Fear and loathing up on the antenna farm

Fear and loathing up on the antenna farm.

By Matt Erickson, KK5DR

Why does a simple length of copper wire or assorted aluminum tubing strike such intense fear in some hams? Why does the thought of climbing higher than a stepladder, cause them to feel chest pains?

I think that many hams have a basic fear of heights. Another factor is that a large number of hams that have “acquired” a high level of body mass. This excessive mass means that the effort of climbing a tower might result in the heart exploding somewhere near the top of the tower, which could result in the release of their “deathlike” grip, and the large body mass hurdling towards earth. When such a massive object impacts the earth, it could result in a “small” earthquake in the localized area.

Hams that are not very fearful of heights might be more fearful of the antenna “X” factor. The “X” factor of antennas is the fear of the unknown, mainly due to the builder not being technically savy enough to understand the design of the antenna, or understand what needs to be done to make it work.

Some hams think one antenna should “do it all”, these hams are operating under the delusion that the antenna will perform on all bands, deliver wide band-width, high gain levels, as well as a good SWR match. All this while installed at only six feet above the ground. When this same antenna fails at all the points previously mentioned, the ham blames the design for failing to deliver up to his expectations.

He never considers that his mortal fear of heights, or physical effort doomed the antenna to failure before it even got six feet off the ground.

A poor performing antenna at low heights, cause a less than good signal, so the ham does not feel a fulfillment in his hobby, so he spends less and less time on the air, and eventually loses interest. Those who "suffer" from such fears should install a ground mounted vertical. If you are not prepared to run with the "Big dogs", stay on the porch with the pups.