Since I became a licensed amateur radio operator in 2016, I have had a 3dB Comet antenna on my roof. It performed admirability since my house is at 1.400 feet above sea level. With that written, I was unable to hit repeaters past 30-miles from my AO in the summer (Leaves on the tree's) and if the stars were aligned maybe reach out to 40-miles in the winter. This left quite a few repeaters out of my reach in the Scranton/Wilkes Barre area south of me, New York state east of me, and PA. west of me. Consequently, it was time to swap out that old 3 dB antenna for a flatter radiation of my sending signal (TX).
For you folks that may not be a ham, the signal that the 3 dB antenna gives out was shaped like a basket ball. Omi directional in all directions. The signal of the 6 dB antenna is more horizontal shaped similar to a propeller blade or Thanksgiving turkey platter without the bird. What I will give up on signal to the valleys below me will make up in being able to hit repeaters located on mountain peaks around me out to 60-miles from the AO. Maybe farther with perfect weather in the winter.
Well the culmination of a better antenna for my environment arrived at the redoubt this past Saturday with ten members of my radio club showing up to hoist the new antenna. In short, when up, the 6 dB out performs the 3 dB better than even I suspected. In short, I am able to pick up repeaters that I have never heard before. That is with a Kenwood TM-281A 65W 2-meter transceiver and a commercial Midland 100W 2-meter transceiver.
To make it all work, I used a 10-foot long 1.8" OD aluminum pipe I purchased locally that cost $35-. Added to that was a
Comet GP-6 dual band (2 & 440- meter) antenna. The antenna ran $170- plus an extra $10- for shipping due to it's length of 10-feet. The antenna and pipe weighed in at just around 17-pounds when assembled.
The antenna and pipe was to be installed with
stainless steel brackets which where attached to the main column of my outdoor roof over my porch (Ships peak roof). The brackets were offset by 14-inches and cost around $53-.
Before the club volunteers arrived to help me raise the pole and antenna, I did the following a few days before the raising,
1) Set up extension ladders on either side of the main roof column.
2) Rattle canned the white antenna with black and gray paint and then over laid the camo job with clear coat.
The aluminum pole was painted a gray color to match the column with a few black blasts to break up the vertical
line of the pole.
3) Measured and then measured again, to place the brackets just right so the pole and antenna would be
supported properly on the roof column.
4) Prepped the old 3 dB antenna to be lowered before the new pole/antenna went up.
The pole/antenna raising all told took only 40-minutes. First came down the old 3 db antenna. Then with one person on the peak of my roof to guide the antenna up and in the end install the 440-meter radials, and one person on the extension ladders either side of the column, we raised the pole/antenna vertically and bolted the pole into the brackets at pre measured points to support all. Fished into the cabin the coax and voila! I was hitting repeaters that I had never hit before.
Not only am I picking up new area repeaters now, I am getting excellent reviews on my TXing to boot.
Thanks to all the club members that helped out. I could not of done it without you.
Stay tuned as I will post some pics. Just have to get my memory allowance with my hosting company ironed out.
