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 Previous: Amateur Radio in Poland |  Next: Youth@HamRadio.Fun: Dayton Hamvention 2004, Opportunities for Young Hams and More |
By Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU
Contributing Editor
May 28, 2004
This week, we visit what may be the biggest antenna farm in the Amateur Radio world.
Like the "who invented and/or discovered radio" discussion here awhile back, the "who has the biggest antenna farm" story seems to have no final chapter. Or maybe it does. In the previous two installments, we wrote about the K3LR and W3LPL farms in Pennsylvania and Maryland, respectively. This week, we may have the mother of antenna farms courtesy of Gene Zimmerman, W3ZZ, who pens "The World Above 50 MHz" every month in QST.
W3ZZ wrote, "Since you have had two of the biggest US antenna farms in Surfin', you might want to visit 'The Farm' in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, i.e., the operating site of Paul Bittner, W0AIH. You can see it at the W0AIH Contest Station Web site.
 Is W0AIH 's collection of aluminum the mother of all Amateur Radio antenna farms, or is there bigger gem out there waiting to be revealed in a future installment of Surfin' |
"As one who helped build one of the first super stations, W4BVV, and who has operated W3LPL's fine station as well as some of the big ones in the past like K2GL, W3AU, W6VSS, and W7RM, I thought that I had seen them all until I saw 'The Farm.'
"I have worked Paul and his operators for many years, but I never realized what an extensive operation this was. When I visited Paul in the late '90s, he had 42 towers in the air. That has now increased to 50. Most impressive are the number of rotating towers in excess of 150 feet tall and the enormous pile of towers, over 10,000 feet worth, still laying on the ground."
Select the various links on the web page to read and see all about this amazing Amateur Radio station.
In passing, W3ZZ also mentioned the impressive installation at the station of Matt Strelow, KC1XX, in southern New Hampshire. Matt documents his station at the KC1XX Contest Station Web site. Being a big fan of 10 meters, I was duly impressed with the 28 MHz antenna arrangement: 16 booms supporting 73 elements.
On that note, I will say, "73" and remind you to keep on surfin'
Editor's note:
After writing about big antenna farms, Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, is beginning to
feel embarrassed by his measly 55-foot installation. Write to Stan about the
tower envy and other important stuff by sending him e-mail at wa1lou@arrl.net .
| Previous: Amateur Radio in Poland | Next: Youth@HamRadio.Fun: Dayton Hamvention 2004, Opportunities for Young Hams and More |
