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Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 644
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 8:20 pm: | 
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Ok, Im in the opening stages of setting up my tower. Other than building the top 10ft section myself the only thing holding me back is my own warped mind.
Initial idea was perfectly simple. Tower is to be approx. 40ft and hold an M103 on the flat side with my choice of verticle on top. Simple enough.
While playing with ideas I started to look at one of my 2 Shakes big sticks. Looking toward the garage I thought. "Hey if I could fix an internal short in one of these I could set it up on the eve of the garage and talk local while watching my kids in the pool"...grand idea but too good in fact.
As some may recall my REAL base station is in the basement...well I now find that the Shakespere at 10ft(yes TEN FEET TO FEED) tied to an old Cobra 89GTL base gets out over 10-15mi!...NO kidding (Pat..you know where I am. I give Shirley/Mastic stations S-3 as well as Branford CT...go figure!?) It was supposed to be around town fun! Next I see myself wanting to talk DX from the garage and add some heat..just a little 
OK now that you see where my mind is at lets go back to the tower install for the REAL base. My problem is: Now that I have found the outdoor garage MUCH more enjoyable than the humid basement,at least for the summer months,I think I'd like it tied to the same antenna (the vert. not the beam) as the original basement station.
Here's where the problem comes in. I assume I now have to add an antenna switch at one of the two stations to do this right.
Problem is the garage is about 75ft from the house. I'd have to run the coax from the basement to the garage then back closer to the house where the tower will be. Is there ANYTHING I could install at the base of the tower to attach both coax feeds to the verticle?
I've seen the TEE fittings and not quite sure what they would be used for? It would seem to me that if I put a "T" at the bottom with both stations feeding one line the signal would not be able to tell the antenna from the other coax?
Is there an Automatic antenna switch that would handle 500+ watts ? (just in case...I like to overbuild)
Would the "T" work and I'm just over thinking? I think NOT.
Should I go with the above mentioned resort and run A LOT of coax from base to garage then back to tower?
Sorry to get long winded but I wanted you all to see it exactly the same way I'm seeing it. Hope your all able to cut through it all and see what I'm looking for....cause I can't any more...my brain hurts!
Any ideas?
NUTSHELL / Bottom line! Two stations approx 100' apart (radio to radio) want to share the same antenna at different times...discuss
Hank |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1850
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 10:29 pm: |
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well, the T wont work, and for the reasons you mentioned. im sure there are other reasons that it wont work.
the automatic antenna switch would be a great idea, but they are kinda pricey, and we both know that projects like this never get off the ground if the price is too high.
i really think your best option is to mount an antenna switch at the base of the tower, and just go out there and manually switch it when you want to use the other radio.
besides, think about it this way:
once you get that tower up; you are going to want to gaze and stare at it any chance you get.
now you'll have an excuse when the wife asks you what you are so fixated on. "im switching my antennas baby."
just putit in a box to weatherproof it.
good luck, keep us "posted"
matt |
Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 647
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 5:45 am: |
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Kid,
Yep, kinda thought that direction and I DO have access to an automatic switch but I think its only good for 100w. I could to the manual switch though. It would save a good couple feet in coax. I'd have to mount it eye level so I don't have to dig it out of the snow!
Thanks,
Hank |
Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237
Post Number: 401
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 9:21 am: |
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Of course there is the other option that I have seen used commercially. Modify the radio so that it can be remote operated from one of the two possible locations.
I might be mistaken but I think I have seen plans to make a high wattage automatic switch somewhere like QST or the ARRL Handbook but cannot remember where. |
Jameslarson
Intermediate Member
Username: Jameslarson
Post Number: 232
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 1:41 pm: |
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A tower? Congratulations. How was the wife? Did you have to convince her? I only ask because as you know, I live in a very similiar neighborhood, and maybe it's just me, but I could only imagine the complaints I would get from the "Long Island" neighbors when installing such a tower.
After all, we don't live in the Mid west where we have acres and acres of land. I'm shaking in my boots just trying to install an IMAX in a tree painted to blend right in. A tower???? Now I'm jealous.  |
Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 650
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 5:54 am: |
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Tech237...interesting idea. I'll have to look that up.
James...well I already "surprised" her with the mast I have now right next to the house. That mast started out at 20ft some time ago and within a week was at 36'...then came the guy wires . Promised her the tower would go more "behind" the house and aside from looking MUCH better..you wouldn't see it as much from the street. Can't just jump into these things with the wife and nieghbors...baby steps  Start out small and upgrade when they're not watching.
Hank |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1496
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 11:03 am: |
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Hank, My dad and I live together. A couple years ago we shared one Imax antenna. We used a good qaulity Gold Line antenna switch box. Instead of 2 antennas, 2 radios. We just hooked it up backwards and of course used a lot more coax. SWR was low enough to be acceptable. We did use some 2 pill amps and performance was not bad but could have been better.Not sure if it was even done correct from an impedance standpoint. Not sure if 75ohm coax should have been used somewhere like when you use 2 antennas. It did work though. I never want to have to go that route anymore though and it was only temporary. You would probably save yourself some head hair by just putting up a garage antenna but hey we cbers do this kind of stuff.Hope you get it worked out.73 |
Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 651
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 2:37 pm: |
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I hear you Kenny.
As it is I'm using an antenna switch in the basement to govern 4 radios! Two are right there in the shack, one is a dedicated test lead and the last goes directly UP and into the bedroom on top of my dresser...remember baby steps?
I detect no measurable loss but really don't like the idea of yet another switch inline especially now that the coax is getting LONGER.
Tell you this though..IF I were to raise the garage antenna to 25-30ft AND put up a tower 40ft away.....OH...I'd hear about that one!
I still get the "look" from "cell phone lady" whenever she looks out the back door and sees the garage with an antenna.  |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1499
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, July 01, 2006 - 9:08 am: |
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MAN! What is it with the wifes girlfriends and neighbors in this country! A cbers life is rough as it is without all the hassle.They just don't understand how important it is to have the highest possible most monstrosity of an antenna possible!
I got it Hank. HUGE horizontal dipole! Just tell cell phone lady its a clothes line and its up so high for good wind to dry pants faster! Just don't get tricked in becoming LAUNDRY GUY! Or you can take your chances and say "Listen here woman!... I'm the VanillaGorilla you see, I do what I want!!" Just remember to duck and keep my name out of your mouth cause I can't duck very fast! And I bruise easy... I've heard NewYork women don't take much lip so maybe its a bad idea. OK gotta stop pretending to be a tough guy now. Mine just walked through the door and said something and I was'nt listening so I gotta go! Gotta hurry up and hide this post! |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1859
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, July 01, 2006 - 11:15 pm: |
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geez, you guys are whoo...
what was that babe?
sure i'll go to the store, what isle are those things in again?
matt |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1504
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, July 02, 2006 - 9:59 am: |
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Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237
Post Number: 406
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 03, 2006 - 7:24 pm: |
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Lets see a couple of transistors, a nice little crystal (around 27.5Mhz) and a short piece of wire. Solder it together, add a 9v battery and toss it just near her TV antenna. Should have her going crazy over something else for about 2 months - or until they find it.
I disclaim any knowledge of the above information. |
Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 660
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 5:18 am: |
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