Thanks, I will check with them if they will do small jobs. Most won't move anywhere unless it is a few $k.

Jussi

Sep 22, 2024 9:29:29 PM Stan Stockton <[email protected]>:

image.png

On Sun, Sep 22, 2024 at 8:21 PM Jussi Eloranta <[email protected]> wrote:
The trouble is finding suitable people here. Internet turns nada, people who I have asked don't usually do this sort of thing and don't know. Money is not an issue, finding the right people is. The local ham radio club people hardly use HF and couple of them that do, have only wire antennas.

Regarding the fiberglass pole, I am thinking of running the wire along the pole (vertical), so there is hardly any additional load. I have seen 4sq's built with these that have stood up for a few years at least. Or putting up a metal vertical (like Joel) is a fine option too and does not require much digging & concrete. Need more people to get it up though.

I just need to get decent temporary antennas up first while I plan for the permanent solution. For 20-10m the spider beam wire yagi does a nice job. Low bands and 6m need more work in this regards. And hence I was asking about fiberglass poles.

Jussi (aa6kj)

Sep 22, 2024 8:03:44 PM BILL KENNAMER <[email protected]>:

My experience with spiderbeam poles is that they are trouble to guy and will break in the wind even if just used to hold an inverted L.

Here, I can get a backhoe and operator who will dig two or three tower bases for $200. I dug my last tower base by asking a trackhoe operator working across the street to do it for $100. You should be able to find someone, they’re common in Arkansas. Concrete trucks are also available too, and surprisingly cheaper than buying and mixing yourself. 

Lots better than temporary solutions.

FUV



On Sunday, September 22, 2024, 8:10 AM, Jussi Eloranta <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Stan et al.,

One step at a time. I have plenty of space (40 acres mostly pasture), so that is not an issue. I can't do everything at once, so I am starting by putting up low band antennas. But since there seems to be no fiberglass alternatives, I will get the longer one from apiderbeam and not extend it fully.

Jussi (aa6kj)

Sep 22, 2024 6:14:45 AM Stan Stockton <[email protected]>:

Jussi,

If all you want is to make one or more 80m verticals, the difference cannot be detected between a vertical wire 70 feet long and a 50 foot vertical wire with two or four (preferably as horizontal as you can get them) wires for top loading.

 Also, I have no idea how much property you have, what it looks like or what your budget is, but for now trees are your friend.  Until you decide how you are going to accomplish what you want to do, if you have enough property and some trees, there would be nothing wrong with a couple of V beams that would be better on two or three bands than what about 90% of all contesters and  DXers have.

If you actually do all of what you said you wanted to do, you will have to have someone you can call to come fix things if they break.  Rotating towers are good because the rotator is at the base of the tower.  It is possible to do everything in such a way that it would be maintenance free for decades but the odds of that happening are not great.

Stan

…
…
Hi Stan,

Thanks. I saw the dxe pole but it is too short. Yes, I agree that rohn 25 would work best but, well, I am in the middle of nowhere (literally) and do not have any contacts for digging, pouring concrete etc. I have a ground auger that I have used for digging holes for my current masts but it is not well suited for bigger projects. Also managing those 80lb concrete mix bags is too much for my back (but managed to pour enough concrete for my current masts). So for the time being, I have to stick to solutions that I can do on my own (until I find people here who have the right machinery). Thus fiberglass it is for now. Also Joel had a hinge system that looked like a very nice idea for a metal pole. But again pulling a metal pole up on my own is not so easy. I already had quite some trouble with the Al telescope mast (14.5m) that has my five band spiderberam wire yagi at the top. Apparently strength and age are inversely proportional to each other :-(

Also, if a fiberglass pole breaks, I just put a new one in its place. They can also be taken down with little effort if a storm is coming. There is a 28m pole from spiderbeam that is available but it would be an overkill ($ and construction). These are pretty easy to install - just "walk them up" because they are not very heavy.

Jussi (aa6kj)
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