More On the Great Tower

No, no... That's not Moron the Great Tower, it's some more information on the great tower. Make sure to get the em-PHAS-sis on the right sy-LAB-le, as they say.

the Great Tower

So, it's actually up and running. I'm getting two to three bars in the guest house - not the strongest it could be, but enough to work from there.

A View of the Antenna

Another View of the Antenna

I called Twyla and told her that everything was up and functioning, antenna-wise. She said Doug was up on the roof of their house (looking to see the great antenna tower, hmmmm???). Anyway, when he comes down, she'd have him check and see if they could receive it. I've got my fingers (and toes) crossed.

Here's another view, more or less looking straight up at the thing.

The great antenna

Just to be on the safe side, I included a grounding (earth - for you Brits) strap and ground stake (5' long) in case of a lightning strike. Of course, till I get the insulators installed, I'm not sure this will work quite as advertised, but still, its got to be better than nothing, right? This also shows the base flange I screwed to the septic field retaining wall.

Grounding Apparatus

That's all I have for now. Might be more later, or there might not... It's a holiday weekend. Easter is a big holiday down here - four-day weekend, stores legally have to be closed, etc., etc. We do have enough beer to get through. Not sure about dog bones though. I might have to see if we can scrounge some to get us through the weekend. I told Dianna "Maybe we should recycle some of the bones that're just laying around the yard. They wouldn't know the difference, right?"

I Owe It All To Joe Electron

Years ago, when I was a young lad in the Navy, I attended Radarman "A" School at Treasure Island Naval Station, San Francisco, California. One of my instructors was a first class petty officer by the name of Fogbound (which was appropriate, BTW).

Petty Officer Fogbound used to keep us awake in class by periodically slamming his palm against the blackboard with a thunderous clap, and yelling something like: "Then Joe Electron jumps across the gap and makes contact!"

Well, let me tell you, when you're jolted out of an afternoon's reverie with that, it sort of imprints on your mind. Consequently, I did learn and retain some bits about electronic theory, radar, navigation, and noisy steam heat (- our barracks were old, old, temporary WWII barracks buildings heated by a central steam plant. The pipes supplying the heat to our barracks never ceased creaking, groaning, poppling, and gurgling).

So, that brings us to today's topic regarding electricity. On our walk this morning, Doug and I took a bit of a detour on the way back. We managed to wake up no less than three hundred dogs on our way through town - at least that's what it sounded like. I know the residents of those areas had been counting on a nice slow, quiet transition into the Easter Holiday long weekend. Not bloody likely, with us around!

On our way past the Miracle Hotel and Night Club we happened to see this fine example of Belize Electricity, Ltd. (BEL), use of the most modern equipment to support their operations.

Electrical Power Pole

Coincidentally, yesterday I had been working on the antenna pole with the idea of extending our WIFI network, so that it at least reaches our guest house (and hopefully, a couple of other houses in the area).

I got the antenna attached to the pole, the pole base flange bolted to the retaining wall, eye hooks installed on our concrete house wall, and with Dianna's and Cody's help, we got the pole itself upright in the flange. I used nylon line temporarily as guy wires, as I'm still trying to find the following:

Egg-Type Ceramic Insulators

3/16th" Wire Rope Thimbles

Actually, I've found them. And thanks to Dennis, a friend of ours through Elsie, when he comes down this next month, he'll be bringing them down for me.

At that time, I'll pull the antenna pole down and replace the nylon line with wire rope, the insulators and thimbles, and add in turnbuckles on each guy wire run, so I can regulate the guy wire tension on each run.

Today I plan to hook up the antenna to the router and see just what we're dealing with for a signal. Keep your fingers crossed. I don't want to have to buy any more stuff to float this venture.

On an unrelated note, during yesterday's walk, we stopped and watched some guys launching a rather large boat along the waterfront. Their trailer was a 3-axle unit, built for a boat much larger than this one. But, I thought you'd enjoy seeing it just as relief from the technical stuff.

Launch!

In order to properly prepare for the morning's activities, let's keep in mind Petty Officer Fogbound and Joe Electron as Joe jumps the gap after the thunderclap at the blackboard. Be safe and remember Ohm's Law.

WIFI Tower of Power

I talked to Mae this morning. She and Craig are over in San Pedro for a bit along with their niece and her friend. I had called them to see if the house across from our place had rented or not. It had, but that wasn't the news.

Mae told me while they were out dining and such, they had left a window open on their second-floor rooms. It was too tempting a target for someone. They (the perps) jimmied the screen and ripped off a couple of iPods, a camera and some small amount of cash.

Nice way to dampen an otherwise perfect weekend, I'm sure. At least no one got hurt.

Anyway, after that bit of news, Mae told me the place had rented, so that decided my next project - between the pool waterfall or the antenna tower. Antenna tower it is.

I boogied (I guess that's an archaic word now) down to National Hardware where I bought a 20-foot 2" diameter fence pole, a threaded flange, a 6" threaded pipe, and various fittings.

Here's the flange and 6" piece of pipe threaded together. Once I get the flange secured to the retaining wall (you can see the marks for drilling right beside the flange) I'll add the antenna and cable, stuff the pole down into the base, add and tension the guy wires and hook the thing up to the router and see what happens.

Flange and 6" Pipe

Here's the clamps and turnbuckles to tension the guy wires.

Clamps and Turnbuckles

I added a cap to the pipe to prevent rain from entering the pipe. Hopefully, that will prolong thelife of the pole.

Pole Cap

Twenty feet is a long way. I just moved the pipe into the shade. I had to wear gloves as the metal had gotten so hot in the sun that it was close to burning my bare hands.

Twenty-Foot Pole

There's a bit more to add. I need to get some grounding wire and clamps, a grounding rod to attach from the pole to the rod; about 80' of 3/16" aircraft cable to support the tower.

I also need to mount the antenna onto the pole and make sure it works.

Even before that, I have to drill through the soffit of the house so I can run the antenna cable from the router to the outside.

It's going to be a busy morning tomorrow.

In the meantime, it's 2:00 PM, pool and beer time by my watch.

Cheers,
Dave