[TowerTalk] Planning tool query

[K7LXC at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/9/2009 10:45:11 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:

>  I'm contemplating my first guyed tower with side-mounted  antennas.

>  What sorts of planning tools do people use to  determine if the antennas 
of
various turning radii will clear guy  wires? 

Stan, W7NI, used to have a website  that had a sidemount calculator on it. 
I wasn't able to find it in a  precursory look but it still might be there 
somewhere.. Try contacting Stan  directly at _w7ni at easystreet.com_ 
(mailto:w7ni at easystreet.com) .

>   In my planning efforts I'll be contemplating several "what if" sorts  of
questions. I think I can do this with (a lot of) graph paper and a  spread
sheet and some basic trig, but I'm hoping for something that might  be more
visual.


         My experience was  that you need a minimum of 31" between elements 
(e.g, TH7) in order to get  it to turn around 45G with a swinging gate 
sidemount. Calculations for distance  to guys is a little more involved but I've 
used graph paper with reasonable  results. I think you have some guy wire 
challenges so my suggestion is to go  with 4L antennas - good performance 
from a 2 stack and lots of room between  the elements simplifying the 
sidemounting. 
 
Cheers,
Steve     K7LXC
TOWER TECH