[TowerTalk] FIRST TOWER UP AND LOOKING GORGEOUS

Mon Jun 9 00:20:22 EDT 2008

Bob, many years ago when I was a poor college student, all I could afford to put up was a 30-foot TriEx tower (three 10-foot sections) which supported a Telrex Tribander yagi. It had terrible SWR curves (particularly on 20-Meters) and just didn't play very well. But it sure looked nice, since I lived up on the south side of a big hill, I could see it most of the way across town.

I looked at the antenna instructions again, and read that the antenna needed to be mounted at least 34 feet above ground. So I moved the antenna up a little higher on the mast sticking out of the tower to where it was actually 34 feet above the ground, and the SWR curves were then very good, the antenna performed very well. That few feet made all the difference in the world! 

So you might try to make sure that your beam is likewise at least that height above the ground, if possible. Enjoy - you'll be surprised how much fun you'll have!

73,
Larry

-----Original Message-----
>From: "Frank J. Connelly" <w7nd at mac.com>
>Sent: Jun 8, 2008 7:41 PM
>To: Towertalk List <towertalk at contesting.com>
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] FIRST TOWER UP AND LOOKING GORGEOUS
>
>So nice to see such words of encouragement to a guy with his very  
>first tower.
>
>Bob, there is nothing wrong with starting with a 30' tower.  Add a  
>few feet of mast on top of it and you'll do fine.  Might check with a  
>local wireless or telephone company to see if they might have the guy  
>wire you need in the form of scrap from reel ends.  Guying at the 25'  
>level should be fine.  Yes, you need two cable clamps on both ends of  
>the cable.
>
>How big is your base?  I assume you put it in concrete?  What's going  
>on top of the tower?
>
>73,
>Frank
>
>
>On Jun 8, 2008, at 7:56 PM, Hardy Landskov wrote:
>
>> How come you did not plan this ahead of time? 30 feet is a waste of  
>> money
>> anyway.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "AD5VJ Bob" <rtnmi at sbcglobal.net>
>> To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
>> Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2008 6:34 PM
>> Subject: [TowerTalk] FIRST TOWER UP AND LOOKING GORGEOUS
>>
>>
>>> Hey guys *FINALLY* got my first tower since licensed 1965 in the  
>>> air and
>>> it sure looks pretty standing tall and proud as I drive up
>>> to the QTH, I know this sounds strange, but I had to drive up to  
>>> the house
>>> a couple of extra times just to look at it again Hi Hi
>>>
>>> Cant believe I am looking at mine and not someone else's Hi Hi
>>>
>>> Now I am looking for anyone who may have in excess to their needs  
>>> some guy
>>> wire for the prettiest Rohn 25 tower in Texas. I have it
>>> up at 30 feet.
>>>
>>> I have already priced what else I need and after buying the  
>>> concrete and
>>> all, retail pricing is more than I can do right now, so
>>> looking for a good deal from someone who has some laying around  
>>> and is
>>> willing to part with it.
>>>
>>> 3/16 or 1/4 guy wire should be fine I am guessing.
>>>
>>> I am guessing to guy it at the 25 foot level I need a set of three at
>>> about 50 feet length each, if this is overkill please let me
>>> know, I also need the associated hardware, brackets ect. I am not  
>>> using
>>> the Rohn Guying bracket since a Ham told me I didn't need to
>>> spend that kind of money for a guy bracket, just tie it to the leg  
>>> of the
>>> tower.
>>>
>>> The guy who will climb the tower (using his harness and his  
>>> GinPole to
>>> mount the three element tribander) next weekend said he
>>> wanted me to use two cable clamps at each end of each guy wire, so  
>>> I need
>>> 12 of those.
>>>
>>> Any advice would be appreciated.
>>>
>>>
>>>   73 fer nw es gud DX,
>>> QSL VIA: LotW, BUR, e-QSL
>>> Bob AD5VJ
>>> http://www.ad5vj.com/
>>> Old Calls WB5ZQU, WY5L/KH3, KE5CTY, N5IET
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>> TowerTalk at contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>>
>>
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