[50mhz] Fwd: [Magic Band EME] Simple Elevation Mount

[Lance Collister, W7GJ]

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	[Magic Band EME] Simple Elevation Mount
Date: 	Sun, 26 Jan 2020 22:33:25 +0000
From: 	Lance Collister, W7GJ <w7gj at q.com>
Reply-To: 	w7gj at q.com
To: 	Magic Band EME Group <MagicEME at googlegroups.com>



Hello 6m DXers!

Although most of the single yagi stations who work 6m EME utilize ground gain while 
keeping their yagis aimed at the horizon, there are situations when elevation can 
help. As KB7Q demonstrated in PJ2, larger stations can even work a good 5 element 
yagi when it is elevated! Furthermore, home stations with a good long yagi can 
benefit from lowered noise level, and may find that elevation is, in fact, the only 
way they can work 6m EME because they have too much "ground clutter" (neighboring 
houses, uneven terrain, etc.) for any ground gain. And DXpeditions who are planning 
to try 6m EME can benefit from elevation (if they have a good long yagi) to extend 
their moon time.

I previously published construction details on my web page for the elevation mount I 
have used on all my 6m EME DXpeditions. While that mount certainly has held up very 
well and has proven itself very effective, that particular mount is heavy and 
difficult for people to duplicate. It also is difficult to use that mount above 60 or 
65 degrees elevation. Furthermore, it mounts on the SIDE of the mast, and puts the 
antenna even further out to the side of the mast, causing small diameter lightweight 
masts to want to bend - especially in high winds.

This month I spotted a heavy duty hinge in a hardware store and decided to build an 
improved elevation mount using it. This mount is strong, lighter weight, can be 
elevated higher, and is centered directly over the mast, so there is no tendency for 
the yagi and mount to put sideways stress on the mast. It is also simple to build in 
an evening with common hand tools.

Complete information for this mount (including numerous photos) is now on my web page:

http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj/HingedMount.pdf

When I have been on 6m EME DXpeditions with my single 6M8GJ yagi (with slightly over 
12 dBD free space gain), I have worked stations using elevated antennas such as the 
6M7JHV and larger. So, if you know of anyone heading out on a 6m DXpedition with such 
a yagi (or preferably a larger one), please share this mount information with them 
and encourage them to try to make some contacts even when their moon is higher than 
20 degrees elevation! And of course, there is nothing to prevent someone from 
mounting a TVRO actuator arm underneath this mount, thereby adding remote elevation 
to their yagi!

I hope this information is helpful to those of you who asked for information 
regarding construction of simple elevation mounts! See you off the moon from some new 
DXCC!

GL and VY 73, Lance


-- 
Lance Collister, W7GJ(ex WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8, E51SIX, 3D2LR, 5W0GJ, E6M, TX5K, KH8/W7GJ, V6M, T8GJ, VK9CGJ, VK9XGJ, C21GJ, CP1GJ, S79GJ, TX7MB)
P.O. Box 73
Frenchtown, MT 59834-0073
USA
TEL: (406) 626-5728
QTH: DN27ub
URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj
Skype: lanceW7GJ
2m DXCC #11/6m DXCC #815 Interested in 6m EME? Ask me about subscribing to the Magic Band EME
email group, or just fill in the request box at the bottom of my web
page (above)!

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