To straighten a tower leg, I put a chain from my truck receiver ( or other anchor point) to two points on the pipe leg that your working on. I then take a piece of 12" long, larger pipe (cut in half lengthwise) and place it on the the section you want to straighten. Place a come along around the pipe half and winch it to an anchor point. As you pull it, do a click at a time until straight. Thats all I got. Can't wait to see the finished project.
I was playing with the farm jack on it yesterday and had some decent results. On a few of the pieces I got yesterday, your idea may work better. THANKS JOE!!!
The farm Jack puts stress at one small point. Using a piece of pipe cut longways just large enough to go over the part your straightening out, spreads the pressure your putting on the part your bending back into shape. I’m excited to see the finished project
While I'm late to the party, nice explanation and very thoughtful for the GMRS community. I'll check out your updates and hopefully the 7/8" coax does not have any significant discontinuities due to sharp bends, kinks or other damages of the dialectic. And while us hobbyists likely don't have access to a time domain reflectometer, ensuring your SWR is well under 1.5 with a meter will be helpful.
Never late to this party!!! The 7/8" coax worked really well for about a year and then one day we noticed some the range of the system had been greatly reduced. One of my friends came out and tested a few things and determined something had happened to the feedline. He replaced it and we haven't had any issues. Thanks for watching and commenting!!!!!
You could set one up on a budget... keep your eye out for deals on repeaters. Network with some local like-minded folks, you'll be surprised who you'll meet!
Don...great work brother, I'm jealous of the Rohn tower even if it's laying on the ground. You'll be rocking once it's up with that bulletproof heliax and your new stick. I commented on your last update, I have a EVX-R70 that's been it service and cranking out 40 watts of fury since November '22 without issue. Question for you, have you looked into establishing your repeater as a node on the MyGMRS network? I've looked into it, the linking bundles are hard to come by (Pi computer shortage--thanks Biden), but the real pain in the ass is trying to find an interface cable with the MOTOTRBO (26-pin) connector going out to either a DB 25 or 9 connector. Have you found out how to add external controller support to your repeater? Even if I was not to go the linked route (would be nice to have the option though), I would add a Voice-ID if I could. Mine is set to auto-ID (in Morse) every 15 minutes, but that is only after traffic ends...so it's not a true auto ID every 15 minutes. Lastly, are you able to use your Vertex as a base station? I see your desktop mic. The manual for the R70 in addition to the software mentions a mic, but again I'm sure of the proper connection --don't need anymore eBay goodness laying about because I can't use it. Let me know your thoughts. Cheers...WROQ941
I'm excited to get the tower up soon... Ran into some issues this week, so I may not have it up till next weekend. Video coming tomorrow about how far I got tho! As far as linking the Dunlay repeater, I have kinda decided against it for the time being. The big San Antonio has linked theirs up before and the traffic becomes more of a headache, rather than enjoyable. For now, we simply want the unit to service our local county. We have some other news to announce soon that I think will be another good reason to keep it just local. As far figuring out how to link the repeater to a Pi, I have a buddy who has offered to help me do it but I have had so many other irons in the fire with the tower upgrades, ect so I just haven't done it yet. Thye desk mic you see is hooked to the QYT that I use for a base station. The Vertex will be moved to the other side of the shack once the tower is up - I will need to find something to occupy that real estate on my desk once it's gone. :-/ Thanks for watching and commenting and stay tuned for the BIG news!!! LOL
Glad to see Medina County continuing to go so strong on GMRS. Our little group had to move to MURS for close simplex comms as the higher GMRS channels are being used by illegals traffic. I would like to invite you and anyone else who can attend Fort Clark Days on the first Saturday in March at Brackettville, in Kinney County. Las Moras Amateur Radio Club will have our trailer with a tower attached and radios set up. I'll probably be monitoring GMRS as well. Drop by and say hi and talk radios.
A few of the guys around here play on MURS. Sad to hear the GMRS freqs are tied up with that mess! I am putting the first weekend of March in my calendar now! I'll see if any of the guys wanna tag along!
If that antenna is not located on top of a 600 to 800 foot above sea level hill top or located on a mountain top it's a waste of time, equipment, and monies to be no higher than 60 ot 70 feet in the air.... especially when there's 1000 to 2000 foot hills around the area to help block the signal. JMHO that is.
So there are no hills over 1000 feet in the area of where we are trying to cover. We currently have the coverage we need at about 45 feet, just looking to make what we have better in spotty places. But, I'll definitely let you know if you are correct once it's up. 😉
To straighten a tower leg, I put a chain from my truck receiver ( or other anchor point) to two points on the pipe leg that your working on. I then take a piece of 12" long, larger pipe (cut in half lengthwise) and place it on the the section you want to straighten. Place a come along around the pipe half and winch it to an anchor point. As you pull it, do a click at a time until straight. Thats all I got. Can't wait to see the finished project.
I was playing with the farm jack on it yesterday and had some decent results. On a few of the pieces I got yesterday, your idea may work better. THANKS JOE!!!
The farm Jack puts stress at one small point. Using a piece of pipe cut longways just large enough to go over the part your straightening out, spreads the pressure your putting on the part your bending back into shape. I’m excited to see the finished project
@@joecraft4409 VERY GOOD POINT!!! I have the guys coming over this weekend and we could have it up. Thanks for your wisdom Sir!!!
While I'm late to the party, nice explanation and very thoughtful for the GMRS community. I'll check out your updates and hopefully the 7/8" coax does not have any significant discontinuities due to sharp bends, kinks or other damages of the dialectic. And while us hobbyists likely don't have access to a time domain reflectometer, ensuring your SWR is well under 1.5 with a meter will be helpful.
Never late to this party!!! The 7/8" coax worked really well for about a year and then one day we noticed some the range of the system had been greatly reduced. One of my friends came out and tested a few things and determined something had happened to the feedline. He replaced it and we haven't had any issues. Thanks for watching and commenting!!!!!
Loving the tower build. 👍🏻
Much appreciated Bill!!!
Heliax coaxial transmission (on UHF & VHF) a very good choice. If the coax is even half good you will not regret your decision to use it.
That is refreshing news!!! THANKS for watching and commenting @raymond
Hopefully you have a gin pole available. It makes getting those sections in place
Not needed since the tower is hinged. We can install them while it's on the ground. 👍
Wish I was able to do something like this at my place. No repeaters around here.
You could set one up on a budget... keep your eye out for deals on repeaters. Network with some local like-minded folks, you'll be surprised who you'll meet!
@@MCTGMRS78009 hopefully someday.
@@JSRocker1776 🙏
Don...great work brother, I'm jealous of the Rohn tower even if it's laying on the ground. You'll be rocking once it's up with that bulletproof heliax and your new stick. I commented on your last update, I have a EVX-R70 that's been it service and cranking out 40 watts of fury since November '22 without issue.
Question for you, have you looked into establishing your repeater as a node on the MyGMRS network? I've looked into it, the linking bundles are hard to come by (Pi computer shortage--thanks Biden), but the real pain in the ass is trying to find an interface cable with the MOTOTRBO (26-pin) connector going out to either a DB 25 or 9 connector. Have you found out how to add external controller support to your repeater? Even if I was not to go the linked route (would be nice to have the option though), I would add a Voice-ID if I could. Mine is set to auto-ID (in Morse) every 15 minutes, but that is only after traffic ends...so it's not a true auto ID every 15 minutes. Lastly, are you able to use your Vertex as a base station? I see your desktop mic. The manual for the R70 in addition to the software mentions a mic, but again I'm sure of the proper connection --don't need anymore eBay goodness laying about because I can't use it.
Let me know your thoughts.
Cheers...WROQ941
I'm excited to get the tower up soon... Ran into some issues this week, so I may not have it up till next weekend. Video coming tomorrow about how far I got tho!
As far as linking the Dunlay repeater, I have kinda decided against it for the time being. The big San Antonio has linked theirs up before and the traffic becomes more of a headache, rather than enjoyable. For now, we simply want the unit to service our local county. We have some other news to announce soon that I think will be another good reason to keep it just local. As far figuring out how to link the repeater to a Pi, I have a buddy who has offered to help me do it but I have had so many other irons in the fire with the tower upgrades, ect so I just haven't done it yet. Thye desk mic you see is hooked to the QYT that I use for a base station. The Vertex will be moved to the other side of the shack once the tower is up - I will need to find something to occupy that real estate on my desk once it's gone. :-/ Thanks for watching and commenting and stay tuned for the BIG news!!! LOL
LOL, 7/8ths, that's a jumper from the radio to the main transmission line (2.87 inch). You're going to need Din to N or whatever your radio has.
Oh yeah... got the Andrew connectors on order. Those bad boys ain't cheap 😖
Make sure and do not half way bend that coax bc if you do it will crack the coil and be no good after that
I had a feeling that would be the case... I was thinking any little crack in the copper would cause major issues. Thank you for watching!
No one care about those little hts compared to what you got going on out thier , have a safe productive stay cation and rock your Radio .
🤣🤣🤣 thanks brotha! Hope you're doing well!
Nice
TY!
Glad to see Medina County continuing to go so strong on GMRS. Our little group had to move to MURS for close simplex comms as the higher GMRS channels are being used by illegals traffic.
I would like to invite you and anyone else who can attend Fort Clark Days on the first Saturday in March at Brackettville, in Kinney County. Las Moras Amateur Radio Club will have our trailer with a tower attached and radios set up. I'll probably be monitoring GMRS as well. Drop by and say hi and talk radios.
A few of the guys around here play on MURS. Sad to hear the GMRS freqs are tied up with that mess! I am putting the first weekend of March in my calendar now! I'll see if any of the guys wanna tag along!
If that antenna is not located on top of a 600 to 800 foot above sea level hill top or located on a mountain top it's a waste of time, equipment, and monies to be no higher than 60 ot 70 feet in the air.... especially when there's 1000 to 2000 foot hills around the area to help block the signal. JMHO that is.
So there are no hills over 1000 feet in the area of where we are trying to cover. We currently have the coverage we need at about 45 feet, just looking to make what we have better in spotty places. But, I'll definitely let you know if you are correct once it's up. 😉
Don't do fb
Totally understandable but thanks for watching on here 👍