Thanks for the great video about a facet of amateur radio that is seldom talked about (it seems to me). I especially appreciate the detail of installing the connector to the coax. That should be very comforting to many of us newbies. 73
I was an antenna installer for 42yrs, when trying to get a cable through a wall cut a 60 ˚ slope on the end of the cable. You can then use one of the existing cables as draw wire. Then put a small amount of of tape around the two cables (just the end of the cut slope ) and push from the outside as you are only using it as a guide to align the cable in the cavity. If you try pulling you'll need more tape to hold it but then it might be too big for the hole. Self Amalgamating tape, stretching cause some kind or action (I was always told it released a chemical) so it will then stick to itself. The electrical tape is just to hold the amalgamating tape in place whilst the bonding process happens. without it the tape sometimes unwraps.
I just ordered the Comet CX-333. So far and I haven't even got it but based on what I read for the one I ordered and your video I think I am going to love it.
Getting ready to do this with the exact same Comet GP3 antenna on my TV tower. Taking down the old TV antenna and putting this up. Hope it works well! 35 feet of height and I am hoping to get clear across Lake Ontario up here in Canada :)
Great video as always, just one suggestion, tape from bottom to top. Like you would install shingles on a roof. Not a big deal though really in this install, just belt and suspenders type stuff to potentially save a future trip up.
Every half wave of more elevation above ground means more gain and better line of sight. On 2M that's only a meter, like 3 feet. Even if you are just peaking up above the hills, that 5/8s over 5/8s design with a higher angle of radiation works great. I used the Tram/browning 1480 which is essentially the same kind of antenna as the GP-3 for years at 20Ft then 32Ft and it worked incredibly well. Newer hams who have never had a larger outdoor antenna are just unaware of how much better it is in all ways. Even if you can only put an antenna like this up 6 feet or on the top of a fence or something it'll be massively better than a mobile whip in the house or a HT antenna. Even this antenna in an attic does reasonably well. It's great to use good quality low loss coax, but if you are on a budget, 50Ft of cheap RG8X only has a couple DB of loss on VHF and with the antenna offering almost 5DBI of gain on VHF you will still have something that beats a mobile magnet mount or a J-pole or other smaller antennas. Remember, coax loss is measured at 100 feet of coax so RG8X looks bad on VHF when you read the loss specs, but you rarely need 100 feet of coax for a VHF antenna installation. Most people can get away with 50 feet then the coax losses are half of the specified loss rating at VHF and UHF. I ran my Tram 1480 with 40 feet of RG58 for a few years until I could afford some low loss coax. It made a little difference in the performance on TX and RX when I went to the low loss stuff, but it wasn't like OMG, the antenna is now hearing things it never heard or I can talk twice as far or anything like that. A few DB is like an S-unit. Only really a factor on weak signal work and not generally with repeaters or local simplex. You can even use 75Ohm tv cable as it's cheap and easily available, even the low loss stuff like RG6. Home Depot sells it. Get a couple F to PL259 adapters and you can run that with no problem. If you calculate the coax length right, you can even eliminate the slight impedance mismatch at the radio and antenna...or you can just live with the extra .5 increase in SWR. Is it perfect, no, but it's ridiculously cheaper than high end 50 ohm low loss coax. .25 a foot instead of $2.25 or more. Anyway just some ideas to improve without needing to spend a whole lot.
Npw you DID make sure your anemometer on the weather station was pointing in the right direction right? Most need the station to be facing north/south in a specific orientation 😂
I’ve used the camo mast poles and still have some in service. I changed my VHF/UHF Comet antenna mounting over to two chainlink fence top rails screwed together. Twenty feet of secure elevation for cheap.
Retired Mason, here I always have trouble getting in the hole lol Using an oversize bit 1/4” for hammer drill or just rotary and caulk it to seal it up it solves 99% of your troubles.Scott KF0HRF
I am surprised you don't have a grounded lighting surge protector at the house entrance of your coax. Especially there in Texas. Good luck. Steve, k7ofg.
I rebuilt one of those recently. Bad design with base mount. Overlap of tube over base is too little. Wind will egg it out with it swaying in wind. Fixed it by fill top part of tube with fiberglass to extend base.
I just got the ok from the landlord (bro in law) to put up a 32 Foot fiberglass mast in the N corner of the property game changer thinking EFHW sloper will have a perfect N, S run approx perfect distance for a 40-10M with tuner setup !!
That weather station does not have the ability to recharge batteries. They must be periodically replaced. The solar panel is for reading solar strength. The center post you pointed at is a bubble level to assure it's level.
Right, but I use rechargeable batteries so that's what I put in it. There is a bubble level but the thing I pointed at(not the bubble level) is some type of solar sensor. A photo eye it might be called...
Hey Dave, I'm about to install an antenna too. My question is: I don't see you using a lightning arrestor on your cable? And did you ground your mast? Lots of ppl tell me to do all that stuff but do I really have to do that for VHF/UHF?
Thanks for the great video about a facet of amateur radio that is seldom talked about (it seems to me). I especially appreciate the detail of installing the connector to the coax. That should be very comforting to many of us newbies. 73
Thanks for bringing us with, Mike!
I was an antenna installer for 42yrs, when trying to get a cable through a wall cut a 60 ˚ slope on the end of the cable.
You can then use one of the existing cables as draw wire. Then put a small amount of of tape around the two cables (just the end of the cut slope ) and push from the outside as you are only using it as a guide to align the cable in the cavity. If you try pulling you'll need more tape to hold it but then it might be too big for the hole.
Self Amalgamating tape, stretching cause some kind or action (I was always told it released a chemical) so it will then stick to itself. The electrical tape is just to hold the amalgamating tape in place whilst the bonding process happens. without it the tape sometimes unwraps.
I just ordered the Comet CX-333. So far and I haven't even got it but based on what I read for the one I ordered and your video I think I am going to love it.
There is something so cathartic about setting up a new antenna and receiving a nice strong signal! Cheers, and 73. KF0QNM.
Great video as always thanks for making and posting 73 🙂👍
Give it some of that hawk tuah 😂😂
Nice weather station! I gotta get one of those. I have the Comet GP 6 and GP 3 - they are an awesome antenna!
Getting ready to do this with the exact same Comet GP3 antenna on my TV tower. Taking down the old TV antenna and putting this up. Hope it works well! 35 feet of height and I am hoping to get clear across Lake Ontario up here in Canada :)
Great video as always, just one suggestion, tape from bottom to top. Like you would install shingles on a roof. Not a big deal though really in this install, just belt and suspenders type stuff to potentially save a future trip up.
I have the GP3 in my condo attic, works well.
Every half wave of more elevation above ground means more gain and better line of sight. On 2M that's only a meter, like 3 feet. Even if you are just peaking up above the hills, that 5/8s over 5/8s design with a higher angle of radiation works great. I used the Tram/browning 1480 which is essentially the same kind of antenna as the GP-3 for years at 20Ft then 32Ft and it worked incredibly well. Newer hams who have never had a larger outdoor antenna are just unaware of how much better it is in all ways. Even if you can only put an antenna like this up 6 feet or on the top of a fence or something it'll be massively better than a mobile whip in the house or a HT antenna. Even this antenna in an attic does reasonably well. It's great to use good quality low loss coax, but if you are on a budget, 50Ft of cheap RG8X only has a couple DB of loss on VHF and with the antenna offering almost 5DBI of gain on VHF you will still have something that beats a mobile magnet mount or a J-pole or other smaller antennas. Remember, coax loss is measured at 100 feet of coax so RG8X looks bad on VHF when you read the loss specs, but you rarely need 100 feet of coax for a VHF antenna installation. Most people can get away with 50 feet then the coax losses are half of the specified loss rating at VHF and UHF. I ran my Tram 1480 with 40 feet of RG58 for a few years until I could afford some low loss coax. It made a little difference in the performance on TX and RX when I went to the low loss stuff, but it wasn't like OMG, the antenna is now hearing things it never heard or I can talk twice as far or anything like that. A few DB is like an S-unit. Only really a factor on weak signal work and not generally with repeaters or local simplex. You can even use 75Ohm tv cable as it's cheap and easily available, even the low loss stuff like RG6. Home Depot sells it. Get a couple F to PL259 adapters and you can run that with no problem. If you calculate the coax length right, you can even eliminate the slight impedance mismatch at the radio and antenna...or you can just live with the extra .5 increase in SWR. Is it perfect, no, but it's ridiculously cheaper than high end 50 ohm low loss coax. .25 a foot instead of $2.25 or more. Anyway just some ideas to improve without needing to spend a whole lot.
Npw you DID make sure your anemometer on the weather station was pointing in the right direction right? Most need the station to be facing north/south in a specific orientation 😂
My roof line just so happens to point due N/S so all I have to do is line the WX station up with the house and I'm golden
great video Mike- thank you as always!
I’ve used the camo mast poles and still have some in service. I changed my VHF/UHF Comet antenna mounting over to two chainlink fence top rails screwed together. Twenty feet of secure elevation for cheap.
So many jokes on this one..I'll be nice 😅
I was worried with the amount of weight on the roof but all is good my friend LOL.
Retired Mason, here I always have trouble getting in the hole lol Using an oversize bit 1/4” for hammer drill or just rotary and caulk it to seal it up it solves 99% of your troubles.Scott KF0HRF
I picked up the Peet Bros weather station when I was in Orlando last year. I think you would love it particularly because it is APRS ready.😂
Oh, I see what you did there!
I am surprised you don't have a grounded lighting surge protector at the house entrance of your coax. Especially there in Texas. Good luck.
Steve, k7ofg.
I just imagined lightning striking the antenna when Mike held it up in the air...
Goodness gracious! There are a lot of cables behind that desk!!!🤦🏻♂️🙄🤣🤣🤣
We don't talk about those 🤣
Mike, your a Texan now. It's called an antenna ranch.
I’m here for the expert comments saying how wrong you did everything 😂
“Put the Cable in the Hole” 🙊🤣
I rebuilt one of those recently. Bad design with base mount. Overlap of tube over base is too little. Wind will egg it out with it swaying in wind. Fixed it by fill top part of tube with fiberglass to extend base.
The mast is a bit wobbly up on that roof.
I just got the ok from the landlord (bro in law) to put up a 32 Foot fiberglass mast in the N corner of the property game changer thinking EFHW sloper will have a perfect N, S run approx perfect distance for a 40-10M with tuner setup !!
Sweet!
The call for vet lube was sooooooo close.
That weather station does not have the ability to recharge batteries. They must be periodically replaced. The solar panel is for reading solar strength. The center post you pointed at is a bubble level to assure it's level.
Right, but I use rechargeable batteries so that's what I put in it. There is a bubble level but the thing I pointed at(not the bubble level) is some type of solar sensor. A photo eye it might be called...
Hey! Nice ladder!
You like that??
@hamradiotube 🍆🍆🍆
Hey Dave, I'm about to install an antenna too. My question is: I don't see you using a lightning arrestor on your cable? And did you ground your mast? Lots of ppl tell me to do all that stuff but do I really have to do that for VHF/UHF?
I'm not sure who Dave is but hopefully he'll chime in here. I myself have done none of that stuff though.
@@hamradiotube Sorry Mike for calling you Dave. Thnxs.
NICE!
Great video Mike! What model Raddy is this one? K5TGS
This one ruclips.net/video/-HYNO06u_a0/видео.html
What is that running on the monitor behind you at the end of the video is that GridTracker ?
That is a Geochron
For how long dit you have the Raddy Wx Station before it broke?
couple few years???
is the weather station wireless?
Yes
I sooooo wanted to say something pithy....but I refrained.
KY
Ke4hpq David thanks for your time