Home >> Hobbies >> Ham Radio

DIY Antenna Tower

Radio signals, whether received or broadcasted, are most powerful above ground level. The higher the receiver or transmitter, the better the signal quality. Although antennas are available reaching various heights, creating one is not that difficult. Just always remember when working at heights to be safe and be mindful of everything involved in going "up."

Tree
- The easiest type of antenna to make involves attaching the radio components to a tall tree. Climbing the tree should be done with a safety belt and only if the tree is healthy and all the branches are sturdy. Once high up in the tree, find a location where the antenna can rise above the branches and attach to the trunk. A good way to do this is attach the components to a length of aluminum pole and, using "U" bolts, attach the pole to the tree trunk. When completed, run a wire from the aluminum pole to the ground and drive a metal stake deep into the soil. Attach the ground wire. This will direct any lightning strikes directly into the ground. Although the tree will grow, do not worry about the wire from the antenna to the radio. It will be many years before all the slack is extended and the wire is stretched.
House or Other Structure
- If the radio is located in an open area with no trees nearby, consider using the house or building itself. Several kits are available for attaching an antenna to a chimney or roof top. Again, though, be very careful about running the ground wire. Any antenna is a natural lightning rod and protection against strikes is imperative.
Free-standing
- Building a free-standing antenna will take some doing (and expense). First, determine the height of the antenna. Anything over 10 feet will need to be firmly planted in the ground and probably need a concrete foot. This involves digging a post hole and filling with concrete when erecting the antenna. Construct the "tower" of nothing more than galvanized fence railing (the horizontal support pole on most chain-link fences.) A good place to find such scrap material is the local landfill. If no used poles are available, a fence supply company can provide lengths from as short as 8 to as long as 20 feet.
  
  When reaching for the sky, however, it may be necessary to add additional guy wires. These are attached by drilling holes through the pipe and installing threaded eyebolts. Use galvanized wire rope for the support wires. The math is simple: three guy wires around the antenna for every 10 feet. A 30-foot antenna would need three sets of wires at 10 feet, 20 feet and the top. These should be staked out from the antenna at least 10 feet. Again, run a ground wire the antenna. And finally, be sure to attach all the components to the antenna before lifting and setting in place with the attaching wire long enough to reach the ground.

Ham Radio