On 3/6/05 7:41 AM, in article , "LA7GIA -
Ken" wrote:

I plan to use some of the trees at my QTH as a tower. I have to parallell
trees that is apx 50'. At the top they will be abt 15'' thick. They are
spaced 20'' which makes it easy to build a ladder so that I can climb up. I
plan to build a metal plate and install a rotor on the top of the parallell
trees, so that I can turn my 15' boom lengt 3 el 20m yagi beam. This tower
would be very cost effective.

Of course I am aware of the potential problems regarding maintenance etc,
but does anyone have experience with this kind of tower? Will it be stable,
what abt guying etc. Comments is welcome before I settle this project.





I live in the woods in Maine and I wouldn't want to disturb the looks of
this landscape with a tower, so I am using my trees.

I choose some large pines which do get me 50 + feet in the air and I install
folded dipoles, one for each band.

To get up there I bang 12" galvanized spikes where I need them as permanent
steps. Of course to get up there the first time I use an old construction
safety harness attached to a belt which goes around the tree. This allows me
to lean back, scary! , and nail, you can't get a nail in while holding on
with both hands...

Pines in the woods do have very few branches down below, they just go high
for the light, and the branches which I encounter, mostly deadwood, I cut
off.

So I create a smooth pole topped, way up there, by the crown of the tree.

Once up there I install a pulley and a piece of 1/4" rope and descend.

Everything else happens from the ground. I lower the rope, attach the
antenna and up she goes. Should maintenance be necessary the whole antenna
comes down the same way.

The tree doesn't need any support, it has been around for 50 to 100 years
and is just doing fine.
The nails, quite a few, do not seem to disturb them, at least I don't notice
anything and I have been using trees in this fashion for quite some time.


You can tie one side of your antenna off, the other side gets a heavy weight
which goes up and down the tree during storms etc.


I am happy to live on a piece of land with several hundred radio towers
which maintain themselves.

73 Uwe