[TowerTalk] Temporary tower/antenna question

[Jim Lux]

On 2/1/13 1:36 PM, K7LXC at aol.com wrote:
> Howdy, TowerTalkians --
>
>      I'm researching temporary antenna installations  (like Field Day) and
> was wondering if you have some input. What did you  use? How did you erect
> it? Materials? Hints and kinks?
>
>      This is with an eye towards safety and  effectiveness. I don't need
> real specifics (like what antenna to use) but  general thoughts and
> considerations. Tnx for any input.


Temporary guys..  We've used static line (non-stretchy kernmantle rope) 
to guy a tower trailer as well as a "iwo jima" erected 20 foot (two 
sections of 25, I think).  I don't know how good it really is if the 
wind comes up, especially because the anchors are something like steel 
t-stakes.


For myself, I've recently been fooling with one of those 40 foot carbon 
fiber collapsible masts. It works pretty well (albeit a bit bendy at the 
top), but you need some way to support the bottom upright, particularly 
during erection.  In any case, it nicely supports a couple inverted Vs 
at right angles which also serve as "quasi-guys".. I do expect it to 
collapse in any decent wind, but the wires and nylon cord (mason's twine 
in nice visible dayglo colors) do help prevent it from waving around.

I run a tuner at the base, and RG-8X up the mast.  Velcro works very 
well to hold the wires to the mast as you erect so they're not waving 
around.  I have given serious thought to a sort of improvised open wire 
line.. basically bring 4 loose wires down the side roughly distributed 
evenly.  Who cares what the Z is, because the tuner will take care of it.

Some years ago I was trying to build a field deployable phased array 
made with 4 verticals using collapsible fishing poles (20 foot from 
Cabela), but I don't know that it gives enough performance improvement. 
  I think the extra height from the 40 foot pole and using the crossed 
dipoles to form a null is as effective.