[Scan-DC] Local antenna masts?

[Chris Smolinski]

The cable is secured (with tie wraps) to a piece of support metal attached to the bottom of the discone itself, and the rope is attached to this as well, so it takes much of the stress. If i ever take the antenna down I'll try to take a closeup photo of it, but I think you get the general idea.

Chris Smolinski
Black Cat Systems
Westminster, MD USA
https://www.blackcatsystems.com





> On Dec 28, 2019, at 1:36 AM, Alan Henney <alan at henney.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Brilliant!  Thank you.  
> 
> So the weight of the coax isn't putting too much stress on the antenna or its connection?
> 
> Alan
> 
> 
> On Thu, Dec 26, 2019 at 5:36 PM Chris Smolinski <csmolinski at blackcatsystems.com> wrote:
> I used a "Big Shot" which is basically a giant sling shot: https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,60415.0.html
> 
> I launched mason's twine over the tree, then used that to pull up rope. I made sure to launch the rope straight up along the side of the tree, so I could have a clear path to pull the antenna up.
> 
> The rope goes over a branch at the top and then comes back down, where it is secured, keeping the antenna up. I have a pre-amp at the antenna, and the feedline is RG-6. The pre-amp is one of the old Radio Shack "satellite" amps designed for 900-2500 MHz or so, although it seems to work OK at VHF, not sure if I have any gain down there, or am even losing signal. I'd like to find a better wideband pre-amp that doesn't introduce a lot of images, this one produces a few from the FM band, mostly nearby 98.5 up in Hanover PA. 
> 
> Chris Smolinski
> Black Cat Systems
> Westminster, MD USA
> https://www.blackcatsystems.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > On Dec 26, 2019, at 2:04 AM, Alan Henney <alan at henney.com> wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > How'd you get the antenna up like that in the tree?
> > 
> > And what do you do to keep the weight of the cable from dragging it down?
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Alan
> > 
> > 
> > On Thu, Dec 19, 2019 at 8:10 AM Chris Smolinski <csmolinski at blackcatsystems.com> wrote:
> > Lowes and Home Depot used to sell them, not sure if they still do?
> > 
> > I got rid of the mast and relocated my discone to the top of a tree. It works surprisingly well: https://i.imgur.com/mt9TuUF.png
> > 
> > Chris Smolinski
> > Black Cat Systems
> > Westminster, MD USA
> > http://www.blackcatsystems.com
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > > On Dec 19, 2019, at 8:00 AM, Alan Henney <alan at henney.com> wrote:
> > > 
> > > Since Radio Shack is gone, I'm having trouble finding a 10-foot antenna
> > > mast locally.
> > > 
> > > Any suggestions?
> > > 
> > > Thanks,
> > > Alan\
> 
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