OTA Mounts, Towers, Rigging Hardware

[stampeder]

Thanks for that Jase88, and members should keep in mind that this is a discussion forum in which we all benefit from each other's questions and answers. PMs are fine for many things, but I know that I personally cannot assist all the folks who PM me so I ask that they post here in the threads instead. I hope that all members who are unsure about posting in a thread will bear in mind that it is the best thing to do.

[El Gran Chico]

Well, I tried my idea from post 1469 and it was a total disaster (even without the 2 add-ons I was contemplating). The 24" wall mounts allowed my mast to clear my eavestrough by a whisker, but even a 4221 at 10' above the eaves through was no match for mother nature. The winds weren't expecially strong on the weekend but the antenna was rocking enough that pixellation made tv viewing impossible.

I removed one of the 5' sections of mast (Winegard TB-0005 from SandR - anybody need one?!? ) and it's much more stable, but of course the lower height affects reception on a number of channels at my location, the very problem I was trying to find a solution to.

I'm guessing the very long wall mounts are generally less supportive than the shorter ones, meaning the height allowed above the top mount will be less.

Does that make sense?

I think I'm at the end of the road for improving my reception. Not sure I can get my antenna mounted stably more than 15' off the ground/5' above the eavestrough without a very expensive solution.

[Jase88]

El Gran Chico: You could try guy wires. This would certainly add stability. However, guy wires aren't practical in all installations.

[mr weather]

Would a tripod mount be possible in this situation?

[El Gran Chico]

Thanks Jase88 and mr weather for your comments. I don't think I have the space for guy wires (I can barely get a step ladder in between my wall and the fence) and we aren't crazy about the tripod at the peak idea either - actually anything that involves me going on the roof (I don't want to digress into why ) or anything higher than a step ladder really.

I think I've resigned myself to getting the mast as high as possible while being stable while MY feet are relatively close to the ground (if I can find someone elses's feet to go on the roof, the whole plan may change ).

Of course with an antenna at the top, the mast will be top-heavy. I did some experimenting and made it bottom-heavy instead (previously the mast just went to the ground after going through the upper and lower wall mount), and it seemed to stabilize it a lot. Perhaps once the weather gets a bit better I can add back in the extra 5' mast piece and see what happens?!?

Unless the learned folks here have advice to the contrary?!?

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by El Gran Chico

I don't think I have the space for guy wires (I can barely get a step ladder in between my wall and the fence)

Even 2 guy wires to the eves at the corners on either side of the antenna would be an improvement, though obviously not as good as 3 or more.

actually anything that involves me going on the roof (I don't want to digress into why ) or anything higher than a step ladder really.

I can understand. I have a 2 story house and while I don't mind being on the roof of a bungalow, I don't like the idea of going on my roof.

Of course with an antenna at the top, the mast will be top-heavy. I did some experimenting and made it bottom-heavy instead (previously the mast just went to the ground after going through the upper and lower wall mount), and it seemed to stabilize it a lot. Perhaps once the weather gets a bit better I can add back in the extra 5' mast piece and see what happens?!?

I was going to suggest something similar. Let us know how i goes. Photos of what you have done would also be helpful.

Another option would be a bracketed tower. You just stake it into the ground, attach it to the eve. Get one with a rotor plate that lets you put the rotor inside the top mount. Most of the assembly can be done on the ground and shouldn't require you to climb any higher than you did for this installation. It should be much more stable than a single pole.

[El Gran Chico]

Sadly a Canadian soldier died Monday when installing an antenna 15 meters high. Just a reminder that installing your own gear can be dangerous work.


CFB VALCARTIER, Que. — A Canadian soldier died after he fell nearly 15 metres from the roof of a building at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier in Quebec on Monday.

Cpl. Jean-Michel Deziel, a member of the headquarters and signals squadron, was installing a telecommunications antenna when he fell at about 10 a.m., said public affairs officer Capt. Jeanette Champagne.



Read more: http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/01...#ixzz1BWHoO856

[Jase88]

That's tragic, and obviously upsetting to hear.

And while I haven't read the story or possess any knowledge of the facts involving this situation, there may have been a lack of safety equipment here or a catastrophic failure of safety equipment, or both. Most accidents of this nature are preventable.

[stampeder]

A young family member is in the same line of work and has done a tour in Afghanistan. Those guys are amazing, training for how to rig their gear under the most adverse conditions, including being under fire. My heart goes out to that young soldier's family. His service to our country is heroic.

Everyone... be safe when up there in the wind!

[kooguy]

EL Gran Chico,

Will 25' above ground provide good reception in your location?

How about get two sections of tower (they come in 10' per section, about $100/section last I heard from a local shop) which will give 20' above ground. Add a 10' EMT to the tower which will provide at least 25' above ground (give and take).

This way it will give you the stability of mounting the antenna or adding a rotor down the road. I have seen folks mount CM4221 or 4228 on one of the legs of the tower in my area.

[El Gran Chico]

Update to post #1475. With a break in the cold weather, I added back in that 5' piece after making my mast bottom heavy and even with the wind from the other day, it was much more stable!

I'm now at 18' above the ground and 8' above my top mount. I'm not sure I want to push it much more without guy wires.

roger1818: A 2 guy wire solution would fit for me (there's nothing I could attach a 3rd wire to ), but won't that just stop it from rocking side to side, and keep back-and-forthing as an issue?

roger1818 and kooguy: I'll keep that tower idea in my back pocket for now.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by El Gran Chico

A 2 guy wire solution would fit for me (there's nothing I could attach a 3rd wire to ), but won't that just stop it from rocking side to side, and keep back-and-forthing as an issue?

Exactly. That is why it is better than no wires but not as good as 3 or more. How useful it is depends on what direction the wind normally blows.

[Tim Cake]

Steevo -- Before you do any roof climbing, I would recommend you purchase some good leather gloves, knee pads, flexible work boots with rubber soles and KORKERS brand spike plates for your boots. When you get to the edge of the roof on your ladder (make sure somebody is steadying the ladder) crawl over the ladder top and walk on your hands and knees until you reach the install location on your roof.
This method of locomotion is much safer for "roof newbies" than standing up and walking!

I am assuming you have a shingle roof -- if you have a metal or tile roof I'd recommend you hire a professional to do your antenna install. The metal or tile roofs are so slippery that the contractor may decide to use a "cherry picker" to do the antenna install. Also, make sure you ground your antenna assembly from the roof with with insulated, heavy gauge ground wire to a bonding rod driven into the earth. You don't want your equipment or any person getting zapped by a lightning strike!


Tim

[Billsmith]

Tim Cake - Thank you for the good advice! I am waiting for the snow to melt from my roof before going up there! Also I have just purchased a pair of stabilizing pieces (stand-off arms) that push into the sides of the top two rungs of my ladder - these allow the ladder to rest on the roof shingles as opposed to the eves troughs (the new ones of which a made of Aluminum as mine are). These (Aluminum) eves troughs may be more prone to distort under one's body weight on the ladder than the older steel variety possibly resulting in an unstable ladder support. I soon hope to install my new mast for UHF only TV antennas here in Calgary reducing the wind resistance of the installation. Good luck - Steevo.

[Tim Cake]

Bill -- the ladder "bat wings" are a great idea! But don't neglect to have a help hold the ladder anytime somebody is on it!

I thought I did an "overbuilt" mast assembly for my el-cheapo UHF antenna and VHF donated antenna. I used a 5 foot tripod, lag screwed into the roof trusses, with TWO TB-105 antenna support bearings and a rotor. The top TB-105 was guy wired to the roof trusses with 1/4" aircraft cable. The mast and the support stub were made from 1.5" OD exhaust tube (from a muffler shop). Supposedly much stronger than the Channel-Master tubing.

Last week we had 80 mph wind gusts during our Chinook warm-up in Northern Montana. Lo and behold, the 32 bay variant of the McLapp UHF antenna and the Delphi VHF caught the wind and bent the rotating mast at 90 degrees, just above the top TB-105. In the next Chinook, I'm going up the roof with my Sawz-All to cut down the mess. I will replace all the tubing with 1.5" o.d. Schedule 40 galvanized pipe. That should work until the gods of the Rocky Mountains send 100 mph wind gusts... Shizzle!