You can now help support WorldwideDX when you shop on Amazon at no additional cost to you! Simply follow this Shop on Amazon link first and a portion of any purchase is sent to WorldwideDX to help with site costs.
The Feb 2025 Radioddity Giveaway Results are In! Click Here to see who won!

Reply to thread

Message

I was able to raise the antenna this morning by myself just using a 5/8" socket and cordless drill. The only issue I had/have is that as I suspected, the lowest pipe joint is still a bit weak despite having an inner pipe support/sleeve as well as an external support. The weight of the antenna, rotor, chokes, cables, etc put a lot of torque on this joint. I think before I lower it again (as I am sure I will) I will need to replace the current outer supports for this joint with something much stronger. I just hope I left enough slack in the coax to safely rotate the beam.

I started running all the guy wires and adjusting them to the proper length today but it was getting way too hot and humid out for me to continue for the time being. Some of the guy wires still have a lot of slack in them. Being dizzy from heat stroke while up on a ladder is not a good plan. I'll get back at it this evening. At least the wind is pretty much dead calm right now and for the next few days. Once I have the guy wires done I will be connecting all the grounds. Only then will I run the coax and rotor cable inside and hopefully get back on the air with a strong signal and low SWR.

I highly doubt I would go down the same path again with the mast etc if I were to start over. It was probably a lot more work than just dealing with the challenges I had with the tower location back in April. But at least I got to learn some welding skills, fuss around with some engineering friends and generally just fuss about.

[ATTACH=full]65082[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]65083[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]65084[/ATTACH]

<blockquote data-quote="TimmyTheTorch" data-source="post: 822175" data-attributes="member: 64271">I was able to raise the antenna this morning by myself just using a 5/8&quot; socket and cordless drill. The only issue I had/have is that as I suspected, the lowest pipe joint is still a bit weak despite having an inner pipe support/sleeve as well as an external support. The weight of the antenna, rotor, chokes, cables, etc put a lot of torque on this joint. I think before I lower it again (as I am sure I will) I will need to replace the current outer supports for this joint with something much stronger. I just hope I left enough slack in the coax to safely rotate the beam.I started running all the guy wires and adjusting them to the proper length today but it was getting way too hot and humid out for me to continue for the time being. Some of the guy wires still have a lot of slack in them. Being dizzy from heat stroke while up on a ladder is not a good plan. I&#039;ll get back at it this evening. At least the wind is pretty much dead calm right now and for the next few days. Once I have the guy wires done I will be connecting all the grounds. Only then will I run the coax and rotor cable inside and hopefully get back on the air with a strong signal and low SWR.I highly doubt I would go down the same path again with the mast etc if I were to start over. It was probably a lot more work than just dealing with the challenges I had with the tower location back in April. But at least I got to learn some welding skills, fuss around with some engineering friends and generally just fuss about.[ATTACH=full]65082[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]65083[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]65084[/ATTACH]</blockquote>

[QUOTE="TimmyTheTorch, post: 822175, member: 64271"] I was able to raise the antenna this morning by myself just using a 5/8" socket and cordless drill. The only issue I had/have is that as I suspected, the lowest pipe joint is still a bit weak despite having an inner pipe support/sleeve as well as an external support. The weight of the antenna, rotor, chokes, cables, etc put a lot of torque on this joint. I think before I lower it again (as I am sure I will) I will need to replace the current outer supports for this joint with something much stronger. I just hope I left enough slack in the coax to safely rotate the beam. I started running all the guy wires and adjusting them to the proper length today but it was getting way too hot and humid out for me to continue for the time being. Some of the guy wires still have a lot of slack in them. Being dizzy from heat stroke while up on a ladder is not a good plan. I'll get back at it this evening. At least the wind is pretty much dead calm right now and for the next few days. Once I have the guy wires done I will be connecting all the grounds. Only then will I run the coax and rotor cable inside and hopefully get back on the air with a strong signal and low SWR. I highly doubt I would go down the same path again with the mast etc if I were to start over. It was probably a lot more work than just dealing with the challenges I had with the tower location back in April. But at least I got to learn some welding skills, fuss around with some engineering friends and generally just fuss about. [ATTACH type="full"]65082[/ATTACH][ATTACH type="full"]65083[/ATTACH][ATTACH type="full"]65084[/ATTACH] [/QUOTE]

Top Bottom