Yes, I know that is true from the old days when we put up TV antennas.
However, Most decorative fireplaces have a dedicated chimney for safety
purposes and nothing goes up them unless you build a fire which I never
intend to do.  Do I dare say the name, "Radio Shack" sold 10 foot lengths of
pipe that fit together like our folding canes.  The chimney reaches about 20
feet into the air.  I thought I might use about 3 straps on one of the pipes
with the end  just above the top of the chimney and then slipping another 10
foot piece over it with the antenna already mounted to it
.  It would be occuward but doable.  The first 10 foot would spread out the
stress on the chimney and may even strengthen it.  Hopefully a friendly fire
department will lend me a latter and a fireman to go along with it at the
time.

What is this I hear about a $400 antenna tooner?  That's a sticker shock!!
I figured $1500 for the transceiver, and about $500 for the antenna system
with all of the paraphernalia that goes along with it.  Now I'm beginning to
think that I need to add another $500 for stuff I hadn't counted on.  Hay!
this hobby can get expensive if you let it, can't it?




----- Original Message -----
From: "John Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 10:56 AM
Subject: Re: accessible VHF equipment


> Another thing with the chimney though,  if you have a gas or oil burning
> furnace for heat, or hot water or both,  the exhaust form that comes up
> the
> chimney too 9 times out of 10 and the remainance of that can coat the
> antenna a little too just a note, that's what I've heard anyway, I've
> never
> done it.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bob Humbert" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 12:50 PM
> Subject: Re: accessible VHF equipment
>
>
>> good information! thanks.  I have a tile roof and ain't no one gonna walk
>> around on it putting up a tripod.  The roof will last forever if the
>> tiles
>> aren't broken and there is no reason for them ever being broken.
>>
>> How about the Kenwood 2,000?  I thought that it took a separate 12 volt
>> power supply.  Yes, I heard that it is 100 watts but since that seems to
>> be
>> the top of the line, I just assumed that there were 50 watt rigs about
>> the
>> same.  100 watts is just fine.  Since you must have at least 50 watts  to
>> drive an amplifier I thought that 50 would be about right.  Is it true
>> that
>> 100 wa transmitters blow out most of the antenna tuners or is that just
>> another myth that I picked up.  When ever possible, all of our power
>> lines
>> are under ground around here and so they never present a problem.  As you
>> can imagine codes around here are pretty strict because of the danger of
>> severe earth quakes.  It's not a question of if, it's a question of when
>> will the big one hit.
>