Towertalk
[Top] [All Lists]

[TowerTalk] Radical alternative for pinning beams

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Radical alternative for pinning beams
From: aa4lr@radio.org (Bill Coleman AA4LR)
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 97 10:33:53 -0400
On 7/2/97 10:05, Lee Buller at k0wa@southwind.net wrote:

>Why not take some duct tape and strap on a GPS device on the boom.  The duct
>tape will stick for a year and weather coat the device to boot.  Use a GPS
>that has an RS232 interface and hook it to a Windows program.

Great idea, Lee. Someone else also suggested this in private e-mail.

You'll need TWO GPS antennas, since a typical GPS receiver is only 
accurate to around 300 feet. Having two antennas allows you to correct 
for the variation in GPS position that occurs from time to time. (A 
technique known as differential GPS)

Of course, a layer of duct tape alone won't do for TowerTalk readers. 
First, you'd have a layer of duct tape. Then a layer of vulcanising 
rubber (but not the dreaded Coax-Seal, 'cause you'll never get it off) 
Then a layer of Scotch 33 or 88. Then spray with a clear enamel spray. 
Then another layer of Scotch 33 or 88, making sure to wrap upwards and 
relax the tape before finishing the wrap to prevent flagging.

Then again, you'd have to repeat this process each time you replaced the 
batteries in the GPS unit....



Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr@radio.org
Quote: "Not in a thousand years will man ever fly!"
            -- Wilbur Wright, 1901


--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com
Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>