[TowerTalk] Springtime down on the antenna farm

[Steve, W3AHL]

I use Google Earth (GE) as a visual aid for many RF  programs such as Radio Mobile Deluxe and HFTA.  If you have high res imagery for your area, you can add Placemarks visually.  Otherwise you can enter your GPS coordinates in GE to add Placemarks manually, or you can import them.

Then use GE's Ruler tool to measure distances in feet or inches or whatever and establish bearings between Placemarks.  The draw in the wire antenna or turning radius of a beam using the drawing tools.

Steve, W3AHL


Message: 7
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:29:07 -0500
From: Ron Bowman <bowmanr at gmail.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Springtime down on the antenna farm
To: AntennaWare <antennaware at contesting.com>, Tower Talk
<towertalk at contesting.com>
Message-ID:
<54bc3a931001221729v4e284181s595aebd6e99abf48 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hello All!

I have relocated to central Virginia (Richmond), and am in the process
of closing on a home in the country. With 2.5 acres and lots of tall
trees I will be busy planting antennae in the spring. My question: Is
there any software out there that will allow me to input the locations
of said trees to determine bearings of the wires and consequently
radiation directions. I was thinking about using the GPS for position
and elevation. I guess I could use a grid pad but it seems like a lot
of work. I would like to be able to look at potential arrays or
individual antennae for different bands or directions. Of course there
will be a tower/yagi planted in the future but I do so enjoy nurturing
wire antennae. I look forward to many interesting replies.

72
Ron W8VZM

Amelia, VA
Future site of the VZM Institute for Advanced Wire Antenna Studies