Tower 3 - VHF/UHF
This is a short (20 foot) tower
section placed right next to the hamshack. It is only used for VHF/UHF
antennas. The tower was originally set up for a standard configuration
with the rotor inside the tower and the mast sticking up above. I got
tired of pulling the rotor to change antennas up on the mast so I made
a tilt-over rotating mast that is supported by the tower section. Now
all I have to do the swap antennas is lower the mast and work at ground
level. The downside is a limit on the total weight I can have on the
mast before pulling the tower over! In tthe photo below you can see the
2 meter J on top of the mast for FM work. Under that is a 22
element homebrew yagi for 1296. Next is a homebrew 33 element
K1FO design yagi for 432 MHz. just under that is a vertically polarized
14 element homebrew yagi for 927.5 FM. I hope to have a 222 yagi up
there someday as well.
A closer shot of the antennas on the mast. A mast mount preamp
box for 432 is just above the top of the tower.
In the image below, the mast is in process of being lowered to install
another antenna.
Mast is resting on a sawhorse in prearation for the next antenna.
Rotator mount in lowered position.
Rotator mount in normal position. You can see the lowering winch just
below the rotator.
Here is the pulley at the top and the "socket" which the mast rest in
when up.
The is the bearing sleeve with the winch cable attached.
