CCARA Forum - Recent Posts

Last one for now...

Steve Lamb — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 02:29:08 +0000

This was a tape measure 2 meter I had built with Dave K8DEG a long time ago. I popped it onto the tent poles and ended up contacting Paul KE8JEC in Bainbridge from Sinking Spring Rd on 2 meter simplex. We ran some SSTV on FM, and even got some SSTV in with Gary W8PU in Martinsville! The main problem I had was getting the darn thing to stop windvaning around since it was very windy that day.

JeePOLE.jpg

RE: Improvised antenna setups.

Steve Lamb — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 02:25:57 +0000

Trying to contact Paul in Bainbridge on 6 Meters using a temporary pole made from different tent poles lol...

Muxon.jpg

RE: Improvised antenna setups.

Steve Lamb — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 02:22:11 +0000

Another shot of the far pole. It was ready to fall by the next morning. I'm not trying to promote unsafe practices here, we were very cautious with this thing. But sometimes it's interesting what you'll come up with to make that one rare contact!

Sketchy-Pole.jpg

Improvised antenna setups.

Steve Lamb — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 02:19:38 +0000

I seem to have a thing for making antennas and poles out of whatever I have on hand at the time to make a few contacts. I'll add some photos to start but would love to see others' junk-drawer antennas or scrap-yard support poles. Please share and tell us about your setup!

I'll start with my setup for Field Day 2020. For 2020 I decided to host a private field day at my parents' farm. The orange pole is my telescopic pole I'm using for POTA holding an inverted V at the time. The silver poles was a bunch of leftover pop-up tent poles stacked end to end to make about 30 - 40 feet. The sections were only about 4 feet long, supported by tarred bank line that wasn't very thick. These things was floppy and bendy and barely stayed up, but they lasted long enough to hold a 40 meter end fed. We ran on generator power from the tent, complete with campfire and Hobo Pockets for chow. I don't remember how many contacts we made but we were happy. Use what ya got, but stay safe!

W8SBL

Field-Day-2020.jpg

RE: Tower Installation

Gregg Wardlow — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 00:30:04 +0000

Steven,

I see a couple years have elapsed since your initial 'ask' about tower installation. I'm near the point of installing a 40' or 50' tower at my place. Going to be an aluminum self-supporting tilt-up tower so I just need to see if I have room for a 50' tower (to lay on the ground while adding antennas) in the location I'm considering for the tower and, wait for spring to roll around. Mine will support several radio antennas, a few lights, a weather station, a camera and an American flag.

Did you get any suggestions, thoughts or assistance when you asked the group? I think I have everything covered but you never know. Since I haven't installed a tower or antennas on a tower in the past there may be a few things I haven't considered that I should have.

CCARA, any suggestions or thoughts to help an old guy out? Catch me on the radio if you hear me out there. I monitor the New Vienna/Spring Hill 444.575 machine often. Or 3139 Ohio State Wide on DMR.

Gregg/N4RGW

Beam replacement

Mark Stevens — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 06:19:32 +0000

Is there anyone who can be recommended to change out a 3 element tri-bander and install a Jk Navassa-5 in its place at 45 feet here in the local Wilmington area? And what would it cost.

thanks

Mark

N8mas

Hamfest comments, 2022

Alan Eldridge — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 22:05:08 +0000

Milford/Cinci/Clermont co. fairgrounds - one of biggest ones locally.
No idea how many tables outside (75+), also a large interior set up.
Found tubes, parts, and accessories I was looking for.
However...seemed like one this year was about 2/3 of year before.
Good parking access, but it's a linear show so plan on walking to get to end.

Mound Park - fun, and much larger than last year.
Because it's a park, restrictions, well, no commercial vendors.
Got good deals on acft headsets, Hallicrafters S-38c, parts/pieces.
Parking in same lot as tables, so easy access.

Dayton (well, Xenia fairgrounds) Hamvention - The Big One.
Since the change of venue, then the Plague, I hadn't been to new location.
It appears we probably won't suffer likes of The Great Sewer explosion here.
Bazoodles of food trailers, a welcome change.
Don't bother parking at fairgrounds. Shuttle buses are free(!) and constant.
I had security concerns about remote lots, but they have volunteers on overwatch.
Comfortable shoes and bring water. I walked almost six miles and still missed a lot.
Expect crowds inside buildings. Infield and track completely full of tables.
Got a lot of great buys on obscure items, so it was worth trip.

Piketon hamfest - at the Pike county fairgrounds.
Inside room and tailgaters outside.
Not very big, but lots of interesting items, no commercial vendors.

Lexington hamfest (halfway between Lex. and G'twn) - fun trip.
Inside church community room, and tailgaters out back.

Portsmouth hamfest - had low expectations, and wasn't disappointed.
Lots of tables but only 6 - 8 occupied.

Tower Installation

Steven Frazier — Sat, 29 May 2021 13:01:31 +0000

I am looking for some help on buying and installation a 40-45' tower. I haven't done anything like this before and would like to install a couple of Ham antennas and a couple of tv antennas on the tower. I am looking for an individual or maybe a company that could install the tower and hang the antennas. This would be in Washington Court House. TIA.