Going Hoizontal - M0YNG.uk

Created 2015-06-15

Modified 2019-09-21

aerials

Amateur Radio

Flags

After my vertical fell over a bit[1], I've been experimenting with horizontal aerials.

1: /2015/03/not-what-i-meant-by-a-compromise-aerial/

The first attempt was using James' SOTABeam hooked over the guttering and supported at the other end using another fishing rod. This time, I was sure to collapse the rod when not in use!

The setup worked reasonably well, with more success inter-G than I've had before, which is to be expected. It proved that this way of rigging an aerial had potential, and I probably had enough space.

However, it wasn't a long term solution, so with the assistance of the fishing rod, I hooked some twine over the TV aerial bracket on the gable end of the house, making a slightly shoddy hoist for one end of an aerial.

Thanks to M0PCB[2] I started work with a proper telescopic aluminium pole, that stands approximately quite tall.

2: https://www.m0pcb.co.uk/

Two pulleys on a pole [IMG]

I drilled two holes in the top section, and attached some pulleys, as you can see in the photo. I then hammered it into the ground next to a fence post, and proceeded to attach it with some bent shelf brackets, holding the pole in place.

Next, I attached some rope to the pulleys, and attached one end of a half size G5RV (thanks again to M0PCB[3]!) With the other end attached to my makeshift hoist and at the full height of the house, I optimistically began to raise the other on my newly installed pole.

3: https://twitter.com/M0PCB

Sadly, this didn't go as well as hoped.

My pole was not far enough away to produce anything other than a very limp V, with the feeder trailing on the ground. Not what I had planned.

Further measuring, well, some measuring, showed that my available space wasn't quite enough to fit the Half G5RV in place. I'll need to experiment with having the house end of the aerial over the top of the roof and attached down the other side somehow.

For now, the pole is making a very nice flagpole[4], and hasn't fallen over yet!

4: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Gloucestershire

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