5 Years With My Homemade Antenna Tower. How has it held up?

[@tankman7711]

I like your ability to ' adapt and overcome' ! If it works, it works! The main reason I never joined a club, when I first got in the hobby back in the mid 1980's was the local club members looked down a person if they didn't have the ' High End' equipment. They wouldn't help with questions either, so I learned on my own and like the Hams of old I built what I needed with what I had or could scrounge up! I learned a lot doing it that way!

[@TUKByV]

I think one of those sad hams is here in the comments section already!

[@RCAvhstape]

Insecure gatekeepers abound in every hobby, sadly.

[@FarpointFarms]

That is the best way of learning, It is a shame that people are like that way. If someone is interested, don't shame them if they don't have the fanciest stuff. Be glad they want to know

[@Udx1977sls]

Still looks good Erik great budget build. Have a great day to you and Jen

[@FarpointFarms]

Thank you from both of us. Budget builds are really needed now more than ever

[@audiodaze]

Always enjoy seeing your radio hobby related videos!

[@FarpointFarms]

Glad you like them!

[@roberthoffman4713]

I went to my local well driller and I was able to go through a huge pile of used galvanized well pipes and pull out the best of them for $5 each I used them to make an antenna pole. I only have a PT-99 and a long wire antenna on the one at my shed, and the one at the house I have the largest winegard TV antenna. They have been up for many years now with no issues. There's been a few storms that have had really strong winds, and they are still standing. Hopefully for a long time because at this point I don't think I could do it again.

[@FarpointFarms]

Sounds like you got a good deal= those well pipes now are very expensive. I am sure what you build will be very durable.

[@HouseOfThe8Strings]

I modeled one of my towers off of this. I scaled mine down just a bit because I don't have a tractor to stand it up, though! So far its survived 3 severe thunder storms. Currently thinking about building a second tower. Thanks for the great ideas!

[@FarpointFarms]

Glad I could help. 2nd tower sounds great

[@mcdeadsquirrel]

Super vid!!! Super tower!!!! Super super everything!!! Thanks for taking the time of make this great vid....from Upstate NY

[@FarpointFarms]

Thank you my friend.

[@Maxid1]

Side note on your power wash comment: I had a place in San Francisco about a mile from the ocean. The house used to get that funk on it and power washing isn't great for shiplap wood boards so I hand washed it. I painted that house 3 times in the time I had it. And the mold, lichen and general particle crap that sticks to a surface that's bathed continually in salt air had to be washed off every 6 months. Well, it got washed off every 6 months but it was back within 3 months. The 3rd time I painted it I got this additive that was supposed to stop anything from growing on it. You mix the packet into 5 gallons of the topcoat paint. This is California so nothing that works is usually allowed. I didn't have high hopes. I can't even get real brake cleaner in this backwards state! So Imagine my surprise when a year later I finally notice, the house looks as clean as the day I painted it! The house still looked freshly painted the day I put it on the market. I went back a few times to visit the new owner to get mail and to see the work she'd done. She finished the back yard and the removal of carpet to expose the hardwood floors under it. Only one mistake was made, her contractor tried to stain match the floors I'd done. Only problem was, I didn't stain them, I sanded and clear coated them. Anyway, the paint still looked crisp. I looked at the house recently (I think she sold it, the market is nuts!), they painted it another color. Their loss. I don't think that stuff is going to work through another color.

[@FarpointFarms]

Interesting! Our last house was wood sided and I had to paint it every few years or it would look like garbage. Tried expensive paint, and cheap barn paint. Never seemed to matter.

[@rod462]

"necessity is the mother of invention" as the old timers say.

[@FarpointFarms]

I believe that 100%

[@DellFargus]

If it's stupid and it works, then it isn't stupid. I use a 25' telescoping Harbor Freight flagpole with a piece of 10' galvanized conduit held to the top section of the flagpole by 4 hose clamps. Spent maybe $100 on it 4 years ago. I've talked all over the world on antennas connected to it.

[@FarpointFarms]

I thought about using some type of push up pole, but I had these 4x4's laying around so I went with them instead.

[@robertmeyer4744]

Great update ! just shows more than 1 way to get antenna up and keep them up. 2 meter antenna is close enough for MURS VHF radios. Free to use and can have external antenna. Just 2 watts but with a good antenna like a J pole up high it goes quite far. need better coax for UHF/VHF . GMRS works great as well. NOAA weather VHF near 2 meter ham as well. Some police and fire use VHF some UHF and a few still use low band VHF that the 30 to 50 MHZ band. not common but still in use in a few places. Marane radio is VHF so if buy water ,lots to listen to. I find a FM antenna can receive AM aircraft good. That 108 to 136 MHZ . just above FM band. When just listing . receive only. SWR not important. I find 75 ohm coax works great for recieving. You use what works with what you have and can afford. The so called "EXPERTS" not always right.

[@FarpointFarms]

In this case they sure were not! It's holding up well, and will come down soon to add a new antenna to it.

[@josephdurnal]

I've been working on my tower for over a year, mostly affording it. I've been trying not to spend on interim solutions, but I've missed being on the radio regularly

[@FarpointFarms]

Take your time and you won't be dissapointed

[@electrictao5180]

Great channel. Good points. Subbed!

[@FarpointFarms]

Thanks for the sub! I appreciate your support of the channel

[@bt5029]

Did you have any trouble with the recent storms? What sort of wind speeds do you normally have? I live on the plains of Texas - no trees and regularly have 30-50mph winds with gusts over 70

[@radiowave75]

Good morning.

[@FarpointFarms]

Morning back to you

[@hatchetjackphillips]

Don’t knock it, if it works! What’s your antenna setup at the new studio?

[@FarpointFarms]

The main CB is an Antron A99 with rg213. Secondary antenna is Tram 1499 scanner antenna, and the SW is a MLA-30+ I have a new antenna that I need to assemble that will be a multiband ham

[@timmack2415]

And you accomplish the NEC required grounding...... How, exactly?

[@FarpointFarms]

4X 8 foot ground rods all connected by 8 gauge copper ground wire attached to the upper metal mast and terminal of the antenna masts. Also have spark arrestors installed that are grounded by the same array.

[@timmack2415]

@@FarpointFarms very nice 👍🏻 I assume that they are spaced more than 6' apart and are bonded to the house utility ground as well. Too many people don't properly ground their antenna system, sadly. It is, after all, not just a good idea, it's required by NEC Thanks for the reply and 73

[@CrazyMike2]

It looks like you could jumpstart Frankenstein with that thing

[@FarpointFarms]

That is its other use- Shhhh.... don't tell anyone.

[@DavidWilson-pv7cr]

I took a piece of top rail from chain-link fence cut off 4 ft drove it into the ground and then I slipped the rest of it over top of it I have an 8 by 8 piece of metal mounted on top with a magnetic antenna stuck to it cannot get the standing wave down low enough other than ground plane wires is there anything else I can do

[@FarpointFarms]

Sounds like a good setup! Sometimes we have to get creative!

[@Maxid1]

What did they base their 6 month limit on? People that just sit and watch others do never cease astound me.

[@FarpointFarms]

People like to feel important I guess. They all wanted me to drop 5K on a metal tower. This has worked great and cost less than $100.

[@Maxid1]

@@FarpointFarms Tell them just send you the money and you'd be happy to do it.

[@michellebehr7669]

😎 Cool!

[@FarpointFarms]

Thanks

[@troy77632]

👍👍

[@FarpointFarms]

Thanks

[@jimmywells9625]

talked with you on ssb today for a tiny bit, 998 oklahoma

[@FarpointFarms]

Thanks for letting me know. I wish the conditions were better as I miss talking to people. The solar maximum is really making it difficult

[@CBPunisher1900]

I use gods tower aka tall tree 😂 and its free and 200 ft lol

[@FarpointFarms]

Gods tower, I don't think I have heard of it that way before. But if it works, go for it

[@donalfinn4205]

That’s not a tower. It’s cobbled together homebrew shed leftovers, but if it works for you…….. Not a tower.

[@HouseOfThe8Strings]

Who hurt your feelings?

[@donalfinn4205]

@@HouseOfThe8Strings No one. Just being realistic!

[@FarpointFarms]

What is wrong with tower? Absolutely nothing at all. Stop shaming for not having the money to buy a "real" tower