Unicom radio to Mentone

[WHY]

Looking for someone that will be traveling I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike that could pickup a portable Unicom radio at the Miami, Oklahoma exit (day or nite) . This radio has a internal emergency gel-cell battery that makes it a problem to ship via air freight. Can meet you at Turnpike gate or on Turnpike near the gate if you give me a call on the cell phone when you are close to gate.

Tony

[Mike484]

Is this on the way to Mentone or on the way back? I'll be passing that way on my way up there but will be taking a different route back.

[WHY]

Hi Mike

This would be on the way up, this will be a new radio for use in the observation tower at Mentone. Would like to get it up there at least a day or two before convention starts so someone can get it set up and tried out, have had it checked out by avionics shop and new battery installed and the mike replaced and all is working well. It's not "brand new" but a lot newer than what is there now, also have accquired the maintainance manual for it as well.

Tony

[Mike484]

Right now it looks like we will be going through there on Friday but we will be headed to Iowa first for a couple days, then Chicago, and probably not to Mentone until Wednesday.

[WHY]

Hi Mike

Not near a calendar, would that "Wednesday" be after the convention started or before ?? What are the dates ??

Tony

[Mike484]

Convention is July 31st to August 4th. We will be traveling through Oklahoma on Friday July 27th. Probably won't be to Mentone until Wednesday August 1st. We are makeing a long trip out of this to visit family along the way.

[WHY]

Hi Mike

Well thanks for offering to help, but it looks like that will put the radio there a little late, really need it there for opening day or earlier because of expected traffic.

Tony

[Mike484]

Just let me know if you need me to take it. Hopefully someone else will be going by.

[WHY]

Thanks Mike ..

Tony

[WHY]

The radio is ready to take up right now, so anytime between now and a couple of days before convention is good, even if you are going South very soon and then returning to near Mentone where someone else could take it up is fine.

Tony

[carls]

Tony

I will be going to Iowa about the middle of July. I could drop down there and see you on the way.

Email me a telephone No.

Carl

[okikuma]

What kind of antenna will you be using?

Wayne

[WHY]

Hi Wayne

using a 1/4 wave vertical whip mounted to the metal edging around the edge of the roof, it has been swr checked. Have always had a radio in the tower, this one is just much newer and nicer.

Tony

[GyroRon]

Can you not just mail it ?

[Mike484]

Can you not just mail it ?

Yea, I was wondering if ground freight would deliver it, like FedEx or UPS ground. Sure got plenty of timeto get it there.

[MrGrey]

UPS ground will do the trick... that would be easiest for u tony...

[WHY]

Thanks to all who responded to my request, MrGrey is correct, it can go UPS ground, will send it that way. Carls S. you can still come on by, dinner is on me :)

Tony

[carls]

I might do that,Tony

Carl

[okikuma]

If you guys would like, I could make and donate to Mentone Tower an aviation band Copper J-Pole Antenna.

The Copper J-Pole antennas are very good antennas, require no ground plane, and have a 1.2:1 SWR. This antenna will handle up to 250 watts of power so with an 8 watt Unicom transceiver it will work just fine. 2 meter J-Pole antennas often transmit and receive signals up to 50 miles with a 5 watt transceiver.

The best part is the antenna can be mounted on top of the wind sock mast, or on it's own separate mast on the other side of the tower. If we really want to be easy and on the cheap, the Copper J-Pole Antenna can be slid into one of those American Flag brackets/mounts that are often place on the side of a house. Then after the event, the antenna and be easily removed and stored inside the tower.

What do you think?

Wayne

[All_In]

If you guys would like, I could make and donate to Mentone Tower an aviation band Copper J-Pole Antenna.

The Copper J-Pole antennas are very good antennas, require no ground plane, and have a 1.2:1 SWR. This antenna will handle up to 250 watts of power so with an 8 watt Unicom transceiver it will work just fine. 2 meter J-Pole antennas often transmit and receive signals up to 50 miles with a 5 watt transceiver.

The best part is the antenna can be mounted on top of the wind sock mast, on it's own separate mast on the other side of the tower. If we really want to be easy and on the cheap, the Copper J-Pole Antenna can be slid into one of those American Flag brackets/mounts that are often place on the side of a house. Then after the event, the antenna and be easily removed and stored inside the tower.

What do you think?

Wayne

Way to go Buddy!

I love this site and you people!!!!

[WHY]

Hi Wayne

The antenna could not be put on the windsock, (once you see the sock you will understand). The flag bracket might be ok though. Present 1/4 wave spike goes about 30 mi due to tower height.

what kind of winds will the antenna stand, we sometimes get a couple of 60 to 70 mph thunderstorms during the convention.

Tony

PS could be mounted on walkway guard railing and "layed down prior to any storms" :)

[okikuma]

Using a solid mount, the Copper J-Pole antennas will withstand up to 70 mph winds. The antennas are made from 1/2 inch copper pipe. This antenna design is most commonly use by Ham Radio Operators who set up and operate Emergency Communication Centers during natural disasters because of the ease in setting up, possessing a good omnidirectional signal with a nominal 3db gain, and with an RF takeoff angle around 20 degrees, many Hams are able to communicate with the astronauts on the International Space Station with a Copper J-Pole antenna.

The J-Pole can be permanently bolted vertically to the edge of the eve of the roof on the runway side. I like your suggestion and mount the antenna on a folding pole opposite of the wind sock near the runway side of the walkway railing whereas when a storm approaches, the antenna can be folded over horizontally. Either way, I thought the antenna would be an improvement over the current one being the J-Pole naturally has a lower SWR than a vertical whip antenna.

If you guys want to upgrade, I'm offering otherwise no big deal if you all decide to keep operating with the antenna you have already.

Wayne

[Gyro28866]

I do not want to rob the thread, but! Can a single place machine and pilot "without" a radio have times to go flying during Friday and/or Saturday during the convention.
Are there procedures in place from years past???
Thanks

[WHY]

Hi wayne

As I think about it, would probably need to clamp somthing like a 8 ft piece of TV mast to the corner of the walkway guard rail and mount the J pole to it so the coax would cross over to the tower room at the eve of the roof. This would be because there is usually a lot of "photography" traffic both private and Press around the walkway also a lot of "cell phone" use up on the walkway, as the old timers have learned that cell phone coverage on the ground at the airport is LOUSY but useable up on the tower walkway.

Tony

[okikuma]

Hi Tony,

A 6' - 8" pole would be fine as a mast. The J-Pole would be clamped securely to the side of the mast using three hose clamps. Then just run a copper wire from the mast down into the ground at the base of the tower for lightning protection.

Wayne

[WHY]

Wayne

Contact Bud ONeal, he was inquiring about some kind of antenna to use out on the flight line at Bensen Days, something better than his rubber duck. the J pole even on a short mast sounds like the ticket for him.

Tony

[okikuma]

How is Bud O'Neal using his airband VHF handheld? At a stationary position or as a mobil walkie-talkie?

Wayne

[WHY]

Hi Wayne

I think he is using it as a "stand up walk around" at a fixed location, sort of as a flight line/air boss

Tony