New Mag Member

[pkveazey]

I stopped by one of my MAG friend's house for a visit and his Son-In-Law came in. His Son-In-Law lives about 1500 feet up the road from me. I told the Son-In-Law that I would bring him a handi-talkie and rules on how he is allowed to use it on unlicensed frequencies. I also printed out a ton of info about prepping and security for him to keep. Hmmm.... That fellow is young a very strong. I wonder if I could convince him to climb my radio tower and mount my 5 element 220 Mhz Yagi beam about 25 feet up the tower? I've been afraid to ask anyone to climb the tower because I'm afraid they'll fall off and get injured. At present, my 220 Mhz 1/4 wave dipole is hit and miss when I try to reach the Richmond 220 repeaters with just 25 watts. The beam should get me into it 100% of the time. Nope, it will not be on a rotator. It'll be pointed straight at Richmond all the time. They have two 220 machines up there.

[Jackalope]

     While he's up there...how about a 40/80 meter wire antenna?   

     Plus, he may be acrophobic, but it can't hurt to ask... I had to work on a tower multiple days.  The first day, I had a seasoned climber assisting me, and everything went very smoothly.  The second day I was sent two guys, who both had a fear of heights.  I really didn't need two ground men.  I accomplished the assignment, but it was much more dangerous than it should have been.  Looking back over the decades, I should have refused to work the second day.  Anyways, sometimes tower work can lead to that person getting their amateur radio license, you never know.  Then again, had a friend who got his ham license, and he later became a professional tower climber.