I suggest that you put up a couple of dipoles as high as you can.
Feed them with open-wire line and do some operating on several
bands. Use appropriate stealth techniques. While you are doing
this continue to research the "collapsible beam" idea. You will
also be able to use this operating time to see if anyone
complains about RFI or wires, or whatever. If no complaints are
noted then I think a couple of things will develop:
1. You will find that the dipoles aren't really bad antennas and
you really can make a lot of QSOs with them;
2. Depending on how much "cover" your trees give you, you can try
a 2-wire bi-directional beam;
The "collapsible beam" idea may linger on, but it will fade
unless you come up with a really remarkable idea. If this
happens then you will have something that will be truly
marketable and will represent a business opportunity. Call me
and I will be an investor.
One other thought ..... I am moving soon to an area that forbids
"transmitting or receiving towers". Antennas are not mentioned.
Do your covenants specifically prohibit antennas? Such a
prohibition would be pretty drastic, given that antennas can be
as short as a few inches.
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of
froggy@awaforums.com
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 5:36 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Covert Mast and Yagi
Here's a challenging question (at least challenging for me). I
currently live in a covenant restricted community that doesn't
allow
antennas. Since I have trees around the house, I realize that it
is
not difficult to set up a dipole, or two, or three. What I'm
curious
about is whether one could setup a mast of some sort that could
be
extended at night with a yagi (or similar) antenna at its top. I
have
a dogpen (no dog) at the side of the house that has sides six
feet
high (chain link with plastic strips to hide the inside from
view)
with internal dimensions of 12'X12'. I have had musings about
possibly "landing" the antenna in the dogpen before the sun comes
up.
Otherwise, the whole project gets turned into a "pumpkin".
Force 12 has some interesting extendable masts on their website.
Are
there other masts that extend to a workable level, and still
collapse
to the six foot level I need to hide the antenna during the day?
Am I
smokin' crack on this one, or are there directional antennas that
could could fit into my dogpen dimensions when retracted.
If nothing else, it's a thought exercise. I just don't have the
background to figure out if it's even possible with off the shelf
hardware.
Regards!
Mark
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers",
"Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free,
1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
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_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
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