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I'm presently in the process of installing a 30' steel tv antenna tower I've had for a few years, and kept putting that off. This is to replace the 27' tall 2" well pipe mast that I have up now. That well pipe mast is off-set to one side of the center of the garage eves. The new tower is being installed at the center. When it's complete, the well pipe mast top 15' will be removed. This will also allow me to get my antennas up another 12+ feet higher, once you include a 10' mast above the tower.
So far I've dug a 4' deep hole, about 22" - 24"~ wide, which is close to twice the tower base. We have very soft sandy-loam ground, that basically turns to pudding when it rains a lot. So, a GOOD base is very important, even with eves brackets and guy wires on the tower and mast. You especially appreciate that, when you climb up 30' to work at the top knowing you aren't likely to ride the tower down. In the bottom of the hole, I poured 100lbs of loose gravel. I then mixed and poured in an 80lb bag of Quikrete and leveled. I then placed a heavy metal plate on top of the Quikrete, so the tower base can't punch through. Then waited until that cement hardened.
I bolted together the 36" long tower base, along with the first two 10' middle sections of tower. I then used lag screws, pre-drilled pilot holes, and mounted two 4" heavy duty stand-off brackets at the eves, measuring carefully to get them right. One bracket is slightly higher than the other, as it straddles the middle of the peak point. I laid out the tower to get it lifted into position, and tied a rope towards the top. I used a garbage can to prop the top up about 4', and put a 2'x2' section of plywood next to the hole, with a couple nails in it at two tower legs to keep the base from sliding during the lift, or punching into the sand and getting filled with dirt. I had the bracket clamps, nuts, & washers along with wrenches already sitting on the roof next to the brackets. As my wife started walking up the tower, I pulled it up towards the roof to where I could grab it. Once you are past about the 50%~ point, it's really easy. Then I pulled it completely upright to the brackets.
At that point, it was sitting on the piece of plywood at ground level, and I (on the roof) and my wife (at the tower base) lifted it slightly, dropped it, and placed it on the metal plate in the hole. I then put the clamps on the 4" eves brackets, and loosely screwed on the washers and nuts, but tight enough to keep the tower from moving much. I then went off the roof, made sure the base was completely sitting flat on the plate, and leveled the tower. I then braced it against kick-out during cementing, with some temp wooden boards between the tower and the 2" well pipe mast. Then, back up on the roof and cranked down the nuts on the brackets.
Yesterday, 6/3/2021, I hand-mixed and shoveled in 10 - 80lb bags of Quikrete. I also added a couple lengths of rebar I had laying around in the middle of the cement. That 800lbs was enough to fill the hole, and bring the cement slightly above ground level, where I used a trowel to make it slightly domed for rain water run-off later. Can't have water pooling at the legs of a steel tower, it can rust through if that happens. Now I wait for the cement to harden. Then the tower top will be installed, a 10' mast added to that, and it'll be time to remove the well pipe mast next to it, and install the antenna's.
I'll be re-installing my AntennaCraft Y10-7-13 VHF antenna with new coax, and possibly a new balun, that antenna is needed for my local RF12 VHF channel. I'm replacing my HDB91x (91XG clone) UHF antenna, with a Televes Dat Boss LR uhf-only antenna. That Televes antenna will be installed using a passive dipole, rather than the dipole that has an integrated preamp built-in. Both antennas will then be fed into a UVSJ (the vhf antenna also needs an extra FM filter before the UVSJ, as I have extremely strong local FM close by). Then, the output of the UVSJ, will be fed into a Televes 560383 preamp, and down to the power inserter. Now, the Televes preamp does already have an integrated FM and LTE filter, but one of my local FM stations is too close, and comes through at about twice the power level of my strongest tv station! Thus why I'm also going to use an MCM Electronics FM filter ahead of it, just to make sure it doesn't cause issues with harmonics.
Here's a few photos of things right now, as I wait for the cement to dry and get stronger. This thread will continue to get updated as things progress.
So far I've dug a 4' deep hole, about 22" - 24"~ wide, which is close to twice the tower base. We have very soft sandy-loam ground, that basically turns to pudding when it rains a lot. So, a GOOD base is very important, even with eves brackets and guy wires on the tower and mast. You especially appreciate that, when you climb up 30' to work at the top knowing you aren't likely to ride the tower down. In the bottom of the hole, I poured 100lbs of loose gravel. I then mixed and poured in an 80lb bag of Quikrete and leveled. I then placed a heavy metal plate on top of the Quikrete, so the tower base can't punch through. Then waited until that cement hardened.
I bolted together the 36" long tower base, along with the first two 10' middle sections of tower. I then used lag screws, pre-drilled pilot holes, and mounted two 4" heavy duty stand-off brackets at the eves, measuring carefully to get them right. One bracket is slightly higher than the other, as it straddles the middle of the peak point. I laid out the tower to get it lifted into position, and tied a rope towards the top. I used a garbage can to prop the top up about 4', and put a 2'x2' section of plywood next to the hole, with a couple nails in it at two tower legs to keep the base from sliding during the lift, or punching into the sand and getting filled with dirt. I had the bracket clamps, nuts, & washers along with wrenches already sitting on the roof next to the brackets. As my wife started walking up the tower, I pulled it up towards the roof to where I could grab it. Once you are past about the 50%~ point, it's really easy. Then I pulled it completely upright to the brackets.
At that point, it was sitting on the piece of plywood at ground level, and I (on the roof) and my wife (at the tower base) lifted it slightly, dropped it, and placed it on the metal plate in the hole. I then put the clamps on the 4" eves brackets, and loosely screwed on the washers and nuts, but tight enough to keep the tower from moving much. I then went off the roof, made sure the base was completely sitting flat on the plate, and leveled the tower. I then braced it against kick-out during cementing, with some temp wooden boards between the tower and the 2" well pipe mast. Then, back up on the roof and cranked down the nuts on the brackets.
Yesterday, 6/3/2021, I hand-mixed and shoveled in 10 - 80lb bags of Quikrete. I also added a couple lengths of rebar I had laying around in the middle of the cement. That 800lbs was enough to fill the hole, and bring the cement slightly above ground level, where I used a trowel to make it slightly domed for rain water run-off later. Can't have water pooling at the legs of a steel tower, it can rust through if that happens. Now I wait for the cement to harden. Then the tower top will be installed, a 10' mast added to that, and it'll be time to remove the well pipe mast next to it, and install the antenna's.
I'll be re-installing my AntennaCraft Y10-7-13 VHF antenna with new coax, and possibly a new balun, that antenna is needed for my local RF12 VHF channel. I'm replacing my HDB91x (91XG clone) UHF antenna, with a Televes Dat Boss LR uhf-only antenna. That Televes antenna will be installed using a passive dipole, rather than the dipole that has an integrated preamp built-in. Both antennas will then be fed into a UVSJ (the vhf antenna also needs an extra FM filter before the UVSJ, as I have extremely strong local FM close by). Then, the output of the UVSJ, will be fed into a Televes 560383 preamp, and down to the power inserter. Now, the Televes preamp does already have an integrated FM and LTE filter, but one of my local FM stations is too close, and comes through at about twice the power level of my strongest tv station! Thus why I'm also going to use an MCM Electronics FM filter ahead of it, just to make sure it doesn't cause issues with harmonics.
Here's a few photos of things right now, as I wait for the cement to dry and get stronger. This thread will continue to get updated as things progress.
63 Replies
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21063 views
Latest update:
I think I'm going to push the Dat Boss LR up another 6 inches, which is the highest it can go on the well mast pipe. I just took these photos today. The Dat Boss LR is now using the active dipole. It's combined with the AC Y10-7-13 vhf antenna, using a UVSJ that passes power on both sides. I then have the 560383 preamp only amping the Y10-7-13, and the Dat Boss LR using it's preamp built into the dipole.
Yesterday 4/23/22 I got the new version model Ellipse up at the top of the tower mast as high as I can get it without extending the mast guy wires another 12". Which, I don't think I'll bother as I'm not sure it's worth the trouble for the maybe tiny bit of extra gain that may provide.
The Ellipse is on a separate coax from the combined Dat Boss & Y10-7-13. I have both antennas split across two different HD Homeruns & my other equipment. Splitting across the HDHR's, allows me to check aim and signal up at the antenna with my phone and app.
Anyway, the Ellipse being higher is about equaling or slightly better SNR of the Dat Boss LR on all channels, without being affected as much by Multipath. Though it also has issues with RF17, just like when the Dat Boss was at the top of the tower mast. The Dat Boss now being lower, gets RF17 perfectly while being shielded by the Maple tree from the other Rf17 directly behind. Not sure what'll happen when the tree leaves come back, but there's nothing more I can do about that, short of cutting down the neighbors trees, lol.
That new model Ellipse packs a LOT of tech in a small foot-print. I can't recommend it high enough. Model number: 148883
I Believe I'll be getting a Smartkom for sure when it's finally released, to combine the best of each antenna setup. SmartKom New Technology For Combining Antennas & Arrays
Sorry for the darker photos I took today, but it's been thunderstorming and 80 degrees, lol. We had 1" of snow just a couple days ago...
I think I'm going to push the Dat Boss LR up another 6 inches, which is the highest it can go on the well mast pipe. I just took these photos today. The Dat Boss LR is now using the active dipole. It's combined with the AC Y10-7-13 vhf antenna, using a UVSJ that passes power on both sides. I then have the 560383 preamp only amping the Y10-7-13, and the Dat Boss LR using it's preamp built into the dipole.
Yesterday 4/23/22 I got the new version model Ellipse up at the top of the tower mast as high as I can get it without extending the mast guy wires another 12". Which, I don't think I'll bother as I'm not sure it's worth the trouble for the maybe tiny bit of extra gain that may provide.
The Ellipse is on a separate coax from the combined Dat Boss & Y10-7-13. I have both antennas split across two different HD Homeruns & my other equipment. Splitting across the HDHR's, allows me to check aim and signal up at the antenna with my phone and app.
Anyway, the Ellipse being higher is about equaling or slightly better SNR of the Dat Boss LR on all channels, without being affected as much by Multipath. Though it also has issues with RF17, just like when the Dat Boss was at the top of the tower mast. The Dat Boss now being lower, gets RF17 perfectly while being shielded by the Maple tree from the other Rf17 directly behind. Not sure what'll happen when the tree leaves come back, but there's nothing more I can do about that, short of cutting down the neighbors trees, lol.
That new model Ellipse packs a LOT of tech in a small foot-print. I can't recommend it high enough. Model number: 148883
I Believe I'll be getting a Smartkom for sure when it's finally released, to combine the best of each antenna setup. SmartKom New Technology For Combining Antennas & Arrays
Sorry for the darker photos I took today, but it's been thunderstorming and 80 degrees, lol. We had 1" of snow just a couple days ago...
I cut down a 30' tall trash maple tree 50 feet away and directly in the path of my antennas the other day, and it seems to have helped tremendously to clear up a lot of my multipath issues. It had grown 7 trunks up and out of an old stump the previous owners had left when they cut down the original tree. Just the tops waving around in our average constant winds was enough to cause bad multipath.
I thought it would help, but quite honestly, I didn't think it would help that much. Quite surprising, because it basically was a bunch of tops waving around a little, but not really what you;d think would be of the majority of signal path "wave".
Tree guys were cutting down a few neighbors oak trees when I came home from a bike ride. Told them I had $50 CASH, and it was almost lunch time, would they please consider cutting down that tree. I'd do the clean up. They agreed. It was well worth it!
If you look closely at this photo, you'll see I circled the tree I had them cut down in Red marker, left lower corner. The tops were right in the direct path of the "wave" of most of my incoming signals:
On this photo, I Raised the Dat Boss LR up the final foot or so to the very top of the well pipe mast, which is about 31~ foot level. Gained 2dB overall. Well worth it.
I thought it would help, but quite honestly, I didn't think it would help that much. Quite surprising, because it basically was a bunch of tops waving around a little, but not really what you;d think would be of the majority of signal path "wave".
Tree guys were cutting down a few neighbors oak trees when I came home from a bike ride. Told them I had $50 CASH, and it was almost lunch time, would they please consider cutting down that tree. I'd do the clean up. They agreed. It was well worth it!
If you look closely at this photo, you'll see I circled the tree I had them cut down in Red marker, left lower corner. The tops were right in the direct path of the "wave" of most of my incoming signals:
On this photo, I Raised the Dat Boss LR up the final foot or so to the very top of the well pipe mast, which is about 31~ foot level. Gained 2dB overall. Well worth it.
Did this install on Tuesday 10/3/23. Replaced the Ellipse at the top of the tower mast with another DatBoss Mix LR pointed at Cadillac, and replaced the AC Y10-7-13 with a UHF only DatBoss LR pointed wrong right now, (due to massive Tropo the day I installed it, so needs tweaking on the next normal day) in hopes of maybe sometimes picking up WUWB-LD rf20 up in West Branch. Fat chance due to trees, but I have mast space and the antenna, so can't hurt to try. Needs to be rotated counterclockwise a bit more towards the North.
The lower DatBoss Mix LR, is pointed basically at WBSF rf23 ATSC 3.0 lighthouse / the middle of the Flint-Saginaw-Midland "arc" for me.
All run into a SmartKom.
The lower DatBoss Mix LR, is pointed basically at WBSF rf23 ATSC 3.0 lighthouse / the middle of the Flint-Saginaw-Midland "arc" for me.
All run into a SmartKom.
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68611 Replies
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2678082 views
Supporting Founder
Really excited for this season with Kentucky having a new coach and some really exciting recruits. Probably won't last long, but here's hoping this season is great.
153 Replies
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2226 views
M
They get cruel sometimes, very very cruel.
. Hated to see my dawgs go down but I still say being ranked #1 is a hex on you!
They get cruel sometimes, very very cruel.
. Hated to see my dawgs go down but I still say being ranked #1 is a hex on you!
Yup, I agree, I'd rather be 2 or 3 till the last few weeks.They get cruel sometimes, very very cruel.
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Love this guy's channel. Looks like Walmart has thrown in the towel when it comes to conventional car batteries.
I bought a new AGM battery from Walmart about a year ago, it is already needing replacing. I thought about just buying a regular battery but from what I've read, that might not be a smart move. Might check my Forscan program and see if I can change the battery type from AGM.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awe7kY5nvdU
I bought a new AGM battery from Walmart about a year ago, it is already needing replacing. I thought about just buying a regular battery but from what I've read, that might not be a smart move. Might check my Forscan program and see if I can change the battery type from AGM.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awe7kY5nvdU
16 Replies
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159 views
The guy in the Video, REALLY needs to TAKE a Breath ...
If he'd Slow down, you could figure out What he's testing and on what.
If he'd Slow down, you could figure out What he's testing and on what.
Season 2 order already in hand:
'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' Renewed for Season 2, Tatiana Maslany to Guest Star in Season 1
I've not been optimistic about this show based on what I've read so far. Seems to be aimed at a younger audience. Interesting though that Tatiana Maslany will have some sort of role.
'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' Renewed for Season 2, Tatiana Maslany to Guest Star in Season 1
I've not been optimistic about this show based on what I've read so far. Seems to be aimed at a younger audience. Interesting though that Tatiana Maslany will have some sort of role.
95 Replies
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3764 views
As has always been the case for those consumed by their own financial enrichment.
The title was to catch everyone's eye lol! But it is a thought I've been having as I dev a Roku app for a client. You see many MAAANY years ago I got really interested in cable TV channels and even chatted with a regional carrier, Insight about what it took to get a channel number. It was surprisingly easy although prohibitively expensive.
You could petition, reserve a high channel number, they monitored performance and if they liked you, you'd get lower channel number overtime and cut into ad overlays.
Roku has a similar setup. Make an app, if it has a strong, original linear component you could get channel assignment on The Roku Channel.
As mixed as my feelings are on the current media landscape, I can't help but feel a little excited interest when I scope out the apps in the Roku store.
You could petition, reserve a high channel number, they monitored performance and if they liked you, you'd get lower channel number overtime and cut into ad overlays.
Roku has a similar setup. Make an app, if it has a strong, original linear component you could get channel assignment on The Roku Channel.
As mixed as my feelings are on the current media landscape, I can't help but feel a little excited interest when I scope out the apps in the Roku store.
4 Replies
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84 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Don't know if any of you have watched this series yet, it would be interesting to see if you feel this review was accurate. It was very humorous to listen to however.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tsDO3y8I2c
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tsDO3y8I2c
3 Replies
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137 views
Y
Halfway into the "written" review, I know more about how the writer "thinks" than I do about what they are writing about. I understand their politics, their self-overestimated understanding of film, their inability to be funny.
Takes about 22 paragraphs to get to one that starts "Anyway, the story kicks off...". Talk about Slop!
If the review is like the article, oi! Eighteen paragraphs into the review and... all they've done is not really talk at all about the actual thing they are reviewing.
Halfway into the "written" review, I know more about how the writer "thinks" than I do about what they are writing about. I understand their politics, their self-overestimated understanding of film, their inability to be funny.
Takes about 22 paragraphs to get to one that starts "Anyway, the story kicks off...". Talk about Slop!
TFLEV
Time for another AWESOME video from TFL Electric Vehicles!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-wAFhIJCSk
Direct YouTube Link - How Far? The 2026 Subaru Trailseeker Takes On Toughest Mountain Range Test!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-wAFhIJCSk
Direct YouTube Link - How Far? The 2026 Subaru Trailseeker Takes On Toughest Mountain Range Test!
0 Replies
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8 views
Staff member
Pub Member / Supporter
Cutting Edge
The TPN Map Excel Presents all DIRECTV Channels:
Understanding the TPN Map
Making Sense of the TPN Map Display Conventions
National (50-States or wide/NAT+PR beams)
Local (Local-Into-Local or narrow/Spot beams)
Local (Local-Into-Local or narrow/Spot beams)
Additional tabs provide:
OTA the (Over-The-Air) Database
VOD (Video On_Demand) Records
Offline Records
Engr Records
Net Decoder a graphic presentation of all satellites and transponders
VOD (Video On_Demand) Records
Offline Records
Engr Records
Net Decoder a graphic presentation of all satellites and transponders
Domestic Satellites
@99W...... D11, D14
@101W.... D16
@103W.... D12, D15
@110W.... D5
@119W.... D8
@99W...... D11, D14
@101W.... D16
@103W.... D12, D15
@110W.... D5
@119W.... D8
Understanding the TPN Map
Making Sense of the TPN Map Display Conventions
2164 Replies
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940239 views
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2QtsO2mlXM
Direct YouTube Link - This Web Vulnerability Shook the Tech World
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2QtsO2mlXM
Direct YouTube Link - This Web Vulnerability Shook the Tech World
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
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24 views
Lifetime Supporter
I know HipKat said that they were working on conversions but we got the official news yesterday right from Dish that starting next month all DMA's will be on the western arc, and all customers will be assigned to that. That's gonna mean a lot of customers around here aren't gonna get Dish unless there are exceptions. Too many mountains and trees.
156 Replies
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4411 views
Unfortunately, I don't think my social proximity to Charle Ergen provides any special perks. Maybe if Foxbat, Jr. were to marry his daughter…have charlie buy you a new house
S
.
that would be one hell of a convoUnfortunately, I don't think my social proximity to Charle Ergen provides any special perks. Maybe if Foxbat, Jr. were to marry his daughter…
.