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Message |
    
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 7096
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 10:24 pm: | 
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This Topic has been moved here from the Open Area of the Copper Forum.
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN |
Sinker
Junior Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 15
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 9:08 am: |
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OK taking the advice from you fine members I am ready to start working on steps 1 & 2 (Antenna & Coax).
1. Antenna - I am limited here both by space and money. A directional antenna (although as much as I want one) is out of the question. So I am looking at a small tower with a omni directional antenna. I have heard good things about the IMAX 2000 - does this come with a Ground Plane kit as well? I have also heard good things about the MACO Alpha 5 & the MACO V-5000 Antennas.
Can I get some feed back and thoughts on these antennas and or any others I should look at.
2. COAX - Frankly I know little here. I am presently running RG8 from Radio Shack. Again I would like to get the best that I can. The run will be a pretty good distance of about 150 feet. Right now I will only be putting minimum wattage through it but in time hope to get my lic. and up that. I DO NOT want to create ant TVI for the neighbors or anything like that so am hoping the good stuff will keep me from doing so.
Question: Do I need to get the tip or the base of the antenna up above the power pole and lines. I will only be about 25 feet from a pole that runs wires AWAY from me. I will have a local company raise the tower and antenna as I don't want to get into those lines ya know.
Also living in East Central Florida on the coast we get some good winds during our evening thunder storms and then of course when the Hurricanes come in some BIG WINDS so that too is a factor.
I will use this with the gear (radio) I have for some time before I can save the money and make the decision of what I want to get next.
THOUGHTS ??? |
Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237
Post Number: 198
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 9:25 am: |
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My thougths - heck yes get it as much above the line as possible. This way you will reduce the chances of picking up any nosie from the lines. Also by getting your antenna up (hopefully higher than the local TV antennas) you reduce the risks of TVI too. |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 6903
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 9:28 am: |
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Sinker,
No the IMAX 2000 does not come with the GP / Ground Plane Kit.
Click on the LINK Below to read a GREAT ARTICLE written by Tech833 for more information on which antenna would best suit your needs and it will also help answer most all of your questions.
How to Choose a Ground Plane Antenna
Hope this helps,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN
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Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 3088
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 10:28 am: |
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I live in west central florida and in most counties if you run a pole of more than 2 inch in dia and over 35 foot you will have to pull a permit.
LMR-400 and simular coaxs are not cheep but on a 150 foot run would lose less than radio-shack rg-8. Now at CB and bands below 6 meters you shouls be ok even with the RG-8.
I have found the TOP-ONE worked well even at 20 foot and almost suvived 100 mph winds. It is not as good as a 5/8 wave but mine gave a VERY low SWR and low noise over the 40 leagal cb ch right out of the box. |
Sinker
Junior Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 16
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 10:29 am: |
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Tech808,
A big thank you, the link was great. Looks like I will be getting the MACO V-5000.
Any help on COAX???
Thanks to Tech 833 as well for the hard work and info. . . |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1058
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 10:38 am: |
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In your case, I would suggest the following:
Antenna- Top One.
Coax- LMR 400.
Run a solid copper wire (#10 0r #8 will do) from the antenna mounting bracket to a ground rod at the bottom of the tower. Also ground the bottom of the tower to this same rod.
Use a TVI filter as close to the radio as possible. Ground this to a ground rod at the cable entry. Also, I would add a polyphaser bonded to the ground rod right where the coax enters your house.
This setup will also work well on the 10 meter ham band and handle the full legal limit on the ham bands. |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 3089
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 10:35 am: |
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This is a good place to check if you have any questions on local codes. Pinellas county allows as I said a 2 inch dia pole up to 35 foot tall NO PROBLEM!
http://www.municode.com/resources/code_list.asp?stateID=9 |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 795
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 4:07 pm: |
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Tech 833 or whoever can answer,
I had a Top one up for awhile, not a bad
antenna. But, i didn't have it up long
enough to know whether or not it would take
high winds. Can a Top One take the high
winds that Sinker has in florida???
I did not have any TVI,RFI issues while running
Top One as i did with other antennas.
If it takes winds, seems like a great choice
to me.
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Sinker
Junior Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 17
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 5:34 pm: |
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This afternoons Thunder Storms had 50mph winds. Pretty common so after reading the advice of Tech833 I guess the Top One may be the way to go. Of course whatever I have up, I will take down during Hurricanes as last year I had pine cones hit my hurricane shudders and put inch and a half dents in them.
Road Warrior, why did you only have it up for awhile???
I take it that this is the antenna I should be ordering - http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/checkitout/checkitout.cgi?catalogSTORE:CKIE:prodS80-00010+ |
Kid_vicious
Advanced Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 550
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 5:50 pm: |
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i second the LNR400 notion. get it from a place that does only coax, and have them put the PL-259's on for you. they have the tools and know how to get them on right!
matt |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 796
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 6:30 pm: |
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I had it up for a short while because
it was actually my uncles antenna. I
had up a Imax 2000 and it produced bad
RFI problems to my neighbors and a high
noise floor on recieve in my radio.
So, i borrowed his Top One until i figured
out what antenna i wanted to use. I'm just
a cber who talks mainly local rag-chew and
some DX, so, a wide bandwidth antenna was
not important to me. So, i choose to mount a I-10K antenna on my tower... While i used the Top One it did very good and RFI problems to
neighbors stopped. And i had alot less static
noise which i could hear distant stations better.
No SWRS to set, just put antenna together correctly and you will achieve a good SWR.
Whether or not it will hold up to florida winds
or not, can't answer that one. But, they are
cheap enough in price to give it a try...
Good Luck with whatever you do...
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Kid_vicious
Advanced Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 553
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 7:11 pm: |
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tech 833's review of the groundplane antennas coevers the wind speed rating.
IMO, there's not an antenna that can touch the TOP ONE when it comes to wind handling.
the antenna wraps around the mast.
i do suggest that anyone thinking of buying a top one antenna should read my thread titled "top one at 44' to the tip".
in that thread i tell in detail what to do to make this a nearly indesructable antenna. (short of lightning that is).
i run a top one with the LMR400 coax and my swr's are at 1.4 on 26.815 and 1.6 at 27.995.
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Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 797
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 7:38 pm: |
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I do not go by wind ratings as i've had and
seen antennas fail below the wind speed ratings.
Those are just general guidelines.
We have one Cber around here who runs a
Astro-plane and it's been up for many many
years without any problems. With the Top One
close in design i sort of figured it should take
high winds. Thanks Kid for your input....
JIM/CEF 375
Central PA
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Sinker
Junior Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 18
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 8:01 pm: |
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Here is a link to Kid vicious's thread TOP ONE AT 44' TO THE TIP, now you won't have to hunt for it.
OK, so Kid vicious have any pics of this? Would be very interested in the connection of the ring where you stated i used uv resistant rope to anchor the ring to the mast and keep the mast at the center of the ring also do you really thing the shrink tube helped out on the top radials??? Where can I get the black dacron covered antenna rope 3/16" and how did you tie this???
Now I will not be that high in the air. I will only be about 25 to 30 feet at most at the tip of the mast so if the antenna centers around the mast then it (being the bottom of the antenna) may not even clear my roof line - is this going to be a major problem???
Sounds like I am getting another box of stuff mailed to me, she said it had radio and microphones in it and such but new nothing of what they were so we will see. |
Rover
Intermediate Member
Username: Rover
Post Number: 272
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 8:22 pm: |
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Here's yet another tip. Avoid the Rad Shack coax. Spend just a bit extra for better quality RG8 or 8X--even LMR400. |
Sinker
Junior Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 19
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 8:37 pm: |
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Agreed I will be getting the LMR400 and a small tower. Actually will be following Tech833's advice as best I can. It may take me some time to save the money to buy everything but in time I will be set up and talking to you CEF members regularly I hope. Thinking I need to get in some large orders for custom fishing rods so I can go crazy when the Copper Catalog arrives in the mail...
Also think the SSB on the base unit is shot, well needs a lot of help. Started asking about techs in the area and was told there are no good ones except for some guy who does it on the side at night - think I need to find someone reputable and send it out maybe. |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 798
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 9:35 pm: |
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Well, at 25-30 ft in height, Top One will
work the best. I know what you mean about
local good Techs. Have had a few radios over
the years butchered by Tech want-to-bes.
Hey, good luck with your setup::::::
JIM/ CEF 375
CENTRAL PA
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Kid_vicious
Advanced Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 555
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 12:51 am: |
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sinker, im hoping to get some pics uploaded next week. cant do it any sooner.
the rope im referring to is nylon rope, with a black dacron covering on it so that the sun wont degrade it.
i also use it for my guy wires. i dont know if you can use it where you are as i dont know the tensile strength of the rope.
as for the rope at the base; the hoop comes in four pieces and has four bolts, each 90* from the other. tie a 24" piece of rope right next to one of the bolts. then wrap the rope around the mast once and then tie the other end of the rope to the next bolt that is 90* from the one you started on. when tying the rope, make sure you keep the mast centered on the hoop. then do the same procedure with the other two bolts.
when i get pics it will be easier to get.
the top one antenna is just about 84" (7 feet) from the top mounting bracket (top of mast) to the hoop at the bottom. the vertical sticking up past the top of the mast is about four feet long.
you have to have 8.5 feet of free space below the hoop for it to work properly.
so; from top of mast, you want to make sure that you have at least 16' or so before you get to the house, etc.
im not sure if the heat shrink tubing helps or not, but since it couldnt hurt and i had it lying around i used it.
the A-1 most important thing you need to do is use an anti-oxidizer on all the metal to metal connections. i got mine at lowes for about $4.
its called "ox-guard". use it!!!
hope this helps.
matt |
Sinker
Junior Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 20
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 11:36 am: |
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Thanks for the advice. I only have one ten foot section of mast above the eve of the house so guess I will need to add another 10' but this will mean needing guy wires, as it already swings pretty good in the wind with the A-99 on it at the above existing mast height.
Once I get it moved to the new location it will be better set up for the guide wire installation, where it is now is anything but ideal, in fact may not even be possible. Although the new location is closer to a power pole and bunch of large trees :-( but the neighbors won't complain any more about the unsightly thing in the air on the side of my house.
Had no idea how much towers were - WOW - need to work harder and save some money. |
Wrk3
Member
Username: Wrk3
Post Number: 71
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 12:10 pm: |
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Sinker,,,Look at these towers:http://www.universaltowers.com/ |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 801
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 1:36 pm: |
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I'm glad my neighbors are not like that.
I have a 39 ft tower near my house.
You could search around florida for
used tower that is no longer being used.
I had a guy around here give me my tower
just to get it out of his yard. And it was
still in good shape as Galvanized steel doesn't
rust that much.
JIM/ CEF 375
CENTRAL PA |
Cornbrown
Junior Member
Username: Cornbrown
Post Number: 22
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 2:11 pm: |
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I'm glad my neighbors are not like that.
I have a 39 ft tower near my house.
You could search around florida for
used tower that is no longer being used.
"I had a guy around here give me my tower
just to get it out of his yard. And it was
still in good shape as Galvanized steel doesn't
rust that much.
JIM/ CEF 375
CENTRAL PA"
Road Warrior,
You are lucky!!! My neighbors called the County on me... They forced me to take down my antenna... But it's ok now because I just got my permit approved. All i have to do now is to put my antenna back up. I plan to do it next week. "Now They can complain to my coax" |
