[Elecraft] Need advice on Small Tower

Tue Jul 12 19:40:35 EDT 2016

Terry,

If you check out my QRZ page, you'll note that I have a USTower TMM-541SS
with a Yaesu G1000DXA rotator and a Force12 XR6 topping it off.

https://www.qrz.com/db/K4QE

The antenna is at 47 feet AGL and it covers 20 thru 6 with one coax.

The TMM-541SS nests down to 12 feet, and I also have the tilt-over kit.

I'm happy to answer any questions you might have about it.

73, Tony K4QE

On Tue, Jul 12, 2016 at 10:00 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV <lists at subich.com> wrote:

>
> > There are newer designs for small beams that are better than the
> > venerable TA-33.
>
> Force 12 XR-5 or JK Antennas Navassa 5 both cover 20, 17, 15, 12 and
> 10 meters.  Both are available with a 6 meter (XR-6 or 6M add-on)
> option.  Although the antennas have two active elements er band, they
> they have boom lengths equal or less than the TA-33/TA-33jr and the
> full size elements mean they are much more efficient than the Mosley
> antennas.
>
> The Force 12 or Navassa provide full performance on up to six bands
> in a package the size and weight of the TA-33 (or TA33JR-WARC).
>
> 73,
>
>    ... Joe, W4TV
>
>
>
> On 7/12/2016 9:12 AM, Vic Rosenthal 4X6GP wrote:
>
>> Hello Terry,
>>
>> In my opinion, there will be no problem. I can imagine that if the tower
>> is right at the house and if there is a strip of metal flashing along
>> the peak of the roof it might detune the director slightly when the
>> antenna is pointed east. Maybe. But I can't believe it will cause you
>> any trouble. Anyway, with the tilt base you will have to install it some
>> distance from the house.
>>
>> Remember the tilt base and the rotor plus mast will add to the height of
>> the tower. US Towers also makes a 55-footer. It's a lot more expensive,
>> though.
>>
>> I don't recommend the TA33-JR. Because of the short boom length it will
>> have a narrow bandwidth on 20m. If you operate both CW and SSB you may
>> find that you need to use a tuner. Your old ATB-34 is slightly bigger,
>> but has a wider bandwidth.
>>
>> There are newer designs for small beams that are better than the
>> venerable TA-33.
>>
>> Also if you can find one that works on 18 MHz too, that will be a plus.
>> In the next few years, 10 and 15m will be dead much of the time.
>>
>> 73,
>> Vic, 4X6GP
>> Rehovot, Israel
>> Formerly K2VCO
>> http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
>>
>> On 12 Jul 2016 04:21, Terry Brown wrote:
>>
>>> Hello all,
>>>
>>> I am the owner if a K2, KX3, PX3, and KXPA100.  I have been a ham since
>>> 1982, and love my Elecraft gear.  I have a question for the group.  I am
>>> moving from my current QTH in Corvallis, OR  after 30 years.  Currently I
>>> have a Rohn 25 based tower that is about 35 feet above my flat roof.
>>> On the
>>> tower is a tri-band Cushcraft ATB-34 and 2m/440 comet antennas.  The beam
>>> and tower  date from the time I became a ham.
>>>
>>> I am building a new home in an established neighborhood in West Salem,
>>> Oregon.  The CCRs have expired, so I am not restricted from a tower
>>> setup.
>>> My new QTH is high in the west hills of Salem.   The view to the east is
>>> amazing as the ground slopes away.  To the west, the terrain has a slight
>>> rise.  I am 68 yrs. old.   I don't want to have to climb a tower
>>> again.  My
>>> home will be two stories with the garage level under it.  The peak of my
>>> roof will be about 34 ft. above grade.  My new tower location will be
>>> about
>>> 32 feet from grade to the peak of the roof.  The roofline will run N-S
>>> with
>>> the tower on the west side of the house.  \
>>>
>>> I have decided to purchase a new smaller lightweight crankup tower and a
>>> smaller  tribander such as the Mosley TA-33 JR-N or NW.  I have seen
>>> the US
>>> Towers MA-40,  a 20-41ft. crankup as one type.  It comes with a tilt over
>>> base add-on which would allow me to service the antenna from the ground.
>>> This particular two section tower can crank down to 20 ft., thus not
>>> being
>>> visible from the street east of the house.  It's max height is 41 ft.
>>> which
>>> would put the antenna only 9-10 ft. above the roofline when
>>> transmitting to
>>> the East.  I want to put a winch on the tower so I don't have to
>>> physically
>>> crank it up by hand as I get older.  With this background I have two
>>> questions:
>>>
>>> 1.    Will the yagi attached to the tower with only 9-10 ft. height above
>>> the roofline (41 ft. tower)  be an effective radiator and receive
>>> antenna on
>>> 20-15-10 meter bands to the East?  Being on the West Coast, this will
>>> be the
>>> direction of most of my mainland US contacts.   To the N-W-S, the antenna
>>> will be 41 ft. above the ground, so no problem.
>>>
>>> 2.    I am not committed to any particular crankup tower.  The US
>>> Tower is
>>> just the one I have seen on the internet.  I would be interested in any
>>> lighterweight fold over crank up tower up to 50 ft.   I think a tubular
>>> constructed type tower would be my preference due to weight of
>>> installation.
>>> A triangular designed crankup may be ok, too.
>>>
>>> I know I can have a larger tower and antenna, but I want my setup to be
>>> neighbor friendly.  I am not a contester, and will never operate over 100
>>> watts.  It is nice to be able to work a station if I can hear it.  I also
>>> want the advantage of a horizontally polarized antenna with gain.  I have
>>> been spoiled with that setup over the years.
>>>
>>> Just as an aside, my other antenna is a horizontal loop about 250 ft. in
>>> length that I use for all the other bands.  It is up about 30 ft.
>>> suspended
>>> from the trees in my current QTH.  I feed it with 450 ohm ladder into
>>> a 4:1
>>> balun to coax.  At my new QTH, we will plant two contained planters
>>> with 20
>>> or 30 ft. bamboo on the SW and NW corners of my property where I can
>>> put a
>>> vertical pipe for two supports, then use the peak of my roof on the N
>>> and S
>>> side at 34 Ft. for my NE and SE contact points for my other two
>>> corners for
>>> my horizontal loop.  I will feed it with the same 450 ohm ladder from
>>> the NE
>>> corner.   I really like my horizontal loop because it is so quiet being
>>> horizontally polarized.  My current one works great so I want the same
>>> thing
>>> for my new QTH.
>>>
>>> I look forward to getting some great input from this group.  I have been
>>> amazed at the level of quality information I have seen on this group.
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance to you all.
>>> 73's,
>>> Terry Brown, N7TB
>>>
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