Hi,
If your primary aesthetic concern is your wife's opinion you may want to
try something that has worked for me...
I put in a crank-up tower and 3 element SteppIR next to our house on a
city lot. Here's a link to a picture of the tower and antenna cranked down
to 20 feet (50 foot tower).
http://www.qsl.net/kf9yr/steppir.html (download is slow)
When I put the tower up I just put the rotor and mast on when she was home
(and left it cranked down).
We went to the jewelry store and bought a nice diamond pendant she had
wanted...
I took a vacation day, put up the SteppIR and cables, cranked up the tower
and played on the radio until she came home from work.
Her first words were something about that obnoxious antenna...
I then said thanks for understanding my hobby.
I've since bought an Orion and another Icom 706 for a mobile rig. I made
sure there was enough money for her to get something she wanted at the same
time.
If she doesn't like jewelry there's always new furniture, painting, fancy
porcelain knick-knacks, fancy sewing machines, appliances, etc...
It's not a bribe, it's a "thanks for understanding, I'd like to do
something for you" present.
The hard part is waiting until you have saved enough money for both
purchases...
I didn't save your original post so I don't remember if you mentioned your
primary operating interests.
If you're looking for DX contacts you may be better off with a vertical
antenna since you'll get a lower takeoff angle than a horizontally polarized
antenna at 30 feet.
I'm sure one of the many guys with lots of modeling/testing experience
will pipe up with the differences.
If you're mostly a ragchewer or like making domestic contacts a short
tower and horizontal beam will probably fill your needs nicely...
73,
George / KF9YR
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Delbert Matlock
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2005 10:14 AM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Cc: nq4s@arrl.net
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Looking for photo of 30' tower
From: "Jim Lux" <jimlux@earthlink.net>
Date: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 06:53:47 -0700
>
> At 06:39 AM 10/4/2005, ChetMoore wrote:
>
> > Delbert,
> >
> > Lobby for 40 feet and then either get a C3 or its smaller brother the
C3SS.
> > Spend the 20 bux and get K7LXC's tribander report to see why. Consider a
> > tubular tower if its to please the xyl. After a few months it won't
make
> > any difference to the xyl if its 30 or 40 feet but it sure will to you.
>
>
> In some jurisdictions, if you stay below 12 feet above the roofline, the
> regulatory hassles are much fewer. If your house is 18 ft tall at the
> roofline, then 30 ft might be a sweet spot.
>
> On a related note.. if you're looking for something that is very low
profile
> visually, what about something like the Spiderbeam.
>
> http://www.spiderbeam.net/
>
> It's really a portable antenna, but it's also just wires and some cross
> members. Sort of like an amateur antenna version of a "Hills Hoist"
Jim,
I've been looking at the Spiderbeam since its review in QST a few months
ago. Smaller tower required but still has a mighty big wingspan. Still,
when and if the time comes to buy the antenna, I will be considering it.
The low visibility of a mostly wire antenna helps.
Regarding tower height, the top of my roof is about 20' to 22' high. A 30'
tower right behind the house seems about the right size to clear the
structure but not dominate the neighborhood. It will have to be right next
to the house being that there are a couple of very big maple trees further
back in the yard. Also, it will have to be behind the house as there is
only about 16' of clearance on the sides and I don't want the antenna
hanging over the neighbors property.
Still, when all is done, it will be the visual impact that I have to sell
the wife on. Putting it next to the back of the house will lower the
impact, and painting might help some too, but if the antenna has a large
presence the wife will probably veto it. At least she has signed off on a
dipole between the trees.
Delbert (NQ4S)
_______________________________________________
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
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.9/116 - Release Date: 9/30/2005
_______________________________________________
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
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|