HAM Tower
Suspended
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,234
Likes: 0
From: North of Dallas Tx
It flowed so nicely
Thread Starter
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Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,636
Likes: 264
From: Vernon, NY
My antennas are coming in on Monday, however, the weather doesn't look too favorable in my area... which really ticks me off... as usual.
I drove a 8' NEC approved copper grounding rod into the ground, and then attached 4 gauge wire to the ground rod using a copper grounding coupler. I then ran the copper ground, and I've got it wound up on the roof waiting to be connected to the mast.
I had a guy come over to check it out, and it looks to be fine as far as grounding and wind resistance.
The mast is so strong I can lean my ladder against it, and climb up... it's a little wobbly, but it's STRONG. I was guessing I was putting at least 100 pounds against it or more at the very top, telling me that my antenna would rip off well before the mast structure would. In which it would probably take 150+ mph winds... something that we don't get around here...
I'll post pictures when it's all done, which should be Tuesday if all goes as planned.
I drove a 8' NEC approved copper grounding rod into the ground, and then attached 4 gauge wire to the ground rod using a copper grounding coupler. I then ran the copper ground, and I've got it wound up on the roof waiting to be connected to the mast.
I had a guy come over to check it out, and it looks to be fine as far as grounding and wind resistance.
The mast is so strong I can lean my ladder against it, and climb up... it's a little wobbly, but it's STRONG. I was guessing I was putting at least 100 pounds against it or more at the very top, telling me that my antenna would rip off well before the mast structure would. In which it would probably take 150+ mph winds... something that we don't get around here...
I'll post pictures when it's all done, which should be Tuesday if all goes as planned.
Thread Starter
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Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,636
Likes: 264
From: Vernon, NY
Well, surprisingly I got my antennas up, and everything is functional... except I am having a problem when I transmit on HF, my touch lamps keep cycling on and off, and my fire alarm goes off.
I think I need to move my antenna.
I decided to cut down on the antenna, and decided to order a Diamond X-300A and a G5RV. The X-300A is working like a charm, and I can pick up stations as far away as 300 miles using simplex.
The HF antenna works excellent, except for the fire alarm and touch lamp issue. I think I will need to relocate that antenna further back... which is not a problem because I don't use it enough to require it to be in place all the time.
However I built my mast merely for the 144/440 mhz band.
Pictures will be up tomorrow, I promise!
I think I need to move my antenna.
I decided to cut down on the antenna, and decided to order a Diamond X-300A and a G5RV. The X-300A is working like a charm, and I can pick up stations as far away as 300 miles using simplex.
The HF antenna works excellent, except for the fire alarm and touch lamp issue. I think I will need to relocate that antenna further back... which is not a problem because I don't use it enough to require it to be in place all the time.
However I built my mast merely for the 144/440 mhz band.
Pictures will be up tomorrow, I promise!
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,472
Likes: 1
From: Des Moines, IA
Manual... You wonder why you can't find a woman...
What a great pick up line:
"Hey baby wanna go back to my place and take a gander at my ham tower?!"
Followed by mace to the face.
What a great pick up line:
"Hey baby wanna go back to my place and take a gander at my ham tower?!"
Followed by mace to the face.
Last edited by NoLongerJeepin; Jul 29, 2008 at 04:08 AM.
