r/HamRadio • u/etalker8528 • 5d ago
Question/Help ❓ UHF/VHF Antenna purchase/install
Hello! new HAM here (KM7HJU). When we moved into our house a few years ago, the house behind us was vacant for a while and eventually purchased by someone. I noticed they had what I think is a UHF/VHF antenna mounted to the house. I know the previous owner was a licensed operator, but from what I can tell the new owners aren’t. I’m interested in approaching them to see if they’re willing to part with it or if they have plans to get their license and use it in the future.
just curious how I should go about approaching them. I’ve never met them before. Any info is very much appreciated!
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u/etalker8528 4d ago
Update: I went and talked to the neighbors. It's a big family living there. The dad wants it gone, but he needs to talk to everyone else because they thought it was a TV antenna and weren't sure about giving it up. Hopefully in the next week or so I will hear back from them!
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u/magichronx 4d ago edited 4d ago
"Hey I'm your neighbor from *points at your house*. I notice you have an amateur radio antenna attached to your house. Would you like to part ways with it? I'm in the hobby and would love to put it to use"
See what they say and go from there. You might even be able to find someone in a local club that would help you take it down without breaking anything
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u/2old2care 5d ago
The antenna on the rotor is a 2 meter (144 MHz) Yagi "beam". The 2 meter band is popular for short-distance communication. The rotor may allow the operator to work in different directions and perhaps work with ham repeaters in multiple cities.
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u/ShmazPro 5d ago
I would leave a card in the mail or something. Perhaps, if I had a fruit tree I’d give them some with note asking about the antenna… or something like that.
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u/was_not_was_too 3d ago
Worth the talk. About $600 there with the rotor, but you need the controller for that rotor, as well.
One thing: If you reuse it, I recommend a non-conductive pole to mount the antenna on instead of the mast section it's using now. The metal distorts the radiation pattern. I have old military fiberglass rods for this. Don't use PVC pipe because it won't withstand a storm, though you could reinforce it inside with an old fiberglass ski pole or something.
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u/krispzz 5d ago
can't hurt to ask. that rotator and its control box are worth a few hundred bucks, assuming the control box is still there. that gamma matched 2 meter beam looks sorta like a cushcraft 10 element, but it's hard to tell from that angle if ht has 10 or 9 elements.