Tom,
I was half kidding about the microwave link, but if you could set that radio
up for crossband repeat, you might actually be able to put it in a place
where it could still hit the repeater. I know that solution has its
drawbacks, but we're brainstorming here.
Steve
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2013 10:23
Subject: Re: 2-meter Antenna Challenge
> Steve:
>
> When I was EC/RO for my county, and very active on the University's
> Emergency Response Team, I talked to the powers that be regarding an
> outdoor
> antenna connection for the office, but was never able to get any traction
> on
> that idea.
>
> I have now stepped down from the County EC/RO position, and even though
> I'll
> still be active on the University's Emergency Response Team and am still
> an
> Assistant EC for my county, I have a bit less pull than I once did.
>
> But, hey, you never know.
>
> As for your micro-wave transmitter idea, that is truly intriguing, and if
> I
> can't get something else to work out, and desperation takes over, you
> never
> know what might happen! (smile)
>
> I'll keep you posted, and appreciate everyone's help and creativity.
>
> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve Dresser" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2013 12:14 AM
> Subject: Re: 2-meter Antenna Challenge
>
>
>> Well, Tom, obviously it's time to drill a hole in the ceiling above the
>> filing cabinet to give your antenna some breathing space. You should
>> also
>> think about adding an extension to make the antenna come out of the roof
>> into the outdoors where it can do some good.
>>
>> For another possibility, consider running some coax back to your old
>> office
>> so you could keep the antenna where it was working well. Come to think
>> of
>> it, leave the radio and the antenna in the old office and set up a
>> microwave
>> link to your new office. This has the added advantage of making it look
>> like the new occupant of your old office is the ham radio operator. Of
>> course, that house of cards falls apart pretty quickly if anyone figures
>> out
>> who set up the microwave link.
>>
>> Steve
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2013 11:05
>> Subject: 2-meter Antenna Challenge
>>
>>
>>> Hi, all.
>>>
>>> I hope I am not wearing out my welcome back to the list, but I have a
>>> challenging antenna situation I'm currently facing in the new faculty
>>> office
>>> I will be occupying starting this Spring semester.
>>>
>>> I currently have an old Kenwood TMV7A in the office, with which I have
>>> always had at least some luck, in terms of getting into our local
>>> 2-meter
>>> repeater. The repeater is about 15 miles from the University.
>>>
>>> However, in my new office, I am finding that the small mag-mount antenna
>>> I
>>> have always used simply does not allow me to reach the repeater
>>> consistently. Currently, I have the magmount sitting on a small metal
>>> bracket on the window sill in the office. It is right next to the
>>> window,
>>> so I would think that should help. However, I do not have much of a
>>> ground
>>> plain for the magmount. I also think there is some de-sensing going on
>>> with
>>> the steel of the office building, and with other surrounding computer
>>> equipment in the office complex.
>>>
>>> I do have a filing cabinet on the other side of the office that I could
>>> use
>>> as a ground plane, but the top of the filing cabinet is too high, and
>>> there
>>> is not enough space between it and the office ceiling to accommodate
>>> the
>>> magmount antenna.
>>>
>>> This obviously is a very challenging situation, and I also have to be at
>>> least somewhat concerned with appearance, in terms of not having an
>>> ugly-looking antenna that might draw more attention to what I am trying
>>> to
>>> do than I might want.
>>>
>>> Do any of you have any suggestions as to how to help the mag-mount
>>> perform
>>> better in this situation?
>>>
>>> Or, might I be better off considering another type of antenna, such as a
>>> J-pole of some sort.
>>>
>>> I would appreciate any thoughts.
>>>
>>> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>>
>>
>
|
