Yep... title reads it... I'm constructing a Amateur Radio tower...

Today I went out and bought a 16' 6x6, with 4 pieces of 24" rebar, 10 bags of cement, 2 pieces of 10' steel pipe, on section 2" and one section 1".

I purchased a Diamond X700HNA 24' 2m/70cm antenna, along with a MFJ-1778 G5RV HF antenna which is 102'. Along with some Polyphaser lightning arresters and 2 grounds.

It will be around 55' tall after all is said and done.

I put the 16' 6x6 in the ground 3', using the rebar and the 10 bags of cement. It isn't going no place.

Pictures to come.

 

So what...ham comes out of your radio speakers?

 

that would be awesome. i would live out of my truck no need for a house.

 

 

Congrats

 

You'll have to take photos of this sucker going together. I sorta got a ideal of what your doing but not 100% sure. 6x6 in the concrete with the 2" pipe on top then the 1" pipe on that with the antenna on top all grounded out. Don't sound too terribly hard but did you price just using tower sections? Might have been cheaper and easier going that route.

 

Your neighbors are going to hate you, and unless you have some sort of wire/cable to tie the pole into the ground and add stability, you're going to get a lesson in wind resistance, followed by stress breaking points, then gravity.

 

Something tells me there is already some kind of reason his neighbors hate him .

 

 

 

 

Gotta love it, wind resistance vs roll over. hmm . better install some guy lines.

 

Actually, my neighbors have like 5 antennas, along with a satellite field in their backyard. Their backyard has more dishes than the Arecibo Radio Observatory.

As far as needing a guide-wire to the ground, it should not be needed. The 2" pipe along with the 1" pipe extension should do the trick. I am putting the 2" pipe 3" on the 6x6, and the 1" pipe 3' on the 2" pipe. I am using 3 heavy duty U-Bolts on the attachment of the 2" pipe to the 6x6, and 3 smaller U-Bolts on the 2" to 1" pipe.

According to a friend whos been an antenna builder for about 20 years, he said that I can raise the mast poles to 2' on each, but I want to make sure it lasts a really long time, along with the maximum amount of wind resistance. He's going to also help me make sure it is grounded properly, and to ensure it is within proper SWR and that everything is properly done.

It'll be good.

 

Well... I was going to buy a tower... but I didn't want the ugly look of a tower. I wanted something home-brew style.

As far as tower sections, I was looking at well over $500 +/- on some additional hardware and other junk. Not to mention I would need the antennas still, along with some other stuff.

I spent a total of $100 on this tower.

The 6x6 is cemented in the ground, and it does NOT move! When I mean it don't move, the 6x6 is so far into the ground, and well cemented, I don't think my truck could pull it out.

I u-bolted the two mast sections together tonight, and they seem pretty dang sturdy being the 1" mast pole at 3' on the 2" mast pole, which is going to be 3' on the 6x6 with some insane sized u-bolts that are made from stainless steel.

I put a grounding stake in, so it should be looking pretty good.


I can't wait to get my antennas...

 

well of course YOUR truck couldn't pull it out