[TowerTalk] Apartment Antenna Ideas Needed

[K0DAN]

A plain old wire dipole, supported by a messenger line, should be on your 
list!

73
dan
k0dan

-----Original Message----- 
From: Dave Tipton, W5DMT
Sent: October 12, 2014 19:12
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Apartment Antenna Ideas Needed

So, Yesterday, I finally got around to installing a dual bander in my 1
month old truck, and was testing it out on some of the local repeaters.  I'm
TDY in Sacramento, CA for about a year or so, working on a second project
for one of my consulting clients.  Anyway, one of the things I mentioned in
my QSO was that I needed to get off my butt and go find a house or apartment
to rent, and that I kinda wanted to keep it cheap, given that I already have
a mortgage in TN and my family would not be joining me out here.  Just my
wife about 1 week a month and I would be going home for about 10 days a
month.



A ham broke in, said he had some inexpensive apartments in Sac, and that if
I was interested, to please give him a call.  We talked, I went over, he
gave me the nickel tour, and at the end of the tour, he mentions "You know I
have no problem with it if you wanted to put up a couple antennas."  *SHUT
UP AND TAKE MY MONEY*



So, I am in a bit of a quandary.  The unit is a second story unit, with a
large patio/landing literally out my front door.  I was thinking something
along the lines of a Vertical Dipole ala Force 12's Sigma 40-XK.  Evidently,
they aren't making this antenna at the moment.  So, this left me wondering
what else was out there.



The parameters.  I'm elevated 10-20 feet, depending on whether I put it up
on a mast.  (I can strap a 20 foot mast to the 4x4's supporting the deck
that are firmly anchored into concrete, the deck it's connected to is
connected to the building, etc.)   The building is Stucco.  Hence, I'd like
to get it away or at minimum, above the edge of the roof.   There is no
grass to speak of, so it's not an option to put down radials.  A real tower
would be pushing my luck.



I plan to run about 600 Watts out of a solid state amplifier into a tuner
and then the antenna.  My favorite bands are 40, 20 and 10 now that it's
open.  I am normally very active on OMISS and 3905 Century Club Nets.



Antennas to consider:



Cushcraft R9 - (80-10) - 33 Feet - No Radials

MFJ-1799 (80-2M) - 20 Feet - No radials

Gap Titan DX (80-10) - 26  Feet - No radials.



I will say, that my last experience with the titan was not a positive one,
but I'm willing to give it a second try.



I'm open to any all suggestions, short of anything that involves more than a
screwdriver.  (I don't have access to things like Pipe Cutters, welding
equipment or anything beyond the most basic soldering equipment.)



Thanks for indulging, and look forward to the responses.



Dave, W5DMT

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