Get your HAM License!! - Page 4

**1911** · 08-25-2008, 02:26 PM

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BriansFJ previously said:

Yeah, I wish they had General class stuff. I'm thinking about upgrading so I can get down into the HF range for a really long distance sense of security...

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rotorhed1 previously said:

Ya I want to get my General Class too. HF sounds like a great thing to have.

Me too; going to take a class or at least find a study guide for the General Class exam.

Meanwhile, I'm going to put a 2m J-pole antenna at least 30 feet up at my place, higher if I can stabilize it with guy wires.

rotorhed1 · 08-25-2008, 07:49 PM

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1911 previously said:

Me too; going to take a class or at least find a study guide for the General Class exam.

Meanwhile, I'm going to put a 2m J-pole antenna at least 30 feet up at my place, higher if I can stabilize it with guy wires.

I'm lucky where I live. Out in the county, no rules on what I can put up.

The small problem is that there is a 150' cell tower behind my place. That may block things a bit. Almost inline with the one person I would be talking with in Payson AZ. I'll find a way...

**1911** · 08-25-2008, 08:08 PM

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rotorhed1 previously said:

I'm lucky where I live. Out in the county, no rules on what I can put up.

Same here.

I'm just worried about stability in a storm with wind if I get it too high.

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rotorhed1 previously said:

The small problem is that there is a 150' cell tower behind my place. That may block things a bit.

Bummer!

rotorhed1 · 08-25-2008, 09:17 PM

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1911 previously said:

Same here.

I'm just worried about stability in a storm with wind if I get it too high.

Bummer!

Ya me too. I would look at pouring some concrete for footings.

But I am working on buying some property up north of here. I would build a basic steel building with living space. Then an outpost, solar power, water from the creek etc. Then a big tower built just above the trees. Hmmm, my dream.

**KD7NAC_07FJ** · 08-25-2008, 11:05 PM

I still need to put up my stealth roof-line HF antenna. I want to get that done before winter starts and I think I'm just able to climb a latter again.

Too bad we all live so far apart, we used to have a lot of fun at tower raises

**1911** · 08-26-2008, 07:07 AM

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rotorhed1 previously said:

Ya me too. I would look at pouring some concrete for footings.

Definitely going to do that, plus I'm going to run guy wires to the roof of my metal shop/office building and maybe to the ground also. The one I'm putting up now is just on a tubular pole, not a tower proper.

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rotorhed1 previously said:

But I am working on buying some property up north of here. I would build a basic steel building with living space. Then an outpost, solar power, water from the creek etc. Then a big tower built just above the trees. Hmmm, my dream.

Cool! I am in the (slow) process of building a house in the San Pedro Mountains in Santa Fe County; it will eventually have 1.5-2.0 kW worth of photovoltaics and a proper tower, although Santa Fe County has pretty strict zoning for height even way out in the boonies. My elevation should help though. I'm using my antennas and "shack" here in Texas as a learning process for my eventual setup in New Mexico.

**JoeUser** · 08-26-2008, 08:04 AM

Over the years I've assisted in many tower raisings (my stepfather is a HAM, and we both started out in the CB craze in the 70's and 80's).

I recall that Rhone tower piece prices were high back then; but, you can't beat 'em for strength. I don't think that I'd ever do anything that permanent though, maybe stick with a crank-up, should I ever get around to setting up a base station. I'll address that when I eventually get the General ticket.

One thing at a time, first I've gotta take the Technician test. I'm going to spend Labor Day installing the FT-7800R, Lee!

**1911** · 08-26-2008, 08:11 AM

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JoeUser previously said:

I'm going to spend Labor Day installing the FT-7800R, Lee!

Good luck and have fun Dennis. I'd offer to have you come do it in my shop but all my grown children and grandkids will be here that weekend. Are you going to put the main radio under a seat, or where?

**JoeUser** · 08-26-2008, 08:23 AM

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1911 previously said:

Good luck and have fun Dennis. I'd offer to have you come do it in my shop but all my grown children and grandkids will be here that weekend. Are you going to put the main radio under a seat, or where?

Yeah, under the seat, then run the faceplate somewhere up front (haven't decided exactly where, yet). I'm also going with an external speaker up front, too. Another forum member has the same rig, and I like the way he installed his, so doing it the same way.

Installation shouldn't take long, but I'm going to take my time and do it right. I also have to reposition the K40 CB antenna, as both antennas will be mounted on the hatch now. I'm not comfortable punching a hole in my roof, so I'm sticking with the NMO hatch mount, and the antenna can be removed when necessary.

When you get ready to raise your base antenna, call me and I'll come over and give ya a hand if you need it...

**JoeUser** · 09-19-2008, 02:17 PM

I take my Technician exam tomorrow at 1:00pm! Wish me luck...

I'm fairly confident I'll pass, as I've been taking the online practice exams over the past week, and only missing one or two. The last test I took moments ago I scored 100%!