Christmas 2011

Annual walk around the yard on Christmas Day
Two Pileated Woodpeckers

Gretchen's on the job chasing deer

Terry's new antenna

20 meter monobander

Crane is ready


Hook it up

Ready to lift

Part way up

Catch it

Attach antenna to 120 foot tower

That's it!!! Tower and Antenna

Over the roof

20 meter monobander

Finished

Christmas 2010

We picked our first Satsuma oranges from the tree we planted a few years ago.

It's been unusually cold in FL this year,

but the Satsuma is one of northern Florida's hardy citrus varieties.

Several families of deer live in our woods. We see them most everyday.

We caught a photo of this 10 point buck with our trail cam.

Albert Webb lives in FL now too. He enjoys sitting on the front porch.

SteppIR

Preparation for SteppIR Beam Antenna

Antenna Mounting Plate


Attaching the Plate

65 Foot Tower - From a Distance

SteppIR is Up the Tower - But not Level

Call in the Calvary - Grady and his Crane to the Rescue

Rig SteppIR to Come Down

Straps Attached

Coming Down

Going Back Up - Level

At the Top

Attach the Beam to Mounting Plate

We're Attached - Remove the Straps

Coming Down - Crane is Done

Antenna Bolted to Tower - Strut Wires Are Not On Yet

Strut Wires are Taught - Looking Good!

Ready To Play

SteppIR Works Great - Superb Beam Antenna

Screech Owl

Our nearest neighbor is a screech owl. Terry put up this owl house at the edge of our woods. The hole is only 2 inches so you can see he's just a little guy.

Working in the Yard

We've been spending alot of time this spring cleaning up the yard. Terry mows about 6 acres now. Marilyn takes care of the trees, bushes and flowers. Neighbors tell us it looks like a park.

It was sure a big job getting rid of the vines and underbrush, but now we can enjoy walking in the woods.

This is the "before" shot.

Building Portable Tower System for TARC

Gina W4GNA gave us steel for tower supports.

Terry N0TW welding it onto boat trailer so we can get mobile.

Great Use For a Boat Trailer


Where Can I Hang the Tower?
Need to drop top section directly onto base section.

Tower Hanging Over Trailer

Tower Bolted to Trailer

Applying Tie-Down Rope

Here is the left over steel from Gina's mobile home.

Tower Partially Raised

Tower is Fully Deployed

Terry goes mobile - April 20, 2010

N0TW has his truck all rigged up for operating CW in the GA QSO party.

He and KA3FZO drove 400 miles thru 14 GA counties to make 621 contacts in 2 days.