Center Movement Under Wind Conditions

Antenna Tree Support System

Exterior enclosure--probable solution

Thanks to Phil (PRE) for the outstanding enclosure.  It will easily accommodate 4 Balkans (baluns--what does spell check know!) and their corresponding polygamists (polyphasers--I mean really spell check--take a break).  The door has a rubber seal bolts tightly shut. The box is made from 1/8" material and will easily resist mountain weather and critters.  Welded pre-drilled mounting tabs will allow easy attachment to a steel or wooden post, or even bolting to the rock retaining wall.

Most importantly, Jack solved the balanced line routing problem recommending porcelain feedthrough standoff insulators--a pair of course for each balanced line coming into the enclosure.  The depth of the enclosure will easily accommodate two such feedthrough insulators side by side.

Width

Metal Box

Pass Throughs

Plastic Enclosure

W4BXI Bow and Arrow Antenna Installation System

Back by request.  Here is a video showing the W4BXI bow and arrow system for putting up antennas.
It is a GREAT system.  The bow allows very short AND very long shots.  Enjoy.

Sunset at the Home QTH

I was working with pictures today and came across this picture of the tower take some years ago. Still one of my favorites. Look closely between the driven element and the director and you can see a bat getting his fill of Tuscaloosa insects!

The window with the reflected sunset is where the shack is located...looking out onto the garden below.

 

W8JI western end height above ground...

Center Support with Nylon Hanger

K4ZGB -- Tom Hardison

I spent a couple of hours at Tom's QTH this afternoon. What an amazing place! The antenna farm is fantastic and he has built a magnificent shack in his basement. There is no way my pictures can do this QTH justice, but I had to try. Click on any image to see a larger hi-res version. Let's start in the shack.



I hope Tom will forgive me but I didn't tell him I was coming and wouldn't let him "clean up" the shack. We all like a working shack anyway Tom! What you see is what we all want...an open horse shoe with easy access to every piece of equipment including the back! No, I'm not jealous! Right!

Take a close look at this one. You know it's not feed line...you guessed it...some serious antenna control. Don't get in a hurry. We'll get there! Look at the attention to detail. You can tell Tom knows how to do it right.


Count the feed lines on this next one. Now you begin to get a better understanding of what is to come!


Ok...so there is something BIG outside. For a hint on just how big, let's take a look at one of the anchors!



So, where does it begin?



Wow, the rotor is on the wrong end!! Well, you've seen it in the magazines, here it is on the ground...and in the air! This great tower will NOT fit on one computer screen so...click on the image and scroll up and down, count the stacks and the number of bands you think this tower can work!


One more for today. How would you like to have an 80m vertical that does not need to be electrically lengthened and has an SWR of 1.3 across the band! Well...this is what the base would like.



And from a distance!



Thanks for a great visit Tom! All the pictures can seen on PicasaWeb.