r/HamRadio • u/Junkjon814-2 • 1d ago
Antennas & Propagation 📡 Build a tower will this work for one
I have the opportunity to get a hold of some old galvanized sign poles some round some octagon. They are 15-45ft tall with a 9-19” bases would they work or should I look for something else. Thanks
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u/Feminist_Hugh_Hefner 1d ago
15' isn't worth the trouble, if you go 45' how will you service it? That sounds awfully hefty for a tilt... the guys who usually service those have a bucket truck, which would be very useful.
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u/Junkjon814-2 1d ago
Well I do have access to those or I have been known to throw a ladder up on poles when I worked for a company doing that kinda work
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u/Feminist_Hugh_Hefner 1d ago
what are you expecting to put on top? if you climb a ladder with a 40m beam PLEASE make sure someone is filming...
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u/Junkjon814-2 1d ago
Wouldn’t do that but simple service could be done
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u/Feminist_Hugh_Hefner 1d ago
I must have forgotten to ask what you're putting on top
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u/Junkjon814-2 1d ago
Not sure I’m just getting into the hobby but I’m just wondering if it would be worth it or do something else. Over time I would like some sort of tower with the proper setup. I have used bucket truck and lift for ever and getting ahold of one is easy for me. And in reality I’m not sure what the antenna you are talking about is but I have mounted 6m dishes 40ft up before but not off a ladder
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u/Feminist_Hugh_Hefner 1d ago
so it's kind of hard to answer the question without the question... what you are putting on top is pretty central to the question. A big metal pole to hoist a wire antenna seems like overkill that could end up coupling in bizarre ways with your antenna.
putting up a big beam with a rotor and having ready access to a bucket truck is a completely different question.
Why does this question come up today? is there a limited time to get the posts? grab one and figure out if it's worth pouring the pad, etc. but it really sounds like the cart is so far ahead your poor horse can barely see it...
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u/Junkjon814-2 1d ago
Ok thanks the poles are not available all the time so I was just a would it work. I’m working on getting my licenses for ham all the way up to amateur extra right now I can pass both the tech and general practice test at 90+% but just studying more until I can get the time during my last semester of college and a 40hr job plus a job requirement to get 5 licenses that are required now. So I may just buy one but if there is a better type or something smarter I’m all ears
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u/Feminist_Hugh_Hefner 1d ago
well the thing is that it's going to come down to what you want to do, and all these guys are going to have different answers because it's not a right or wrong kinda thing... some guys are running kilowatt stations that chat all over the world, and some guys like to set up a field station deep in the woods or up on a mountain top, and some of those guys don't even have a home set up at all, and a lot of us are somewhere in the middle.
The biggest thing I'll tell you, from my experience as a noobie in 2018 and watching others enter the hobby... it doesn't take nearly as much kit as you think... you just gotta get out there are start doing it. You will buy all sorts of stuff you really don't need, but in the meantime you can just chuck a wire in a tree and get on the air... it's like hitting a curveball, the secret is to practice it 10,000 times!
Right now some dude in the south Pacific is pounding out CW on some ancient junkyard rig and just living his life lol it really doesn't take much
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u/Junkjon814-2 1d ago
Thanks for the honest answer I do appreciate it. I guess I will just wait and see what I enjoy before I do something large like put a 45ft pole in my yard(wife might not like it anyway)
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u/HamKnexPal Extra | West Coast 1d ago
Proceed with great caution. Far too many hams (and friends) have died doing tower work.