VHF Tower and Beams
Updated
01-Nov-2024 17:20
[back to W1TR Antennas and QTH]
VHF Yagis for 6m thru 1296 MHz are shown here mounted on a 2 inch OD aluminum mast in the HG52SS cranked up to about 50 feet.
The antennas from bottom to top are:
· 6 m, 50 MHz, 5 elements: Cushcraft A505S upgraded to K1WHS design 5 el on 17 foot boom August 2018 (picture far right below)
· 2 m, 146 MHz, 4 elements: Vertically Polarized Beam for 2 Meter FM Operation, Unknown Manufacturer
· 2 m, 144 MHz, 15 elements: W1JR prototype JR Boomer, a Cushcraft 13B2 modified to have triple reflectors
· 222 MHz, 13 elements: Unknown manufacturer, similar to Cushcraft.
· 70 cm, 432 MHz, 19 elements: Cushcraft A719B
· 33 cm, 902 MHz, 33 loop elements: Microwave Associates
· 23 cm, 1296 MHz, 46 loop elements: Microwave Associates
As of early September 2008, just in time for the ARRL Sept VHF QSO Party, the Tristao (Telex Hy-Gain) HG52SS 52 ft crank-up tilt-over tower was up.
I used an RCB-70 Tower Base Assembly and a TA-70 Tilt Over Accessory as the tower foundation. A TB-2 Thrust Bearing is used to mount the antenna mast on the tower.
A Yaesu G-600RC rotator is used to point the antennas to the desired azimuth, this was upgraded to a Yaesu G-1000 DXA in August 2018 to achieve 450 degree rotation to avoid a dead spot.
My thanks to VO1HP for sharing his ideas on how to put up an HG52SS tower.
VHF
Towers up until 18-Dec-2023, Monday Before Christmas
At
approximately 09:15 on Monday 18-Dec-2023, there was a strong windstorm out of
the south which took down this beautiful VHF/UHF tower and antenna system.
I
heard the wind blow hard, and went to the sliding glass door facing North, and
saw the tower come down with a thud.
My
XYL was in the hospital, having fallen down in the bedroom and broken 4 ribs.
On
Sunday, the night before, I returned from the hospital in Hartford early
evening after an afternoon visit with her.
The
weather was stormy, rainy, windy, but the forecast was not for excessively
strong winds…
SO…
I mistakenly left the tower cranked up all the way (50 ft).
I
have some tree coverage blocking wind to the East, North, and West, but not the
South.
BIG
MISTAKE !
Building Back Better (for real)
August 2008 –
Original VHF Tower and Antennas – 6m, 2m (Horizontal and Vertical), 432 MHz,
1296 MHz
August 2018 – 222 MHz and 902 MHz Antennas Installed
New 17ft 6m Beam Installed Replacing 12 ft Cushcraft 5
el A50-S
Yaesu G-1000 DXA replaced G-600 RC
Further maintenance May 2019 to Repair Wind Damage
from Storm Nov 2018
Tower Moving Day (Mid Aug 2007)
click
on text or picture for more details
Tower Base Construction Week (late June 2008)
click
on text or picture for more details
Tower Installation (Early Aug 2008)
click
on text or picture for more details
Electric Winches Added
28-Oct-2011, and 24-Jul-2018
Crank-Up
Motorization Added 28-Oct-2011
click
on text or picture for more details
Tilt-Over Motorization Added 24-Jul-2018
click
on text or picture for more details
