Tyke

I found the same problem when using the buttons on the radio, I figured it out if you use the mic key pad it will work as you want it to.

Also this is all for testing purposes, if I like it and the performance is good, although we don’t have a lot of radio traffic so far, I’d be willing to put up a real tower and gain more height and do things more inline with a professional installation. For now it’s a hobby and I’m also trying to hit a certain repeater about 30 miles away, I understand there are ways to link via the internet but that’s above my ability at this point, and I don’t think I would want to do that anyways it’s fun just trying to get the height and wattage out there. My radio is a Wouxun 50 watt. Without the repeater I could seem to break into that repeater I believe I got a squelch tail (if I’m saying that right) I can hear him but can’t seem to get the power out I’m interested to see what happens with the 80-90ft tower. My ground elevation is roughly 1020 ft then I’ll go up with my tower 80 to 90 feet, most of the surrounding areas are lower then me 500 to 900 approximately. Tyke

Hi Steve you did not misunderstand, I do understand the 120 volt feed out to the tower is also susceptible to all the conditions you have mentioned, I do have the ability to do solar if I choose to, the Hvac monitoring will be wireless although the repeater has a very wide range of temperature parameters I’d be more concerned with the humidity levels being outside they did not give those parameters. So I may install (2) 125 amp/hr lifepo batteries with solar or some other type of battery as lifepo’s won’t charge when it gets too cold. This is work and decision making in progress and all the help you and others is well appreciated. I’m going to miss having the repeater in my rack in my office but the coax run is just to long for me. Also the antenna will be positioned so that if it falls and goes thru the house it will not hit my side of the bed. Shhhh she does not know that?and mabey I’ll plug the repeater into the neighbors outdoor plug. (My problem solved) What did you think of the line losses in the above charts I know they may not be exact. Tyke

Hi steve, so are you saying that if I have my station house located 40 feet from my residence I still need to tap into my home grounding system for my antenna mast and coax ground,at this point I’ll have no connection of any coax inside my house. I just feel that a direct strike (worst case) as we all know lighting has a mind of its own, could travel into my home grounding system where it normally would not have. I understand that by grounding the mast and eliminating static charges to ground will help avoid a direct strike and different voltages between the radio, coax and mast. I figured locating the Equiptment away from the house if it gets hits there is no connection to my house, if the station house blows up my repeater goes flying and antenna falls at least it’s not affecting my home directly, I’m not being sarcastic at all, as mentioned I’ve seen strikes on houses, fires, cracked foundation walls and blown off siding I do not want this near me. And at least if we get a pop up storm and I’m not able to disconnect my equiptment in time it is what it is. Your thoughts? Tyke

Ok thank you all for your input well taken, so I’ve decided to the following correct me if I’m wrong. My antenna is roughly 40’ feet from from the house. I understand all the grounding that was discussed. I’m going to place the repeater at the antenna in a radio house, I’ll monitor the temp and humidity levels as this is my trade. l only need about 80’+- of coax I’ll use the 7/8 hardline as mentioned above. Notice the chart below I think the numbers look great. The BridgeCom 40 watt output with duplexer is only 28 watts out. This is unacceptable to me wish I had done more research prior to the purchase, but this is all a learning curve and fun to figure out. Now I also like the fact I do not have a coax running into my house no one can say that all the grounding in the world would stop a direct hit by lighting from tracing the coax and into the house I can’t stomach the thought. Any other suggestions would be great.

Well thank you sir believe it or not my antenna will be mounted on 2 1/2 pipe reducing to 1’’ pipe at the top, 80’ tall, top and middle attached to tree. Concrete base and will be hinged to be able to lower it down for servicing. I have to rent a 125’ boom lift to get the reach and height. Weather is slowing me down here. May have to wait till spring. I’ll post pics when done.

Thank you for the input! ill keep that in mind, unfortunately i'm losing a lot now with the duplexer in the Bridgecom repeater so the extra length of the Lmr is not going to help. I will invest later in a 50watt repeater and better cable at some point, with all the work done now i'm at a point of no return. really trying hard at the antenna height. Hell i can put the repeater at the base if I want too eliminating a lot of cable. Tyke

So this is the antenna base its 2 1/2" schedule 10 pipe you only see the first 3 feet of the 21 foot length. the next section is 21' of 2'" then 21'of 11/2, 21' of 11/4, 10' 1" so i guess ill be at 94'. The base will be able to hinge and will be encased in concrete, again the weather may prevent me from proceeding further at this time. I'm using LMR 400. Antenna base also has a lug on it for grounding to ground rods, The antenna is about 40 feet from the house, i refuse to tie in the ground to my home grounding system. if we expect lighting ill disconnect coax at the base. When I was on the fire dept ive seen direct strikes to house wiring and i want nothing to do withy connecting a antenna of this height to my house. This is work in progress and will update as things get done, Another person did comment about whether i was connecting the antenna to it well I understand the sway thing in the wind but said pine tree will be topped and most branches removed. so I dont think the sway will be too bad, well see though. Also at this height i might add a decorative weathervane. Stay tuned Tyke

Well thank you sir believe it or not my antenna will be mounted on 2 1/2 pipe reducing to 1’’ pipe at the top, 80’ tall, top and middle attached to tree. Concrete base and will be hinged to be able to lower it down for servicing. I have to rent a 125’ boom lift to get the reach and height. Weather is slowing me down here. May have to wait till spring. I’ll post pics when done.

Hello all, Can you tell me what the maximum antenna height is. I’m looking at going about 80’ above ground.