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Message |
    
Sidewinder10
New member
Username: Sidewinder10
Post Number: 8
Registered: 11-2011
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 - 11:37 pm: | 
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i am about to put my antron99 about 60 feet in the top of a tree but i dont think i can quite get the antenna completely above the limbs, how bad will the limbs hurt my performance? I currently have my antenna on a 30 foot pushup pole, will putting the antenna in the tree even if i cant get it above the limbs be worth it? thanks alot |
N8fgb
Intermediate Member
Username: N8fgb
Post Number: 109
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - 8:18 pm: |
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Been there, done that. works great.
Rich |
Silver_surfer
Junior Member
Username: Silver_surfer
Post Number: 23
Registered: 7-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - 8:22 pm: |
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I don't think it will hurt your transmit but I believe it will cut your receive,follow Jesus. |
Dale
Senior Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 1840
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - 9:29 pm: |
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goota local here with a a99 70 feet in a tree
works great. if u can try to get the bottom
of the a-99 to the highest point in the tree.
also use high quality coax. its a loss to do
all this and loss it all in poor coax. id use
ca-400 and nothing less
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
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Sidewinder10
New member
Username: Sidewinder10
Post Number: 9
Registered: 11-2011
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - 11:37 pm: |
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i use RG213 from Copper, but i dont know if i can get the antenna completely above the tree so i didnt know how bad a few limbs would hurt cause i will more than double my heigth, im hoping to see an increase in performance. Thanks for the help, God Bless |
Charliebrown
Intermediate Member
Username: Charliebrown
Post Number: 255
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2012 - 6:57 pm: |
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Being dead against the tree and or the limb's will hurt the receive somewhat but, most of all cause SWR problem's. The antenna should be at least nine foot away from any object. That is in the book that came with the antenna. If you could just get the antenna bottom as high as the tree then you will have some great result's. Rent a lift or hire someone to do it for you. |
392
Intermediate Member
Username: 392
Post Number: 158
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2012 - 7:42 pm: |
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if the tree is strong enough to support your mast, put your mast as high as you can and then extend your mast. You can use big flexties to secure the mast to branches or the main trunk. If the mast is too heavy, buy a 10 foot section of PVC pipe, and secure that to the tree as high as you can get it, antron on top. that will push your antron up another 10 feet. |
Dale
Senior Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 1843
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2012 - 9:16 pm: |
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well imho if your going to more than double your height i think you,ll see a increase.i think
the extra height will help your recieve .if ya cant
get the bottom of the antenna even with top of tree
then just saw off other nearby branches near the top
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
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Charliebrown
Intermediate Member
Username: Charliebrown
Post Number: 256
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2012 - 12:19 am: |
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The top rail of a chain link fence will do better over time . Pvc pipe in the sun light will break down and crack and the winter temp's will not help either. As I had said ,The increase in height will make a difference but, if you do not get the antenna higher than the tree then you will have higher SWR. The lower the SWR the better for your broadcast and the radio will run cooler. Mount the antenna to the trunk it will take the wind better. Read any article you can find on antenna's, hight, and grounding. TECH 833 had done some testing on a lot of this and had written some great article's Some other's on here have post some great advice as well. If your pipe is to heavy put a pulley system in the top of the tree and pull the antenna up. There are many way's to do what you want. Sidewinder10, I hope this will help you. You can do it. |
Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237
Post Number: 1540
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2012 - 8:35 am: |
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Charliebrown - I used to have a 20ft mast made from 2 sections of PVC thast was UVC stabalized. This was in a mountain top town (3500ft asl) in Australia, where them temps ranged from 100F+ to 20F over the year.
It stood for 5 years - that is until I moved to Oregon in 1999. The right type of PVC will last.
Tech237
N7AUS
God made me an athiest, who are you to question his wisdom?
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Charliebrown
Intermediate Member
Username: Charliebrown
Post Number: 257
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2012 - 12:45 pm: |
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I had thought he was speaking of regular pvc. But still a chain link fence top rail will last longer and as far as I know is stronger. I had use an industrial strength top rail 21 foot long on one antenna and had used a pulley system to pull it to the top of an 80 foot pine tree. After 22 year's the pipe is still there but the a-99 is gone due to age. |
Sidewinder10
Junior Member
Username: Sidewinder10
Post Number: 10
Registered: 11-2011
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2012 - 11:36 pm: |
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Its funny industrial top rail is exactly what i am going to use! I have a 20 foot secton and i figure if i fasten 5ft to the trunk the remaing 15 should help with height. The rail is plenty strong enough to support the a99, the antenna will extend above the trunk for sure it just wont clear a few branches. Thanks alot for all the advice |
Starface
Senior Member
Username: Starface
Post Number: 3132
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2012 - 12:21 am: |
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Remember guys he wants to us the tree for height, using a mast might help but think if he was going to use any kind of mast then why not put the antenna on a very good height mast in the first place? Not trying to be a wise butt. So Like most have said get the base up as high as you can to a branch going straight up and then run 2 tie down strap through the base bracket around the tree branch. Just another thought in the pile. |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 2133
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2012 - 7:28 am: |
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When the tree is pretty dry and it hasn't rained for a long time, the branches aren't going to bother a thing. When the tree is wet and/or full of moisture, you'll see an SWR fluctuation.
Just do it.
Your radio 'Mythbuster' since 1998
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Sidewinder10
Junior Member
Username: Sidewinder10
Post Number: 11
Registered: 11-2011
| | Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2012 - 11:54 pm: |
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Thanks alot for all the help. im still in highschool so i have alot to learn but i sure enjoy the hobby, thanks again and i plan on having my antenna in the tree very soon. |
Alsworld
Senior Member
Username: Alsworld
Post Number: 1033
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2012 - 9:06 pm: |
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Maybe this is a hybrid answer, but I have utilzed tress since I began this hobby. I run the antenna pole, like that of TV antenna, and find the best location going up a tree where branches criss cross and I can snake the pole up through them. I use this system for this reason; the antenna poles themselves are not strong enough when getting high, especially with the wind whipping these antennas around. You can guy them to a certain extent, but these poles just are not designed to be used this way. But! If snaked up a tree with an antenna on top, you can secure the poles at sections to the tree. I have used strong coated wires around the poles (antenna pole, NOT the antenna), or just had good quality rope that can withstand the suns UV rays for awhile anyway (Dacron is superb!) and tie the antenna poles to the tree itself. For me, I use the antenna poles as mast for height, and the tree for supporting strength. I had my Imax 2000 go through two tropical storms years ago like this and never even bent a pole. Although I would say that the poles in this configuration would most likely be the weakest point, I have yet to have one fail and this is many antenna installations in many trees.
Also, I have had great luck getting great SWR's. Trees are wood and we are at HF frequencies so obtaining low and way more than acceptable SWR's has been repeatable for me over and over again. I say do it. |
Charliebrown
Intermediate Member
Username: Charliebrown
Post Number: 258
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2012 - 12:17 am: |
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The top rail of a chain link Fence pipe that I use is not your standard low price rail and that is the reason I can use a 21 foot top rail. It is industrial strength and I to have never had one to bend or fail and it had taken wind's up to 90 mph with an a-99 antenna on it. Hey what ever work's --use it. This is just what I use and had worked well for me. |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 2793
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2012 - 12:38 am: |
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Sidewinder10, Nice to hear about younger generations interested in radio. I was 4 years old when I got my first 9 volt walkie and by age 12 was working coast to coast. BTW we are all here to continuously learn and that is what keeps me interested. Careful in the tree and look out for power lines!
Kenny
CEF491
Reading the mail around Indianapolis Indiana!
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Mikefromms
Senior Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 1120
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2012 - 11:08 am: |
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Try it and see. I have found that many things work in the antenna world that the purest will say will not work. I'm willing to say it will work surprisingly good. |
Sidewinder10
Junior Member
Username: Sidewinder10
Post Number: 14
Registered: 11-2011
| | Posted on Friday, March 09, 2012 - 11:36 pm: |
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i finnaly got my antenna in the tree today, i got it atleast 50ft off the ground and my ears are alot better, i didnt get many radio checks tho to test the tx. i can easily go another 20ft higher but when mom got home and found me 50ft in the tree i had to leave it where it was. Thx for all the help. |
Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237
Post Number: 1549
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, March 10, 2012 - 8:35 am: |
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Moms are like that. Mine used to get upset with me waling around on the roof - even though most of my work day was up towers that were 100 to 200ft high.
Tech237
N7AUS
God made me an athiest, who are you to question his wisdom?
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Charliebrown
Intermediate Member
Username: Charliebrown
Post Number: 259
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 10, 2012 - 7:17 pm: |
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Hey Sidewinder 10. Glad to see you got it done and no injury. It should wake up the tx as well. I have enjoy the radio hobby for 46 year's and I hope you do as well. If you do go back to the tree remember safety first. Have a great day and may GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR'S. |
Dale
Senior Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 1846
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 10, 2012 - 7:44 pm: |
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good 2 hear. you say you noticed your recieve
got better,id assume your tansmit will too.if
you feel you can safely get it up another 20 feet
id say go for it. but if not 5o feet is pretty decent
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
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Sidewinder10
Junior Member
Username: Sidewinder10
Post Number: 15
Registered: 11-2011
| | Posted on Monday, March 12, 2012 - 10:52 pm: |
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Thanks everyone, i enjoy the hobby more than most people my age ive noticed for sure, i sure thank you for all the help and ill try to give an update once i get it even higher, thanks again and God bless. |
Mikefromms
Senior Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 1132
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 - 10:30 pm: |
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Got my Imax up in a tree. Roped up to about 70 feet at the top. Works great and using RG-8x coax 75 feet. Works 15 to 10 without a tuner and good down to 20 meters with a tuner. |
Philuk
Junior Member
Username: Philuk
Post Number: 31
Registered: 4-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 11:54 am: |
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I tried that once with an A99 at the old qth after seeing a picture of a one painted green and lashed on to the top of a tree, I got about 25ft up and changed my mind (and my pants hihi) due to the tree mooving and creaking! no way was I going to the top about 80ft up, a metal tower with guy lines is fine but trees not a chance! it ended up on a 10ft fence pole, hats off to you brave lads out there.
Phil
M6MRP Yaesu FT817nd, FT840 FT51R.
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Spun
Junior Member
Username: Spun
Post Number: 17
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, January 30, 2020 - 9:06 pm: |
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Old topic, but I've had 1/2 wave aluminum antenna in a pine tree since 1996. It's still there in one piece. I've been off radios for over 10 years but I did plug the antenna up recently and checked the SWRs which where sky high. I checked the tree and notice that the tree is at least 15-20 fest higher than it was when the antenna was installed. Some of the limbs have pushed to top of the antenna over.
I plan to switch out the old antenna with an A99, I just need to check the mast and make sure it's still mounted good and top the tree a little and give the A99 some breathing room.
I never had SWR issues for the first 10-15 years I used it. Just ground it good and seal up the antenna and coax connection. |
