Beginner ham antenna questions

[bhayles]

Back to antennas...how do I translate antenna rotator turning power, given in ft inches by the manufacturer, into size of antenna the rotator will handle, given in weight?

In simpler terms, how do I figure how heavy an antenna a given rotator will turn when the rotator info available is inch pounds of turning power?

 

[bhayles]

Gary...now THAT looks great. I'm already keeping my eyes open for an external VFO so I can listen in one place while talking in another. That speaker looks good too. So far I only have the built in speaker...and headphones so I don't disturb the family...hehehe. Sounds like I also need an "external shack" to go with the external speaker and VFO.

 

[BJ radionut]

Here's another option to keep your eyes open for Bob....This will make your TS-130 really sound "sweet" IMO best mic you can put on that radio...The pictures are of the same mic just different color.
Shure 444D...I have the Gray, only because I think it matches the rig better, just make sure it has the original element. You can find these at Hamfests wired for KW all the time...if in good to excellent condition(all original) $30-$50 is a good price.

 

[BJ radionut]

http://www.inrad.net/product.php?productid=212&cat=144&page=1

I know I am loading up on you, but this little item "REALLY" Makes that receiver come to life!
eBay item #371098175765

Above is the KW filter...Good but I prefer the IRAD model...but about 2 X the cost!
All the Best
Gary

PS: How goes the UPGRADE studies? Your Antenna Project?

 

[bhayles]

http://www.inrad.net/product.php?productid=212&cat=144&page=1

I know I am loading up on you, but this little item "REALLY" Makes that receiver come to life!
eBay item #371098175765

Above is the KW filter...Good but I prefer the IRAD model...but about 2 X the cost!
All the Best
Gary

PS: How goes the UPGRADE studies? Your Antenna Project?

Take the General exam a week from Monday. I wouldn't pass if I took it right now, but I WILL be ready on the 18th. I have some memory issues due to one of my carotid arteries being 100% o9ccluded and that is making the questions about "what frequency is in the XXX band" give me fits remembering, but I'll get it in time.

The antenna is built and everything needed to hang it is right here by my desk...just having some problems finding someone to climb 70 ft up two of my trees.

As for all the other suggestions by folks on things to keep an eye out for...don't worry about loading me up. I'll sort through what I need/want/can afford and pick up what I can when I can afford it. I like that even though this is an antenna forum this thread has been so diverse. It is a good "everything you need to know to get started" thread all in one place. It has become a great resource for me and perhaps it will be for other newbies as well.

 

[bhayles]

There are major glitches in this new forum software...that last post of mine was supposed to quote Gary's questions about the upgrade and antenna...that's the button I clicked...and instead quoted binrat...there is still work to do on it.

 

[Road Squawker]

Back to antennas...how do I translate antenna rotator turning power, given in ft inches by the manufacturer, into size of antenna the rotator will handle, given in weight?

In simpler terms, how do I figure how heavy an antenna a given rotator will turn when the rotator info available is inch pounds of turning power?

actually, that is kinda apples and oranges.
rotor "turning power" has less to do with weight, and more to do with surface area. a properly installed antenna usually has a thrust bearing to take the weight off the rotor.

the real turning/braking issue is square footage and "sail" area when exposed to the wind.
http://rotorservice.com/antenna wind load.htm

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Unless you are running a little U-100/110 type TV rotator you don't have to worry. Neither you nor I have antennas that weigh more than a rotator can handle. Most will handle a couple hundred pounds of weight as a minimum. When everything is installed on my Yaesu rotator I will have 100 pounds of antennas and over 100 pounds of mast and it is not anything near the weight limits of the rotator which is 661 pounds of vertical load. the only concern with weight is to make sure the weight is balanced and centered on the rotator.

 

[bhayles]

Ham etiquette question:

10 meter sucks today (and the fan dipole is still waiting for me to find a tree climber anyway) so I thought I'd see if there was anyone close on the radio, specifically listening to a repeater a couple miles from my house, that is a 2 meter repeater.

I turned on my handy dandy HBaofeng GT-3 and after waiting a few minutes to see if anyone was already talking and not hearing anyone, I keyed up and said, "Cq, CQ...KM4DEO."

It got an immediate response...a rude one. I was told (rudely) it was not good radio practice to call CQ on a repeater.

I asked how to make contact to meet new locals on a repeater if I wasn't supposed to call CQ and was told, "Listen." I said, "I did listen first. How am I supposed to make a contact with someone who may also be just 'listening'" and I get the same one word answer, "Listen.", followed by his saying he had things to do, giving his call, and disappearing.

Did I do something outside of radio ettiquette?

 

[wavrider]

Welcome to the world of rude crude two meter peter guys.

I am not a two meter peter type of op but what little I have done I was not impressed.

Same old clique usually on a peter and sometimes welcome new ops in or other time shun them.

 

[bhayles]

LOL...I COULD have done worse. I COULD have said, "Breaker, breaker...anybody got their ears on?"

 

[binrat]

LOL...I COULD have done worse. I COULD have said, "Breaker, breaker...anybody got their ears on?"

LOL, that will get them going.

 

[binrat]

Ham etiquette question:

10 meter sucks today (and the fan dipole is still waiting for me to find a tree climber anyway) so I thought I'd see if there was anyone close on the radio, specifically listening to a repeater a couple miles from my house, that is a 2 meter repeater.

I turned on my handy dandy HBaofeng GT-3 and after waiting a few minutes to see if anyone was already talking and not hearing anyone, I keyed up and said, "Cq, CQ...KM4DEO."

It got an immediate response...a rude one. I was told (rudely) it was not good radio practice to call CQ on a repeater.

I asked how to make contact to meet new locals on a repeater if I wasn't supposed to call CQ and was told, "Listen." I said, "I did listen first. How am I supposed to make a contact with someone who may also be just 'listening'" and I get the same one word answer, "Listen.", followed by his saying he had things to do, giving his call, and disappearing.

Did I do something outside of radio ettiquette?

I think it all differs from location to location.
I would normally just put my CS up with "standing by" afterwards.
You can check with the local club and see if they have 2 metre nets, check in a few times and people maybe nicer to you.

 

[w9cll]

Ham etiquette question:

10 meter sucks today (and the fan dipole is still waiting for me to find a tree climber anyway) so I thought I'd see if there was anyone close on the radio, specifically listening to a repeater a couple miles from my house, that is a 2 meter repeater.

I turned on my handy dandy HBaofeng GT-3 and after waiting a few minutes to see if anyone was already talking and not hearing anyone, I keyed up and said, "Cq, CQ...KM4DEO."

It got an immediate response...a rude one. I was told (rudely) it was not good radio practice to call CQ on a repeater.

I asked how to make contact to meet new locals on a repeater if I wasn't supposed to call CQ and was told, "Listen." I said, "I did listen first. How am I supposed to make a contact with someone who may also be just 'listening'" and I get the same one word answer, "Listen.", followed by his saying he had things to do, giving his call, and disappearing.

Did I do something outside of radio ettiquette?

Just do what I do... w9cll listening... someone always comes back.... some hams are just plain di_ks

 

[bhayles]

Antenna question time...in a wire dipole, does it matter if you tie a knot in the 14 ga wire a couple of feet before the end of the wire?

edited for typos and spelling