACK65280 at mptest.mrf.mail.rcn.net>
  Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

  I need advice for a 40m wire antenna in my 40ft/12m (E/W) x 144ft/44m
  (N/S) city lot, bordered by power and telco lines along the western side. 

  At the moment, I'm using an 80/40 Off Center Fed dipole (made by
  Fritzel), and for contesting it is, well.. mediocre!  Adding a rotatable
  dipole element to my roof-mounted C3-SS is, for the time being, a
  non-starter. I have a 160 inverted-L with 26 radials. 

  Thoughts, comments, suggestions?

  Thanks in advance! 

  73, 
  Eric W3DQ 
  Washington, DC  

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End of TowerTalk Digest, Vol 38, Issue 5
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