Anybody ever mount a rotor in the attic and run the mast straight up
thru the roof? Seems like I remember an article in 73 Amateur Radio or
QST about this. I'm considering trying this, theirs a nice pop-out in
my roof for a vent that would be perfect for this. Then the hole would
not be in the main roof, just the small section of the pop-out. Seems
like it would be fairly easy to seal, and could also put a large pan
with a drain line under the rotor just in case any water did get thru.
Any idea's, suggestions? Thanks
Tim N7XAU

"TimBob" wrote in message
oups.com...
Anybody ever mount a rotor in the attic and run the mast straight up
thru the roof? Seems like I remember an article in 73 Amateur Radio or
QST about this. I'm considering trying this, theirs a nice pop-out in
my roof for a vent that would be perfect for this. Then the hole would
not be in the main roof, just the small section of the pop-out. Seems
like it would be fairly easy to seal, and could also put a large pan
with a drain line under the rotor just in case any water did get thru.
Any idea's, suggestions? Thanks
Tim N7XAU

TimBob wrote:
Anybody ever mount a rotor in the attic and run the mast straight up
thru the roof? Seems like I remember an article in 73 Amateur Radio or
QST about this. I'm considering trying this, theirs a nice pop-out in
my roof for a vent that would be perfect for this. Then the hole would
not be in the main roof, just the small section of the pop-out. Seems
like it would be fairly easy to seal, and could also put a large pan
with a drain line under the rotor just in case any water did get thru.
Any idea's, suggestions? Thanks
Tim N7XAU


TimBob,

This is a great idea: with the shaft coming down through the roof into
the attic, you can utilize the Armstrong[tm} brand of rotors and save a
bundle! Armstrong[tm] rotors are both quicker and more accurate than
other models, since they have none of the servo-feedback delays
associated with traditional units.

You _will_ need to add copper or lead "flashing" to the mast,
constructed so that it overhangs the opening and prevents wind-driven
rain from leaching into the house. A drip pan is always a good idea, but
it's _not_ a substitute for proper flashing. Check the roof timbers to
make sure they're capable of withstanding the wind and/or ice loads the
antenna may place on them; if in doubt, get a professional engineer to
look it over.

William
(Filter noise for direct replies)
--
A little learning is a dang'rous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring;
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely sobers us again.
-- Alexander Pope, Essay on Criticism

"TimBob" wrote in message
oups.com...
Anybody ever mount a rotor in the attic and run the mast straight up
thru the roof? Seems like I remember an article in 73 Amateur Radio or
QST about this. I'm considering trying this, theirs a nice pop-out in
my roof for a vent that would be perfect for this. Then the hole would
not be in the main roof, just the small section of the pop-out. Seems
like it would be fairly easy to seal, and could also put a large pan
with a drain line under the rotor just in case any water did get thru.
Any idea's, suggestions? Thanks
Tim N7XAU

I remember reading that article and it seems a ton of work/prevention goes
into that method. I'm going the Roof Tower direction and Glen Martin makes
some pretty nice ones, 4, 8 or 9 feet would seem to work better than what
you need to put a mast through the roof.

Just a 2nd idea

I'm going 9ft myself. Its all built but setting in my garage waiting for the
water we are getting in the Puget Sound to stop. Which at this rate might
be spring .


Scotty W7PSK.

I new a guy that had a mast come into his shack so that he could had
turn the antenna. A storm with one big lightening bolt removed one wall
of his shack. It probably was not grounded good enough.

Ron WA0KDS

nonoise wrote:
TimBob wrote:

Anybody ever mount a rotor in the attic and run the mast straight up
thru the roof? Seems like I remember an article in 73 Amateur Radio or
QST about this. I'm considering trying this, theirs a nice pop-out in
my roof for a vent that would be perfect for this. Then the hole would
not be in the main roof, just the small section of the pop-out. Seems
like it would be fairly easy to seal, and could also put a large pan
with a drain line under the rotor just in case any water did get thru.
Any idea's, suggestions? Thanks
Tim N7XAU


TimBob,

This is a great idea: with the shaft coming down through the roof into
the attic, you can utilize the Armstrong[tm} brand of rotors and save a
bundle! Armstrong[tm] rotors are both quicker and more accurate than
other models, since they have none of the servo-feedback delays
associated with traditional units.

You _will_ need to add copper or lead "flashing" to the mast,
constructed so that it overhangs the opening and prevents wind-driven
rain from leaching into the house. A drip pan is always a good idea, but
it's _not_ a substitute for proper flashing. Check the roof timbers to
make sure they're capable of withstanding the wind and/or ice loads the
antenna may place on them; if in doubt, get a professional engineer to
look it over.

William
(Filter noise for direct replies)

I knew a guy that had a mast come into his shack so that he could had
turn the antenna. A storm with one big lightening bolt removed one wall
of his shack. It probably was not grounded good enough.

Ron WA0KDS

nonoise wrote:
TimBob wrote:

Anybody ever mount a rotor in the attic and run the mast straight up
thru the roof? Seems like I remember an article in 73 Amateur Radio or
QST about this. I'm considering trying this, theirs a nice pop-out in
my roof for a vent that would be perfect for this. Then the hole would
not be in the main roof, just the small section of the pop-out. Seems
like it would be fairly easy to seal, and could also put a large pan
with a drain line under the rotor just in case any water did get thru.
Any idea's, suggestions? Thanks
Tim N7XAU


TimBob,

This is a great idea: with the shaft coming down through the roof into
the attic, you can utilize the Armstrong[tm} brand of rotors and save a
bundle! Armstrong[tm] rotors are both quicker and more accurate than
other models, since they have none of the servo-feedback delays
associated with traditional units.

You _will_ need to add copper or lead "flashing" to the mast,
constructed so that it overhangs the opening and prevents wind-driven
rain from leaching into the house. A drip pan is always a good idea, but
it's _not_ a substitute for proper flashing. Check the roof timbers to
make sure they're capable of withstanding the wind and/or ice loads the
antenna may place on them; if in doubt, get a professional engineer to
look it over.

William
(Filter noise for direct replies)

R. Scott wrote:
"TimBob" wrote in message
oups.com...
Anybody ever mount a rotor in the attic and run the mast straight up
thru the roof? Seems like I remember an article in 73 Amateur Radio or
QST about this. I'm considering trying this, theirs a nice pop-out in
my roof for a vent that would be perfect for this. Then the hole would
not be in the main roof, just the small section of the pop-out. Seems
like it would be fairly easy to seal, and could also put a large pan
with a drain line under the rotor just in case any water did get thru.
Any idea's, suggestions? Thanks
Tim N7XAU

I remember reading that article and it seems a ton of work/prevention goes
into that method. I'm going the Roof Tower direction and Glen Martin makes
some pretty nice ones, 4, 8 or 9 feet would seem to work better than what
you need to put a mast through the roof.

Just a 2nd idea

I'm going 9ft myself. Its all built but setting in my garage waiting for the
water we are getting in the Puget Sound to stop. Which at this rate might
be spring .


Scotty W7PSK.

**Thanks for your feedback! One of the reasons I am thinking about
thru the roof is for a little stealth, I would only want to put the
antenna's, ( 2 meter and 6 meters beams) about 5 ft above the roof.
They would be mostly hidden when looking at the front of the house from
the street. They are fairly small antenna's, I have them mounted on a
small telescoping mast right now with no problems for the last two
years. Rafters and joists are 2x6 and 2x8's, so I'm sure those are
heavy enough. I would think that between a cone shaped metal flashing
on the mast with rubber or some sort of UV resistant tape to seal it,
and then a rubber vent pipe seal at the roof level and maybe even some
o-rings on the mast inside the roof, plus a pan underneath the rotor
should insure no moisture inside. Of course all this would be grounded
very well! But a roof mount tower would sure be alot easier!
Tim N7XAU

On 11 Jan 2007 10:10:57 -0800, "TimBob" wrote:


R. Scott wrote:
"TimBob" wrote in message
oups.com...
Anybody ever mount a rotor in the attic and run the mast straight up
thru the roof? Seems like I remember an article in 73 Amateur Radio or
QST about this. I'm considering trying this, theirs a nice pop-out in
my roof for a vent that would be perfect for this. Then the hole would
not be in the main roof, just the small section of the pop-out. Seems
like it would be fairly easy to seal, and could also put a large pan
with a drain line under the rotor just in case any water did get thru.
Any idea's, suggestions? Thanks
Tim N7XAU

I remember reading that article and it seems a ton of work/prevention goes
into that method. I'm going the Roof Tower direction and Glen Martin makes
some pretty nice ones, 4, 8 or 9 feet would seem to work better than what
you need to put a mast through the roof.

Just a 2nd idea

I'm going 9ft myself. Its all built but setting in my garage waiting for the
water we are getting in the Puget Sound to stop. Which at this rate might
be spring .


Scotty W7PSK.

**Thanks for your feedback! One of the reasons I am thinking about
thru the roof is for a little stealth, I would only want to put the
antenna's, ( 2 meter and 6 meters beams) about 5 ft above the roof.
They would be mostly hidden when looking at the front of the house from
the street. They are fairly small antenna's, I have them mounted on a
small telescoping mast right now with no problems for the last two
years. Rafters and joists are 2x6 and 2x8's, so I'm sure those are
heavy enough. I would think that between a cone shaped metal flashing
on the mast with rubber or some sort of UV resistant tape to seal it,
and then a rubber vent pipe seal at the roof level and maybe even some
o-rings on the mast inside the roof, plus a pan underneath the rotor
should insure no moisture inside. Of course all this would be grounded
very well! But a roof mount tower would sure be alot easier!
Tim N7XAU

I guess it depends on which one you buy, but are you sure you want a
clanging rotator in the attic? Might be loud.

bob
k5qwg

Bob Miller wrote:
**Thanks for your feedback! One of the reasons I am thinking about
thru the roof is for a little stealth, I would only want to put the
antenna's, ( 2 meter and 6 meters beams) about 5 ft above the roof.
They would be mostly hidden when looking at the front of the house from
the street. They are fairly small antenna's, I have them mounted on a
small telescoping mast right now with no problems for the last two
years. Rafters and joists are 2x6 and 2x8's, so I'm sure those are
heavy enough. I would think that between a cone shaped metal flashing
on the mast with rubber or some sort of UV resistant tape to seal it,
and then a rubber vent pipe seal at the roof level and maybe even some
o-rings on the mast inside the roof, plus a pan underneath the rotor
should insure no moisture inside. Of course all this would be grounded
very well! But a roof mount tower would sure be alot easier!
Tim N7XAU

I guess it depends on which one you buy, but are you sure you want a
clanging rotator in the attic? Might be loud.


It's more of a rumbling... but it comes through the bedroom ceiling,
which is not good.

For VHF yagis like the ones Tim is proposing, I had very good results
with a fixed pole and the rotor on top. A non-rotating pole is much
easier to install and make waterproof, and you can buy a ready-made
flashing adapter to take the pipe through the roof. (Back in the 1970s
I had to buy an extra concrete roof tile and drill a hole through it,
and then solder up a little 'stovepipe' flashing adapter from sheet
lead, but even that wasn't so hard.)

Inside the roof, I screwed a triangle of heavy plywood onto the roof
timbers to spread the sideways load, and then drilled the ply for
U-bolts. The pole should be supported as high up as possible, but don't
drill through any structural timbers. At the bottom of the pole, the
weight and sideways load were similarly spread over 3-4 ceiling rafters.
Very little noise comes down through the ceiling when the rotor is
outside.

It worked so well that I became more ambitious and converted the pole
into a guyed tilt-over arrangement, taking the antennas up to 10-15ft
above the roof line, and also making them easier to work on when tilted
over.

When we moved house, the pole was pulled out, and the original roof tile
was put back leaving no evidence.

YRMV (your roof, that is) but this option is well worth considering for
VHF beams.


--
73 from Ian GM3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek

"TimBob" wrote in message
oups.com...

R. Scott wrote:
"TimBob" wrote in message
oups.com...
Anybody ever mount a rotor in the attic and run the mast straight up
thru the roof? Seems like I remember an article in 73 Amateur Radio or
QST about this. I'm considering trying this, theirs a nice pop-out in
my roof for a vent that would be perfect for this. Then the hole would
not be in the main roof, just the small section of the pop-out. Seems
like it would be fairly easy to seal, and could also put a large pan
with a drain line under the rotor just in case any water did get thru.
Any idea's, suggestions? Thanks
Tim N7XAU

I remember reading that article and it seems a ton of work/prevention
goes
into that method. I'm going the Roof Tower direction and Glen Martin
makes
some pretty nice ones, 4, 8 or 9 feet would seem to work better than
what
you need to put a mast through the roof.

Just a 2nd idea

I'm going 9ft myself. Its all built but setting in my garage waiting for
the
water we are getting in the Puget Sound to stop. Which at this rate
might
be spring .


Scotty W7PSK.

**Thanks for your feedback! One of the reasons I am thinking about
thru the roof is for a little stealth, I would only want to put the
antenna's, ( 2 meter and 6 meters beams) about 5 ft above the roof.
They would be mostly hidden when looking at the front of the house from
the street. They are fairly small antenna's, I have them mounted on a
small telescoping mast right now with no problems for the last two
years. Rafters and joists are 2x6 and 2x8's, so I'm sure those are
heavy enough. I would think that between a cone shaped metal flashing
on the mast with rubber or some sort of UV resistant tape to seal it,
and then a rubber vent pipe seal at the roof level and maybe even some
o-rings on the mast inside the roof, plus a pan underneath the rotor
should insure no moisture inside. Of course all this would be grounded
very well! But a roof mount tower would sure be alot easier!
Tim N7XAU

I have a small rotator and a short mast fastened to a vent pipe in the back
of the house for a UHF TV antenna. Something like that might work, if the
antennas are not too big. I suspect the overall long term cost will be less.

Tam/WB2TT