nice looking radio towers? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2019, 10:49:26 pm
content: Are there nice looking radio towers for home amateur radio that don't look like construction cranes and utilitarian crap?Something like a Eiffel tower type design (obviously small)?And, what design decisions can you think of to make it look nice.. ?

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2019, 11:44:54 pm
content: I detest how you're implying construction cranes and other utilitarian designs aren't nice looking. We've got enough gimmicky, kitschy or simply badly designed stuff as it is. We really don't need flamingo shaped radio tower too.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2019, 11:48:12 pm
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on October 20, 2019, 11:44:54 pmso you are gonna look outside and its going to look like you bought a shitty derelict lot outside of a shipyard...

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2019, 11:59:52 pm
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on October 20, 2019, 11:48:12 pmSounds better than living in some poor man's version of Disneyland.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2019, 12:31:01 am
content: There is no reason why you can't use the "Eiffel tower" type, but their base uses a up a fair bit of real estate.Guyed masts , apart from the guy anchor points, don't consume so much space.Having worked at sites with (big) guyed masts, & with self supporting ones, I don't see much difference aesthetically.Interestingly, the Eiffel tower looks nice from a distance, but up close, it just looks like an overgrown TV tower!.Guyed masts don't have to be latticework-- back in the day, long single or compound ones made from oregon pine were fairly common.They are quite hard to climb, & do require a bit of maintenance, like making sure they are treated with insect killing material, as, especially in Oz, termites find oregon delicious!Another alternative is the quite attractive masts that are used as light standards on highways, in large carparks & some building forecourts.They are obviously harder to climb, & aren't always as high as the lattice types.Yet another option is a plain old wooden "utility pole"-- again, they are usually not quite as tall, & again, are fairly hard to climb.Some folks (like me) can't afford any type of tower, & just chuck a wire antenna into a tree!

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2019, 12:36:35 am
content: The ultimate in tower construction beauty are Shukhov towers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shukhov_Tower). The designs is still used around the world, but I'm not sure they make much sense for amateur setups though.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2019, 12:59:03 am
content: I don't like it because it looks like a upside down tomato plant support, I want it to be square

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2019, 12:59:47 am
content: Quote from: vk6zgo on October 21, 2019, 12:31:01 amjust a dream

author: I wanted a rude username
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2019, 02:32:24 am
content: Quote from: ataradov on October 21, 2019, 12:36:35 amShukov Towers are indeed aesthetically pleasing from a sufficient distance, but up close they suffer from the same problem that vk6zgo mentioned. Brings to mind the concept ofmulti-scale camouflage: here we want the opposite, that the optimal design does not look more detailed as you got closer to it. So, probably something with a simple shape, like a tall, thin cylinder (ideally not guyed).

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2019, 05:48:00 pm
content: I have always liked these two:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakihegy_Towerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutro_TowerPlus maybe this onehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiev_TV_TowerThis should give you some ideas

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2019, 05:55:46 pm
content: This tower is quite a landmark.

author: DimitriP
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2019, 07:38:43 pm
content: Even if the tower was invisible, it would still have to have "ugly" antennas on it. You end up with the same problem.QuoteQuite messy:

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2019, 07:50:33 pm
content: Those cactus ones are probably the least obtrusive towers I've ever seen. We've got some cell towers disguised as trees near me which don't really look it.... a few too few branches, a little too straight and organized looking - I'm not convinced, though googling that shows some towers that do actually look like trees.To me, the towers with legged/wider supports vs. just having a point and guy wires tend to look better, as do ones with the truss metalwork vs. without.I think you like the look of radio towers, dress it up to be fancy, or make it look like something else.... beyond that, I'd say the answer is probably no

author: dave j
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2019, 08:45:18 pm
content: Emley Moor TV tower looks elegant in a minimalist sort of way.I'm not sure how practical an amateur version would be though.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2019, 08:45:57 pm
content: hehe, I thought about a 'tool loader' for a radio tower that would have an antenna array in the basement, then it would select the type of antenna you want and hoist it up to the top, so you don't get overgrowth..what regulations are there to towers? do special regulations for HAM apply if its an antenna on a elevation? do you need a certificate for air travel safety?

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2019, 09:19:10 pm
content: Yep, FAA is involved with tall ones (needs to be lit according to be rules, needs to be put on air traffic maps, etc.), otherwise HOAs or municipality rules can apply and the normal FCC exposure limits. The extra height usually means you can operate at a higher power (up to the limit for the band) because the exposure at the ground is less, but the height also helps with ground effect on efficiency and radiation pattern and lets you use long ones more easily, then you also get the range boost for line of sight communications.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2019, 09:55:36 pm
content: so the law is oriented around field effecting electronic devices which are likely to be there (no worries about a passing drone lol?)

author: Lord of nothing
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2019, 04:14:31 pm
content: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/camouflaged-palm-tree-monopole-gsm-antenna_60612027358.html?spm=a2700.7724857.normalList.17.7cdc120eKBON6P&s=pWell I want some "Tree" in My Garden to.Maybe I found someone with free Shipping.I want see that face from the Custom Agent who look for it.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2019, 06:02:49 pm
content: those fake antenna trees look horrid. usually near a city so it looks like your entering a fake suburban area (people don't care in real suburban or rural areas)chinese sequoia tree

author: Lord of nothing
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2019, 06:37:02 pm
content: Do you think a Fake Palm look stealth in Anchorage?

author: I wanted a rude username
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2019, 10:27:17 pm
content: Quote from: Lord of nothing on October 27, 2019, 06:37:02 pmYou can do the opposite and "own" the fakeness, likethis palm tree in Poland(not using it as a mobile cell is an oversight, but you know ... artists ...).

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2019, 04:19:13 am
content: that looks like las vegas. but not much is sadder then a tree that looks like its made of plastic, 2x as tall as everything else in the middle of the canopy..

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2019, 05:38:32 am
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on October 21, 2019, 12:59:03 ami can see thats the problem with you in your various threads. why dont you design one yourself and show us what you've got? or if you dont know how you yank can make this guy a visit...The tower in Google Street Viewdidnt you noticed?City tells ham he can't put his 57' tower back up after repairs. His response:it looks like a tower in DOTA or something. you are lucky you have friends over there. good luck costing that small.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2019, 06:58:22 am
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on October 28, 2019, 05:38:32 amThat's not a tower!These are towers!https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petronas_Towers#/media/File%3APetronas_Panorama_II.jpg

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2019, 11:48:33 pm
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on October 28, 2019, 05:38:32 ambro your like tryin to make small sums of money on this forum all the timei wonder what you do if someone farts during a merger LOLwhat do you think, someone is gonna PM you with some slick ass deal because you defend horse shit designs on a public forum?? its not work dude, those towers look like a horse swallowed a tree branch, it popped out of his ass and killed him with mold growing all over it. try reading what I write. Maybe it looks good in the desert (like I said, LAS VEGAS).. I think you might be from a similar area given the arabic rethoric in your signatures?

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2019, 05:19:16 am
content: My signature will be your greatest regret for not using the God's given brain to its full potential. Maybe you can try this... go to scrapyard, find whatever junks you want, put in a big bowl and stir them to the death.. maybe one day your sexy eiffel tower will popped up from there, i guess thats how you believe this universe is made.... as someone hinted, a pile of shit is better than a perpetual dreamer...

author: KB7ZUT
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 31, 2019, 12:59:22 am
content: I use a pneumatic mast that is good for about 35 feet with an antenna payload of 100lbs. Nice to be able to work on the antenna without having to climb a tower. The whole setup disassembles in about 30min if we want to use the backyard for something other than a antenna farm.

author: Lord of nothing
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2019, 08:55:28 am
content: QuoteUse the Metric System!