| Author |
Message |
    
Sinker
Intermediate Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 127
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Monday, October 03, 2005 - 11:49 am: | 
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After all my NON SUCCESS making contacts on CEF Sundays I am seriously considering a Beam Antenna.
Found a 30' Tower for $60.00 but sounds like I will need to get up higher. Code will only let me go 35' here and I will need a permit. The peak of my roof is 27' so not sure it would be worth it.
Tim
CEF-634 |
Starface
Intermediate Member
Username: Starface
Post Number: 218
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Monday, October 03, 2005 - 5:50 pm: |
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sinker put the tower up a 5 foot mast coming out of it and then the antenna ,,,,you should get away with that... I'm at 40 foot and a 1 foot mast coming out of it then antenna ,,, been in the city 2 years and nothing
sorry I know this didn't have nothing to do with the maco beam, just trying to help a fellow hobbiest |
Sinker
Intermediate Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 129
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 04, 2005 - 4:51 pm: |
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Is 35' high enough for a beam antenna.
I do not want to go through all the hassle of pulling permits and having the tower installation inspected and all if I can't get up high enough for it to do any good. Like I said my roof line at peak is 27' and have trees well over 50' high around me as well (very thick and within feet to the south of me - vacant lot).
I have very nosey folks around here who have nothing better to do than report code violations. Two weeks after I moved in got nailed for my boat being in my driveway. Code says no more than 24 hours so I used to take it out of the garage and leave it in the drive till midnight then would put it back in till 6am the next morning. A number of neighbors asked why I did this and I let it be known I was miffed about some jerk calling code enforcement on me so I was messing with them. The boat is brand new and not an eye sore by any means.
Already getting grief about the antenna being on top of my roof with guide ropes. It is within code so as long as I don't cause interference they will get used to it or move.
A tower and beam would just make me the hit of the neighborhood. Maybe I should get a Maco Lazer 400 - that would get them.
Seriously though I think I will keep looking for a tower with a winch that I can put up and down and get a good but not large beam antenna.
Thoughts ??? |
Moonraker
Junior Member
Username: Moonraker
Post Number: 22
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 04, 2005 - 9:07 pm: |
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I only thought my neighbors were bad! It sounds like you need to be alot higher than 35ft (or start a forest fire). I hope you get it figured out. |
Bburck
Junior Member
Username: Bburck
Post Number: 40
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - 6:22 am: |
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Sinker,
I used to have my M105 on a 30ft tower and had NO problems talking anywhere that I could hear. I used to experiment with making my own antennas, too, and had a 3 element horizontal yagi on a 10 foot pole stuck in the ground and was able to talk on it very well also. My point is, that the higher you can get, the better, but no matter what, as long as the beam is off of the ground you will be in business...
just my 2¢ worth
WoodStock
Augusta, GA Home of the Masters |
Marconi
Intermediate Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 442
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - 9:50 am: |
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Sinker, just to let you know if you have not already heard. I don't know for sure what the other guys success at contacts is on CEF Sundays, but right now is not a good time for DX and to some lesser degree a good time for local radio in general. This is due to conditions beyond our control and has to do with nature (referred to as the 11 year cycle). You are yanking yourself around trying, spending a lot of money and time, changing things without really knowing, and not having much success.
I do not recommend having any antenna on the roof of your home, it is dangerous. If you can get the antenna, any antenna, on a tower would be better. Anything in the 30' - 40' range should work well if your area (property) is suitable for good radio waves. There are areas know as hot spots and dead spots on the earth. You might be in a dead spot and maybe it doesn't matter what you put up there. Right now we are in the bottom of the cycle, the worst part, so give yourself a break.
Maybe this will get some more discussion about what is going on right now that affects us all and has you pulling your hair out. |
Sinker
Intermediate Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 171
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - 3:52 pm: |
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I had just read the Sun Spot Cycle thing the other night.
I am not crazy about the antenna on the roof either for looks but how is it dangerous???
I figure even if I get a Tower it will have to be mounted to the side of the house and is just as likely to get hit by lightening if that is what you meant.
Thanks everybody for helping out.
Tim
CEF-634 |
Sinker
Intermediate Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 174
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, October 20, 2005 - 9:48 am: |
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MARCONI - put up another post titled TECHS NEED HELP - Antenna Separation - TECHS NEED HELP
Decided you were right so sat down and figured out what did I want further down the road. Making those changes now - mostly because I about killed myself getting my 20' Maco with 20' of mast out of the tripod mount and off the roof and am not doing it again. Had to take it down both to fix the SWR and because of Hurricane WILMA.
Bburck- Thank You as well - again another reason for the new post as no need to spend th cash for a 50' tower if 30 or 40 will do.
Tim
CEF-634 |
