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Old 04-10-2014, 10:32 PM   #1
W9CMG
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Default Rooftop antenna tipping

May '14 QST had an article on lowering antennas. It made me think of my solution.

After several attempts at protecting the antennas on my MH roof, I made an arrangement to protect them. Since then, I haven't lost one.

I can rotate them down from a sw by the drivers seat. I use an automotive window regulator motor. Mine is from a Honda. I cut off the long arm that lifts the window and bolted a U shaped bracket that I fashioned from hardware store Al stock to the sector gear. I used 5/8" threaded rod from the bracket to a hgole in another home fashioned bracket attached to the luggage rack rail on the other side. The antennas are mounted on the rod. Power to rotate, is through a DPDT CO sw (reverse polarity reverses direction). A reasonably priced 14ga extension cord is the wire used. No limit switches are needed. The motor stalls and after counting enough seconds, I release the sw.

From the pictures you can see that I added linkage to tilt mt ATAS 100 sideways.

antenna I 001.jpg

antenna I 004.JPG

antenna I 005.JPG
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Old 04-11-2014, 04:36 AM   #2
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Unable to view any of the photos. Tried it with:

32-bit IE8 in 32-bit Windows XP
Firefox in 32-bit Windows XP
IE10 in 64-bit Windows 7
32-bit IE8 in 64-bit Windows XP
64-bit IE8 in 64-bit Windows XP

so I conclude there's something wrong with the post.
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Old 04-11-2014, 05:50 AM   #3
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I'm using Google Chrome and Win 7. All photos OK. Nice set up, Could use close up of where mount attaches to swing arm.
73



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Hello anyone out there?
Is this thing on?
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Old 04-11-2014, 10:48 AM   #4
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I see the photos just fine with Windows 8. Neat setup.
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Old 04-11-2014, 01:12 PM   #5
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my work PC runs XP and I can't see them. Hmm, must be an XP thing?

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Old 04-11-2014, 08:40 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Radio View Post
my work PC runs XP and I can't see them. Hmm, must be an XP thing?

Well, I can't see them, as I said, in Windows 7 either. Specifically, Win7 Ultimate 64 bit, with IE10, in a 32GB superfast PC. Also can't see'em on my backup PC, which is an old Dell with XP.

I'd like to see'em; sounds really neat.
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Old 04-11-2014, 10:15 PM   #7
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Mine is Windows Vista using Firefox and I don't see the pictures either.

Bill/N5CCQ
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Old 04-11-2014, 10:20 PM   #8
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Just tried it on IE and the pictures were there using that browser. Nice set up.

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Old 04-12-2014, 03:07 PM   #9
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Oh, well.

I always tip my antennas 15% if service is good. For truly excellent service I tip them 25%.
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Old 04-12-2014, 03:42 PM   #10
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My apologies to those who can't get the pictures to show. I did as well as I could to figure out how to post them. Somewhat confusing. Insert image didn't work so I attached them. Any advice as to how to do it would be welcomed.

73, Kim W9CMG
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Old 04-12-2014, 08:56 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by W9CMG View Post
My apologies to those who can't get the pictures to show. I did as well as I could to figure out how to post them. Somewhat confusing. Insert image didn't work so I attached them. Any advice as to how to do it would be welcomed.

73, Kim W9CMG
First, to ORR.net!

When you first make the post if you go WAY down to the bottom of the page there is an attachment management tool that's pretty straight forward.

When responding to a post the "go advanced" button will take you to the same place.

My outdated Opera browser on my old laptop would not allow me to post pictures on Facebook. Go figure.

Just to make sure the vBulletin is working I'll put a test image here:
Attached Images
File Type: jpg thumbs up.jpg (35.4 KB, 33 views)
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Old 04-12-2014, 10:12 PM   #12
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That one comes through, Wade.
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Old 04-16-2014, 01:02 PM   #13
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I'd like to see them too. Have W7 and no luck either.

I'll try my MacPro tonight.

Still looking to build a screwdriver style lift to mount to the rear ladder to raise my Tar Heels II up above the MH roof.
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Old 04-16-2014, 02:56 PM   #14
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Try again?
Attached Images
File Type: jpg antenna I 001.jpg (98.8 KB, 24 views)
File Type: jpg antenna I 004.JPG (136.0 KB, 23 views)
File Type: jpg antenna I 005.JPG (144.1 KB, 23 views)
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Old 04-16-2014, 07:03 PM   #15
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Now I can see them. Thanks! Not sure I understand from them how the tilter works, though.
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Old 04-17-2014, 06:55 PM   #16
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New tilt camper tower. It was made from a spare tire carrier quite highly modified to erect my fiberglass poles and rotatable dipole. The method I use before was the arm strong lifter mechanism in a pipe behind the real spare tire carrier now I can just walk them up. The entire system lives in a wooden box with wheels the elements are the remains of an old 10 meter beam they all slide inside one another and they can be resonate on 10-12-15-and 17 meters giving me a full 1/2 wave on each. The big plastic "T" in the box is what the elements attach to and it gets fastened to the last pipe.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_3431 (768x1024).jpg (37.6 KB, 22 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_3428 (768x1024).jpg (53.0 KB, 22 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_3429 (768x1024).jpg (37.0 KB, 23 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_3432 (1024x768).jpg (105.6 KB, 22 views)
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Old 04-17-2014, 07:50 PM   #17
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Interesting. In the box I see three element pieces, which look to be about 7 or 8 feet long. My eye must be wrong, though, if they add up to a half-wave on 17 meters, which would be about 27'4"; so they must be ten-footers if they're going to be telescoped together some minimum amount for strength.

One more, and you could get on 20 meters!

Looks like a nice setup, and I compliment you on your admirable workmanship. It's pretty.
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Old 04-18-2014, 07:20 AM   #18
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Is that better? The bundle of aluminum tubes will get me to just shy of 26' the center of 17 comes out to 12'11" each at least my Bird AT100 says so. The box is yellow pine with dove tailed joints and lots of urathaine the little wing on one end has wheels under it. At 17 meters it starts to get a pretty good bow in it so I guess I'm at the limits with the aluminum I do have a 40 and 80 meter dipole that takes the place of the plastic "T" to give me an inverted "V".
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Old 04-18-2014, 08:59 AM   #19
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That makes sense. My figure of 27'4" is actually a maximum that ignores the effects of element diameter. Could you get to 20 meters by mounting the dipole a little below the top of the mast and using, say, nylon cord to support a point on each element half from the top of the mast so they wouldn't droop as much?
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Old 04-18-2014, 09:13 AM   #20
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I had thought about a bridge type of truss but things tend to get out of hand when one thinks too much. I actually don't get on 20 too much seems like a lot of traffic. I can say because the elements are fairly large it's pretty broad banded. I have had people accuse me of using an amp or a beam with the dipole setup.
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