For those new to the ham radio term, “antenna farm”, it is derived from the following…  When you look at a farm field in Wisconsin you see rows and rows of corn.  When you look in AB9NN’s back yard I hope that you will see nothing but rows and rows of antenna towers!  OK – so at least that is the dream.  And dreams are where my planning process starts for this project.

I like to plan in three phases.  1)  What is ideal?  2)  What is possible?  3)  What is practical?  So I start with a dream of something like a Step IR antenna (monster beam) up about 300 feet on a well supported tower with a huge rotor that won’t freeze up in the coldest of winter.  Of course it has THE most efficient feedline and a super efficient counterpoise system.  There also is a well thought out grounding system for the radios and such.  AND it produces NO RFI for the neighbors…  That’s step one.

Now for an initial dose of reality.  The city of Appleton, WI has height restrictions for towers.  I am currently researching them.  I have heard 70 feet and 35 feet.  I still haven’t talked to the officials yet.  I am told there are also restrictions for minimum distances from buildings, lot lines, power wires, etc..  So that may limit the size and location and height of any antenna.  There are a couple of very large trees on or near the property.  Hmmm…  Fold those into the mix…  And – oh yes – there are checkbook limits for what can be or should be done in the first year…  And considerations of what we want to do first – 2 meters?  HF?  Scanner antenna?  SWL (short wave listening) antenna?  That’s step two.

In a week or so we probably will be into step three.  I will have met with the city and have written copies of the regulations in hand.  I will draw a map to scale and figure what sizes of antennas will fit where.  And Kd8KRS and I will sit down and determine what we can afford and what we want to do first.  This will be after we move in to our new house.  And we will try and determine what we can be done before winter comes roaring along.  Then we will order antennas and or antenna parts, etc..  That’s step three.

Stay radio active!

Jon Kreski, AB9NN

www.HamRadioResources.com

www.Twitter.com/AB9NN – follow me for blog update notices and current news!

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