Community post
Ham Shack Update
Making progress on the ham shack. Taking my time. Doing it right.
Decided to replace the pipe I was using for a mast with real aluminum mast sections. These are from a military antenna system. Then to top it off, found some military antenna guy lines that will help tie it down. This thing is going to be around 32 to 36 feet high. Maybe even close to 40. Also found a tilt base to install. That will make it easier to take the antenna up and down for adjustments and maintenance. It was not military, but oh well. Found them all on eBay.
After doing some talking and reading, the antenna, cabling, and connectors have been my focus for now. Kind of put the office space to the side. Did have my handyman friend come by and take a look though. He measured and looked at what needed to be done to drill a space and make a pass through for cabling into the basement office. He'll get back to me with a quote. That can wait. Getting the antenna up is priority.
Have ordered and received a few connectors. More on the way. Picked up a digital multimeter, antenna analyzer, and an SWR meter as well. Got to have the right tools to do the job right.
Next step is drop the old antenna and remove it. Then wait for the new antenna masts to arrive with the tilt base. Splice me some new cable and connectors. Run my grounds. And elevate the new antenna. One thing at a time.
Tried hitting the repeater last club check in with my Baofeng handheld and the little rubber duck antenna. Think I was just not hitting it with a clear enough signal. Making some adjustments and will try again this coming Wednesday. Will most likely try a different antenna. Bought a small external one I can hang up that provides more gain and distance. Of course it required some extra adapters to connect to the radio. Always something.
Really enjoying getting things ready. Biting at the bit to get this stuff up and running. Just want to do it right. No more redneck engineering. Proper mast. Proper connectors. Proper grounding. The whole deal.
I'll post more pictures when I have something worth showing.
Thanks for reading,
Joe
Notes:
-All content is mine unless otherwise annotated.
-Images are my own unless otherwise noted.
-Photos edited using Linux photo editor and drawing and/or iPhone SE.
-Page Dividers from The Terminal Discord.
Replies (20)
I've got a 120 foot tower you can have for free if you can make your way up here, tear it down, and transport it back... :)
Perhaps you have a post about this already, but I would love to learn more about why you enjoy Ham. I know there is a test, etc but I truly am always curious what appeals to people and their hobbies :)
Looks like everything is going well with your preparations. I can only imagine how exciting it must be to have a ham radio in your home :)
You're not kidding with that antenna. Good luck.
What would that antenna be for? I always enjoy seeing how men, in general, like to assemble and build things, to keep themselves busy doing something. Is it part of men's nature or is it a learned habit? Greetings, friend
I was up in Aberdeen at a maritime museum and saw this radio they used in the offshore lifeboats that I was on from the oil platforms! I was thinking of you and your ham!
This is very exciting. Go for it. Take your time, but go for it. Can't wait till you tell us about what you learn on your broadcasts.
😇
That is some height. Wife would kill me. That creates it's own set of challenges me thinks. LOL
If you don't mind. Is this at your house or work?
I started out as a radio operator and supervisor in the Marines. Did it in various forms for my first 8-10 years. Enjoyed the challenge of dialing in distant stations from around the country and even the world. Yes, there are three levels of tests here in the U.S. I have passed my first one which gives me limited band privileges. Should be taking my next test in the coming months. Each level provides more privileges on the air waves.
Yes, things are going well. I am biting at the bit to get things going.
Yeah, it works, but not very good. Time to replace it.
The antenna connects to the radio. It allows for the transmit and receiving of the radio waves. When I talk and listen on one of my radios, this is what it is connected to that allows it to send and receive from others.
That is cool. Can you imagine being in a lifeboat and having to hand crank it to give it power while another talks on it? Old school HF radios used to be like that too.
Thanks. I’ll keep you updated
It's at work. Down at one of my elementary schools. We used to have a 1Gb point to point wireless link, but now we have fiber, so we don't need the tower anymore.
I would contact your most local HAM club there. THey will probably have someone who will take it off your hands or know someone who will.
Yeah, I'm not too worried about it. I let the school board know it needs to disappear and they don't seem to be in a hurry to make that happen.
How do you like the Baofeng handheld? I was looking at them a while back on one of my periodic searches for alternative comms, but wasn't sure about them.
It is not bad. However the users manual that comes with it is not very useful. YouTube will be your friend.