Posted: 4/13/2012 3:09:53 PM EDT
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I recently had another weak moment, couple days later, the brown truck shows up...
An hour or so of assembly, and now this is in my back yard!! 
BD.. dog extends her regards... And to give you an idea of scale... a 20 ft turning radius looks larger in person... 
This is the K4KIO broadband hex, and I have to admit, He has really done a nice job of putting this together... very simple and quick assembly and quality parts... preliminarily, very impressed. Still have a few tweeks and then this puppy is going up on top of my push up mast for the weekend... will take some more pics once I have it up and working. Neighbors were standing in the street looking up at this wire that runs from my back yard and into a tree in the front yard... now, they are going to be looking at this inverted umbrella in the back yard... My middle daughter said our house is turning into a freek show... 
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How many bands is your hex? Started with three 20/15/10... As of today, I cannot put this up and leave it up... can't make a daily driver out of it. I'll be able to put it up for a weekend contest, so having those three is about all I'll get any use out of. Am looking into getting 'permission' to install it in a more permanent manner, but that process is just beginning. If and when it is up on a daily basis, the other bands will be a nice addition. |
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"Permission"? Say it's a solar clothes dryer. Hopefully, soon, anyone that demands you to have permission will have their asses handed to them by the FCC. Yea... I don't have any CCR's to deal with, but my city treats any antenna the same. A commercial cell tower has the same application and permitting process as I will have... there is no distinction between types of antenna... Which is no big deal for me, I deal with this kind of permitting and building department stuff daily... I grew up with half the people on city council and hope there won't be any neighbor issues.... Freek'n rediculous, but, at least it is a viable option... just have to go through all the hoops.... |
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How many bands is your hex? Started with three 20/15/10... As of today, I cannot put this up and leave it up... can't make a daily driver out of it. I'll be able to put it up for a weekend contest, so having those three is about all I'll get any use out of. Am looking into getting 'permission' to install it in a more permanent manner, but that process is just beginning. If and when it is up on a daily basis, the other bands will be a nice addition. Those are the only bands you need for contesting, but the other bands might be nice for casual DX. Keep us updated of how it works for you and what you think. I am not sure one would survive a winter where I live due to ice. |
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How many bands is your hex? Started with three 20/15/10... As of today, I cannot put this up and leave it up... can't make a daily driver out of it. I'll be able to put it up for a weekend contest, so having those three is about all I'll get any use out of. Am looking into getting 'permission' to install it in a more permanent manner, but that process is just beginning. If and when it is up on a daily basis, the other bands will be a nice addition. Those are the only bands you need for contesting, but the other bands might be nice for casual DX. Keep us updated of how it works for you and what you think. I am not sure one would survive a winter where I live due to ice. We had ice here once... I think, I'm sure it has snowed a time or two... maybe... 
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"Permission"? Say it's a solar clothes dryer. Hopefully, soon, anyone that demands you to have permission will have their asses handed to them by the FCC. ^^^ This. Tell all the "green" neighbors you will be happy to put one up in their yard with the stipulation you get to run a feedline to it. 
ETA- seeing you have no CC&R's to deal with, doesn't PRB-1 give you any protection from the city? ETA-2 Local governments are required to reasonably accommodate Amateur Radio installations and what is in the electronic PRB-1 package can be very helpful as a part of a presentation before local planners. Copied from here |
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"Permission"? Say it's a solar clothes dryer. Hopefully, soon, anyone that demands you to have permission will have their asses handed to them by the FCC. ^^^ This. Tell all the "green" neighbors you will be happy to put one up in their yard with the stipulation you get to run a feedline to it.
ETA- seeing you have no CC&R's to deal with, doesn't PRB-1 give you any protection from the city? ETA-2 Local governments are required to reasonably accommodate Amateur Radio installations and what is in the electronic PRB-1 package can be very helpful as a part of a presentation before local planners. Copied from here I hope so, supposed to... I've got all that stuff printed out a will pull it out if necessary... just don't want to start there... the last line in the cities ordinance acknowledges they have to have a compelling reason to decline an application... so... hope this won't turn into a piss'n match... |
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Still have a few tweeks and then this puppy is going up on top of my push up mast for the weekend... will take some more pics once I have it up and working. Neighbors were standing in the street looking up at this wire that runs from my back yard and into a tree in the front yard... now, they are going to be looking at this inverted umbrella in the back yard... My middle daughter said our house is turning into a freek show...
If you put your puppy on top of the mast your daughter will be correct!
I think you'll be very pleased with the Hex. I would probably have one by now but the weather around here would kill it. Good luck on a permanent installation. |
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"Permission"? Say it's a solar clothes dryer. Hopefully, soon, anyone that demands you to have permission will have their asses handed to them by the FCC. Yea... I don't have any CCR's to deal with, but my city treats any antenna the same. A commercial cell tower has the same application and permitting process as I will have... there is no distinction between types of antenna... Which is no big deal for me, I deal with this kind of permitting and building department stuff daily... I grew up with half the people on city council and hope there won't be any neighbor issues.... Freek'n rediculous, but, at least it is a viable option... just have to go through all the hoops.... What city in SC if you don't mind me asking. Vulcan94 |
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"Permission"? Say it's a solar clothes dryer. Hopefully, soon, anyone that demands you to have permission will have their asses handed to them by the FCC. Yea... I don't have any CCR's to deal with, but my city treats any antenna the same. A commercial cell tower has the same application and permitting process as I will have... there is no distinction between types of antenna... Which is no big deal for me, I deal with this kind of permitting and building department stuff daily... I grew up with half the people on city council and hope there won't be any neighbor issues.... Freek'n rediculous, but, at least it is a viable option... just have to go through all the hoops.... What city in SC if you don't mind me asking. Vulcan94 Dude... you're like my next door neighbor!! 
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City is just looking to make a few bucks off of you.
Main concern they will have is it a hazard to personal injury or property damage. Hope they don't ask for engineering drawings signed off on by a P.E. Do an internet search for wind rating based on your location it maybe 70 MPH or 80 MPH. I know even with me living an hour drive from the coast I still have to meet same wind rating specs. I have non signed drawings from Rohn on their telescoping mast shows guy wire spec wind load and wind ratings. |
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City is just looking to make a few bucks off of you. Main concern they will have is it a hazard to personal injury or property damage. Hope they don't ask for engineering drawings signed off on by a P.E. Do an internet search for wind rating based on your location it maybe 70 MPH or 80 MPH. I know even with me living an hour drive from the coast I still have to meet same wind rating specs. I have non signed drawings from Rohn on their telescoping mast shows guy wire spec wind load and wind ratings. Thanks... On the coast, we are in a 130 MPH wind zone, Rohn's documents don't go that high, so I am going to have to break out my magic wand and anoint the tower sections as conforming.... and yes, they are going to require drawings.... already have the site plan, concrete pad and tower drawings together... I used this stamp I picked up on ebay... it'll be fine.....
They have a very nice shopping list of hoops you have to jump through, but, at least it is in list form...
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What Rohn are you thinking of going with? They have 130 MPH Rev G specs for the 25G at http://www.rohnnet.com/resourcesmodule/download_resource/id/593/src/@random48eced0c124b9/
I suspect you're not putting a guyed tower in your yard though... |
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What Rohn are you thinking of going with? They have 130 MPH Rev G specs for the 25G at http://www.rohnnet.com/resourcesmodule/download_resource/id/593/src/@random48eced0c124b9/ I suspect you're not putting a guyed tower in your yard though... Yep... the wife, kids and neighbors are going to have plenty to say about a small tower... start adding some guy wires and that might just push the bunch over the edge.... 
I can extrapolate down to a shorter tower from a taller and lower wind speed and get what I need.. pretty sure.... |
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Meh, I have a professionally engineered 199' rohn 25 in the front (with guy wires) and two others in the back (a 60' and a 40') that were engineered by Budwieser and are 'chained' to light poles...Something to be said for living in the sticks. Keep it discreet as you can to appease the masses.
I like the antenna! |
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This is a quick sketch of the tower I'm working on... Have never put up a tower before, so I'm not yet clear on what parts I can get and what I'll have to have fabricated.
Specifically, I need to get this two inch mast to ride inside of a thrust bearing... but my google searches have not come up with what I think I am looking for. There are thrust plates and thrust bearings out there, but they all apear to be for placement of a fixed mast... Any suggestions or things you guys have seen??? Picture is rotated... sorry... 
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I'm confused on what you want to do with the mast. By the text I suspect you want it to somehow extend upwards when the tower is raised. In the picture you have the rotor above the tower. I'm easily confused though!
The rotor above the tower on top of a fixed mast or on a plate would probably be fine for the Hex. Typically you would mount the rotor on a plate at least 3' below the top of the tower and then put a thrust bearing on a plate at the top of the tower. The Rohn TB-3 or TB-4, or the Yaesu GS-050 or GS-065, etc. would work up there on top.I think the Yaesu ones look good from reviews and a price standpoint. ETA: Scroll down to the bottom picture for an example of how I'm talking about doing it. This would work on a fixed tower or a telescoping one. http://www.powerlinenoise.com/n0rq/page06.htm |
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Have you been able to dry any clothes....I mean work any DX with it yet? Nope... haven't been able to get them up high enough to catch a good breeze yet...
Sad to say... haven't had the opportunity to use it yet... but... It does make a nice feature in the back yard...
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I'm confused on what you want to do with the mast. By the text I suspect you want it to somehow extend upwards when the tower is raised. In the picture you have the rotor above the tower. I'm easily confused though!
The rotor above the tower on top of a fixed mast or on a plate would probably be fine for the Hex. Typically you would mount the rotor on a plate at least 3' below the top of the tower and then put a thrust bearing on a plate at the top of the tower. The Rohn TB-3 or TB-4, or the Yaesu GS-050 or GS-065, etc. would work up there on top.I think the Yaesu ones look good from reviews and a price standpoint. ETA: Scroll down to the bottom picture for an example of how I'm talking about doing it. This would work on a fixed tower or a telescoping one. http://www.powerlinenoise.com/n0rq/page06.htm So... what you're saying is my picture isn't self explanatory???
The hex weight about 18 lbs to 20 lbs... docs say 25, but it isn't that heavy. So yes, the plan is to use a light duty rotator mounted on top of the extendable center 2" dia mast... which will simplify extending the mast itself. So... to clarify what isn't jumping off the page from my spiffy picture... We have a combination of Rohn parts equating to a fixed tower base around 25 ft tall. Extendable, from the center of this fixed tower is a 2" dia mast that I can crank up another 10 to 15 ft.... all of this is to fit within a narrow envelope of property space and visual limitations I anticipate needing to be sensitive too in order to get 'permission'... What I am searching for is the parts to sleave the 2" mast. Again, Rohn has thrust plates and thrust bearings but they appear to be intended to support and clamp a fixed mast... I need to find, if such an item exists, is a thrust bearing with actually rollers.. I can make one up, but woulr\d rather not re-invent the wheel.. this has to be a relatively common applicaion.. or so I thought |
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Have you been able to dry any clothes....I mean work any DX with it yet? You know what... not to distract from the question at hand... but that is a really nice point. Was planning on running the FL QSO Party this weekend... don't need the hex for that... so, it was just going to sit... screw the FLQP... well, not completely, but need to get the hex up and give it a good test drive.... Will do that... thanks... Back to the thrust bearings....
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| If I understand correctly, I don't think such a thing is commonly available. Sounds like you might want a sleeve or bushing rather than a bearing. Thrust bearings are designed to hold the weight of the mast and antennas off of the rotor. The Rohn tapered tower top sections come with a sleeve by default that might work? The mast would be free inside but not sure if it would easily move up and down. |
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If I understand correctly, I don't think such a thing is commonly available. Sounds like you might want a sleeve or bushing rather than a bearing. Thrust bearings are designed to hold the weight of the mast and antennas off of the rotor. The Rohn tapered tower top sections come with a sleeve by default that might work? The mast would be free inside but not sure if it would easily move up and down. Well... that just figures... cool... love figuring stuff out from scratch.... shouldn't be a big deal to make a few rollers... If and when I get this moving forward, I'll post some pics.. Thanks!! |
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While the tapered top section will allow you to slide the mast up and down, I am concerned on how to secure the mast from rotating. The only thing that comes to mind is a key and slot arrangent. Might cause binding after prolonged exposure to the environment. There is a locking screw in the sleeve of the tapered top section. Maybe a slot machined in the mast nut that might weaken the mast. Maybe if the slot was in the sleeve and the key on the length of the mast.
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If I understand correctly, I don't think such a thing is commonly available. Sounds like you might want a sleeve or bushing rather than a bearing. Thrust bearings are designed to hold the weight of the mast and antennas off of the rotor. The Rohn tapered tower top sections come with a sleeve by default that might work? The mast would be free inside but not sure if it would easily move up and down. Well... that just figures... cool... love figuring stuff out from scratch.... shouldn't be a big deal to make a few rollers... If and when I get this moving forward, I'll post some pics.. Thanks!! |
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While the tapered top section will allow you to slide the mast up and down, I am concerned on how to secure the mast from rotating. The only thing that comes to mind is a key and slot arrangent. Might cause binding after prolonged exposure to the environment. There is a locking screw in the sleeve of the tapered top section. Maybe a slot machined in the mast nut that might weaken the mast. Maybe if the slot was in the sleeve and the key on the length of the mast. Here is a sketch of what I was thinking at the two trust bearing, now roller, locations... a few rollers from Mcmaster Carr is simple enough... For anti-rotation, I can work up some sort of guide for the base of the mast to ride along... will help prevent latteral movement and binding as well and prevent twist/rotation... will work on a sketch for that as well. Appreciate all the comments... thinking through this stuff now is a big help. 
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Ok nice like cam followers. Didn't know they made mounts like that. I would make some kind of slotted mounting with a pusher bolt at the back of each one so you can set the concentrencity. What is square feet load on that antenna? What rotor you plan on using. I know you said 2 inch mast what wall thickness? I am liking your idea. It is outside the box!
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While the tapered top section will allow you to slide the mast up and down, I am concerned on how to secure the mast from rotating. The only thing that comes to mind is a key and slot arrangent. Might cause binding after prolonged exposure to the environment. There is a locking screw in the sleeve of the tapered top section. Maybe a slot machined in the mast nut that might weaken the mast. Maybe if the slot was in the sleeve and the key on the length of the mast. Here is a sketch of what I was thinking at the two trust bearing, now roller, locations... a few rollers from Mcmaster Carr is simple enough... For anti-rotation, I can work up some sort of guide for the base of the mast to ride along... will help prevent latteral movement and binding as well and prevent twist/rotation... will work on a sketch for that as well. Appreciate all the comments... thinking through this stuff now is a big help. http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss300/mndless/AR15/ROLLERl.png |
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Got the hex up on a pole... only up 20 ft or so... pretty impressive..
very low swr right out of the box, all 3 bands... very quiet... like turning down the volume state side and turning up the volume in the pointed direction.... very cool.... putting it up on the push up mast is a process... really have to get this tower moving forward... but... I like it!!! |
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Got to play with the hex some this weekend... have to say I'm impressed... really surprised at the performance from something so small... only 20 ft in diameter and very light weight... easily packable if needed...
Pointed it north over the weekend and had a dozen or so Q's into Russia. Still have some learning to do with the push up mast. Even though it can go up 50 ft... put a 25 lb hex on top of it and getting it up safely is another mater. With help and the guys in place... it is difficult... there must be a trick to this I haven't figured out yet... but... even at 20 ft... I'm very pleased with how it did... looking forward to getting the tower up and this thing a bit higher... one step at a time.. 
Mast is completely collapsed in picture... most of the guys have been removed. |
| I'm on the verge of purchasing a hexbeam myself. I frequent 17 meters and everyone that has owned one has nothing but good things to say. The signal is always superb as well. My pushup pole is full to say the least right now. It already has a triband vertical along with 2 meter ssb loops and a standoff for G5RV. A push up pole is easy on the budget but once you get any weight on it then its a bear to get in the air. |