Compo 10,328 Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Finally managed to erect the wideband aerial outside. We have been relying on a Band C indoor aerial leftover from the analogue transmissions, which didn't do the job properly. I was quoted £350 minimum for the fitting, depending upon the cost of the scaffolding. I used a ladder and did it myself for £38 including a benchmarked aerial and strong pole. I made the chimney brackets out of ¼" plate steel that SWMBO had ordered me to throw away some years ago. They are much stronger than the commercial bracket plates, which have a reputation for breaking in strong winds. The finished product: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 nice one Compo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Compo 10,328 Posted July 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 I already have the ladder so it was just a matter of waiting for a lesser windy day and then up-and-at-'em! No scaffolding or 'Health & Safety' to pay for. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ayupmeducks 1,730 Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Can you recall when aerial erectors used to come with a triple extender, a roof ladder so as not to damage the slates, and straddle the ridge to set an aerial up on the chimney, three stories up sometimes??? No safety harnesses back then.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Compo 10,328 Posted July 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 The builders were patching the harling on the centre chimney stack teh other week. Walked up the roof and stood astride the ridge to do the cementing! He was a local one man band with a labourer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley 288 Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 I went onto roof of 2 story ex council house to turn aerial, I froze (as in couldn't move) honestly thought it was going to be a fire brigade job! eventually managed to get down but never again Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlebro 234 Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 You don't fancy this one then Ashley? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Compo 10,328 Posted July 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 I've climbed all 284 of the Scottish Munro peaks over 3,000ft and more than half of the 2,500-3,000ft Corbetts but I'm still scared of heights. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ayupmeducks 1,730 Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 There was an article in QST our ham radio magazine a few years back about a team of hams who were also professional tower climbers, they maintain towers and install antennas and feedlines on the towers....By Towers, I'm talking steel mountains!! Try two thousand feet!!!! They arrive on site, get their gear, including water bottles, food, an empty bottle each, leave that to your imagination...LOL They use full safety harness and "grilla grips" they are never uncoupled from the tower at anytime either climbing or working! A climb might take several hours, they take their time going up and down. A tower job is usually a few hundred bucks an hour each!! Changing that strobe light on top of a 2000 foot tower will cost somewhere in the region of a couple of thousand dollars!!! Cheaper than an FAA and FCC fine though!! There were some piccies they took from the top of a very high tower.....Not for me!!!!!! They can keep that job!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ayupmeducks 1,730 Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Incidently, before climbing, all transmitters are switched off and locked off until the team reach ground level again!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Braddy 160 Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 All my aerials are in the attic no roof job for me and a lot cheaper Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Compo 10,328 Posted July 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 I now have solar panels on teh roof, soon to be joined by thermal panels. The aerial had to come out of the loft in order to get a proper signal :o( Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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